al-Karam wal-Jud lil-Barjalani
- Author died
- 238 AH
- Editions
- Dar Ibn Hazm
al-Karam wal-Jud (Arabic: الكرم والجود, also known as al-Karam wal-Jud wa-Sakhāʾ al-Nufūs) is a 3rd-century AH work on the virtues of generosity, openhandedness, and magnanimity by the Baghdadi traditionist Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn al-Husayn al-Barjalani (d. 238 AH / 852–853 CE) .
Author and Context
The author, Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ibn [Abi] Shaykh al-Barjalani, resided in Baghdad and was known as a specialist and compiler in the literature of asceticism and heart-softening traditions (al-zuhd wal-raqaʾiq) . His nisba, al-Barjalani, is attributed either to the neighborhood of al-Barjalaniyyah in Baghdad according to al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, or to the village of Barjalan near Wasit according to Ibn Abi Hatim . When Ahmad ibn Hanbal was asked about reports concerning asceticism, he directed the inquirer to consult Muhammad ibn al-Husayn , and Ibrahim al-Harbi affirmed that he knew nothing of him but good . In addition to al-Karam wal-Jud, he composed several themed ethical and devotional tracts, including al-Zuhd wal-Raqaʾiq, al-Sabr, al-Suhbah, al-Taʿah, al-Mutayyamīn, and al-Himmah .
Content and Method
The work compiles narrations centered on ethical and spiritual virtues related to generosity (al-karam), liberality (al-jud), and the magnanimity of the soul (sakhaʾ al-nufus) . Its material consists of prophetic traditions, statements from the Companions and early Muslim scholars (al-salaf), anecdotes illustrating selfless giving, and poetic verses praising charitable conduct and condemning stinginess .
Transmission and Reception
Material from the book was transmitted directly through al-Barjalani's prominent student, Abu Bakr Ibn Abi al-Dunya, who made extensive use of his teacher's reports in his own ethical compilations such as Makarim al-Akhlaq and al-Tawaduʿ wal-Khumul . His reports were also transmitted by students such as Ibrahim ibn 'Abd Allah ibn al-Junayd, Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Masruq al-Tusi, Abu Ya'la al-Mawsili, and Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Wasiti . Subsequent compilers across Islamic ethics, hadith commentary, and literature continued to cite texts and chains originating from the work .
Manuscripts and Publication
Manuscripts of the text are preserved in collections such as the Central Library (Umm al-Qura University) in Mecca, the Manuscript Department at the Islamic University of Medina, and the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies in Riyadh . A modern critical edition edited by 'Amir Hasan Sabri was published by Dar Ibn Hazm in Beirut in 1412 AH / 1991 CE .
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