Patrick Bensen
Abu ad-Darda': A Biography

ABU AD-DARDA’ al-Khazraji al-Ansari رضي الله عنه was a noble sahabi who was an authority on the Qur’an. He was renowned for his piety, abstinence and strict adherence to the religion. Faith in Allah and His Messenger ﷺ permeated his entire being. He was one of the few who collected the Qur’an as it was being revealed.

His Acceptance of Islam رضي الله عنه

One morning, ‘Uwaymir ibn Malik al-Khazraji, also known as Abu al-Darda’ رضي الله عنه, woke up early and went to his personal idol, which he kept in the best spot of the house. He rubbed the idol with the most expensive perfume sold at his shop, and draped it with an exquisite silk cloak which had been gifted to him the day before by a trader returning from Yemen.

Abu ad-Darda': A Biography
Companions
Patrick Bensen
Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه: A Biography

ABU HURAIRA ad-Dawsi al-Yamani رضي الله عنه was noble sahabi and a prolific narrator of ahadith, in spite of the short period of time of his contact with the Prophet ﷺ. He is revered by the folk of tasawwuf as one of the ahl as-suffa.

His acceptance of Islam

Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه became a Muslim at the hands of at-Tufail b. ‘Amr رضي الله عنه, the chieftain of the Daws tribe to which he belonged. The Daws lived in the region of Tihama which stretches along the coast of the Red Sea in southern Arabia.

When at-Tufail رضي الله عنه returned to his village after meeting with the Prophet ﷺ and becoming a Muslim in the early years of his mission, he was one of the first to respond to his call, unlike the majority of the Daws who remained stubborn in their old beliefs for a long time.

Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه: A Biography
Scholars
Patrick Bensen
Imam 'Izz al-Din ibn 'Abd al-Salam: A ...

He is Abu Muhammad ‘Izz al-Din ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn ‘Abd al-Salam ibn Abi al-Qasim al-Sulami. He was of Moroccan origin but born in Damascus. However, he later resided in Egypt and passed away there. He was Shafi’i in madhhab and is nicknamed “Sultan al-‘Ulama’”.

His Birth and Death

Historians have agreed that al-‘Izz passed away in Egypt in the year 660 AH (1260 CE). They are also in agreement that he was born in Damascus, Syria. However, they differed over whether the year of his passing was 577 AH (1181 CE) or 578 AH (1182 CE).

His Upbringing and His Seeking Knowledge

The books of history and hagiography do not record anything of note regarding the upbringing of al-‘Izz or his family, except what Ibn al-Subki narrates, that in the beginning of his life, he was extremely poor.

Imam 'Izz al-Din ibn 'Abd al-Salam: A Biography
Scholars
Patrick Bensen
Imam al-Nawawi: A Biography

Al-Nawawi is the Imam, the unique hafiz and exemplar, the Sheikh of Islam, the emblem of the saints, Muhyi al-Din Abu Zakariyyah Yahya ibn Sharaf ibn Murri al-Huzami al-Harani al-Shafi’i. He is the author of many beneficial works.

His Life

Imam al-Nawawi was born in the month of Muharram in the year 631 AH (October 1233 CE) and moved to Damascus in the year 649 AH (1251-1252 CE). There, he stayed in the madrasah ‘al-Rawahiyah’ living off of bread. He memorized al-Tanbih in four and a half months and spent the rest of the year studying and memorizing a quarter of al-Muhadhdhab with his sheikh, al-Kamal ibn Ahmad. After that, he performed hajj with his father and stayed in Madinah a month and a half. However, he was sick the majority of the trip.

Imam al-Nawawi: A Biography
Scholars
Patrick Bensen
Shaykh Salih al-Ja'fari: A Biography

Shaykh Salih al-Ja’fari رَحِمَهُ الله hailed from the Dongola region in Sudan. He was born in 15 Jumada al-Thaniyah/24 June of the year 1328/1910. The sheikh conducted his preliminary studies in the famous Old Mosque situated in his native home country, where he managed to memorize the entire Qur’an by heart. The sheikh then journeyed to Egypt after deciding to conduct formal studies at al-Azhar University. During his time there, the sheikh was able to communicate with some of his existing family members who lived in Salmiyyah, a small town situated in the outskirts of Luxor.

