Allāma Qastalānī – Life and Work
Allama Qastalani Ahmad bin Muhammad was a well-known figure amongst the scholars of 10th century a.h. He was born in Cairo on 19th January 1448. In addition to the memorization of the Holy Quran at his early age he also got education of the fourteen patterns/methods of the recitations of the Holy Quran. Sheikh Zakriya al Ansari, Shamsuddin Sakhavi and al Burhan bin abi Sharif were amongst his renowned teachers. He was blessed twice to have pilgrimage in 887 and 894 a.h. respectively. He was extremely inclined towards an ascetic way of life. He had also a strong spiritual veneration and allegiance to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH. He died on 8 Muharram 923 a.h. His writings on the Quran, Hadith, Tafseer, Seerah writings and mysticism are really an invaluable additions to these disciplines and due to such contribution he was a towering personality of his times.