Abu Bakr bin Alawi bin Abdullah was a Ba Alawi scholar of Tarim remembered in Al-Mashra al-Rawi by the epithet al-Shaybah. He was born in Tarim, memorised the Quran and pursued both jurisprudence and the spiritual disciplines associated with the Ba Alawi scholarly tradition.
The biography identifies Abd al-Rahman al-Saqqaf as an important teacher from Abu Bakr’s youth and says that Abu Bakr accompanied him in residence and travel. Abd al-Rahman invested him with the khirqa, authorised him in spiritual instruction and praised his learning. Abu Bakr developed a particular attachment to Imam al-Ghazali’s Ihya Ulum al-Din.
A visionary account in the received tradition
Al-Mashra al-Rawi preserves an account in which Abd al-Rahman al-Saqqaf described a visionary encounter with a man who addressed him. When Abu Bakr asked for the man’s description, he identified the figure as Imam al-Ghazali from the description given. The narrative is preserved as part of the devotional memory surrounding Abu Bakr’s relationship with his teacher and his deep engagement with al-Ghazali’s works.
After Abd al-Rahman al-Saqqaf’s death, Abu Bakr remained closely associated with Umar al-Mihdar. He later taught and instructed students and was remembered for Quran recitation, remembrance of Allah, seclusion and careful use of his time.
Abu Bakr died in 887 AH and was buried in Zanbal Cemetery.
Lineage and source note
Primary source: Al-Mashra al-Rawi fi Manaqib al-Sada al-Kiram Al Abi Alawi, volume 2, biography of Abu Bakr bin Alawi bin Abdullah. It records his Tarim upbringing, study with Abd al-Rahman al-Saqqaf, association with Umar al-Mihdar, teaching activity and death in 887 AH.
Scholarly connections
Teacher: Abd al-Rahman al-Saqqaf. Al-Mashra al-Rawi explicitly says that Abu Bakr studied with him from a young age, accompanied him in residence and travel, and received authorisation from him.