Early life and education Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Abi Hamid al-Umari al-Adawi al-Maliki al-Azhari al-Khalwati was born in 1715 (1127 AH) in the village of Bani Adi in
Asyut, Upper Egypt. He belonged to the al-Umari branch of the
Quraysh tribe, tracing his lineage back to the second Caliph,
Umar ibn al-Khattab. He was nicknamed "al-Dardir" after a pious Arab scholar who had settled in his village. He moved to Cairo to study at Al-Azhar University, where he memorized the
Quran and excelled in religious sciences. He studied under several renowned scholars, most notably: • '''Ali al-Sa'idi al-Adawi:''' From whom he mastered Maliki jurisprudence. •
Shams al-Din al-Hafni: Who initiated him into the
Khalwati order of Sufism. •
Sheikh al-Malawi and
Sheikh al-Jawhari.
Career and character Al-Dardir eventually became the head of the Maliki scholars at Al-Azhar and the supervisor of the Upper Egyptian students' quarters (Riwat al-Sa'ayida). He was known for his asceticism and his firm stance against injustice. A famous anecdote regarding his character involves a visit from an Ottoman governor. When the governor entered Al-Azhar, al-Dardir remained seated, continuing his recitations without standing for the official. When the governor later sent him a bag of money as a gift, al-Dardir refused it, famously stating: "Tell your master, he who stretches out his legs [in prayer] does not stretch out his hand [for money]." == Works ==