Ben Sediq Abdelaziz

Ben Sediq Abdelaziz (also known as Sayyid Abdelaziz Ben Sediq (عبد العزيز بن الصديق) (b. November 1920 in Tangier, d. November 6 1997 in Tangier) was a moderate Muslim scholar from Morocco. He is from the Idrissite branch of Moroccan Sayyids that trace themselves back to Idris I, who led a Shiite revolt against the Abbasid dynasty. [Uloom al Hadith Review, 2nd year, 3rd edition pg. 242 ] [Al Ifaada, by Hassan Husayni, Tangier 2007]

Ben Sediq's father

Ben Sediq's father Sayyid Muhammad (b.1887 d. November 6 1935 in Tangier) was among prominent scholars such as his contemporary Sayyid al-Harrak. He used to teach the works of Ibn Abi Zayd al Qayrawani and the book of al-Bukhari. Among the scholars who wrote about him are his oldest son Ahmad Ben Sediq in a book called Subhat al Aqeek (سبحة العقيق) and the scholar Sheikh Muhammad al Ayachi in a book called Nubthat al Tahqeek (نبذة التحقيق). He also has a biography in the prominent Moroccan scholars encyclopaedia. [Uloom al Hadith Review, 2nd year, 3rd edition P: 243 ]

His career

It was not a coincidence that Abdelaziz Ben Sediq's mother as well comes from family of known scholars. Her grandfather indeed was Imam Ahmad Ben Ajiba. He started his early education in Tangier and traveled to Cairo and was a student of Azhar scholars such as Mahmoud Imam and Abdul Muuti Sharshimi. Among his works, the book Mujam al Shuyukh (معجم الشيوخ) and Fath al Aziz Bi Asaanid Sayyid Abdelaziz (فتح العزيز باسانيد لسيد عبد العزيز). He wrote several articles in the Khadra (الخضراء) and al-Balagh newspaper in Tangier and al-Islam magazine in Cairo. [Uloom al Hadith Review, 2nd year, 3rd edition P: 247 ]

Prominent views

Although Abdelaziz Ben Sediq studied in a Sunni Islamic university, he registered his own critical thinking and came up with views that were unpopular with his teachers in the Azhar university. He used to adopt views based on research even if they were outside the sect or the popular religious culture. Among such views are the following:

* Unlike Sunni religious culture where all the companions of prophet Muhammad are venerated, Ben Sediq used to mention 6 of the companions without venerating them because they fought against Imam Ali [The 30th Hadith, Ben Sediq Abdelaziz, International Patent number -4-0-9872-9981 Al Bughaz Edition, P 44. Tangier ar.]

* Ben Sediq Abdelaziz was among the rare scholars that rejected extreemist Wahabi philosophy and the Jihadi school of thought by considering them most harming to the Islamic culture and a cause of regression of the Muslim nations. [al Arbaeen al Aziziya, Preface, 1992 Tangier ar.]

* Unlike Wahabi Muslim scholars that prohibit the celebration of Prophet Muhammad's birthday, he declared such celebration to be an obligation and a duty regardless if the tradition of celebrating birth days originate from the west or elsewhere. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XNjHyidb6Y&mode=related&search= Live Lecture1997] ]

* Sayyid Abdelaziz agreed with Shia Islamic scholars on the supremacy of Imam Ali over all that came after Prophet Muhammad. [Uloom al Hadith Review, 2nd year, 3rd edition P: 252 ]

* In His book al-Ifada or "The interest in the ways on which the Hadith - that looking at Ali is a worship- is based" (الافادة بطرق حديث النظر الى علي عبادة), he openly criticized the narrations of Hadith that were registered under the Umayad and the Abbasid rule, and accused some narrators to be manipulated by the political ruling institution of that time. That was repeated over so many pages of the book.

His death

After a long life of research excellence, Sayyid Abdelaziz Ben Sediq died in Tangier on Friday November 6 1997. He was buried after a funeral in which the number of mourners set a record in Tangier's biggest ever gatherings. [Uloom al Hadith Review, 2nd year, 3rd edition P: 243 ]

Books

* Tasheel al Madraj ela al Mudarraj -تسهيل المدرج على المدرج
* Al Tanees fi Sharh Mandomat al-thahabi Fi-Tadlees -التانيس في شرح منضومة الذهبى في التذليس
* Bulugh al Amaani -بلوغ الاماني
* al Baahit aan Elal al Taan Fil Haarith - الباحث عن علل الطعن في الحارث
* al Tuhfat al Azeeziya -التحفة العزيزية
* al Taatuf -التعطف في تخريج احاديث التعرف
* Al Jawaahir al Ghawali - الجواهر للغوالي
* Al Ifaada - الافادة بطرق حديث النظر الى علي عبادة
* Al fath al Wahbi - الفتح الوهبي
* al Musheer - المشير
* Al Tibyaan - التبيان

and more.. [Uloom al Hadith Review, 2nd year, 3rd edition P: 245-6]

References

See also

* [http://www.alashraf-leb.org/docs/Ashraf_Pics/Morocco.htm Arabic Online Biography of Ben Sediq family]
* [http://www.aslein.net/showthread.php?t=7053 Arabic Link to Ben Sediq Abdelaziz live videos and lectures]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XNjHyidb6Y&mode=related&search= Ben Sediq on Youtube]