People of Islamic history: prophets, Companions, scholars and rulers

224 prophets, Companions, scholars, preachers and rulers, from Adam (AS) onward. Each has a biography, the places of their life, their teachers and students where known, and their sources.

Prophets

Adam (AS) آدم
The first human being and the first prophet, father of humankind.
Shith (AS) شيث
Son of Adam, remembered in historical tradition as his successor and a prophet.
Idris (AS) إدريس
A truthful prophet whom Allah 'raised to a high station'.
Nuh (AS) نوح
Called his people to Allah for 950 years; saved in the Ark from the Flood.
Hud (AS) هود
Sent to the mighty people of 'Ad, who were destroyed by a furious wind.
Salih (AS) صالح
Sent to Thamud, who carved homes into mountains and killed the she-camel of Allah.
Ibrahim (AS) إبراهيم
Khalilullah, the Friend of Allah. Father of prophets and builder of the Ka'bah.
Lut (AS) لوط
Nephew of Ibrahim, sent to a people who committed indecencies no one had done before them.
Isma'il (AS) إسماعيل
Son of Ibrahim and Hajar, who raised the Ka'bah with his father. Ancestor of the Arabs and of Muhammad ﷺ.
Ishaq (AS) إسحاق
Son of Ibrahim and Sarah, born in their old age as glad tidings from Allah.
Ya'qub (AS) يعقوب
Isra'il, father of the twelve tribes, a model of 'beautiful patience' in grief.
Yusuf (AS) يوسف
Thrown into a well by his brothers, he rose to govern the storehouses of Egypt.
Ayyub (AS) أيوب
The model of patience, tested with the loss of his wealth, his family and his health.
Shu'ayb (AS) شعيب
Sent to the people of Madyan, who cheated in weights and measures.
Musa (AS) موسى
Kalimullah, the one to whom Allah spoke. He led the Children of Israel out of Egypt.
Harun (AS) هارون
Brother and helper of Musa, sent with him to Pharaoh.
al-Khidr (AS) الخضر
The servant of Allah given knowledge from Him, whom Musa travelled to learn from.
Yusha' (AS) يوشع بن نون
Musa's young companion and successor, who led the Children of Israel into the Holy Land.
Dhul-Kifl (AS) ذو الكفل
Praised in the Quran among the patient and the best, though little is known of his life.
Dawud (AS) داود
Prophet and king who slew Jalut and was given the Zabur (Psalms).
Sulayman (AS) سليمان
Son of Dawud, given a kingdom like no other, with command over the wind and the jinn.
Ilyas (AS) إلياس
Sent to a people who worshipped the idol Ba'l.
Alyasa' (AS) اليسع
Successor of Ilyas, named in the Quran among the best.
Yunus (AS) يونس
Swallowed by the whale, he called out in the darkness and was saved.
'Uzair (AS) عزير
Named once in the Quran; often linked with the man whom Allah caused to die for a hundred years.
Zakariyya (AS) زكريا
Guardian of Maryam, granted a son, Yahya, in his old age.
Yahya (AS) يحيى
Son of Zakariyya, given wisdom as a child; he confirmed the coming of 'Isa.
'Isa (AS) عيسى
al-Masih, born of the virgin Maryam. He was given the Injil and raised up to Allah.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ محمد ﷺ c. 570–632 CE
The Seal of the Prophets, sent as a mercy to all the worlds.

