Virtues of Imam Malik by Ibn Fihr | Arabic Islamic Books
The book "Fada'il Malik ibn Anas wa Akhbaruhu" (The Virtues and News of Malik ibn Anas), authored by the Hadith scholar Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Fihr al-Masri, is a historical and Hadith-based volume dedicated to the biography of the Imam of the Abode of Migration (Medina), Malik ibn Anas — may Allah have mercy on him.
1. Subject and Content The book falls under the genre of "Biographies and Virtues" (Manaqib). The author arranged it to provide a comprehensive panoramic view of Imam Malik's life. Its main topics include:
Lineage and Upbringing: Discussing the Imam's origins, his upbringing in Medina, and his pursuit of knowledge at a young age.
Teachers and Students: Mentioning those from whom Imam Malik narrated (such as Nafi' and Al-Zuhri) and the prominent figures who narrated from him (such as Al-Shafi'i and Al-Layth ibn Sa'd).
Status in Fatwa: Details of his sessions for Fatwa and teaching in the Prophet's Mosque, the awe-inspiring nature of his knowledge circle, and his famous saying, "I do not know" (La adri).
Al-Muwatta: News regarding the compilation of his book Al-Muwatta, the reason for its authorship, and the care given to it.
The Ordeal (Al-Mihna): Details of Imam Malik's tribulation with the authorities (during the reign of Abu Ja'far al-Mansur), his flogging, and his steadfastness upon the truth.
Characteristics and Death: His physical description, clothing, use of perfume, worship, death, and the dreams people saw about him after his passing.
2. The Author's Methodology (Ibn Fihr)
Isnad (Chains of Transmission): Since the author, "Ibn Fihr," is a Hadith scholar, he does not merely narrate stories in a literary sense. Instead, he presents reports with their chains of transmission leading back to the original narrators. This gives the book high documentary value, allowing researchers to judge the authenticity of the narrations.
Collection and Selection: He combined Egyptian narrations (due to his Egyptian origin) with Meccan and Medinan narrations (due to his residence in Mecca), effectively making the book a link between the Maghreb (West) and Mashriq (East) schools in transmitting the news of Malik.
3. Scientific Value and Impact
Primary Source: This book is considered a fundamental source from which Qadi Iyad drew material for his famous encyclopedia "Tartib al-Madarik wa Taqrib al-Masalik". The fact that Qadi Iyad quotes frequently from Ibn Fihr indicates the scholars' trust in his transmission.
Historical Documentation: Through the biography of its Imam, the book preserves precise details about the social and scholarly life in Medina during the 2nd century AH.
Brief Bio of the Author: Ibn Fihr al-Masri (al-Makki)
Name: Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abi al-Qasim, known as Ibn Fihr.
Life: He was originally from Egypt but moved to Mecca and lived there for a long period, hence he is titled "al-Masri al-Makki" (The Egyptian-Meccan).
Death: He passed away in the middle of the 5th century AH (approximately around 440 AH).
Status: He was a Hadith scholar (Muhaddis) and a Hafiz, interested in collecting virtues and merits, with a special focus on the heritage of Imam Malik and the Maliki school.
Internet Explorer tarayıcısının 9.0 ve daha eski sürümlerini desteklememekteyiz. Web sitemizi doğru görüntüleyebilmek için tarayıcınızı güncelleyebilirsiniz, güncelleyemiyorsanız başka bir tarayıcıyı ücretsiz yükleyebilirsiniz.
Sizlere en iyi alışveriş deneyimini sunabilmek adına sitemizde çerezler(cookies) kullanmaktayız. Detaylı bilgi için Kvkk sözleşmesini inceleyebilirsiniz.