Sahnun
| Sahnun | |
|---|---|
| Title | Sahnun |
| Born | 776–7 CE (160 AH) |
| Died | 854–5 CE (240 AH) |
| Era | Islamic golden age |
| Religion | Islam |
| Denomination | Sunni Islam |
| Jurisprudence | Maliki |
| Main interest(s) | Hadith and Fiqh |
| Notable work(s) | Al-Mudawwana |
Sahnun ibn Sa'id ibn Habib at-Tanukhi (c. 776-7 – 854-5) (160 AH – 240 AH ) was a jurist in the Maliki school from Qayrawan in modern-day Tunisia.
His original name was Mohammed Ibn Said Ibn Habib. He gained the nickname 'Sahnun' (a type of sharp bird) because of his quickness of mind. His father was a soldier from Homs in Syria. The family claimed descent from Tanukh, a tribal confederation that originated in the south of the Arabian Peninsula.
In his youth Ibnu Sahnun studied under the scholars of Qayrawan and Tunis. In particular, he learned from the Tripolitanian scholar `Ali bin Ziyad, who had learned from Imam Malik. In 178 AH he traveled to Egypt to study under other pupils of Malik, who died before Sahnun had the financial means to reach them. Later on he continued to Medina and studied under other prominent scholars, returning to North Africa in 191 AH.
At the age of 74 Sahnun was appointed Qadi (judge) of North Africa by the Aghlabid emir Muhammad I Abul-Abbas. He had refused the appointment for a year, only accepting after the emir swore to give him a free hand in matters of justice, even if this involved prosecuting members of the emir's family and court. Upon accepting the appointment, he was said to have told his daughter Khadija, "Today your father has been slain without a knife." He was known to be scrupulous in his judgments and courteous towards litigants and witnesses, but strict towards the men surrounding the emir; he refused to allow them to send representatives on their behalf in litigation, and refused a request from the emir not to interfere in their illegal ventures.
Sahnun died in Rajab of 256 in the Hejira calendar. The men surrounding the emir refused to join his funeral prayer, due to his harshness against them. Yet the emir conducted the funeral prayers in person, and the people of Qayrawan were greatly upset by his passing.
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