Companions

Khadijah (RA) خديجة بنت خويلد c. 555–619 CE
The first wife of the Prophet ﷺ and the first person to believe in his message.
Hamzah (RA) حمزة بن عبد المطلب c. 568–625 CE
Uncle of the Prophet ﷺ, the 'Lion of Allah' and master of the martyrs.
al-'Abbas (RA) العباس بن عبد المطلب c. 568–653 CE
Uncle of the Prophet ﷺ and ancestor of the Abbasid caliphs.
Salman al-Farisi (RA) سلمان الفارسي c. 570–c. 656 CE
The Persian seeker of truth whose journey led him from Isfahan to the Prophet ﷺ.
Abu Bakr (RA) أبو بكر الصديق c. 573–634 CE
The first caliph, the Prophet's closest friend, and the first adult man to accept Islam.
'Amr ibn al-'As (RA) عمرو بن العاص c. 574–664 CE
Commander who brought Egypt into Islam and founded al-Fustat; one of the shrewdest men of his age.
'Uthman (RA) عثمان بن عفان c. 576–656 CE
The third caliph, Dhu al-Nurayn, who standardised the written Quran.
Bilal (RA) بلال بن رباح c. 580–c. 640 CE
The first muezzin of Islam, who endured torture repeating 'Ahad, Ahad'.
'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf (RA) عبد الرحمن بن عوف c. 581–652 CE
One of the Ten Promised Paradise, a merchant famous for his generosity.
Abu 'Ubaydah (RA) أبو عبيدة بن الجراح c. 583–639 CE
The 'Trustee of this Ummah' and commander of the armies in Syria.
'Umar (RA) عمر بن الخطاب c. 584–644 CE
The second caliph, al-Faruq, under whom the Muslim state expanded and its institutions took shape.
Mus'ab ibn 'Umayr (RA) مصعب بن عمير c. 585–625 CE
The first envoy of Islam, sent to teach the people of Madinah before the Hijrah.
Khalid ibn al-Walid (RA) خالد بن الوليد c. 592–642 CE
Sayfullah, the 'Sword of Allah', the great general of the early conquests.
Sa'id ibn Zayd (RA) سعيد بن زيد c. 593–671 CE
One of the Ten Promised Paradise, in whose house 'Umar heard the Quran and believed.
Talhah (RA) طلحة بن عبيد الله c. 594–656 CE
One of the Ten Promised Paradise, who shielded the Prophet ﷺ with his body at Uhud.
al-Zubayr (RA) الزبير بن العوام c. 594–656 CE
One of the Ten Promised Paradise, the Prophet's cousin and 'disciple' (hawari).
Ibn Mas'ud (RA) عبد الله بن مسعود c. 594–653 CE
Master reciter of the Quran and the teacher whose school shaped the jurisprudence of Kufa.
Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (RA) سعد بن أبي وقاص c. 595–674 CE
One of the Ten Promised Paradise, victor of al-Qadisiyyah and founder of Kufa.
Asma' bint Abi Bakr (RA) أسماء بنت أبي بكر c. 595–692 CE
'She of the two belts', who carried food to the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr in the cave.
Umm Salamah (RA) أم سلمة c. 596–c. 681 CE
Mother of the Believers, known for her wisdom, and the last of the Prophet's wives to pass away.
'Ali (RA) علي بن أبي طالب c. 600–661 CE
The fourth caliph, cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet ﷺ, famed for his knowledge and courage.
Abu Hurayrah (RA) أبو هريرة c. 600–c. 679 CE
The Companion who narrated more hadith than any other.
Mu'awiyah (RA) معاوية بن أبي سفيان c. 602–680 CE
Companion and scribe of the revelation, governor of Syria, and founder of the Umayyad caliphate.
Mu'adh ibn Jabal (RA) معاذ بن جبل c. 603–639 CE
The Companion most knowledgeable about halal and haram, sent to teach Yemen.
Fatimah al-Zahra' (RA) فاطمة الزهراء c. 605–632 CE
Daughter of the Prophet ﷺ and Khadijah, wife of 'Ali, and mother of al-Hasan and al-Husayn.
Hafsah (RA) حفصة بنت عمر c. 605–665 CE
Mother of the Believers, keeper of the first written compilation of the Quran.
Ibn 'Umar (RA) عبد الله بن عمر c. 610–693 CE
Son of 'Umar, famed for following the Sunnah in every detail.
Zayd ibn Thabit (RA) زيد بن ثابت c. 611–c. 665 CE
Scribe of the revelation, who gathered the Quran under Abu Bakr and led the copying under 'Uthman.
Anas ibn Malik (RA) أنس بن مالك c. 612–712 CE
Servant of the Prophet ﷺ for ten years, and one of the last Companions to pass away.
'A'ishah (RA) عائشة بنت أبي بكر c. 613–678 CE
Mother of the Believers, daughter of Abu Bakr, and one of the greatest scholars among the Companions.
Ibn 'Abbas (RA) عبد الله بن عباس 619–687 CE
The 'Interpreter of the Quran', for whom the Prophet ﷺ prayed to be given understanding.
al-Hasan (RA) الحسن بن علي 625–c. 670 CE
Grandson of the Prophet ﷺ, who gave up the caliphate to reunite the Muslims.
al-Husayn (RA) الحسين بن علي 626–680 CE
Grandson of the Prophet ﷺ, martyred at Karbala in 61 AH.

