Jamal al-Din al-Qasimi

Jamal al-Din al-Qasimi was a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad from both of his grandsons, Hasan and Husayn. He studied under various scholars in Damascus and became proficient in various Islamic sciences, such as Quran, Hadith, Fiqh, Tafsir, and Kalam. He was also interested in modern sciences and languages, and learned French, English, and Turkish. He was a prominent figure of the Salafi movement in Syria, and advocated for reform and revival of Islamic thought and practice. He was influenced by Muhammad Abduh and Muhammad Rashid Rida, and corresponded with them regularly. He wrote many books and articles on various topics, such as Quranic exegesis, jurisprudence, theology, history, and biography. He also traveled to different places, such as Jerusalem, Egypt, and other Syrian cities, to spread his knowledge and ideas. He faced opposition and persecution from the Ottoman authorities and the traditional clergy, who accused him of deviating from the orthodox doctrine. He was arrested and imprisoned several times, but he never gave up his mission. He died in Damascus in 1914 at the age of 47. He was buried in the Bab al-Saghir Cemetery, where many other prominent figures are also buried. He left behind a legacy of scholarship and reform that inspired many Muslims in Syria and beyond.