Ahmed Bin Atwah al-Dur‘i

Ahmed Bin Atwah al-Dur‘i (1456–1541) was a religious scholar in Najd and the mufti of al-Arid during the sixteenth century. He obtained scholarly certifications from the Levant and authored several scholarly works, along with a collection of treatises and responses on jurisprudential issues, rulings, and fatwas.

Ahmed Bin Atwah al-Dur‘i was born in al-Uyaynah, northwest of Riyadh City, one of the main settlements of al-Arid in Najd. Growing up in a household of prosperity and ease within Al Atwah Bin Rahmah family, along with the support and encouragement he received, allowed him to dedicate himself entirely to his scholarly pursuits. He learned the fundamentals of writing, reading, arithmetic, and Quranic recitation under the scholars and jurists of al-Uyaynah. Seeking further knowledge, he traveled multiple times to the Levant, where he studied under its scholars and gained expertise in jurisprudence and Islamic sciences.

Among the schools he attended in Damascus was al-Umariyah School in 1475, where he resided in one of its rooms, which served as a refuge for travelers. He also endowed a collection of books there. Additionally, he studied at al-Diya’iyah School, a school specializing in Hadith studies, where he donated some books. Throughout his time in the Levant, he obtained three scholarly certifications.

He played a role in issuing fatwas and resolving jurisprudential matters among the scholars of Najd. Upon returning from his studies in the Levant to al-Uyaynah, he contributed to teaching and spreading religious knowledge in the region. Later, he moved to Diriyah at the request of its rulers to continue teaching. Eventually, he settled in al-Jubailah, where he remained until his death.

Ahmed Bin Atwah al-Dur‘i authored several scholarly works, including al-Rawdah al-Aniqah (or al-Ani‘ah) and in English (The Graceful Garden), al-Tuhfah al-Badi‘ah (The Wonderful Gift), Durar al-Fawa’id wa ‘Uqyan al-Qala’id (The Pearls of Benefits and the Precious Chains), Manasik al-Hajj (The Rites of Hajj), a treatise titled Safwat al-Manhal fi Jahalat al-Ajhal  (The Purest Spring in the Ignorance of the Most Ignorant'), and Tarf al-Tarf fi Mas’alat al-Sawt wal-Harf  (A Glimpse of the Glimpse on the Issue of Sound and Letter). He also compiled various jurisprudential issues, rulings, and fatwas in multiple responses, treatises, and books, some of which were recorded by judges and scholars in Najd. Additionally, he donated a collection of scholarly books in the Levant and Najd.

Ahmed Bin Atwah al-Dur‘i passed away on December 31, 1541, and was buried in the Cemetery of the Martyrs from the Companions in al-Jubailah.