References: 'Dawah Shaikhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah wa-Athruha fi al-Harakat
al-Islamiyyah al-Mu'asirah' by Salahud-Din Maqbool Ahmad, Notes by Dr. Abdullah
al-Farsi (hafidhahullah) and Articles on the
biography of Shaikhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah by Abu Sufyan Farid Ibn Abdulwahid Ibn
Haibatan, Aisha bint Muhammad and Abu Rumaysah (May Allah reward them all)
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‘This Ilm (Deen) will be carried by the trustworthy ones of
each generation.
Negating from it the tahreef (alterations) of the ones going beyond bounds,
the false assumptions of the liars, and the ta'weel (false interpretations) of
the ignorant.’
[Reported by al-Bayhaqee and
authenticated by Shaikh al-Albanee in Mishkat (no. 248)]
'Allah will raise for this community at the end of every hundred years
one who will revive His religion.'
[Abu Dawood (3/4278),
al-Hakim, at-Tabaranee in al-Ausat. Authenticated by al-Albanee in as-Saheehah
(2/150)]
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Islamic history stands witness to a great number of scholars,
reformers and callers to the path of Allah; those who followed in the footsteps
of the Salafus-Salih (the pious-predecessors) in belief and action, in calling
to Allah and in assigning priorities of life; in valor and bravery, in perils
and struggle and in devoting their lives wholeheartedly towards the affairs that
benefit in the Hereafter. Amongst these outstanding and remarkable personalities
is
al-Allamah, al-Imam, Shaikhul-Islam Taqi ud-Deen Ahmad Ibn Taymiyyah .
- whose memoirs adorn the pages of Islamic history with their perpetual
achievements and exceptional influences.
Ibn Taymiyyah was an outstanding scholar who mastered many fields of Islamic
learning and lived in an era of much political, social and religious upheaval.
At his time, the Muslim nation faced many threats; both from within and beyond -
the most crucial of which were:
1. The invasions of the crusaders from the west.
2. The treachery of the Fatimites in their alliance with the crusaders against
the Islamic state.
3. The Tartar oppression from the east, and their senseless massacres and
destruction.
4. Corruption of kings and rulers, and their distance from Islam.
5. The spread of rigid blind-following of Madhhabs causing deep sectarian
divides.
6. Spread of heretical beliefs and sorcery amongst the Muslims due to the
efforts of the people of innovation and desires from amongst the Shiites, the
Rafidah, the Sufis and the Baatinis.
It was in this time of tribulations that Allah ordained for Ibn Taymiyyah to
confront these challenges and to defend the pure Deen against the tidal wave of
misconceptions, deviations, innovations and heresies.
