Imam Ahmad al-Dardir أحمد بن محمد العدوي الدردير

Imam Abu al-Barakat Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Adawi al-Dardir rahimahullah (1127-1201 AH / 1715-1786 CE) was the leading Maliki jurist and scholar in Egypt during the late eighteenth century. He received his education at al-Azhar, the ancient seat of Islamic learning in Cairo, where he ultimately rose to hold the position of chief Maliki mufti. His fiqh writings became foundational texts for Maliki scholars across the Islamic world; 'Aqrab al-Masalik' and its commentary 'al-Sharh al-Saghir' remain among the most studied works in the Maliki legal tradition. Beyond jurisprudence, al-Dardir was a master of the Khalwatiyya Sufi order, and his spiritual teachings and character made him beloved among both scholars and common people in Egypt. His collection of Salawat (blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ), known as 'al-Salawat al-Dardiriyya', continues to be recited in Khalwati and Azhari devotional circles as a living part of Egyptian religious heritage.