Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah

Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah

(The Islamic scholar)

by

Syed Haseena
(unity kids school)

INTRODUCTION

                               

                           Scholars, whom we called as aalim, faqeeh or mujtahid, are the one who struggled throughout their lifetime to bring out our Islamic shariah.¹ In Islam, scholars attained a noble position than others both in duniya and aakhirah.

Allah (subhaana wa taala) praises the scholars, as He says (interpretation of the meaning) –

“Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the nights, prostrating and standing (in prayer) fearing the hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, (like one who does not)? Say, “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?” Only they will remember (who are) people of understanding”.²[Surah al-Zumar 39:9]

                          There are many scholars such as Imam ibn al Qayyim, Imam adh dhahabi, ibn-katheer, ibn al imad al hanbali who provide us the proper shariah and guidance as per the saying of our prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wa salam). Among those scholars, I would like to focus on Shaikh al Islam Ibn taymiyyah in my work to present his noble work in order to spread the Islamic shariah. He was a writer and possess excessive knowledge and understanding of Quran, withholding the Sunnah of our prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wa Salam), history of Islam and authorized more number of books. We can see how he worked hard and struggled throughout his life for the cause of Islam in his biography, it is a great pleasure to discuss noble work and life of such a famous scholar in this assignment.³

Ibn Taymiyyah Birth and Upcoming

                       He was born in Harran on 10 or 12^th of the month Rabi al Awwal 661H. His Father – Abdul Haleem was a scholar of hadeeth and his grandfather was Majdudeen Abul Barakat, the author of Muntaqa al-Akhbar (A famous book) and the family stayed in Harran until he was seven years old then moved to Damascus. Young Ibn taymiyyah was blessed with a sharp memory, at very early age. He memorized the Quran and also memorized large portion of hadith, particularly interested in the history and opinion of the pious ancestor.⁴

HIS TEACHERS

                  Ibn Taymiyyah had studied under many scholars. The total number of scholars who taught ibn taymiyyah may exceeds two hundred including his paternal aunt as he came from the family of scholars. Some of his teachers like Abu al – Abbas Ahmad, Abu Nasr Abdu-l-Aziz, Abu al Faraj Abdur Rahman etc.⁵

Work

·         Ibn Taymiyyah had a constant and unbroken bond with a huge number of Muslims, as he would resolve their issues and would defend for their rights in the face of the rulers and he was even very concerned with the economic issues.

·         During the period when the Tartars were approaching the Damascus to destroy the Islamic civilization, fear gripped the population and many thought to flee from the place but it was our scholar Ibn Taymiyyah who encouraged the people and the generals of the army by saying that “Allah will grant us victory” which eventually brought a great confidence among them and were ready to defeat them.⁶

·         In 13th century Muslim scholar Ibn taymiyyah brings out the first complete English Translation work of a well-known book “Book of Faith”.

·         At Sukkariyyah madarsha, Ibn Taymiyyah’s Father was formely in the respected teaching position and after his death, his position has been given to Ibn Taymiyyah, when he was 22 years old.

·         By the content and delivery of ibn taymiyyah’s lesson, which he recorded in his own handwriting had impressed many Chief such as Chief Qadi, Ibn al zaki al shafi and shaykh Taj al din al fazari and so on.

·         After our well known Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbali, Ibn Taymiyyah was considered as the second most famous Juris consult and Hanbali theologian. The teaching of Ibn Taymiyyah was primarily based on basics concept of Islam which in turn emphasized the Quran and Sunnah of our prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wa salam ) according to our Shariah.⁷

·         Letters from Prison: Ibn Taymiyyah wrote many letters when he was in prison. He wrote a letter to his mother which shows full of concern, leniency and respect that one should possess. Letters for his students and brothers describe the love and advice and moreover he shows forgiveness even towards those who worked to imprison him. This is one side of our scholar which many people do not know.⁸

Trials of ibn Taymiyyah

·         During the period of 693/1293, Ibn Taymiyyah stand against a Christian who blasphemed our Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wa salam) and due to this incident he was imprisoned for a short period but he spend most of his time in writing books like Al sarim al maslul ala shatim al rasul( The Drawn sword on the Blasphemer of the prophet) and the book of al hamawiyyah al kubra which again led him in argument with Asharites who was against his ideas and also the Maliki chief who was against his Islamic teaching made Ibn Taymiyyah to imprisoned again.

·         He was released but asked to refrain himself from Islamic thinking and Sufism which he denied and again was imprisoned.⁹

·         During the period of sultan Malik al Nasir, ibn taymiyyah was released and honored by him. During this period, he wrote Kitab al-siyasah al shariyyah.

·         Again during his return to Damascus, when he started to give fatwas which contradict the hanbali’s doctrine he was again imprisoned. ziyaratal-qubur-visit to tombs, the treatise made him to imprisoned without trail until his death.

·         He was forbidden to use paper, ink or anything to write until his death which was on 20 Dhul al –qadah 728/26.¹⁰

                            

              He spend most of his lifetime in prison and which made him to complete 80 recitals of the Quran and wrote numerous number of books. He never stopped himself from writing even though when he was forbidden to use paper, he use charcoal to write on anything which he can found.

            According to imam Adh dhahabi, Ibn taymiyyah work on 500 books and most of them were in prison.¹¹

Conclusion

          He was given the title Shaykh ul- Islam and his numerous fatwa are a vast source of inspiration. He is the real role model for all the youngster of this ummah. Our ummah needs knowledgeable peoples at all times and in every places. A nation without knowledge and scholars will lie in illusion and sink in darkness. May Allah (Subhaana wa taala) have mercy on Him, please him and be pleased with him.¹²

 

REFERENCE:

¹ Introduction has been taken from the website url:https://islamqa.com.info/en/145071

² Quranic verse from Surah Zumar verse 9 which explains the superiority of knowledgeable scholars.

³ Ibn Taymiyyah, Book of Diseases Of The Hearts & Their Cures, (Pg.13-14) DAAR US SUNNAH PUBLISHERS

⁴   Ibn Taymiyyah, Book of Diseases of The Hearts & Their Cures, (Pg.13-14) DAAR US SUNNAH PUBLISHERS

⁵ Ibn Taymiyyah, Book of Diseases of The Hearts & Their Cures, (Pg.13-14) DAAR US SUNNAH PUBLISHERS

⁶Ibn Taymiyyah‘s Letters from the prison (Pg. 1-4), Kalamullah.com

⁷ Ibn Taymiyyah, KITAB AL IMAN -BOOK OF FAITH, Translated by Salman Hassan Al-Ani , Shadia Ahmed Tel , (pg. 1 – 4) , Islamic Book trust.

⁸ Ibn Taymiyyah ‘s Letters from the prison (Pg:4), Kalamullah.com

⁹ & ¹⁰   Ibn Taymiyyah, KITAB AL IMAN -BOOK OF FAITH, Translated by Salman Hassan Al-Ani, Shadia Ahmed Tel, (pg. 4-7), Islamic Book trust.

¹¹ From the Book of “The Religious and Moral Doctrines of Jihaad” by Ibn Taymiyyah/ Kalamullah.com

 ¹² Conclusion part has been taken from the website url:https://islamqa.com.info/en/10471