Shaykh Salih al-Ja'fari: A Biography

Scholars

Shaykh Muhammad al-Mahdi al-Fasi: A Biography

Shaykh Muhammad al-Mahdi al-Fasi: A Biography

Abū ʿĪsā Abū ʿAbdullāh Muhammad al-Mahdī ibn Aḥmad ibn ʿAlī ibn Yūsuf al-Fihrī al-Fāsī, known as Muhammad al-Mahdī al-Fāsī (Arabic: محمد المهدي الفاسي), was a famous jurist, muḥaddith, Sufi, biographer, and historian from Fez. He was born in Ksar al-Kebir on Saturday, the 29th of Rajab, in the year 1033 AH (17 May 1642 CE). His ancestors were an Andalusian family that had immigrated from Malaga in the fifteenth century and settled in Fez. His family became one of the most prominent in both the scholarly and Sufi circles, as well as the merchant class in Fez. The family produced several notable scholars. His grandfather, Abū al-Maḥāsin Yūsuf al-Fāsī started the Fāsī Sufi network. And it was in this setting that the Shaykh grew up.

He began his studies with his father, Aḥmad ibn Yūsuf al-Fāsī (d. 1084 AH/1673 CE) and his paternal uncle Abū Muhammad ʿAbd al-Qādir ibn ʿAlī ibn Yūsuf al-Fāsī (d. 1091 AH/1680 CE). And he continued his studies, learning at the feet of many of the prominent scholars who were known for deep knowledge.

Imam 'Izz al-Din ibn 'Abd al-Salam: A Biography

Imam 'Izz al-Din ibn 'Abd al-Salam: A Biography

He is Abu Muhammad ‘Izz al-Din ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn ‘Abd al-Salam ibn Abi al-Qasim al-Sulami. He was of Moroccan origin but born in Damascus. However, he later resided in Egypt and passed away there. He was Shafi’i in madhhab and is nicknamed “Sultan al-‘Ulama’”.

His Birth and Death

Historians have agreed that al-‘Izz passed away in Egypt in the year 660 AH (1260 CE). They are also in agreement that he was born in Damascus, Syria. However, they differed over whether the year of his passing was 577 AH (1181 CE) or 578 AH (1182 CE).

His Upbringing and His Seeking Knowledge

The books of history and hagiography do not record anything of note regarding the upbringing of al-‘Izz or his family, except what Ibn al-Subki narrates, that in the beginning of his life, he was extremely poor.

Imam al-Nawawi: A Biography

Imam al-Nawawi: A Biography

Al-Nawawi is the Imam, the unique hafiz and exemplar, the Sheikh of Islam, the emblem of the saints, Muhyi al-Din Abu Zakariyyah Yahya ibn Sharaf ibn Murri al-Huzami al-Harani al-Shafi’i. He is the author of many beneficial works.

His Life

Imam al-Nawawi was born in the month of Muharram in the year 631 AH (October 1233 CE) and moved to Damascus in the year 649 AH (1251-1252 CE). There, he stayed in the madrasah ‘al-Rawahiyah’ living off of bread. He memorized al-Tanbih in four and a half months and spent the rest of the year studying and memorizing a quarter of al-Muhadhdhab with his sheikh, al-Kamal ibn Ahmad. After that, he performed hajj with his father and stayed in Madinah a month and a half. However, he was sick the majority of the trip.

Shaykh Salih al-Ja'fari: A Biography

Shaykh Salih al-Ja'fari: A Biography

Shaykh Salih al-Ja’fari رَحِمَهُ الله hailed from the Dongola region in Sudan. He was born in 15 Jumada al-Thaniyah/24 June of the year 1328/1910. The sheikh conducted his preliminary studies in the famous Old Mosque situated in his native home country, where he managed to memorize the entire Qur’an by heart. The sheikh then journeyed to Egypt after deciding to conduct formal studies at al-Azhar University. During his time there, the sheikh was able to communicate with some of his existing family members who lived in Salmiyyah, a small town situated in the outskirts of Luxor.

Imam al-Ghazali: A Biography and Introduction

Imam al-Ghazali: A Biography and Introduction

He is the Imam, the Beauty of Religion and Proof of Islam, Abu Hamid Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Ghazali of Tus, then Nishapur - the jurist, Sufi, Shafi'i, and Ash'ari.

His Birth and Upbringing

He was born in the city of Tus, the second city of Khorasan after Nishapur, in the year 450 A.H.