Fiqh

Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib (RH) سعيد بن المسيب c. 637–c. 713 CE
'Master of the Tabi'in', foremost of the Seven Jurists of Madinah.
Ibrahim al-Nakha'i (RH) إبراهيم النخعي c. 666–714 CE
The great jurist of Kufa, through whom Ibn Mas'ud's school passed to Abu Hanifa.
Hammad ibn Abi Sulayman (RH) حماد بن أبي سليمان c. 675–738 CE
Jurist of Kufa and the teacher with whom Abu Hanifa studied for some eighteen years.
Muhammad al-Baqir (RH) محمد الباقر c. 677–c. 733 CE
Son of Zayn al-'Abidin, called al-Baqir, 'the one who splits open knowledge'.
'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz (RH) عمر بن عبد العزيز c. 681–720 CE
The Umayyad caliph remembered for justice and piety, often called the fifth rightly guided caliph.
Imam Abu Hanifa (RH) أبو حنيفة النعمان 699–767 CE
al-Imam al-A'zam, founder of the Hanafi school, the most widely followed madhhab.
Ja'far al-Sadiq (RH) جعفر الصادق c. 702–765 CE
Great scholar of Madinah, from whom Imam Malik narrated and with whom Abu Hanifa is reported to have studied.
Imam Malik (RH) مالك بن أنس 711–795 CE
Imam of the City of the Prophet ﷺ, founder of the Maliki school and author of al-Muwatta'.
Abu Yusuf (RH) أبو يوسف القاضي 731–798 CE
Abu Hanifa's leading student and the first chief judge (qadi al-qudat) of the Abbasid state.
al-Shaybani (RH) محمد بن الحسن الشيباني 750–805 CE
Abu Hanifa's student, whose books recorded the Hanafi school; teacher of al-Shafi'i.
Ibn al-Qasim (RH) عبد الرحمن بن القاسم c. 750–806 CE
Imam Malik's closest student for twenty years, whose answers form the core of al-Mudawwana.
Imam al-Shafi'i (RH) محمد بن إدريس الشافعي 767–820 CE
Founder of the Shafi'i school and of usul al-fiqh, the principles of jurisprudence.
Sahnun (RH) سحنون بن سعيد التنوخي 777–854 CE
Compiler of al-Mudawwana and the scholar who made Maliki law dominant in North Africa.
Imam Ahmad (RH) أحمد بن حنبل 780–855 CE
Founder of the Hanbali school, master of hadith, and a model of steadfastness during the Mihna.
al-Rabi' al-Muradi (RH) الربيع بن سليمان المرادي 790–884 CE
Al-Shafi'i's student and the transmitter of al-Umm and al-Risala.
al-Muzani (RH) إسماعيل بن يحيى المزني 791–878 CE
Al-Shafi'i's foremost student, whose Mukhtasar became the base text of the school.
al-Tahawi (RH) أبو جعفر الطحاوي 853–933 CE
Hanafi jurist and hadith scholar, author of the widely accepted creed al-'Aqidah al-Tahawiyyah.
Ibn Abi Zayd (RH) ابن أبي زيد القيرواني 922–996 CE
'Malik the Younger', author of al-Risala, the classic first book of Maliki law.
al-Mawardi (RH) أبو الحسن الماوردي 974–1058 CE
Shafi'i chief judge of Baghdad and author of the classic work on government, al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyyah.
al-Juwayni (RH) إمام الحرمين الجويني 1028–1085 CE
'Imam of the Two Sanctuaries', master of Shafi'i law and Ash'ari theology, and teacher of al-Ghazali.
Abu Bakr Ibn al-'Arabi (RH) أبو بكر ابن العربي 1076–1148 CE
Maliki judge of Seville and author of Ahkam al-Quran; not to be confused with the Sufi Ibn 'Arabi.
Ibn al-Jawzi (RH) أبو الفرج ابن الجوزي c. 1116–1201 CE
The great Hanbali preacher of Baghdad, author of hundreds of works.
al-Marghinani (RH) برهان الدين المرغيناني 1117–1197 CE
Author of al-Hidayah, the most influential manual of Hanafi law.
Ibn Qudamah (RH) موفق الدين ابن قدامة 1147–1223 CE
The great Hanbali jurist of Damascus, author of al-Mughni.
al-Rafi'i (RH) أبو القاسم الرافعي 1160–1226 CE
One of the 'two shaykhs' of the later Shafi'i school, with al-Nawawi.
al-'Izz ibn 'Abd al-Salam (RH) العز بن عبد السلام 1181–1262 CE
'Sultan of the Scholars', the Shafi'i jurist famous for speaking truth to rulers.
al-Qarafi (RH) شهاب الدين القرافي 1228–1285 CE
