Book: Siyar A'lam An-Nubala by Ad-Dhahabi - سير أعلام النبلاء ـ الإمام الذهبي

Biographical Account

He said: "Ali ibn Sanjar ibn Abdullah al-Mawsili, then al-Dimashqi al-Dhahabi, the blessed pilgrim Abu Isma'il, my maternal uncle. He was born in the year 658 AH/1260 CE."

He listened under the instruction of his educator Ibn al-Khabbaz to Abu Bakr al-Anmati, Baha al-Din Ayyub al-Hanafi, and Sitt al-Arab al-Kindi. He also studied with me in Baalbek, under the instruction of Taj al-Din Abdul Khaliq and others. He was a man of dignity, toiled for his family, and had fear of God. He passed away on the 23rd of Ramadan in the year 736 AH/1336 CE."

His Aunt’s Husband

He was the husband of his maternal aunt Fatima and one of his teachers mentioned in "Ma'jam Shuyukhihi al-Kabir" (1/68). He said: "Ahmad ibn Abdul Ghani ibn Abdul Kafi ibn Abdul Wahhab ibn Muhammad ibn Abi al-Fadl al-Ansari al-Dhahabi ibn al-Harastani. He died in Egypt in the year 700 AH/1300 CE in his sixties. He was the husband of my aunt Fatima, and he was a memorizer of the Quran, frequent in its recitation."

His Paternal Aunt

His aunt, mentioned in "Ma'jam Shuyukhihi al-Kabir" (1/284-285), was said by the Hafiz: "Sitt al-Ahl bint Uthman ibn Qaymaz ibn Abdullah, Umm Muhammad. She was born in Dhul Qa'dah in the year 653 AH/1255 CE, and she is my mother through nursing."

She was certified by Ibn Abi al-Ysar, Jamal al-Din ibn Malik, Zuhair ibn Umar al-Zara'i, and others. She heard from Umar ibn al-Qawas and others. She was bedridden for a time and passed away in Sha'ban of the year 729 AH/1329 CE."

His Teacher and Educator

Mentioned in "Ma'jam Shuyukhihi al-Kabir" (2/52-53), Ali ibn Muhammad al-Halabi, known as Ala al-Din al-Basabsi, was my educator. He had some of the most beautiful handwriting among people and was knowledgeable in teaching children. I spent years in his study, and many people learned under him, although he was not highly devout in his religion. He died around the year 690 AH/1291 CE at approximately eighty years of age."

He recited poetry to me, his student, Ali ibn Muhammad in the year 682 AH/1283 CE, which was composed by Abu Muhammad al-Qasim ibn Ali al-Hariri.

Afterward, al-Dhahabi turned to another teacher as mentioned in "Ma'jam Shuyukhihi al-Kabir" (2/339).