The Life of Ibn Ḥanbal is a translation of the biography of Ibn Hanbal by the Baghdad preacher, scholar, and storyteller Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597/1200), newly abridged for a paperback readership by translator Michael Cooperson. Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal (d. 241/855), renowned for his profound knowledge of hadiths—the reports of the Prophet’s sayings and deeds—is a major figure in the history of Islam. He was famous for living according to his own strict interpretation of the Prophetic model and for denying himself the most basic comforts, even though his family was prominent and his city, Baghdad, was then one of the wealthiest in the world. Ibn Ḥanbal’s piety and austerity made him a folk hero, especially after he resisted the attempts of two caliphs to force him to accept rationalist doctrine. His subsequent imprisonment and flogging is one of the most dramatic episodes of medieval Islamic history, and his principled resistance influenced the course of Islamic law, the rise of Sunnism, and the legislative authority of the caliphate. Set against the background of fierce debates over the role of reason and the basis of legitimate government, The Life of Ibn Ḥanbal tells the formidable life tale of one of the most influential Muslims in history. An English-only edition.

Ahmad ibn Hanbal (d. 241 H/855 AD), renowned for his profound knowledge of hadith--the reports of the Prophet's sayings and deeds--is a major figure in the history of Islam. Ibn Hanbal was famous for living according to his own strict interpretation of the Prophetic model and for denying himself even the most basic comforts in a city then one of the wealthiest in the word, and despite belonging to a prominent family. His piety and austerity made him a folk hero, especially after his principled resistance to the attempts of two Abbasid caliphs to force him to accept rationalist doctrine. His subsequent imprisonment and flogging became one of the most dramatic episodes of medieval Islamic history. Ibn Hanbal's resistance influenced the course of Islamic law, the rise of Sunnism, and the legislative authority of the caliphate. tells the formidable life tale of one of the most influential Muslims in history. Virtues of the Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal is a translation of the biography of Ibn Hanbal penned by the Baghdad preacher, scholar, and storyteller Ibn al-Jawzi (d. 597 H/1201 AD). Volume One presents the first half of the text, offering insights into Ibn Hanbal's childhood, education, and adult life, including his religious doctrines, his dealings with other scholars, and his personal habits. Set against the background of fierce debates over the role of reason and the basis of legitimate government, Virtues of the Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal tells the formidable life tale of one of the most influential Muslims in history.

“Since the honorable Imam Ahmad Ibn-Hanbal is the fourth of the Imams following the Prophet (pbuh), we have dedicated this book to inform about his great character, the character of a man who has many merits from those of the companions of the Prophet (pbuh). Our talk about Imam Ahmad includes all the stages of his life. Since his early childhood, to his young adulthood, his youth and finally adulthood, which all helped in directing him towards being an Imam of Sunnah (Sunnah: The Prophet’s tradition and life-style) till he became an Imam of Fiqh (Fiqh: Islamic Jurisprudence.)”

This is a letter from Imam Ahmad i (may Allah have mercy on him). The treatise by Imam ibn Hanbal, the Imam of the Hanbali school of juristic reasoning, renowned for his steep knowledge, was written several hundred years ago to the inhabitants of a town where the Imam stayed for a period of time. It contains a full and clear description of the prayer and includes detailed observations of the mistakes, which Imam Ahmad observed during his time in that town. It was and remains an invaluable work for all Muslims. Detailing as it does many common errors made during prayers, some of which are serious enough to invalidate the act of worship.

Short biographies of the most influential Muslims in history and today. A must-have book.

Like everything, the present universe will also come to an end, and it is a part of our faith to believe in the Last Day. The signs of the Day of Judgment have been foretold by our Prophet (S). Ibn Kathir has collected all the prophesies of the Prophet (S) in his book Al-Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah.

The saints of Allah (Ahl-Allah) were always tested in different ways, the prophets (peace be upon them) were tested and examined to a very high degree and the magnitude and intensity of the trails of our Prophet Muhammad (May Allah send Prayers and Peace upon him) becomes clear to us through the study of Qur'an and Ahadith. Many among the Ummah had trodden such paths and destinies where even the strongest and the mightiest would have perished. Even if we overlook the events of display of Ishq Ilahi (Divine Love) and sacrifices during the era of the Sahaaba & Tabi'een (May Allah be Pleased with Them) and take a look at the later stages, then too it will only make the list of trials and examinations lengthier. The name of Husayn Ibn Mansur Hallaj (May Allah's Mercy be upon him) and the utterance of "Ana al-Haqq" has been written in big and bold words in this lengthy list.A prominent feature of the trail of Husayn Ibn Mansur Hallaj is that from the beginning of the 4th century Hijri to the first half of the 14th century, the scholars of the Muslim Ummah have been in extraordinary kind of doubtfulness and uncertainty over his integrity and loyalty regardless of his lofty status, because of the carelessness in the reports playing a huge role in painting a wrong picture of the historical accounts. However, a few elite scholars and the 'Aarifeen (knowers of Allah) had investigated the soundness of the historical accounts and found Husayn b. Mansur to be in the lofty spiritual stage of Aarif Billah and Fana Fillah. When Hakim al-Ummat Hadhrat Thanwi reviewed these investigations, he found the trails of Husayn b. Mansur similar to the trails of Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (may Allah be pleased with him). In order to illustrate this fact, Hakim al-Ummat (May Allah be pleased with him) collected all the materials available in the form of historical traditions and research references related to Husayn b, Mansur and in the light of the collected materials, ordered his prominent student, Maulana Zafar Ahmad 'Uthmani to compile such a complete biography of Shaykh Fana fi-Allah Husayn b. Mansur (May Allah be Pleased with him) which along with explaining his lofty status and mysticism and the lofty stage of his Divine love, also refutes the allegations, doubts and uncertainties surrounding him. Mufti Muhammad Taqi Uthmani