Ahmad bin Abi Bakr bin Ahmad al-Shilli was a Ba Alawi scholar from Tarim born in 1019 AH. Al-Mashra al-Rawi identifies him as the compiler’s brother and records that he memorised the Quran and several foundational texts before studying jurisprudence, hadith, Arabic and related disciplines.
His teachers included his father, Muhammad al-Hadi bin Abd al-Rahman bin Shihab al-Din, Ahmad bin Husayn, Abu Bakr bin Abd al-Rahman bin Shihab al-Din, Abd al-Rahman bin Abdullah Baharun, Zayn al-Abidin al-Aydarus and Abd al-Rahman al-Saqqaf bin Muhammad al-Aydarus. Ahmad later travelled to India, where he pursued Arabic, literary and Sufi studies, and then to the Two Holy Sanctuaries before returning to Tarim.
The biography remembers Ahmad for teaching, literary ability, Arabic, arithmetic and inheritance calculation, generosity toward poor people and travellers, patience, and regular night worship. He died in Tarim in 1057 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 Ahmad bin Abi Bakr bin Ahmad al-Shilli. Later biographical literature independently corroborates his identity, Tarim birth in 1019 AH, travels and death in 1057 AH.
The grave-softening and water-spring karama appearing immediately after this biography in the source belongs to the following Ahmad entry and is not attributed to Ahmad al-Shilli.