Abū Bakr Muḥammad ibn aṭ-Ṭayyib al-Bāqillānī (; c. 950 - 5 June 1013), often known as al-Bāqillānī for short, was a famous Sunni scholar who specialized in theology, jurisprudence, logic and hadith who spent much of his life defending and strengthening the Ash'ari school of theology within Islam. An accomplished rhetorical stylist and orator, al-Baqillani was held in high regard by his contemporaries for his expertise in debating theological and jurisprudential issues. Al-Dhahabi called him "The Learned Imam, Incomparable Master, Foremost of the Scholars, Author of many books, The Example of Articulateness and Intelligence." Biography Born in Basra in 330 AH / 950 CE, he spent most of his life in Baghdad, and studied theology under two disciples of al-Ash'ari, Ibn Mujahid at-Ta'i and Abul-Hasan al-Bahili. He also studied jurisprudence under the Maliki scholars Abu 'Abdillah ash-Shirazi and Ibn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawani. After acquiring expertise in both Islamic theology and Maliki jurisprudence he expounding the teachings of the Ash'ari school, and taught Maliki jurisprudence in Baghdad. He held the office of chief Qadi in Baghdad and in 'Ukbara, a town not far from the capital. Al-Baqillani became a popular lecturer, and took part in debates with well-known scholars of the day. Al-Baqillani was a hadith scholar, having studied under prominent hadith scholars such as Abu Bakr ibn Malik Al-Qotaie, Abu Muhammad ibn Massi and others especially by Imam Al-Daraqutni, who was one of the leading scholars of Hadith at his time and who once kissed Baqillani's forehead (which is a sign of sincere respect) and said of him: “This is a man who will refute the allegations of people of false beliefs.” Because of his debate skill, the Amir 'Adud ad-Dawlah dispatched him as an envoy to the Byzantine court in Constantinople and he debated Christian scholars in the presence of their king in 371/981. He debated and defeated multiple Christian theologians on matters pertaining the differences between Islam and Christianity. Creed He supported the doctrine of the apologetic miracle being proof of prophecy, the non-creation of the Qur'an, intercession, and the possibility of seeing God. Death He died in 403 AH / 1013 CE. When Al-Baqillani died, the leading Imam of the Hanbalis who was Imam Baqillani's best friend of seven years, Imam Abu al-Fadl al-Tamimi, came barefoot to his funeral with many of his fellow Hanbali scholars and the funeral was packed with huge gatherings. Imam Al-Tamini was