ABÛ NASR IBN AL-SABBÂGH THE MUDARRIS AT NIZÂMIYYA MADRASA IN BAGHDÂD
Abdülkerim ÖzaydınBAĞDAT NİZAMİYE MEDRESESİ MÜDERRİSİ EBÛ NASR İBNÜ’S-SABBĀĞ (ö. 477/1084)
Abdülkerim ÖzaydınAbū Nasr Ibn Al-Sabbāgh The Mudarris at Nizāmiyya Madrasa in Baghdād
It was a privilege to conduct lectures in Nizāmiyya Madrasas, especially the one in Baghdād, which previously had a prominent place in the history of Islamic education. An array of scholars and jurists altered their first sects, converting into Shāfiism so as to be able to give lectures in Nizāmiyya Madrasas.
In such an era that dominated the society from the 5th to the 11th century, with the disappearance of Abū Ishāq al-Shīrāzī, an outstanding Shāfiī jurist of the time who had been inducted as the first mudarris or senior scholar of Baghdād Nizāmiyya Madrasa; Abū Nasr Ibn al-Sabbāgh was asked to deliver his lectures instead. However, Abū Nasr Ibn al-Sabbāgh was hesitant to accept this offer, especially after abstaining from Nizām al-Mulk and Abū Ishāq al-Shīrāzī. Nonetheless, he began giving lectures in the said madrasa from 22nd September 1067 thanks to the insistence of some prominent figures.
Abū Nasr Ibn al-Sabbāgh, who was dismissed after Abū Ishāq al-Shīrāzī accepted the assignment twenty days later, was one of the leading Shāfiī jurists of his time having trained numerous students. A few of his well-known students included Khatīb al-Baghdādī, Abū Muzaffar al-Sam‘ānī, Abū Ghālib Ibn al-Sabbāgh, Abū Mansūr Ibn al-Sabbāgh, Abū Nasr al-Raba‘ī, Abū Bakr al-Shāshī, Ibn Aqīl, Harīrī, Ibn al-Ammūra, Ibn al-Rutabī, and Abū Ali al-Fārikī.
After Abū Ishāq al-Shīrāzī’s death on 5th November 1083, Abū Sa‘d al-Mutawallī was inducted as a mudarris in his place. He was quickly dismissed and then Abū Nasr Ibn al-Sabbāgh was inducted as a mudarris (1083). However, in a strange turn of events, Abū Nasr was promptly dismissed, which meant that Abū Sa‘d was once again inducted. Abū Nasr Ibn al-Sabbāgh received no apology for being dismissed and as a result of this, set off to Isfahan to see Sultan Malikshah and his vizier, Nizām al-Mulk. Even though he was welcome in Isfahan, he was not re-inducted to his previous post due to his ailing health. However, he was promised that a new madrasa would be set up for him. Unfortunately, Abū Nasr died three days after he returned to Baghdād (17th September 1084).
Abū Nasr Ibn al-Sabbāgh, as the leader of Shāfiīs in Baghdād, was a jurist or canonist on par with Abū Ishāq al-Shīrāzī and is one of only a few jurists who have been deemed an absolute mujtahid. Abū Nasr Ibn al-Sabbāgh did not associate with politicians or administrators. Some of the works he wrote include Tadhkirat al-ālim wa tarīq al-sālim, Uddet al-ālim, al-Umdah, al-Kāmil, al-Fatāwā ve Kifayat al-sāil, and Kitāb al-Shāmil.
Clearly, scholars and jurists have been in competition amongst themselves, like in the case of Abū Nasr Ibn al-Sabbāgh, Abū Ishāq al-Shīrāzī, and Abū Sa‘d al-Mutawallī; furthermore, they sought mediation of the caliphs, sultans, and viziers. This stems from the reputation and privileged position of Baghdād Nizāmiyya Madrasa throughout the world. While the merit and superiority of Abū Ishāq al-Shīrāzī and Abū Nasr Ibn al-Sabbāgh in terms of law, methodology of law, and of absolute ijtihād has been thoroughly debated amongst scholars, Abū Ishāq was apparently more astute with regard to his relationship with political authorities.