Abu al-Thana' al-Lamishi

Abu al-Thana' Mahmud b. Zayd al-Lamishi (أبو الثناء محمود بن زيد اللامِشي) was a Hanafi-Maturidi scholar from Transoxiana, who was alive in the late 5th and early 6th Islamic centuries.

Biography
Very little is known about his life. Despite the value of his books, is not known for his publications and the books of tabaqat do not give much detail regarding his life. He was from a place called Lamish in Fergana (Uzbekistan), and was known as Shaykh al-Islam.

Birth
His date of birth is unknown, but it was reported that he was alive in 539 AH.

Teachers
It is sometimes assumed that he was a student of Imam Abu al-Mu'in al-Nasafi, though this is not known for sure. He has quoted some sayings from Tabsirat al-Adilla by Abu al-Mu'in al-Nasafi (d. 508/1115).

Books
His published books include:
 * Kitab al-Tamhid li-Qawa'id al-Tawhid (كتاب التمهيد لقواعد التوحيد), is considered one of the most important books of the Maturidi theology.
 * Kitab fi Usul al-Fiqh (كتاب في أصول الفقه), is unique amongst works of the usul al-fiqh genre of literature. Unlike other texts, it is arranged more like a glossary and less in accordance with the classic scheme of subject-division in usul books.

Death
His date of death is uncertain, but some reported that he died at the age of 81 during the month of Ramadan 522 A.H. (1128 A.C.). But this is unlikely, because he was alive in 539 AH. Another, more likely, date for his death is given as in the early sixth century A.H./twelfth century C.E., which would make more sense.

Arabic sources

 * كتاب: التمهيد لقواعد التوحيد لأبي المعين النسفي؛ ويليه: (التمهيد لقواعد التوحيد لأبي الثناء اللامشي)، تحقيق وتعليق: أحمد فريد المزيدي، الناشر: دار الكتب العلمية، ص: 9
 * كتاب: جامع المضمرات في شرح مختصر الإمام القدوري، تأليف: يوسف بن عمر بن يوسف الكادوري، دراسة وتحقيق: عمر عبد الرزاق حمد الفياض، الناشر: دار الكتب العلمية، الجزء الثاني، ص: 80