Ibn al-Fakhir
- Died
- 564 AH
- Born in
- Isfahan
Ibn al-Fakhir (494–564 AH / 1101–1169 CE) was an Isfahan-based hadith master, preacher, and transmitter known for his hadith compilations, including Mujibat al-Janna and his dictation sessions (Amali) .
Lineage and Early Life
His full name was Abu Ahmad Ma'mar ibn Abd al-Wahid ibn Raja' ibn Abd al-Wahid ibn Muhammad ibn al-Fakhir ibn Ahmad ibn al-Qasim ibn al-Fakhir al-Qurashi al-Abshami al-Samuri al-Asbahani . Tracing his ancestry back to Abd Shams ibn Abd Manaf through the companion Abd al-Rahman ibn Samura, he belonged to a prominent family in Isfahan where he served as a recognized notary (mu'addal) . He was born on 25 Jumada al-Akhira 494 AH and began collecting hadith in his youth .
Education and Scholarly Travels
Ibn al-Fakhir studied under numerous scholars in Isfahan, including Abu al-Fath Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Haddad, Abu al-Mahasin al-Ruyani, Abu Ali al-Hasan ibn Ahmad al-Haddad, and Abu Zakariyya Ibn Manda . After 520 AH, he traveled to Baghdad, where he studied under Abu al-Qasim Hibat Allah ibn al-Husayn, Abu Ghalib ibn al-Banna, and Abu Nasr Ahmad ibn Ridwan . Passages record that he visited Baghdad seven times (and according to another report, nine times) to study, narrate, and allow his children to hear hadith . He also received transmissions in Mecca and Medina, secured written authorizations (ijaza) from scholars such as Abu al-Husayn ibn al-'Allaf, and transmitted from Ibn Asakir .
Teaching and Standing
Ibn al-Fakhir dictated hadith for many years, produced specialized extracts (takhrij), and authored works in hadith, history, and biographical dictionaries (mu'jam) . Among his notable students and transmission recipients were Abu Sa'd al-Sam'ani, Ibn al-Jawzi (who heard him teach at the Prophet's Mosque in Medina), and his own children, including his son Muhammad and his daughter Aisha .
Scholars praised his reliability and character; al-Sam'ani described him as courteous, generous, and devoted to assisting visiting scholars, noting that he accompanied him from morning until evening across Isfahan to introduce him to teachers . Ibn al-Najjar highlighted his rapid scribal pace, memorization, trustworthiness, piety, and high standing in Isfahan .
Death
Ibn al-Fakhir died on 13 Dhu al-Qi'da 564 AH in the desert while traveling on the pilgrimage route to Mecca .
Answer updated
List of Works
Mujibat al-Janna (The Actions That Entail Paradise) is a specialized hadith compilation focusing on the virtues, deeds, and moral qualities that lead to entry into Paradise. Arranged topically under thematic chapter headings, it gathers prophetic traditions and early reports detailing specific acts of obedience, righteous character traits, and sayings that earn the reward of Paradise, alongside descriptions of Paradise itself to encourage striving believers.