Stories of the Great Men of Islam, by Ibn al-Jawzi

حياة الرسول و الصحابة و التابعين و الصالحين

The Prophet Muhammad (saws), the four Caliphs and the Companions the Tabi'ines, the Saints and the Devotees

A thousand great figures, men and women, of the first four centuries of Islam

Full translation of the book: "Sifat as-safwâ (The description of the elite)", by Messaoud Boudjenoun

The book in your hands "Sifat As-Safwâ" by Ibn al-Jawzî is unique in its kind. It contains biographies and stories of a thousand illustrious men and women from the first four centuries of Islam. It begins with the life of the Prophet Muhammad? (sira), followed by that of the ten companions promised in Paradise, including the four Caliphs. He then recounts that of the other companions by successive rank of conversion, punctuated by the major events: Badr, the ditch (al khandaq), the opening of Mecca (fath Makka)...

After the companions of the Prophet?, Ibn al Jawzî relates the story of the Tâbi'înes (companions of companions). He classifies them by region: the Tâbi'înes of Mecca, Medina, Yemen, Sham, Egypt, Basra, etc. There are the great names of scholars, devotees and saints, such as the imams Hurat, Marw, Balakh, Turmudh, Bukhara, etc.

The author continues by mentioning the stories of the men and women who came after the Tabi'ines and who distinguished themselves by their knowledge, their wisdom, their devotion or their holiness. He also classifies them by country. In addition to the countries already mentioned, there are others more distant, (propagation of Islam obliges), such as the Maghreb, Iran, Aspahan, Naysabour, Tûs, Hurât, Marw, Balakh, Turmudh, Bukhârâ , etc.

Entire chapters are devoted to women: companions (sahâbiyyâtes), Tâbi'âtes, devotees ('âbidâtes) and saints (sâlihâtes).

About the Author: Ibn al-Jawzi

Abû l-Faraj Ibn al-Jawzî (d. 1201 JC / 597 H.) born into a wealthy family in Baghdad. His lineage goes back to Caliph Abu Bakr as-Saddiq?. He was an eminent Muslim scholar of the Hanbalite school. He held sermons from an early age and composed more than three hundred books-Ketism, sermons, chronicles, history and medicine.