Al-Juwayni

al-Juwayni
TitleImam al-Haramayn
Sheikh ul-Islam
Ḍiyā' al-Dīn
Personal life
Born17 February 1028
Died20 August 1085 (aged 57)
EraIslamic Golden Age
RegionPersia, Hejaz, Iraq
Main interest(s)Islamic theology (kalam), Islamic jurisprudence, Principles of Islamic jurisprudence
Notable idea(s)Al-Irshad
Al-Burhan
Nihayat al-Matlab fi Dirayat al-Madhhab
OccupationIslamic Scholar, Muslim Jurist, Theologian
Religious life
ReligionIslam
DenominationSunni Islam
JurisprudenceShafi'i
CreedAsh'ari
Muslim leader

Dhia' ul-Dīn 'Abd al-Malik ibn Yūsuf al-Juwaynī al-Shafi'ī (Arabic إمام الحرمين ضياء الدين عبدالملك بن يوسف الجويني, 17 February 1028  20 August 1085; 419–478 AH) was an Arab Sunni scholar famous for being the foremost leading jurisconsult, legal theoretician and Islamic theologian of his time. His name is commonly abbreviated as al-Juwayni; he is also commonly referred to as Imam al-Haramayn meaning "leading master of the two holy cities", that is, Mecca and Medina. He acquired the status of a mujtahid in the field of fiqh and usul al-fiqh. Highly celebrated as one of the most important and influential thinkers in the Shafi'i school of orthodox Sunni jurisprudence, he was considered as the virtual second founder of the Shafi'i school, after its first founder Imam al-Shafi'i. He was also considered a major figurehead within the Ash'ari school of theology where he was ranked equal to the founder, Imam al-Ash'ari. He was given the honorific titles of Shaykh of Islam, The Glory of Islam, The Absolute Imam of all Imams.