Al-Kiya al-Harrasi
al-Kiyā al-Harrāsī, S̲h̲ams al-Islām ʿImād ad-Dīn Abû ’l-Ḥasan b. Muḥammad b. ʿAlī aṭ-Ṭabarī ), commonly known as al-Kiya al-Harrasi was a prominent Shafi'i jurisconsult, legal theoretician, traditionist, scriptural exegete, orator, and Ash'ari theologian, a dialectician who was once regarded as among the foremost practitioners of disputation. He was the famous pupil of Imam al-Haramayn al-Juwayni and the class-mate of Al-Ghazali.

Early Life
He was born in the year 450 AH/1058 CE in the region of Tabaristan and studied under the ulama. He departed from his native land to seek knowledge at the age of eighteen years to Nishapur and studied jurisprudence under the direction of Imam al-Haramayn al-Juwayni until he excelled in Islamic law. He was handsome, his voice was clear and loud, his manner was elegant, and his language was appealing.

Career
He then proceeded to the town of Bayhaq, where he spent several years teaching the doctrine of the Shafi'i school. Eventually, he reached to Baghdad where he came in contact with Sultan Berkyaruq. It was through the Sultan's favour where al-Kiya al-Harrasi status rose to wealth and prestige. He served under the dynasty as the chief judge of Baghdad and fulfilled his duties. Al-Kiya al-Harrasi became a popular lecturer and was appointed as the head master of Al-Nizamiyya of Baghdad. He was a famous preacher and his gatherings would be described by visitors as being huge. 

He was a scholar of Shafi'i-Ash'ari background, but unlike his contemporary Al-Ghazzali, he specialized in hadith as a separate subject and would frequently use hadith to cite evidence in his theological debates with other sects and preaching discourses. Some of the notable hadith scholars of Baghdad and elsewhere are stated to have been taught under him. The quote attributed to him: "When the horsemen of the traditions gallop about in the battlefield, the heads of analogical deductions are struck and carried off by the wind," amply illustrates his position that hadith should be prioritised over individual reason.

Students
He had numerous students with some becoming renown of their age; amongst them:

 Abu Tahir al-Silafi
 Ibn Tumart
 Abu Mansur Muhammad
 Ibn Al-Saad Al Khair Al Balancy

Death
He passed away in Baghdad during the time of afternoon on the specific date of Thursday, 1st of Muharram at the year of 504 AH corresponding to July, 1110 AD and due to his high scholarly prestige amongst the Shafi'i ulama, he was buried near the tomb of Amir al-Muʾminin Fī al-Fiqh Abu Ishaq al-Shirazi. His funeral gathering was massive and chiefs from other Sunni schools would attend the funeral reciting poetry, some were praises calling him "Shams al-Islam" (Sun of Islam) and some others were sorrow due to the great loss.

Works
 Ahkam al-Qu'ran ("Rulings of the Qu'ran"), it is a book on jurisprudential interpretation of the Qur’an.
 Sharh Usul al-Fiqh ("Commentary on the principles of jurisprudence"), a commentary of one of Al-Juwaynis work.
 Tawdih al-Ahkami ("Illustrate judgments")
 Ard al-Ahkami ("View the provisions")
 Shifa' al-Mawjudin Fi al-Tahqiqat al-Dawwba ("Healing those who are guided in the diligent investigations")
 Shawahid Mudiyat Fi Zawaya al-Qadaya ("Luminous evidence in the corners of the issues")

See also 
 List of Ash'aris

References 

Asharis
Shafi'is
Sunni Muslim scholars of Islam
11th-century Muslim theologians
Sunni fiqh scholars
Hadith scholars
Quranic exegesis scholars
1058 births
1110 deaths