Here’s the English translation:


*Imam Ibn Taymiyyah*


Ibn Taymiyyah was born on 22 January 1263 CE in Harran, Syria. His father, Shihab al-Din Abul-Mahasin Abdul Halim [d. 1283 CE], came from a scholarly family that notably belonged to the Hanbali school of law.


He memorized the Qur’an at a very young age; he also memorized large portions of hadith from his father, who was an expert in the subject. Among the hadith texts he studied were the two _Sahih_ collections of al-Bukhari and Muslim and other major compilations such as the _Musnad_ of Ahmad ibn Hanbal. He also studied diverse subjects such as mathematics, Sufism, and various Islamic sects.


After his father’s death, Ibn Taymiyyah, at the age of 22, assumed the prestigious teaching position formally held by his father at the Sukkariyya Madrasa. Present at his first lecture at this renowned center of learning were notable scholars including the prominent qadi Ibn al-Zaki al-Shafi‘i and Shaykh Taj al-Din al-Fazari.


Many regard Ibn Taymiyyah as the second most famous Hanbali theologian and jurist after Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal. During his lifetime, Ibn Taymiyyah was so firm in his views and opinions that most people of his time in both Syria and Egypt, especially scholars of various sects and _madhhabs_, either became his staunch supporters or his fierce opponents. These included some of the Mamluk rulers of Egypt and Syria.


From this group two distinguished disciples emerged. Perhaps the most famous was Ibn Qayyim [1292–1350 CE], who was so close to Ibn Taymiyyah that on several occasions they were even imprisoned together. After Ibn Taymiyyah’s death, Ibn Qayyim actively continued his studies. Lecturing and writing in the same original style as his teacher, but adopting a much calmer approach, he authored several important works, one of which is _Madarij al-Salikin_, published in three volumes. This work is considered one of the best treatises on Hanbali thought.


Another of his eminent disciples was Ibn Kathir [1300–1373 CE], who was a close friend of Ibn Taymiyyah. Although he was a follower of the Shafi‘i school, he came under his teacher’s influence. Ibn Kathir is regarded as one of the greatest historians. This is evident from his famous book _al-Bidaya wa’l-Nihaya_. Its latest edition was published in 1987 in 14 volumes.


Let me know if you want Parts 1 & 2 combined, or need bios for his students like Ibn Qayyim and Ibn Kathir too.

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