جامع العلوم والحكم


About The Compendium of Knowledge and Wisdom (part 2)


Imam ibn Rajab Al Hanbali رحمه الله and his book

Imam ibn Rajab Al Hanbali رحمه الله , like Imam Nawawi رحمه الله too was a great and unique scholar of this ummah. His full name is, Zayn-ud-Deen ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin Ahmad bin ‘Abdir-Rahmaan (Rajab - nickname as his grandfather was born in the month of Rajab) bin al-Hasan bin Muhammad bin Abil-Barakaat Mas’ood As-Salaamee Al-Baghdaadee (due to his place of birth), Al-Hanbalee (due to his madhab), Ad-Dimashqee (due to his place of residence and death). He رحمه الله was born in 736 a.h a.h and passed away in 795 a.h. There is a difference of opinion as to where he was born, some say Damascus and others say Baghdad.

He رحمه الله studied under the likes of Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah رحمه الله, Zayn-ud-Deen al-‘Iraaqee رحمه الله, Ibn an-Naqeeb رحمه الله, Sadr-ud-Deen Abul-Fath al-Maydoomee رحمه الله, Naasir-ud-Deen bin al-Mulook رحمه الله as well as many more. Ibn Rajab رحمه الله's gatherings and durus were filled with many people and he had great effect on the hearts of the listeners.

Shaykh Nasurd Deen رحمه الله has related that a few days before Imam ibn Rajab رحمه الله passed away he went to the graveyard, he pointed out to the digger where he would like his grave. Imam ibn Rajab رحمه الله thereafter entered the grave rested in it and was content with it. A few days later he passed away and was buried in the exact same place he pointed out. Heرحمه الله passed away on the 4th of Ramadhan 795 a.h.

He رحمه الله was a master of many fields including; the science of the transmission of ahadeeth (اسانيد) and the names of narrators (اسماء الرجال). Imam Ibn Rajab رحمه الله has written books on ahadeeth, tafseer and fiqh. A few are listed:


  • Tafseer Suratul Ikhlaas
  • Al-Qawaa’id-ul-Fiqhiyyah
  • Sharah of Saheeh Bukhari up until kitaabul janaa'iz, it consisted of ten volumes. Imam ibn Rajab was the first to name his commentary Fathul Bari.
  • Lataa’if-ul-Ma’aarif feemaa Li-Mawaasim-il-‘Aam min al-Wadhaa’if (this is regarding the twelve months of the year).

Out of all the books he wrote, the one that was studied at the course was The Compendium of Knowledge and Wisdom. This book of Imam ibn Rajab Al Hanbali, is the most detailed and extensive commentary on the Al-Arba'oon (الاربعون) with many features that distinguish it from others:

  1. He رحمه الله emphasises on explaining difficult points of view
  2. He رحمه الله explains all the chains of the ahadeeth rigorously. He رحمه الله also mentions the status and level of each hadeeth in great detail.
  3. Whenever Ibn Rajab رحمه الله explains the ahadeeth, he does so in light of a) The Qur'an b) Other ahadeeths.
  4. He رحمه الله quotes a lot from the Pious Predecessors.

The ahadeeth compiled within this book are from amongst the Jawaami'ul kalim (short collections of words with a very broad, comprehensive and vast meaning). Imam ibn Rajab رحمه الله added another eight to Imam Nawawi رحمه الله's forty-two ahadeeth to total fifty ahadeeth. He then named his book:

جامع العلوم والحكم في شرح خمسين من جوامع الكلم

One should make the effort to try and memorise these ahadeeth. Insha'Allah it shall prove to be very beneficial indeed.

May Allah give us all the inclination to study these ahadeeth well and have the ability to understand them the way Allah and Rasoolullah صلي الله عليه وسلم had wanted them to be understood.

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 08, 2008 at Saturday, March 08, 2008 and is filed under , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the comments feed .

2 comments

Anonymous  

Good bio and background knowledge

can the articles be posted up faster as they are extremly good for such reasons i cannot wait to the next article.

everyday for instance?

13 March 2008 at 18:52
Anonymous  

Nice blog Mashaallah. May Allah reward all of you, Amen.

15 March 2008 at 13:25

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