Book Review: The Immense Ocean
Title: The Immense Ocean (Al-Bahr Al-Madid): A Thirteenth Century Quranic Commentary on the Chapters of The All-Merciful, The Event and Iron
Author: Shaykh Ahmad Ibn Ajiba
Translated and Annotated by: Mohamed Fouad Aresmouk and Michael Abdurrahman Fitzgerald
Publisher: Fons Vitae (2009)
Shaykh Ibn Ajiba was born in northern Morocco in 1747 or 1748, into a family that descended from Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He was a spiritual master in the Shadhiliyya-Darqawiyya tradition. Shaykh Ibn Ajiba has written an autobiography that has been translated, also by Fons Vitae, which can be found here. In regards to the book at hand, Shaykh Ahmad Ibn Ajiba writes in his own introduction:
I have been requested by my Shaykh, Sidi Muhammad al Buzidi al-Hasani, as well as his Shaykh, Qutb Mulay al’Arabi al-Darqawi al-Hasani, to set down in writing a commentary that would combine both exoteric explanation and esoteric allusion, and…
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Observations on Chapter 1 of Karen Armstrong’s Book “Islam: A Short History”
The following is a reproduction of some observations I made while reading the first chapter of Karen Armstrong’s book “Islam: A Short History” well over a year ago.
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All quotes and page numbers are from the e-book here
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She writes;
” … the opposition grew, led by Abu al-Hakam (who is called Abu Jahl, “Father of Lies,” in the Quran), …” (p.12)
The Qur’an no where mentions Abu Jahl explicitly, what to say of giving him this title.
“Islamic tradition would later assert that there had been 124,000 such prophets, a symbolic number suggesting infinity.” (p.8)
Clear reflection of the mythological orientalist belief that Hadith is a later “invention”
“On one occasion his most intelligent wife,Umm Salamah, helped to prevent a mutiny.” (p.16)
This is a reference to short lived reluctance of the companions to put off ihram at the eve of Hudaybiya. Giving it…
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“The 15th of Sha`ban in the Light of Qur’an & Hadith” – by Shaykh Fazl-ur-Rahman al-Azami (db)
asSalaamu Alaikum,
“The 15th of Sha`ban in the Light of Qur’an & Sunnah” – by Shaykh Fazl-ur-Rahman al-Azami (db)
This small booklet, by al-Muhaddith Shaykh Fazl-ur-Rahman al-Azami (db), sheds light upon the 15th night of Sha`ban known as Laylat al-Bara’a (or Shab-e-Baraat as is known in Urdu). The Shaykh, may Allah (SWT) accept his efforts and lengthen his life, is presently one of the leading Hadith scholars. He is known to be the successor of the great researcher and scholar, al-Muhaddith al-Kabeer Shaykh Habeeb-ur-Rahman al-Azami (ra).
Many misconceptions, confusions, and baseless traditions circulate regarding Laylat al-Bara’a. Therefore, as is the case with great Ulama, Shaykh Fazl-ur-Rahman al-Azami (db) felt the pressing need to produce a well-researched treatise, in the form of this short and concise booklet, clarifying the issues regarding this night in the light of Qur’an and Sunnah.
The Shaykh concludes, in conformity with the research of…
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List of Prominent Muhaddithun – Arabic PDF by Muntasir Zaman
asSalaamu Alaikum, Compiled by Mawlana Muntasir Zaman - may Allah (SWT) reward him - this Arabic PDF contains the names, year of birth, year of death, and some major work/s of prominent Hadith scholars from the generation following the Companions till the 15th century Hijri. Included in the PDF is a short intro and 185 footnotes.Continue reading "List of Prominent Muhaddithun – Arabic PDF by Muntasir Zaman"
Fiqh al-Buyu’ by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani | Arabic in 2 Volumes
The new two-volume Arabic fiqh textbook authored by our dear shaykh Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani (al-'Uthmani). I recall that it was written initially with the intention of being included in the syllabus of madrasahs. https://archive.org/details/FIQHULBOYUVOL1 https://archive.org/details/FIQHULBOYUVOL2
Ṭaḥāwī 