Allaah said, “those who were given the Scriptures did not differ except out of mutual jealousy and hatred (bagyan) after knowledge had come to them.” Informing that their differing arose after the coming of knowledge that made clear to them as to what they should steer clear of – for indeed Allaah does not let a people become misguided after He guided them except after telling them what they should steer clear of.
al-Imam Siraj ad-Din Abu Hafs ‘Umar bin ‘Ali bin Musa bin Khalil al-Baghdadi al-Bazzar wrote a long, first hand account of the life of Ibn Taymiyyah, who was his personal friend and companion. The book is called ‘al-A’lam al-’Aliyyah fi Manaqib Ibn Taymiyyah,’ and this is a very, very small glimpse from it… The book has been translated and can be read HERE.
Teachers of Ibn Taymiyyah
January 13, 2008
Debunking the assertion that Imam Ibn Taymiyyah acquired knowledge mainly from books[1]
When one speaks or writes about the great and immaculate personality of Shaykh ul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and the Scholastic position he has occupied in Islam, you will be charged of doing two things: his followers and supporters will assert that you have not done justice to his high rank, and his detractors will accuse you of unnecessarily over praising him beyond its proper due as this accusation was levied against Imam Adh-Dhahabi when he spoke about his teacher. However, without seeming too dogmatic perhaps the sentiments of the former party outweigh some of the evasive attitudes of the latter in regards to Ibn Taymiyyah.
Ibn Taymiyyah: Misunderstood Genius - Dr Rachid Ghannuchi*
January 8, 2008
The Life and Legacy of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah
The name Ibn Taymiyyah is not unknown to those currently interested in Islam and Muslims, be they activists, thinkers, journalists or others. Yet too often, little beyond the name and a hazy preconception of this man is known to people. So who was Ibn Taymiyyah about whom such controversy persists eight centuries after his death?
Ahmed Taqi ud-Din Ibn Taymiyyah came from a prominent Hanbali family known in the field of Shari’ah. He was born in Harran [between modern-day Syria and Turkey] on 10 Rabi’ al-Awwal 661 AH/1263 AD. He remained there until the age of seven, when the Mongol invasion took over the region spreading terror and destruction. The Ibn Taymiyyah family left under the cover of night, carrying the most precious possessions for a family of knowledge – books. The dangerous journey to Damascus had a great influence on the young Ibn Taymiyyah, instilling in him hatred of the Tatar occupier. It is then not surprising that he dedicated his life to opposing them through his pen, tongue and sword, and to urging the rulers and the ruled to resist them, through liberating the Ummah from innovations and the negative creeds which in his view constituted the causes for disabling the Ummah’s capacities and killing in it the spirit of Jihad and Ijtihad.
The Lofty Virtues of Ibn Taymiyyah - Imam al-Bazzar*
January 6, 2008
Imam Hafidh al-Bazzar said:
“…When I learned of the death of the scholar and educator of this Ummah - the Imām, the mujtahid, the defender of the pure Sharī’ah and Prophetic Sunnah, Shaykh al-Islām Taqī ad-Dīn Abī al-‘Abbās Ahmad bin ‘Abd al-Halīm bin ‘Abd as-Salām bin Taymiyyah (may Allāh sanctify his soul and brighten his grave) - some of the scholars and those who loved good for the Muslims said to me: “You saw and befriended the Shaykh, and you came to know him and his characteristics. If only you could write a few words regarding what you saw in order to benefit whoever of this Ummah comes across them, since mercy descends when we remember the righteous people.”
So, I responded: “I only accompanied him for a few days, and I only know few of this many virtues.” However, I saw that they intended good and that what they were requesting of me was a right and obligation upon me, as the scholar should be keen to spread and distribute what he thinks will be of value to the Muslims. So, I produced a small effort describing his virtues which will give the intelligent reader an idea of the honor and excellence of this man. I divided it into sections in order that it be a guide to those who reflect, and I included all that I could remember under each one…”
To read the complete book please click Here.
*Translated by Abu Sabaayaa courtesy of www.islamicawakening.com
Reply from Imam Zaid & my Response
November 29, 2007
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of All the Worlds. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets, and upon his family and Companions.
Alahmdulillah, Imam Zaid Shakir responded to the response I forwarded to him concerning the statements he made about Imam Ibn Taymiyyah. The reason why I am responding is that I feel it is everyone’s duty as Muslims to defend what he or she feels is correct. I do not by any means desire to put myself amongst such charismatic individuals such as Imam Zaid, but I love Imam Ibn Taymiyyah and I will continue to defend him as best as I am able. I am not a fanatic follower of Imam Ibn Taymiyyah, he was a human being, and he erred and committed mistakes. I am with sincere intentions Insha’Allah protecting the position of the Ahlus Sunnah (and I am not implying that Imam Zaid is not part of the Ahlus Sunnah). If we ascertain that Ibn Taymiyyah was mistaken in some matters, we will not follow him in that. We love him but the truth is more beloved to us.
Response to Imam Zaid Shakir concerning his comments on Shaykhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah
November 27, 2007
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of All the Worlds. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets, and upon his family and Companions.
Recently I came across some comments by Imam Zaid Shakir [www.zaidshakir.com] regarding the great Imam Ibn Taymiyyah and the many ‘apparent’ deviations he had from the Sunni Scholars of the past. The accusations and claims that the respectable Imam presented are not new. However, they are all inaccurate and imprecise. Below are some comments I compiled and forwarded to the Imam. These were mainly compilations and translations from various books and articles. The comments by Imam Zaid Shakir are given in italic font, and his other comments on various other issues can be found Here