Maliki jurist of Cairo, celebrated for his works on legal distinctions and principles.
Imam al-Nawawi (RH) يحيى بن شرف النووي 1233–1277 CE
Author of Riyad al-Salihin and the Forty Hadith, and one of the 'two shaykhs' of the Shafi'i school.
Ibn Taymiyyah (RH) تقي الدين ابن تيمية 1263–1328 CE
Hanbali scholar of Damascus, prolific and influential, whose views were both followed and contested.
Ibn al-Qayyim (RH) ابن قيم الجوزية 1292–1350 CE
Ibn Taymiyyah's leading student, admired for his writings on the heart and the Prophet's way.
al-Shatibi (RH) أبو إسحاق الشاطبي c. 1320–1388 CE
Maliki scholar of Granada, best known for his theory of the higher aims of the Shari'ah.
Zakariyya al-Ansari (RH) زكريا الأنصاري 1420–1520 CE
Shafi'i chief judge of Mamluk Cairo, who lived to about one hundred; teacher of the next generation of the school.
Ibn Hajar al-Haytami (RH) ابن حجر الهيتمي 1503–1567 CE
Shafi'i jurist of Makkah, whose Tuhfat al-Muhtaj is a chief reference for Shafi'is in Southeast Asia.
Shams al-Din al-Ramli (RH) شمس الدين الرملي 1513–1596 CE
'The younger Shafi'i', whose Nihayat al-Muhtaj is the main Shafi'i reference in Egypt.
Ibn Nujaym (RH) زين الدين ابن نجيم 1520–1563 CE
Hanafi jurist of Cairo, known for his work on legal maxims, al-Ashbah wa al-Naza'ir.
Nuruddin al-Raniri (RH) نور الدين الرانيري c. 1590–1658 CE
Shaykh al-Islam of Aceh, author of the first major Malay work of Shafi'i law.
al-Buhuti (RH) منصور بن يونس البهوتي 1591–1641 CE
The leading Hanbali jurist of Ottoman Egypt, whose commentaries define the later school.
Abdul Rauf Singkel (RH) عبد الرؤوف السنكيلي c. 1615–1693 CE
Chief judge of Aceh, author of the first complete Quran commentary in Malay.
Tok Pulau Manis (RH) عبد الملك بن عبد الله c. 1650–1736 CE
Terengganu's first great scholar, a student of al-Singkili, who taught at Pulau Manis and wrote on fiqh and Sufism in Malay.
Arshad al-Banjari (RH) محمد أرشد البنجاري 1710–1812 CE
Scholar of Banjar in Borneo, author of Sabil al-Muhtadin, a Malay classic of Shafi'i law.
Muhammad al-Kurdi (RH) محمد بن سليمان الكردي 1715–1780 CE
Leading Shafi'i jurist of Madinah and teacher of Arshad al-Banjari and other Malay scholars.
Daud al-Fatani (RH) داود بن عبد الله الفطاني c. 1769–c. 1847 CE
The most prolific Malay scholar of his age, whose Jawi kitab are still taught in pondok schools.
Ibn 'Abidin (RH) محمد أمين ابن عابدين 1784–1836 CE
The last great authority of Hanafi law, author of Radd al-Muhtar.
Nawawi al-Bantani (RH) محمد نووي البنتني c. 1813–1897 CE
Banten-born scholar of Makkah whose commentaries are still the core of the pesantren syllabus.
Ahmad al-Fatani (RH) أحمد بن محمد زين الفطاني 1856–1908 CE
Patani scholar who brought Malay books into print in Makkah and taught a generation of ulama.
Ashraf 'Ali Thanawi (RH) أشرف علي التهانوي 1863–1943 CE
Hanafi jurist and Sufi guide of India, called Hakim al-Ummat, author of Bahishti Zewar.
Tok Kenali (RH) محمد يوسف بن أحمد الكلنتاني 1868–1933 CE
The great pondok teacher of Kelantan, whose students taught across the peninsula.
Abdullah Fahim (RH) عبد الله فهيم c. 1869–1961 CE
Makkah-born scholar who taught in northern Malaya and became Mufti of Penang.
'Abd al-Wahhab Khallaf (RH) عبد الوهاب خلاف 1888–1956 CE
Egyptian jurist whose textbook on the principles of jurisprudence is still taught.
Abu Zahrah (RH) محمد أبو زهرة 1898–1974 CE
Egyptian jurist known for his studies of the four imams and the schools of law.
Mustafa al-Zarqa (RH) مصطفى أحمد الزرقا 1904–1999 CE
Syrian jurist who set out Islamic law in the language of modern legal study.
Wahbah al-Zuhayli (RH) وهبة مصطفى الزحيلي 1932–2015 CE
Syrian jurist whose comparative encyclopedia of fiqh is widely used, including in Malaysia.

