At a glance
- Roles
- Scholar · writer
- Region
- Egypt & Nile
- Review
- Completeness 3/5 · Help complete it
Life in time
Early life and the French period
Hasan ibn Muhammad al-'Attar was a scholar of Maghribi origin, born in Cairo after 1180 AH (1766). He studied at al-Azhar. After Bonaparte's occupation of Egypt he was one of the few 'ulama who entered into relations with the French scholars and took an active interest in the new learning. He then spent many years in Syria and Turkey. 1
Editor and Shaykh al-Azhar
On his return to Egypt he was employed as editor of the official journal, al-Waqa'i' al-Misriyya, founded by Muhammad 'Ali in 1244 AH (1828). In 1245 AH (1830) Muhammad 'Ali installed him as Shaykh al-Azhar; he was thought to be in sympathy with the ruler's programme, and he died in office in 1250 AH (1835). 1
His teaching and his handbook
He was probably most influential as the teacher of Rifa'a Rafi' al-Tahtawi. His handbook of correspondence, the Insha', enjoyed a wide vogue and was often reprinted in Cairo and in India. 1
Sources
- Encyclopaedia of Islam, 2nd edition (Leiden: Brill, 1954–2008), 13 volumes , vol. 1 p. 804
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Hasan al-'Attar”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/person/hasan-al-attar/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-25.