The Biography of Imam Al-Jazuli

(Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Sulayman ibn Abi Bakr al-Jazuli al-Simlali [d. 870H/1465 CE])
 

It is said that Sayyidina al-Imam Muhammad Al-Jazuli once went on a journey, when in great need of water for making ablutions, he came upon a well but could not reach the water without a bucket and rope which he did not have. He became very worried. A young girl saw this and came to his assistance. She spat into the well whereupon the water rose to the top of its own accord. Seeing this miracle, he asked the girl " And how is that possible?" She replied "I was able to do this through my asking for blessings upon the Prophet, Allah's blessings and peace be upon the him." Having thus seen the benefit of asking for blessings upon the Prophet, Allah's blessings and peace be upon him, he decided to write Dalail al-Khayrat.

The Shaykh is best known for his book titled Dalail Al Khayrat wa Shawariq al-Anwaar fi Dikhr a-Salaat ala a-Nabi salla Allahu `alayhi wa salam (The Index of Good Things and the Advent of Blazing Lights in the Remembering to ask for Blessings upon the Chosen Prophet). Referred to his grandfather, he is called shortly Sidi Muhammad      Ibn Sulayman al-Jazuli. He belonged to the Berber tribe of Jazula which is settled in the Sus area of Morocco between the Atlantic and the Atlas Mountains. He studied locally and then travelled to Fez, the spiritual capital of Morocco, where he joined the famous Madrasat As-Saffareen in the Old Medina.

In fact, the book of Dalail Al Khayrat was welcomed by the Ummah east and west. Many scholars concentrated on explaining some of its astounding meanings and benefits including Shaykh Sulayman al-Jamal Shafii, Shaykh Hasan al-Adwi al-Misri, Shaykh Abdelmajid Sharnubi who calls his book Manhaj as-Sa`adat, Shaykh Muhammad al-Mahdi Ibn Ahmad al-Fasi who calls his book Matalia al-Masaraat Bijalaa Dalail Al Khayrat, and the famous Savant of Allah Shaykh Ahmad Zarruq; the disciple of his Shaykh Sidi al-Jazuli (may Allah lighten his grave).    

Sidi Abu Abdullah Muhammad Al-Jazuli passed away in 870 AH and was buried inside his zawiya in Afwiral. Seventy-seven years after his death, his body was exhumed for removal to Marrakech and found to be uncorrupted. He became one of the Seven Men (saints) of Marrakech in addition to Sidi Qadi Ayaad, Sidi Abu al-Abbas Sabti, Sidi Yusuf bin Ali, Sidi Abdelaziz, Sidi Moul al-Qsur, and Sidi al-Suhayli (may Allah be pleased with all of them).