Shaykh al-Islam

Shaykh al-Islam (شيخ الإسلام) ("the Elder of Islam" or "the Master of Islam") is a title of respect for outstanding scholars of Islam. The title may also be used for the chief expert in Islamic Law of a city or kingdom.

The title shaykh al-Islam was reserved for very few scholars. Usually those with the greatest merits. Al-Sakhawi defines it as follows:

Scholars
There were not many scholars known as shaykh al-Islam. The title was used for the following scholars:
 * Ibn Surayj (249–306 A.H.)
 * Al-Daraqutni (306–385 A.H.)
 * Abu Nu'aym al-Isfahani (336–430 A.H.)
 * Abu Hamid al-Isfarayini (344–406 A.H.)
 * Al-Bayhaqi (384–458 A.H.)
 * Abu Ishaq al-Shirazi (393–476 A.H.)
 * Al-Juwayni (419–478 A.H.)
 * Ibn al-Jawzi (509/510–597 A.H.)
 * Fakhr al-Din al-Razi (544–606 A.H.)
 * Al-'Izz ibn 'Abd al-Salam (577–660 A.H.)
 * Ibn Daqiq al-'Id (625–702 A.H.)
 * Al-Nawawi (631–676 A.H.)
 * Ibn Taymiyyah (661–728 A.H.) The Hanafi scholar 'Ala' al-Din al-Bukhari said that anyone gives Ibn Taymiyya the title "Shaykh al-Islam" is a kafir (disbeliever).
 * Taqi al-Din al-Subki (683–756 A.H.)
 * Taj al-Din al-Subki (727–771 A.H.)
 * Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (773–852 A.H.)
 * Zakariyya al-Ansari (823–926 A.H.)
 * Ibn Hajar al-Haytami (909–974 A.H.)
 * Siraj al-Din al-Bulqini (724–805 A.H.)
 * Shihab al-Din al-Ghazzi (000–822 A.H.)
 * Shihab al-Din al-Ramli (000–957 A.H.)
 * Muhammad al-Tahir ibn 'Ashur (1296–1392 A.H.)
 * Abdel-Halim Mahmoud (1328–1397 A.H.)

Additional reading

 * Al-Dhahabi, Siyar a'lam al-nubala' ('Biographies of Noble Personalities').

Other websites

 * Shaykh Al-Islam
 * Ibn Taymiyyah, Salafis/Wahhabis calls "Sheikh-ul-Islam"