Mujam Ashab Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya
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Mu'jam Ashab Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya (A Biographical Dictionary of the Companions of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya) is a modern Arabic biographical dictionary compiled by Walid ibn Husni al-Umawi, dedicated to the companions, students, and contemporaries of Ahmad ibn Abd al-Halim ibn Taymiyya (d. 728 AH / 1328 CE) .
Author and Purpose
The work was compiled by Walid ibn Husni ibn Badawi ibn Muhammad al-Umawi . His purpose was to gather concise biographical entries for the scholars and notable figures who associated with Ibn Taymiyya, drew from his knowledge, adhered to his method, and followed his path .
Method and Structure
In the introduction, al-Umawi states his methodological criteria for the dictionary: each entry provides a brief sketch of the individual's study of religious sciences, their praise of Ibn Taymiyya or their first-hand accounts regarding his life and circumstances, while leaving the mention of the subject's own written works optional .
The book is structured into introductory and thematic sections preceding and accompanying the biographical entries:
- Introductory Anthology: A selection of poetry and prose sayings praising Ibn Taymiyya by contemporaries and later scholars, such as al-Mizzi, al-Dhahabi, Ibn Daqiq al-'Id, Salah al-Din al-Safadi, and Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani .
- Maxims of Ibn Taymiyya: A compilation of notable aphorisms and sayings of Ibn Taymiyya extracted from the works of his disciple Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, including Madarij al-Salikin and Al-Wabil al-Sayyib .
- Biography of Ibn Taymiyya: An introductory biography of Ibn Taymiyya taken directly from Ibn Rajab's Al-Dhayl 'ala Tabaqat al-Hanabila .
- Biographical Dictionary: The main body of the work, presenting entries for Ibn Taymiyya's known companions and disciples .
- Section on Unidentified Companions: A dedicated section at the end for obscure or unnamed figures (al-mubhimmun) who were explicitly described in biographical literature as companions of Ibn Taymiyya but lacked independent biographical entries in the standard sources .
Sources
Al-Umawi drew upon both specialized monographs on Ibn Taymiyya and general historical and biographical works . Among the primary specialized biographies he utilized are:
- Al-Intisar fi Dhikr Ahwal Qami' al-Mubtadi'in wa-Akhir al-Mujtahidin Ahmad ibn Taymiyya (widely known as Al-Uqud al-Durriyya) by Ibn Abd al-Hadi .
- Al-Radd al-Wafir by Ibn Nasir al-Din al-Dimashqi .
- Al-Alam al-Aliyya fi Manaqib Ibn Taymiyya by Umar ibn Ali al-Bazzar .
- Al-Kawakib al-Durriyya fi Manaqib Ibn Taymiyya by Mar'i ibn Yusuf al-Karmi .
- Al-Qawl al-Jali fi Tarjamat Shaykh al-Islam Taqi al-Din Ibn Taymiyya by Safi al-Din Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Bukhari .
- Al-Jami' li-Sirat Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya Khilal Sab'at Qurun, a modern compilation of biographical accounts across seven centuries .
In addition, he relied on general biographical and historical chronicles, including works by al-Dhahabi (Tarikh al-Islam, Tadhkirat al-Huffaz, and Al-Ibar), Ibn Kathir (Al-Bidaya wa-l-Nihaya), Ibn Rajab (Al-Dhayl 'ala Tabaqat al-Hanabila), Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (Al-Durar al-Kamina and Inba' al-Ghumr), al-Safadi (Al-Wafi bi-l-Wafayat and A'yan al-Asr), Ibn Rafi (Al-Wafayat), Ibn al-Imad al-Hanbali (Shadharat al-Dhahab), Ibn Taghribirdi (Al-Nujum al-Zahira and Al-Manhal al-Safi), Taj al-Din al-Subki (Tabaqat al-Shafiiyya al-Kubra), Ibn Shakir al-Kutubi (Fawat al-Wafayat), al-Shawkani (Al-Badr al-Tali), Khayr al-Din al-Zirikli (Al-Alam), and Nu'man al-Alusi (Jala' al-Aynayn) . He also referenced specialized epistles by contemporaries, notably the treatise of Ibn Shaykh al-Hizamiyyin al-Wasiti (Al-Tadhkira wa-l-I'tibar) and the letter of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Murri al-Hanbali urging Ibn Taymiyya's students to collect their master's writings .
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