Ibn 'Asakir said:

Imam Ghazali was born in Tus in the year four-hundred and fifty. He began with some jurisprudence (fiqh) there as a child. He then went to Nishapur where he attended the lessons of Imam al-Haramayn [al-Juwayni]. He strove earnestly and exerted himself until he graduated after a brief period of time. He emerged as the most discerning man of his era and singular amongst his peers. He was assigned to teach and offer guidance to students during the lifetime of his imam, and he also authored works.

Sayyid Muhammad bin 'Alawi al-Maliki al-Hasani: A Biography

Sayyid Muhammad bin 'Alawi al-Maliki al-Hasani: A Biography

Al-Sayyid Muhammad bin ‘Alawi bin Abbas al-Maliki al-Hasani was one of the foremost traditional Islamic scholars of contemporary times, and without doubt, the most highly respected and loved scholar of the holy city of Mecca and the entire Hijaz region (Western Arabia).

The Shaykh is a grandson of the Prophet ﷺ, a leader of the Ahl al-Bayt, the Imam of Hadith in our age, an authority of the four Madhhabs, a spiritual leader of the highest calibre, a caller to Allah par excellence, and unparalleled in his standing in the world of traditional Islamic scholarship.

Visiting him was considered imperative for the Ulama who would visit Mecca.

Qadi ‘Iyad: A Biography

Qadi ‘Iyad: A Biography

He is the Imam, the unique Hafiz, Shaykh al-Islam, 'Allamah, Qadi Abu al-Fadl 'Iyad b. Musa b. 'Iyad b. 'Umar b. Musa b. 'Iyad al-Yahsubi al-Andalusi al-Sibti al-Maliki.

Early Life

Qadi ‘Iyad was born in the year 476/1083-84, six months after the Almoravid takeover of the city. His ancestors left Andalus for Fez and then settled in Ceuta.

At the age of 22, Qadi 'Iyad obtained a license (ijazah) from Hafiz Abu 'Ali al-Ghasani. This allowed Qadi 'Iyad to take knowledge from him. The Qadi had otherwise not studied the Islamic sciences at an early age.

Imam al-Tirmidhi: A Biography

Imam al-Tirmidhi: A Biography

His full name is Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn Sawra ibn Musa ibn al-Dahhad al-Sulami al-Tirmidhi, from the city of Tirmidh, located in present-day southern Uzbekistan. It is also said that his name was Muhammad ibn ‘Isa ibn Yazid ibn Sawra ibn al-Sakan.

Imam al-Tirmidhi was born in the month of Dhu al-Hijja in the year 209 AH (824 CE). His grandfather Sawra was from the city of Merv in present-day Turkmenistan, and later moved to the village of Bugh.

Ahmad Ibn Ajibah: A Biography

Ahmad Ibn Ajibah: A Biography

Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad b. Muhammad b. al-Mahdi Ibn ‘Ajibah al-Hasani, known simply as Ibn ‘Ajibah, was born in 1160 AH (1746 CE) in Khamis, a coastal Moroccan town located between Tangier and Tetouan. He was a Sharif, a noble descendant of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace).

From his infancy, he felt an attraction to the faith and the religious sciences. He first studied in his town, then in Tetouan and finally in Fez. In Fez, he was granted various licenses to teach from different teachers. When he was around thirty years old, he returned to Tetouan, where he began to study the Sacred Law and composed works on jurisprudence [fiqh] and Hadiz.

Imam al-Qushayri: A Biography

Imam al-Qushayri: A Biography

Imam al-Qushayri was born in the month of Rabi’ al-Awwal in the year 376 AH (July, 986 CE), in the town of Istiwa, in the region of Khorasan in Persia.

His ascription “al-Qushayri” refers to his ancestors, the Bani Qushayr b. Ka’b. Imam al-Qushayri was raised as an orphan, as his father passed away while he was still a young child.

Education & Training

In order to understand al-Qushayri’s life & education, one must first understand the culture of his time. Al-Qushayri was born into an extraordinary Muslim civilization that is difficult to imagine today.

Imam Al-Suyuti: A Biography

Imam Al-Suyuti: A Biography

A giant among contemporary scholars, Imam al-Suyuti produced a sustained output of important writings until his death at the age of sixty two. His works are influential into the present day.

Imam Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, also known as Ibn al-Suyuti, was a mujtahid imam and reformer of the tenth Islamic century. Al-Suyuti was a prominent Hadith Master, jurist, Sufi, philologist, and historian, who authored works in virtually every Islamic science.