He is Abul-Qaasim Hibatullaah ibn al-Hasan ibn Mansoor ar-Raazee, at-Tabaree, al-Laalikaa'ee. The author of the
encyclopedia of the 'aqeedah of the Salaf called Sharh Usool I'tiqaad Ahlis-Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah.
He lived in a time
of great confusion and political strife and division. A time when innovations were widespread and were propagated by their
profounder and followers, including the Mu'tazilah, the Qadariyyah, the Khawaarij, the Murjiah, the Rawaafid and others besides
them. Around his time many of the scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah stood to author books in defense of the 'aqeedah of
the Companions, the Taabe'een and the Salaf after them and to warn against the widespread innovations.
However, the
book of al-Laalikaa'ee is the most comprehensive of all those books and its reader can delight in the abundance of knowledge
and guidance contained therein. He reports from more than 180 people and this indicates the large number of Shaykhs he learnt
from.
Amongst his students was the famous al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee who said about him in his Taareekh Baghdaad (14/70),
"We wrote from him and he used to understand and memorize (well)."
Ibn Katheer said about him in al-Bidaayah (12/24),
"He used to understand and memorize and he (was always) concerned and anxious about hadeeth." He was known for his precision
and his perspicacity in hadeeth.
One of his students saw Abul-Qaasim al-Laalikaa'ee after his death in a good dream.
Al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee mentions this and those after him narrate it from him, 'Alee ibn al-Hasan ibn Jadaa al-'Akbaree
said, 'I saw Abul-Qaasim at-Tabaree in a dream and I said to him. What has Allaah done with you?' He said, 'He has forgiven
me.' I said, 'For what reason?' And it was as if he said in a word in a lowered, subdued voice, 'The Sunnah.'
He died
in the year 418H whilst he was middle-aged, before he became famous for his knowledge and his works, may Allaah have mercy
upon him.
Refer to the introduction to Sharh Usoolil-Itiqaad (1/65-101) by Ahmad Sa'd Hamdaan for more details.
