Khaberni - Sheikh Al-Azhar Ahmed al-Tayeb mourned the Syrian Azharite scholar Dr. Mohammed Hassan Heito, one of the senior scholars of the fundamentals of jurisprudence and Shafi'i jurisprudence who passed away after a fulfilling journey in scientific and educational giving.
Sheikh Al-Azhar extended his deepest condolences and sympathy to the family of the deceased, his students, and his admirers in the Islamic world, praying that God would envelop him in His vast mercy, that his contributions to knowledge weigh favourably in his balance of good deeds, and that God grants patience and solace to his family and loved ones.
In a statement, Sheikh Al-Azhar said: "Al-Azhar recalls, with great appreciation, the scientific journey of the deceased who was a model of the dedicated Azharite scholar."
Sheikh Al-Azhar added that the Syrian Azharite scholar Dr. Mohammed Hassan Heito insisted in his early life on joining Al-Azhar, so he enrolled in the Faculty of Sharia and Law, continued to excel until he earned a PhD in the fundamentals of jurisprudence, and afterward became one of the prominent figures who served the Islamic library and Shafi'i school through classification, teaching, and foundational work.
Ahmed al-Tayeb noted that Mohammed Hassan Heito left behind jurisprudential encyclopedias and generations of students of knowledge.
The Shafi'i juristic scholar Dr. Mohammed Hassan Heito serves as a link in the chain of contemporary Shafi'i jurists, combining the solidity of the Azharite methodology with scientific research in the fields of fundamentals and legislation. His efforts are reflected in his works and writings, which are a tributary of the moderate Islamic institution, distinguished by his precise foundational views and his significant scientific contributions to the refinement of deduction and jurisprudence.
Who is Dr. Mohammed Hassan Heito?
Dr. Mohammed Hassan Heito was born in Damascus on October 10, 1943. The family of Dr. Mohammed Hassan Heito belonged to the Sheikhan tribe, an Arab tribe that lived among the Kurds and traced its origins to Sheikh Abdul Qadir Gilani, whose lineage goes back to Hassan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib, may God be pleased with him.
The Heito family was renowned for its focus on religious sciences; the father of the Sheikh was a prominent military leader in the Ottoman Empire.
The Sheikh grew up an orphan after his mother died when he was 9 months old, and his father died when he was six years old, so his aunt took him in and cared for him and his assets.
His Journey to Al-Azhar Al-Sharif
His parents were keen on educating him; he entered primary and then middle school, followed by Jadat al-Hashimi Secondary School, excelled in high school, and originally intended to travel to Germany to study rockets and satellites, given his scientific and mathematical orientation. However, when he was in the eleventh grade, his academic interests shifted to studying religious sciences, and he told his family he wanted to go to Al-Azhar Mosque, which his father flatly refused. Nevertheless, the Sheikh insisted on traveling to Al-Azhar, telling his family, "If I have one day left to live, I will spend it in Al-Azhar." Despite his father's opposition, he was forced to enroll at the Faculty of Sharia at the University of Damascus.
When his father learned of this, he was angered and forced him to withdraw from it. He withdrew and enrolled in the Department of Geology at the Faculty of Arts, which he was completely uninterested in. He then told his family that he wanted to go to Germany, and his father was pleased and agreed to this. However, his desire to study at Al-Azhar outweighed his father’s insistence and refusal. Without his father's knowledge, he managed to obtain a passport to Cairo. He first traveled to Jordan, claiming he was on a university trip, in 1964. From Jordan, he traveled to Cairo. Upon arrival, they attempted to prevent him from entering and wanted to return him to Syria, but he refused and insisted on staying, remaining at the airport until an exceptional decree allowed his entry.
His Scientific Works
Sheikh Mohammed Hassan Heito is one of the leading contemporary Shafi'i jurists with a distinguished academic output that demonstrates his mastery of the scientific craft. His works include:
The Quranic Miracle - Scientific and Supernatural Qur'anic Miracles.
Al-Mursal Hadith: Its Validity and its Impact on Islamic Jurisprudence.
A System in the History of Hadith Terminology.
A System in the Narrators of Al-Muwatta.
Al-Wajiz in the Fundamentals of Legislation.
Al-Khulasa in the Fundamentals of Jurisprudence.
At-Tabsira in the Fundamentals of Jurisprudence.
At-Tamheed in Citing the Branches on the Fundamentals.
Al-Qawati' in the Fundamentals of Jurisprudence.
The Principles and Rules.
Ijtihad and Types of Mujtahids.
The Layers of Shafi'i Mujtahids.
Imam Abu Ishaq Al-Shirazi (His Life and Principles).
The Pretenders.
Rationality and the Supernatural.
Unveiling the Lawfulness of Qunoot in Fajr Prayer.
Fiqh of Fasting.
Delight in the Rulings of Nursing.
The Impurity and Consumption of Insects.
Religion and Science.
Poetry Collection: Candles of Memories and Groaning of Tears.
Poetry Collection: In the Procession of the Call, Pain...
