الرحلةThe Journey

أبو الفرج ابن الجوزي

Ibn al-Jawzi (RH)

Abu al-Faraj Ibn al-Jawzi

c. 510–597 AH · c. 1116–1201 CE

Fiqh Hanbali Hadith

The great Hanbali preacher of Baghdad, author of hundreds of works.

Ibn al-Jawzi was orphaned young in Baghdad and devoted himself to study. He became the most celebrated preacher of the city, drawing enormous crowds; he reported that many thousands repented or accepted Islam at his gatherings.

He wrote on almost every subject. His works include Zad al-Masir (Quran commentary), al-Muntazam (history), Sifat al-Safwah (lives of the righteous), Talbis Iblis (on the devil's deceptions, including errors among scholars and Sufis), and the reflective Sayd al-Khatir. He also wrote the biography of Imam Ahmad used on this site.

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Life journey

  1. c. 1116 CE Baghdad بغداد
  2. 1194 CE Wasit واسط
    Exiled to Wasit for about five years.
  3. 1199 CE Baghdad بغداد
    Died 1201 CE · 597 AH

Key works

  • Talbis Iblis تلبيس إبليس
    The Devil's Deception
    On the ways people, including scholars and ascetics, are led astray.
  • Sayd al-Khatir صيد الخاطر
    Catching Thoughts
    Short personal reflections on faith and life.

Places in their life

al-Mustansiriyyah, an Abbasid college of 1233, Baghdad
al-Mustansiriyyah, an Abbasid college of 1233, Baghdad
Photo: Taisir Mahdi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

  • Ibn Rajab, al-Dhayl 'ala Tabaqat al-Hanabila
  • al-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam al-Nubala'
  • Ibn Khallikan, Wafayat al-A'yan
Draft, awaiting scholarly review.
Birth reported between 508 and 512 AH.