Best Selling Books by Ibn

"Ahmad ibn Hanbal (d. 241 H/855 AD), renowned for his profound knowledge of hadiths—the reports of the Prophet’s sayings and deeds—is a major figure in the history of Islam. He was famous for living according to his own strict interpretation of the Prophetic model and for denying himself the most basic comforts, even though his family was prominent and his city, Baghdad, was then one of the wealthiest in the world. Ibn Hanbal’s piety and austerity made him a folk hero, especially after he resisted the attempts of two caliphs to force him to accept rationalist doctrine. His subsequent imprisonment and flogging is one of the most dramatic episodes of medieval Islamic history, and his principled resistance influenced the course of Islamic law, the rise of Sunnism, and the legislative authority of the caliphate. [This book] is a translation of the biography of Ibn Hanbal by the Baghdad preacher, scholar, and storyteller Ibn al-Jawzi (d. 597 H/1200 AD), newly abridged for a paperback readership by translator Michael Cooperson. Set against the background of fierce debates over the role of reason and the basis of legitimate government, it tells the formidable life tale of one of the most influential Muslims in history."--

In 922 AD, an Arab envoy from Baghdad named Ibn Fadlan encountered a party of Viking traders on the upper reaches of the Volga River. In his subsequent report on his mission he gave a meticulous and astonishingly objective description of Viking customs, dress, table manners, religion and sexual practices, as well as the only eyewitness account ever written of a Viking ship cremation. Between the ninth and fourteenth centuries, Arab travellers such as Ibn Fadlan journeyed widely and frequently into the far north, crossing territories that now include Russia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Their fascinating accounts describe how the numerous tribes and peoples they encountered traded furs, paid tribute and waged wars. This accessible new translation offers an illuminating insight into the world of the Arab geographers, and the medieval lands of the far north.

Kitab al-Amwal (The Book of Revenue) is the work of a brilliant legal mind. Abu Ubayd al-Qasim ibn Sallam provides us with an accurate record of legal precedents laid down in the first two centuries of Islam, in particular those pertaining to the sources of revenue and the avenues of public expenditure. The power of the book, however, lies in the method of the author and the analysis undertaken by him. He gathers together the traditions of the Prophet (pbuh), the opinions of his companions and the views of eminent jurists, and then subjects them to legal analysis that is unparalleled in Islamic legal literature. The book is essential for every student of Islamic law, especially those who wish to master the art of interpreting and analyzing legal traditions and early precedents. In the discipline known as fiqh al-sunnah, there is no book or manual that can compete with this outstanding work.

Translation of Ibn Hishām''s Sīrat rasūl Allāh which was based on Ibn Ishāq''s lost Sīrah.

Translated from the Arabic and edited by Said Hamdun & Noel King

An 1829 English edition of the work of the Arab traveller Ibn Battuta (1304-68/9), whose journeys may have reached as far as China and Zanzibar. There is doubt as to whether Ibn Battuta actually saw everything he described, but this account gives a fascinating world-view from the medieval period.

I have gathered together in this book numerous ideas which Allâh, the provider of intellect, has enabled me to profit from as day succeeded day, [and year succeeded year] and circumstances altered, permitting me to understand the vicissitudes of fate and to control its fluctuations, to the extent that I have devoted the larger part of my life to it. I have chosen to master these problems by study and contemplation, rather than throw myself into the various sensual pleasures which attract most souls on this earth, and rather than amass unnecessary wealth. I have gathered together all my observations into this book in the hope that the Almighty may allow it to benefit whichever of His servants He wishes who has access to [is capable of understanding] my book, in the matters over which I have slaved, devoting all my efforts to them and reflecting at length upon them. I hope that it will be well received, and I present it with good intentions and blessings [with a good heart]. This book will benefit a person more than financial treasures and possessions of property, if he meditates upon it, and if Allâh enables him to make good use of it. As for myself, my hope in this enterprise is to win the greatest reward from Allâh, since my intention is to help His servants, to remedy whatever is corrupt in their character, and to heal the sickness of their souls. I beseech the assistance of Allâh [Almighty, we wish only for God, the best of defenders]. Ibn Hazm Al Andalusi

This is an English translation of the Risala, letters by the 10th century scholar Ibn Fadlan, one of the great medieval travellers. He journeyed from Baghdad to Bukhara in Central Asia and then continued across the desert to the town of Bulghar, near present Kazan. He describes the tribes he met on his way.

