2) Selected 500 Hadith from Sahih Bukhari & Muslim - The Message

Sahih Bukhari & Sahih MuslimIbn Taymiyyah had a difficult life full of continuous trials,calamities, and tests. No sooner did one calamity end thana new one emerged. As soon as he is released from oneprison, he is again locked up in another.Towards the end of his life, some people plotted againsthim because of his opinion about prohibiting people fromvisiting the graves of the Prophets, may Allaah exalt theirmention, and righteous people. So they spread a rumoramong the people that he belittled the Prophets, mayAllaah exalt their mention. Accordingly, the judges of thefour schools of Egypt ordered that he be imprisoned. So hewas locked up in Damascus citadel.In that citadel, Allaah inspired him with the understandingof many meanings of the Quran and the basics ofknowledge that many scholars would have wished to have.During his captivity in the citadel, he used to say: "If I gaveas much gold as that which would fill this citadel, Iwouldn't have been grateful enough for this grace of beingimprisoned."When he was reminded of the people who had hurt andcaused his imprisonment, he said: "I can never rewardthem for the good they brought to me."Ibn Taymiyyah remained in jail in that citadel for abouttwo years till he died in 728 A.H. At the time of his funeralprayer in the mosque, the soldiers surrounded the funeralPage 196