Archive · In History

October 20 in History

Medieval Period: Scholastic philosophers, Islamic scholars, and the great religious thinkers shaped this age.

7thinkers in the spotlight
10featured quotes
Medieval Period

Thinkers of the Medieval Period

Dhul-Nun al-Misri

Dhul-Nun al-Misri

796 – 860

Science
6

quotes

Dhūl-Nūn al-Miṣrī, often rendered in English literature as Zūl-Nūn al-Miṣrī, was an early Egyptian Sufi mystic and alchemist. His surname "al Misri" means "The Egyptian".

Sufyan al-Thawri

Sufyan al-Thawri

716 – 778

Religion
14

quotes

If one tear falls on account of fear of God, it is better then fasting throughout life.

As-Saffah

As-Saffah

722 – 754

5

quotes

It is rare that bounty is given unasked but a just claim is destroyed thereby.

Ahmad ibn Hanbal

Ahmad ibn Hanbal

780 – 855

Law
7

quotes

Ahmad ibn Hanbal (Arabic: أحمد ابن حنبل, romanized: Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal; was an Arab jurist and founder of the Hanbali school who is widely recognized as the scholar who memorized the most Hadiths in Islamic history. One of the most venerated Islamic intellectual figures, ibn Hanbal is notable for his unmatched memorization of over one million prophetic narrations, an unprecedented number that has never been claimed by any other muhaddith. Ibn Hanbal also compiled the largest hadith collection, al-Musnad, which has continued to exercise considerable influence on the field of hadith studies up to the present time, shaping the methodological framework later employed in both Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

Say to the followers of innovation : the judge between us and you is the day of funerals.

Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (A.S.)

Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (A.S.)

714 – 765

Religion
31

quotes

Ja'far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq was a Muslim scholar, jurist, hadith transmitter and the sixth and last agreed-upon Shia Imam amongst Twelvers and Isma'ilis. Known by the title al-Sadiq, Ja'far was the eponymous founder of the Ja'fari school of Islamic jurisprudence. In the canonical Twelver hadith collections, more traditions are cited from Ja'far than that of the other Imams combined, although their attribution to him is questionable, making it hard to determine his actual teachings.

Being cheerful and affable with people is by itself half of wisdom.

Ali al-Rida

Ali al-Rida

770 – 818

Religion
23

quotes

Ali ibn Musa al-Rida, also known as Abū al-Ḥasan al-Thānī, was a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and the eighth Imam in Twelver Shia Islam, succeeding his father, Musa al-Kazim, in 799 CE. He is also part of the chain of mystical authority in Sunni Sufi orders. He was known for his piety and learning, and a number of works are attributed to him, including Al-Risalah al-Dhahabiah, Sahifah of al-Ridha, and Fiqh al-Rida.

Everyone's friend is his reason; his enemy is his ignorance.

Ibrahim ibn Adham

Ibrahim ibn Adham

718 – 776

Religion
6

quotes

You know death must overtake you but you make no preparation for it.