A collection of 101 hadith sayings, this work is one of the most important and influential early collections of hadith qudsi. Falling into three categories, the first 40 sayings each have a full, unbroken chain of transmission that goes back to God through the medium of the Prophet Muhammad. The second category are sayings mostly taken from well-known written collections. The final section is drawn from similar books, with Ibn ''Arabi adding one extra hadith, orally transmitted. Comprised of a full introduction explaining the meaning of Hadith, the text stresses the importance of this tradition in Ibn ''Arabi''s writing.

The stories of the prophets is the great work of the famous Muslim scholar Ibn Kathir. He has a prominent place in the Islamic literature. Notably, he wrote the biography (Al-Sira Al-Nabawiyya) of the life of Muhammad and Stories of the Prophets (Qisas Al-Anbiya) a collection of tales from the Quran on the various Prophets of Islam and other Old Testament characters. The Stories of the Prophets and all the events in their lives have been supported by the Quranic Verses and the Sunnah (traditions) of the Prophet (pbuh).

It contains a record of the exemplification by the last Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, of the message of the Qur''an, the practice (''amal) of the people of Madinah of the first generations, a transmission of the ethos that permeated the city, and Imam Malik''s painstaking clarification of the Sunna, the hadiths, the practice and legal judgements. Ash-Shafi i'' said, "After the Book of Allah, there is no book on the face of the earth sounder than the book of Malik." ''Ala'' ad-Daan Maghlatay al-Hanafi said, "The first person to compile the sahih was Malik." Ibn Hajar said, "The book of Malik is sound by all the criteria that are demanded as proofs in the mursal, munqati'' and other types of transmission." As-Suyuti followed Ibn Hajar''s judgement and said, "It is absolutely correct to say that the Muwatta'' is sound (sahih) without exception." Al-Bukhari and Muslim transmitted most of its hadiths and included them in their sahih collections. The authors of the rest of the six books, the Imam of the hadith scholars, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and others did the same.

A collection of the long-unavailable tafasir, or commentaries on the Qur''an, which help to properly explain and contextualize the revelation, this series aims to make leading exegetical works--in translation, unabridged, and faithful to the letter and meaning of the Arabic--widely available for study and research. One of the most pivotal works for understanding the environment that influenced the development of Qur''anic exegesis, this volume--originally written by Abdullah Ibn ''Abbas and Ibn Ya''qub al-Firuzabadi--offers valuable insight into the circulation and exchange of popular ideas between Islam, Judaism, and Christianity during the formative phase of Islamic exegesis. In addition, the work avoids elaborate theological, philosophical, and grammatical explanations, making it easily accessible to nonspecialists.

Shaikh Muhammad al-Tahir ibn Ashur is the most renowned Zaytuna Imam and one of the great Islamic scholars of the 20th century. The publication of this translation of Shaikh Ibn Ashur’s Treatise on Maqasid al-Shari’ah is a breakthrough in studies on Islamic law in the English language. In this book, Ibn Ashur proposed Maqasid as a methodology for the renewal of the theory of Islamic law, which has not undergone any serious development since the era of the great imams. Ibn Ashur – quite courageously – also addressed the sensitive topic of the intents/Maqasid of Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) behind his actions and decisions. He introduced criteria to differentiate between the Prophetic traditions that were meant to be part of Islamic law and the Prophetic actions/ sayings that were meant to be for the sake of specific purposes such as political leadership, court judgment, friendly advice, and conflict resolution. But Ibn Ashur’s most significant contribution in this book has been the development of new Maqasid by coining new, contemporary, terminology that were never formulated in traditional Usûl al-Fiqh. For example, Ibn Ashur developed the theory of the ‘preservation of lineage’ into ‘the preservation of the family system’, the ‘protection of true belief’ into ‘freedom of beliefs’, etc. He also introduced the concepts of ‘orderliness’, ‘natural disposition’, ‘freedom’, ‘rights’, ‘civility’, and ‘equality’ as Maqasid in their own right, and upon which the whole Islamic law is based. This development opens great opportunities for Islamic law to address current and real challenges for Muslim societies and Muslim minorities.

