Shaykh Shams al-Din, the Preacher of Damascus

Shaykh Shams al-Dīn Muḥammad b. Shaykh Aḥmad b. ʿUthmān. He was from Ahlāt. He was the imam of Kilāsa. He was a scholar of beautiful appearance, much worship, serenity, and dignity. For about forty years, he served as the imam of the Kilāsa Mosque. Then, without any personal desire or request, he was offered the position of khatīb (preacher) of the Damascus Mosque, and for six and a half months he went there and performed this duty very well. He had a beautiful voice and pleasant melody. He was well versed in the art of music. Nevertheless, he was a devout and worshipful person. He had listened to ḥadīth. On the eighth of Shawwāl of this year, on a Wednesday, at the age of sixty-two, he passed away suddenly at the Dar al-Khiṭābah. The funeral prayer was performed at the Damascus Mosque. While the prayer was being performed, the mosque was completely full. Then the funeral prayer was also performed at Sukūk al-Khayl. The deputy of the sultan, emirs, and the public were present at this prayer. For this reason, shops and marketplaces were closed. Afterwards, his funeral was taken to the Ṣafīḥ Cemetery at the foot of Mount Qāsyūn. May Allah have mercy on him.