Sheikh Abdullah bin Siddiq Al-Ghamari

He is the Imam, the Authority, the jurisprudent, the Usuli, the Muhaddith, Sidi Abu Al-Fadl Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Al-Siddiq bin Ahmad bin Qasim Al-Ghumari Al-Hasani Al-Idrisi At-Tanji. He was born in the city of Tangier in 1328 AH / 1910, and belongs to the scholarly noble Al-Siddiq family, which is of Idrissid lineage.

He received his primary education at As-Siddiqiya Zawiya from the two jurists, Muhammad Al-Buraq Al-Anjari, and Muhammad Al-Andalusi Al-Mosuri. He studied the sciences of the Shari'a and Arabic from his brother Ahmad, and from his uncle Ahmad bin Ajiba. Then in 1343 AH / 1924, he moved to Fez to complete his studies. He joined the University of Al-Qarawiyyin, learning from its scholars like Shaykh Ahmad Al-Qadri, and Shaykh of the group, Abdullah Al-Fadili, Shaykh Husayn Al-Iraqi, among others. Among the subjects he studied at Al-Qarawiyyin were Arabic sciences, Maliki jurisprudence, science of inheritance, monotheism, and logic. Then he returned to Tangier in 1346 AH / 1927, studied under his father, Shaykh Muhammad bin Al-Siddiq, grammar, rhetoric, and Maliki jurisprudence, then he joined Egypt and studied at Al-Azhar University in 1349 AH / 1930. He learned from a large number of scholars, such as Shaykh Muhammad Hasanain Makhlouf, Shaykh Muhammad Bakhit Al-Muti'i, among others, and received many permissions from scholars. He also received the Global Certificate for Foreigners in 1352 AH / 1933, and the Al-Azhar Global Certificate in 1361 AH / 1942. His scholarly activities in Egypt were numerous, until he returned to Morocco in 1390 AH / 1970.

The Shaykh worked as a teacher of Islamic sciences at Al-Azhar University voluntarily, and the Egyptian Ministry of Awqaf appointed him an inspector for the lessons in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim taught in its mosques. After his return from Egypt, he settled in the city of Tangier as a khatib at As-Siddiqiya Zawiya, and a teacher of Sharia sciences there. He taught a large number of students, and there was no Islamic country without his disciples.

He was a scholar, rarely matched in Islamic, linguistic, and logical sciences, mastering their nuances, and familiar with the texts and sayings of scholars, and their arguments on different issues. He was widely acquainted with the evidence of Islamic jurisprudential and creedal schools. He had a strong memory and quick wit. Particularly in the science of Hadith, he reached a high degree, and was considered the Hafiz of his era, being able to recall more than ten thousand Hadiths with their chains of transmission and knowing their narrators.

He made commendable efforts in calling to Allah, both inside and outside Morocco. His writings exceeded a hundred titles, including: Bida' al-Tafsir, Jawahir al-Bayan, Tamam al-Minna, a commentary on Al-Ajurrumiyah which is considered the broadest explanation of it, among others. He also authenticated many traditional texts, including Al-Maqasid Al-Hasana by As-Sakhawi, and Akhlaq an-Nabi sall Allahu alayhi wa sallam by Abu Al-Shaykh Al-Asbahani, and Tanzih Al-Sharia by Ibn Iraq.

He followed the path of his father, Shaykh Imam Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin As-Siddiq bin Ahmed bin Abdul Mu'min Al-Ghumari, Al-Sharif Hasani. He passed away in Tangier in 1413 AH / 1993, and was buried in As-Siddiqiya Zawiya. May Allah have mercy on him.