Hadith

Zayn al-'Abidin (RH) علي زين العابدين c. 658–c. 713 CE
'Ornament of the worshippers', the son of al-Husayn who survived Karbala.
al-Zuhri (RH) ابن شهاب الزهري c. 670–742 CE
The great Madinan hadith master, among the first to record hadith systematically.
Sufyan al-Thawri (RH) سفيان الثوري 716–778 CE
'Commander of the Believers in hadith', jurist of Kufa and model of independence from rulers.
Ibn al-Mubarak (RH) عبد الله بن المبارك 736–797 CE
Scholar of hadith, ascetic, merchant and frontier fighter from Merv.
'Abd al-Razzaq al-San'ani (RH) عبد الرزاق الصنعاني 744–827 CE
Hadith master of Yemen, compiler of the Musannaf, to whom Imam Ahmad travelled.
Imam al-Bukhari (RH) محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري 810–870 CE
Compiler of Sahih al-Bukhari, regarded as the most authentic book after the Quran.
Abu Dawud (RH) أبو داود السجستاني 817–889 CE
Compiler of Sunan Abi Dawud, one of the six major hadith collections.
Imam Muslim (RH) مسلم بن الحجاج النيسابوري c. 821–875 CE
Compiler of Sahih Muslim, the second of the two most authentic hadith collections.
Ibn Majah (RH) ابن ماجه القزويني 824–887 CE
Compiler of Sunan Ibn Majah, counted among the six major hadith collections.
al-Tirmidhi (RH) أبو عيسى الترمذي c. 824–892 CE
Al-Bukhari's student and compiler of Jami' al-Tirmidhi and al-Shama'il.
al-Nasa'i (RH) أحمد بن شعيب النسائي 830–915 CE
Compiler of Sunan al-Nasa'i, known for the strictest conditions after the two Sahihs.
Ibn Khuzaymah (RH) محمد بن إسحاق بن خزيمة 838–924 CE
Shafi'i hadith master of Nishapur, called Imam al-A'immah, compiler of Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah.
al-Daraqutni (RH) أبو الحسن الدارقطني 918–995 CE
Baghdad's great hadith critic, master of the hidden defects ('ilal) of narrations.
al-Hakim al-Naysaburi (RH) الحاكم النيسابوري 933–1014 CE
Hadith master of Nishapur, compiler of al-Mustadrak.
Ibn 'Abd al-Barr (RH) ابن عبد البر 978–1071 CE
'The hadith master of the West', whose al-Tamhid is the great commentary on the Muwatta'.
al-Bayhaqi (RH) أبو بكر البيهقي 994–1066 CE
Shafi'i hadith master, author of al-Sunan al-Kubra and Shu'ab al-Iman.
al-Khatib al-Baghdadi (RH) الخطيب البغدادي 1002–1071 CE
Author of Tarikh Baghdad and of foundational works on the methods of hadith.
Qadi 'Iyad (RH) القاضي عياض 1083–1149 CE
Maliki judge of Ceuta, author of al-Shifa, the classic on the rights and qualities of the Prophet ﷺ.
Ibn al-Salah (RH) ابن الصلاح الشهرزوري 1181–1245 CE
Author of the Muqaddimah, the classic textbook of the hadith sciences.
al-Dhahabi (RH) شمس الدين الذهبي 1274–1348 CE
Historian and hadith critic of Damascus, author of Siyar A'lam al-Nubala'.
Ibn Rajab (RH) ابن رجب الحنبلي 1335–1393 CE
Hanbali hadith scholar of Damascus, author of Jami' al-'Ulum wa al-Hikam.
Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani (RH) ابن حجر العسقلاني 1372–1449 CE
'Amir al-Mu'minin in hadith', author of Fath al-Bari, the great commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari.
al-Suyuti (RH) جلال الدين السيوطي 1445–1505 CE
Prolific polymath of Mamluk Cairo, author of hundreds of works on hadith, Quran, law and Arabic.
Ibrahim al-Kurani (RH) برهان الدين إبراهيم الكوراني 1616–1690 CE
Kurdish scholar of Madinah, master of hadith and Sufism, who wrote to guide his students from the Malay world.
Shah Waliullah (RH) شاه ولي الله الدهلوي 1703–1762 CE
Scholar of Delhi who revived hadith study in India, author of Hujjat Allah al-Balighah.
Shaykh al-Hind (RH) محمود حسن الديوبندي 1851–1920 CE
Head teacher of Deoband, whose students carried his hadith teaching across South Asia and as far as Kelantan.
Hasyim Asy'ari (RH) محمد هاشم أشعري 1871–1947 CE
Javanese hadith master who founded the pesantren of Tebuireng and the Nahdlatul Ulama.
Anwar Shah Kashmiri (RH) محمد أنور شاه الكشميري 1875–1933 CE
Hadith master of Deoband, famed for his memory, whose lectures became Fayd al-Bari.
Tok Khurasan (RH) السيد حسن بن نور حسن الخراساني c. 1875–1944 CE
Deoband-trained scholar who brought the systematic study of hadith to Kelantan, teaching at Kampung Sireh in Kota Bharu.
Ahmad Shakir (RH) أحمد محمد شاكر 1892–1958 CE
Egyptian hadith scholar and judge who edited the Musnad of Ahmad and al-Tirmidhi.
Idris al-Marbawi (RH) محمد إدريس عبد الرؤوف المربوي 1896–1989 CE
Malay scholar of Cairo, author of the Kamus al-Marbawi and a Malay commentary on al-Tirmidhi.
Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhlawi (RH) محمد زكريا الكاندهلوي 1898–1982 CE
Indian hadith teacher, the "Shaykh al-Hadith" of Saharanpur, author of Fada'il-e-A'mal.
Habib al-Rahman al-A'zami (RH) حبيب الرحمن الأعظمي 1901–1992 CE
Indian hadith scholar who edited the Musannaf of 'Abd al-Razzaq.
Yasin al-Fadani (RH) محمد ياسين الفاداني c. 1916–1990 CE
Makkah scholar of Padang descent, known as "musnid al-dunya" for his chains of transmission.
'Abd al-Fattah Abu Ghuddah (RH) عبد الفتاح أبو غدة 1917–1997 CE
Syrian Hanafi scholar of hadith, known for his careful editions and his books on scholars' lives.
Muhammad Mustafa al-A'zami (RH) محمد مصطفى الأعظمي 1930–2017 CE
Indian-born hadith scholar whose research showed that hadith were written down from the earliest generation.

