Larabi Bourdellah

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L-ʿArabī ibn Aḥmad Bourdellah al-Andalusī (1632-1721) (Arabic language: محمد العربي بن أحمد بردلة), known as Larabi Bourdellah, born in Fez, Morocco, was a prominent Moroccan qadi (judge) during the reign of Ismail Ibn Sharif.^[1][2]

Biography[edit]

Larabi was born in a wealthy ancient Al-Andalus, which migrated to Fez after the Granada War. His family still keeps his property documents and keys of their house in Granada as a symbol of their presence there.

After studying at University of al-Qarawiyyin, he became a respected jurist and teacher.

He served in various religious capacities such as mufti, khatib and imam and at last as a Qadi of Fez. In this last position, his popularity and influence as a religious leader was at its climax in the end of the 17th century. Nevertheless, his career was somehow erratic because of several dismissals and reinstatements by the Ismail Ibn Sharif, whom he was not afraid to stand up to.

The most famous conflict that confronted him with the sultan, that took place in 1704, was about the death of Mohammed al-Alim, rebel son of the sultan. Al-Alim was the sultan's eldest son, and betrayed his father by taking control of Marrakesh. When captured, the sultan executed him and forbade prayer for his dead son. Larabi disobeyed and still performed Salah over the dead.^[1]

Another subject on which his opposition to the sultan was strong was the Black Guard, formed of slave warriors and Haratin. Larabi defended firm anti-slavery positions, and was, as Qadi of Fez at the head of a groupe of personalities along with Muhammad bin Abdul Qadir al-Fassi, who opposed to the collection of slaves and haratins by asserting that "The origin of people is Freedom". As a result, Fez was the only city of the kingdom that did not contribute to the Black Guard.^[3]

A man of strong integrity, he is described by Ahmad ibn Khalid an-Nasiri, famous book retracing the history of Morocco, as “the last just qadi of Fez”.^[3]

Works[edit]

He is recognized by his peers and is cited in their works by Abd al-Qadir al-Fasi, Abi Abdullah Muhammad bin Abdul Qadir, Abi Abdullah bin Souda and Imam Fassi|Muhammad bin Ahmed Al-Fassi among others.

His most famous writings :

• The answers - "الأجوبة", compiled by his student Ahmed bin Muhammad Al-Khayyat Al-Dukali Al-Fassi, printed in 1925. Undoubtedly his most famous work.
• Disclosing doctrinal rules and pathological sayings that the atheist spread in the Moroccan countries - “إفشاء القواعد المذهبية والأقوال المرضية في إبطال النحلة العليلشية التي أشاعها الملحد بالأقطار المغربية”.
• A letter to Sultan Moulay Ismail on the issue of the Haratine - "رسالة إلى السلطان المولى إسماعيل في مسألة الحَرَاطين"
• A Matter in Theology and Philosophy - ”مسألة في علم الكلام وفلسفته”

The compilation of his writings is available at King Abdulaziz Public Library, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.^[4]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

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