Abu Hafs Umar ibn Ali al-Bazzar

Introduction from book, '.....the result of all this was the authoring of the thousands of books and collections that now fill Islamic libraries, the raising of the word of truth, and the empowering of the Ummah by its sticking to the religion of truth, Islam. Because of this, all of the powers of the world gathered against the Muslims in order to weaken them. So, the scholars of Islam rose to the occasion and defended Allah’s Religion.

From these scholars who raised the banner of truth and the honor of defending Islam was Shaykh al-Islam Taqi ad-Din Ibn Taymiyyah, with the many brave stances he took in his time, and with the countless books and fatawa of his that now fill the Islamic library. In order to better know this brave, pious imam known as Ibn Taymiyyah, we present to the reader this biography that was written by the pen of a scholar who saw, lived with, and befriended Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah - and he is none other than al-Imam al-Bazzar – and he called this book ‘al-A’lam al-‘Aliyyah fi Manaqib Ibn Taymiyyah,’ and he is the most qualified to write about him.

It is hoped that as opposed to the typical biography that is filled with mere facts and figures, this book will serve to provide the reader with a first-hand account of the human side of one of the greatest Islamic personalities to have ever lived – one that can be taken as an example in formulating a lifestyle and conducting day to day affairs.