Sufism & Theology

Hasan al-Basri (RH) الحسن البصري 642–728 CE
The great preacher and ascetic of Basra, a towering figure of the Tabi'in generation.
Rabi'ah al-'Adawiyyah (RH) رابعة العدوية c. 717–c. 801 CE
The ascetic woman of Basra who taught worship out of pure love of Allah.
al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyad (RH) الفضيل بن عياض c. 726–803 CE
A highway robber who repented on hearing a verse, and became an ascetic and hadith narrator of Makkah.
al-Muhasibi (RH) الحارث المحاسبي c. 781–857 CE
Master of self-examination, whose name means 'the one who holds himself to account'.
Dhu al-Nun al-Misri (RH) ذو النون المصري c. 796–859 CE
The Egyptian master who first spoke systematically of ma'rifah, intimate knowledge of Allah.
Abu Yazid al-Bistami (RH) أبو يزيد البسطامي c. 804–875 CE
The Persian mystic of Bistam, famous for his ecstatic sayings.
al-Junayd (RH) الجنيد البغدادي c. 830–910 CE
'Master of the Sufi community', who taught a sober Sufism anchored in the Quran and Sunnah.
al-Maturidi (RH) أبو منصور الماتريدي c. 853–944 CE
Founder of the Maturidi school of theology, one of the two main Sunni schools of 'aqidah.
al-Ash'ari (RH) أبو الحسن الأشعري 874–936 CE
Founder of the Ash'ari school of theology, one of the two main Sunni schools of 'aqidah.
Ibn Battah (RH) عبيد الله بن محمد ابن بطة العكبري 917–997 CE
Hanbali scholar of 'Ukbara, author of al-Ibanah on the creed of the early Muslims.
al-Baqillani (RH) أبو بكر الباقلاني 950–1013 CE
Maliki judge and leading Ash'ari theologian, author of I'jaz al-Quran.
al-Qushayri (RH) أبو القاسم القشيري 986–1072 CE
Author of al-Risalah al-Qushayriyyah, the classic handbook of Sufism.
'Abd Allah al-Ansari (RH) عبد الله الأنصاري الهروي 1006–1089 CE
'The sage of Herat', Hanbali hadith scholar and Sufi, author of Manazil al-Sa'irin.
al-Hujwiri (RH) علي الهجويري c. 1009–c. 1072 CE
Author of Kashf al-Mahjub, the first Sufi treatise in Persian, revered in Lahore as Data Ganj Bakhsh.
Imam al-Ghazali (RH) أبو حامد الغزالي 1058–1111 CE
Hujjat al-Islam, the Proof of Islam. Jurist, theologian and author of Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din.
'Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (RH) عبد القادر الجيلاني c. 1077–1166 CE
Hanbali jurist and preacher of Baghdad, after whom the Qadiriyya order is named.
Ahmad al-Rifa'i (RH) أحمد الرفاعي 1118–1182 CE
Founder of the Rifa'i order, known for his humility and compassion.
Mu'in al-Din Chishti (RH) معين الدين الجشتي c. 1141–1236 CE
The saint of Ajmer through whom the Chishti order took root in India.
'Umar al-Suhrawardi (RH) شهاب الدين عمر السهروردي 1145–1234 CE
Shaykh of the Sufis of Baghdad and author of 'Awarif al-Ma'arif.
Ibn 'Arabi (RH) محيي الدين ابن عربي 1165–1240 CE
al-Shaykh al-Akbar, the Andalusian mystic whose vast writings shaped later Sufi thought.
Abu al-Hasan al-Shadhili (RH) أبو الحسن الشاذلي 1196–1258 CE
Founder of the Shadhili order, which teaches the inner path while living in the world.
Jalaluddin Rumi (RH) جلال الدين الرومي 1207–1273 CE
Mawlana, Hanafi jurist and Sufi poet of Konya, author of the Masnavi.
al-Busiri (RH) شرف الدين البوصيري 1212–c. 1295 CE
Poet of al-Burdah, the most famous poem in praise of the Prophet ﷺ.
Ibn 'Ata'illah (RH) ابن عطاء الله السكندري c. 1260–1309 CE
Author of al-Hikam, the beloved book of Sufi aphorisms.
Baha' al-Din Naqshband (RH) بهاء الدين نقشبند 1318–1389 CE
The master of Bukhara after whom the Naqshbandi order is named.
al-Sanusi (RH) محمد بن يوسف السنوسي c. 1428–1490 CE
Ash'ari theologian of Tlemcen whose short creed underlies the 'twenty attributes' taught in the Malay world.
Ahmad Zarruq (RH) أحمد زروق 1442–1493 CE
Maliki jurist and Shadhili master who set out the principles of Sufism.
Hamzah Fansuri (RH) حمزة الفنصوري c. 1530–c. 1590 CE
Sufi poet of Sumatra, pioneer of Malay religious poetry (syair) and prose.
Ahmad Sirhindi (RH) أحمد السرهندي 1564–1624 CE
'Renewer of the second millennium', the Naqshbandi master of Mughal India.
Ahmad al-Qushashi (RH) صفي الدين أحمد القشاشي 1583–1661 CE
Madinan Sufi master of the Shattari order and teacher of a generation of students from the Malay world.
Shaykh Yusuf al-Maqassari (RH) الشيخ يوسف المقاصري 1626–1699 CE
Scholar and freedom fighter from Makassar, exiled by the Dutch to the Cape, where Islam in South Africa began.
Imam al-Haddad (RH) عبد الله بن علوي الحداد 1634–1720 CE
The Hadrami master whose Ratib al-Haddad is recited across the Malay world and East Africa.
'Abd al-Samad al-Palimbani (RH) عبد الصمد الفلمباني c. 1704–c. 1789 CE
Sufi scholar from Palembang who brought al-Ghazali's teaching into Malay.
Muhammad al-Samman (RH) محمد بن عبد الكريم السمان 1718–1775 CE
Madinan Sufi master who founded the Sammaniyyah order, which spread to Sumatra, Borneo and Sudan.
al-Alusi (RH) شهاب الدين محمود الآلوسي 1802–1854 CE
Mufti of Baghdad and author of Ruh al-Ma'ani, one of the great commentaries on the Quran.
Tok Ku Paloh (RH) عبد الرحمن بن محمد العيدروس 1817–1917 CE
Sufi scholar of Terengganu, teacher and adviser to Sultan Zainal Abidin III.
Ahmad al-'Alawi (RH) أحمد بن مصطفى العلاوي 1869–1934 CE
Algerian Sufi master who founded the 'Alawi branch of the Shadhili path.
Said Nursi (RH) بديع الزمان سعيد النورسي c. 1877–1960 CE
Kurdish-Turkish scholar whose Risale-i Nur explained the faith to a modern readership.
al-Kawthari (RH) محمد زاهد الكوثري 1879–1952 CE
The last Ottoman deputy Shaykh al-Islam, a Hanafi and Maturidi scholar of hadith and theology.
'Abd al-Halim Mahmud (RH) عبد الحليم محمود 1910–1978 CE
Shaykh al-Azhar and writer on Sufism, who studied al-Muhasibi at the Sorbonne.
Abul Hasan 'Ali Nadwi (RH) أبو الحسن علي الحسني الندوي 1914–1999 CE
Indian scholar of Nadwat al-Ulama whose Arabic histories were read across the Muslim world.

