Al-Baydawi


Baidawi, was an Persian Islamic scholar, born in Fars, where his father was chief judge, in the time of the Atabek ruler Abu Bakr ibn Sa'd. He himself became a judge in Shiraz, and died in Tabriz about 1286. Many commentaries have been written on Baidawi's work. He was also the author of several theological treatises.
Lived in the period of the Salgurs. Iranian region was a sheltered place because the Salgurs got along with the Mongols in this period. For this reason, this region became a safe region preferred by scholars. He also benefited from the scholars who came here. Details about his life are available in his book titled al-Gayah al-Kusvâ.

Works

al-Baydawi wrote on many subjects, including fiqh, history, Arabic grammar, tafsir and theology.
His major work is the commentary on the Qur'an entitled The Lights of Revelation and the Secrets of Interpretation '. This work is largely a condensed and amended edition of al-Zamakhshari's. That work, which displays great learning, is affected by Mu'tazilite views, which al-Baydawi has tried to amend, sometimes by refuting them and sometimes by omitting them. In addition to drawing heavily from al-Kashshaf, al-Baydawi's tafsir also relied on the tafsirs of Fakhr al-Din al-Razi and al-Raghib al-Isfahani. It has been edited by Heinrich Leberecht Fleischer. A selection with numerous notes was edited by D. S. Margoliouth as Chrestomathia Beidawiana.
His historical work Nizam al-Tawarikh was written in Persian, his native language.
His theological/kalamic work "Tawali' al-Anwar min Matali' al-Anzar" is about the logic of kalam in the Islamic theological tradition.
His other works: al-Gayah al-Kusvâ, Minhac al-Usul ila Ilm al-Usul, Lub al-Albâb, Risala fî Ta'rifat al-Ulûm, Tuhfeh al-Abrâr, Havâs al-Quran.