This book is Early Days from AI-Bidayah wan-Nihayah - Stories from the beginning of Creation and the early Prophets. It starts by describing the beginning of creation from the Throne and the Universe and all that is in it, such as the angels, the Jinn and humans. This book continues to early Prophet Adam (Adam) to Prophet Yunus/Younus (A).

This is the original History of the Modammedan Dynasties of Spain reprinted from the first edition of 1840-1843. It represents the foundations of our modern understanding of a great civilisation.

"The continuation of our acclaimed English translation of Les Iluminations de la Meque. Volume II contains more of the "Greatest Shaykh''s" wisdom for the first time in English. Subjects include: the gnostic and the sacred law, the mystic properties of the Quranic letters, the secrets of Forgiveness and the attainment of Divine Nearness."--Publisher''s website.

This work is a translation and study of a ninth- through fifteenth-century manuscript, Kitāb al-Hadāyā wa al-Tuḥaf. The manuscript furnishes a wealth of varied information offering insights into the period immediately preceding Islam and extending through the first four centuries of Islamic rule.

Analysis of the 13th century essay, arguing for the reality of demons and demonic possession.

The Chronology of Ancient Nations - An english Version of the Arabic Text of the Athâr-ul-Bâkiya of Albîrûnî is an unchanged, high-quality reprint of the original edition of 1879. Hansebooks is editor of the literature on different topic areas such as research and science, travel and expeditions, cooking and nutrition, medicine, and other genres. As a publisher we focus on the preservation of historical literature. Many works of historical writers and scientists are available today as antiques only. Hansebooks newly publishes these books and contributes to the preservation of literature which has become rare and historical knowledge for the future.

Objective and illuminating, this treatise, written by Sufi leader Muhyiddin Ibn ''Arabi, presents a fundamental analysis of spiritual practice. Underscoring the importance of silence, seclusion, hunger, and vigilance, this guide demonstrates that these activities are both physical and spiritual. Providing the necessary tools for an enlightened life, this dual-language edition incorporates the first critical edition of the Arabic text, gathered from the best-surviving manuscripts. An introduction, and translation of chapter 53 of the renowned Futuhat al-Makkiyya, are also included.

Nahjul-Balagha is a magnificent collection of the inimitable sermons, invocations (du''as), wills or pieces of advice, epistles and aphorisms of Amir al-Mu''minin, Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib, compiled by Sayyid al-Sharif ar-Radi (may Allah sanctify his soul) about one thousand years ago. Time and years have not only failed to diminish the impressive freshness of this work but have, instead, added constantly to its value as new concepts and ideas have emerged therefrom.

This book - now available in paperback - was originally written in the early 11th century by Abu al-Faraj ''Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Hindu (d. 423/1032), a physician who was also the author of a treatise on philosophy, and who was famous for his Arabic poetry (his anthology is said to have amounted to 15,000 couplets or more). For a medieval work, which was written as an introduction to medicine intended for students, the book is refreshingly meticulous in its analysis and is modern in its outlook. It discusses the various disciplines that a medical student should have been familiar with, including a lengthy digression into philosophy and logic. It then deals with matters specifically medical, devoting separate sections to anatomy, diseases, pulse, and names of medicinal substances.

In this book, the Stories of the Prophets have been compiled from ''Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah'' (The Beginning and the End) which is a great work of the famous Muslim exegete and historian Ibn Kathir and has a prominent place in the Islamic literature. The Stories of the Prophets and all the events in their lives have been supported by Quranic Verses and the traditions of the Prophet (SAW). Wherever it was necessary, other sources have also been reported for the sake of historical accounts, but on such places a comparative study has been made to prove the authenticity of the sources. Ibn Kathir has reproduced the views and interpretations of all the great exegetes of the Quran of his time. The systematic narratives of the Stories of the Prophets have been written in chronological order which renders a historical style to the book.