Da'wah

Shaykh 'Abd Allah 'Arif (RH) الشيخ عبد الله عارف c. 1100–c. 1177 CE
A preacher said to have brought Islam to Aceh in the 12th century, to whom the Bahr al-Lahut is attributed.
Jamaluddin al-Kubra (RH) جمال الدين الأكبر الحسيني c. 1310–c. 1453 CE
A preacher of tradition, remembered as forefather of the Wali Songo, with graves attributed to him in Java and Sulawesi.
Makhdum Karim (RH) كريم المخدوم c. 1330–c. 1400 CE
Preacher who brought Islam to the Sulu islands in 1380, by tradition, and built the oldest mosque in the Philippines.
Maulana Malik Ibrahim (RH) مولانا مالك إبراهيم c. 1350–1419 CE
Counted as the first of the Wali Songo; his gravestone at Gresik is dated 1419.
Sunan Ampel (RH) رادين رحمة c. 1401–c. 1481 CE
Wali Songo teacher at Ampel in Surabaya, whose students included Sunan Giri and Raden Patah.
Sunan Giri (RH) محمد عين اليقين c. 1442–c. 1506 CE
Wali Songo scholar whose school at Giri sent teachers as far as Lombok, Sulawesi and Maluku.
Sunan Gunung Jati (RH) شريف هداية الله c. 1448–c. 1568 CE
Wali Songo founder of the Sultanate of Cirebon, who spread Islam in western Java.
Sunan Kalijaga (RH) رادين سعيد c. 1450–c. 1550 CE
The best-known of the Wali Songo, who taught Islam through Javanese arts such as wayang and gamelan.
Sunan Bonang (RH) مخدوم إبراهيم c. 1465–c. 1525 CE
Son of Sunan Ampel, Sufi poet and teacher of Sunan Kalijaga, who used the gamelan in his teaching.
Sunan Drajat (RH) رادين قاسم c. 1470–c. 1522 CE
Son of Sunan Ampel, remembered for teaching that faith is shown in caring for the poor.
Sunan Muria (RH) رادين عمر سعيد c. 1480–c. 1551 CE
Son of Sunan Kalijaga, who taught Islam among farmers and fishermen around Mount Muria.
Sharif Kabungsuwan (RH) شريف محمد كابوڠسووان c. 1480–c. 1543 CE
Preacher from Johor who brought Islam to Mindanao and founded the Sultanate of Maguindanao.
Sunan Kudus (RH) جعفر الصادق c. 1500–c. 1550 CE
Wali Songo scholar who founded Kudus and its Menara mosque, known for respecting local customs.
Datuk ri Bandang (RH) عبد المأمور خطيب توڠݢل c. 1560–c. 1640 CE
Minangkabau preacher who brought the kings of Gowa and Tallo to Islam in 1605.
Burhan al-Din Ulakan (RH) الشيخ برهان الدين أولاكان c. 1646–c. 1704 CE
Al-Singkili's student who spread Islam and the Shattari path through the Minangkabau highlands.

