A mad ibn anbal (d. 241/855), renowned for his profound knowledge of hadith-the reports of the Prophet's sayings and deeds-is a major figure in the history of Islam. Ibn anbal's piety and austerity made him a folk hero, especially after his principled resistance to the attempts of two Abbasid caliphs to force him to accept rationalist doctrine. His subsequent imprisonment and flogging became one of the most dramatic episodes of medieval Islamic history. Ibn anbal's resistance influenced the course of Islamic law, the rise of Sunnism, and the legislative authority of the caliphate.

Virtues of the Imam A mad ibn anbal is a translation of the biography of Ibn anbal penned by the Baghdad preacher, scholar, and storyteller, Ibn al-Jawzi (d. 597/1201). It includes insights into Ibn anbal's childhood, travels, and teachings, as well as descriptions of his way of life. This second and final volume gives a vivid account of Ibn anbal's legendary confrontation with the caliphal Inquisition, including his imprisonment, trial, and flogging. Ultimately, it recounts how the people of Baghdad came to admire him as a symbol of Sunni Islam.

A bilingual Arabic-English edition.

Ibn al-Jawzi (Author)
Ibn al-Jawzi (d. 597/1201) was a Baghdadi storyteller, preacher, and prolific Islamic scholar associated with the Hanbali school of jurisprudential thought. He is well known for his exegeses of the Qur an and Hadith, including his famous compendium, Al-Täqiq.

Michael Cooperson (Edited and Translated by)
Michael Cooperson is Professor of Arabic in the Department of Near Eastern Languages & Cultures at UCLA. His translations include The Life of Ibn anbal by Ibn al-Jawzi for the Library of Arabic Literature, and The Author and His Doubles by the eminent Moroccan literary critic Abdelfattah Kilito.

Amad ibn anbal (d. 241/855), renowned for his profound knowledge of hadiththe reports of the Prophet's sayings and deedsis a major figure in the history of Islam. Ibn anbal's piety and austerity made him a folk hero, especially after his principled resistance to the attempts of two Abbasid caliphs to force him to accept rationalist doctrine. His subsequent imprisonment and flogging became one of the most dramatic episodes of medieval Islamic history. Ibn anbal's resistance influenced the course of Islamic law, the rise of Sunnism, and the legislative authority of the caliphate.

Virtues of the Imam Amad ibn anbal is a translation of the biography of Ibn anbal penned by the Baghdad preacher, scholar, and storyteller, Ibn al-Jawz (d. 597/1201). It includes insights into Ibn anbal's childhood, travels, and teachings, as well as descriptions of his way of life. This second and final volume gives a vivid account of Ibn anbal's legendary confrontation with the caliphal Inquisition, including his imprisonment, trial, and flogging. Ultimately, it recounts how the people of Baghdad came to admire him as a symbol of Sunni Islam.

A bilingual Arabic-English edition.

Table of Contents Chapter 51: His Love of Poverty and His Affection for the Poor 2 Chapter 52: His Humility 4 Chapter 53: His Accepting Invitations and His Withdrawal upon Seeing Things He Disapproved Of 12 Chapter 54: His Preference for Solitude 14 Chapter 55: His Wish to Live in Obscurity and His Efforts to Remain Unnoticed 20 Chapter 56: His Fear of God 22 Chapter 57: His Preoccupation and Absentmindedness 26 Chapter 58: His Devotions 28 Chapter 59: His Performances of the Pilgrimage 36 Chapter 60: His Extemporaneous Prayers and Supplications 40 Chapter 61: His Manifestations of Grace and the Effectiveness of His Prayers 46 Chapter 62: The Number of Wives He Had 52 Chapter 63: His Concubines 58 Chapter 64: The Number of His Children 62 Chapter 65: The Lives of His Children and Descendants 64 Chapter 66: How and Why the Inquisition Began 72 Chapter 67: His Experience with al-Ma ?mun 76 Chapter 68: What Happened after the Death of al-Ma ?mun 86