Rulers

Harun al-Rashid (RH) هارون الرشيد c. 763–809 CE
Abbasid caliph in whose reign Baghdad was at its height, patron of Abu Yusuf and the scholars of his age.
Nur al-Din Zangi (RH) نور الدين محمود زنكي 1118–1174 CE
Ruler of Syria who united it against the Crusaders and founded madrasas, a hospital and the first Dar al-Hadith.
Salah al-Din (RH) صلاح الدين يوسف بن أيوب c. 1137–1193 CE
Founder of the Ayyubid state who united Egypt and Syria and retook Jerusalem in 1187.
Malik al-Salih (RH) الملك الصالح c. 1240–1297 CE
First Muslim ruler of Samudera Pasai, whose gravestone of 1297 is early evidence of a Muslim kingdom in the archipelago.
Sharif Ali (RH) السلطان شريف علي c. 1380–c. 1432 CE
Third sultan of Brunei, an Arab from Taif remembered as 'Sultan Berkat' for strengthening Islam.
Muzaffar Shah (RH) السلطان مظفر شاه c. 1420–1459 CE
Sultan of Melaka who made Islam the religion of the state and began its code of laws.
Muhammad al-Fatih (RH) السلطان محمد الفاتح 1432–1481 CE
Ottoman sultan who took Constantinople in 1453 and made it a capital of Islamic learning.
Mansur Shah (RH) السلطان منصور شاه c. 1440–1477 CE
Sultan under whom Melaka reached the height of its power and learning.
Raden Patah (RH) رادين فتاح c. 1455–1518 CE
Founder of Demak, the first Muslim kingdom on Java, with the support of the Wali Songo.
Ali Mughayat Syah (RH) السلطان علي مغاية شاه c. 1480–1530 CE
Founder of the Sultanate of Aceh, who drove the Portuguese from northern Sumatra.
Sulayman al-Qanuni (RH) السلطان سليمان القانوني 1494–1566 CE
The longest-reigning Ottoman sultan, 'the Lawgiver', under whom the empire reached its height.
Baabullah (RH) السلطان باب الله c. 1528–1583 CE
Sultan of Ternate who drove out the Portuguese and spread Islam across eastern Indonesia.
Iskandar Muda (RH) السلطان إسكندر مودا c. 1583–1636 CE
Aceh's greatest sultan, under whom it became a leading Muslim power and the 'Veranda of Makkah'.
Sultan Alauddin of Gowa (RH) السلطان علاء الدين 1586–1639 CE
The first Muslim king of Gowa, who embraced Islam in 1605 and spread it among the Bugis kingdoms.
Sultan Agung (RH) السلطان أݢوڠ c. 1593–1645 CE
The greatest ruler of Mataram, who united most of Java and created the Javanese Islamic calendar.
Sultanah Safiatuddin (RH) السلطانة تاج العالم صفية الدين شاه 1612–1675 CE
Queen of Aceh for 34 years, patron of al-Raniri and al-Singkili, and first of its four sultanahs.
Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa (RH) السلطان أݢڠ ترتاياسا 1631–1692 CE
Banten's greatest sultan, who resisted the Dutch and made Shaykh Yusuf al-Maqassari his adviser.
Sultan Hasanuddin (RH) السلطان حسن الدين 1631–1670 CE
Sultan of Gowa who defended Makassar against the Dutch, the 'Rooster of the East'.