Salahuddin Ayyubi was an acclaimed Muslim general who spent almost his entire life on the battlefield. Born in 1138, his formal military career began at the early age of 14 and consisted of over a hundred battles. He fought the Crusaders for 20 years, dealing them a severe blow in the Battle of Hittin from which they never recovered. He conquered Al Aqsa back from the Crusaders, a historic and momentous occasion for which he is much loved by the Muslims. His accomplishments, accompanied by...

Khadija was the first wife of Prophet Muhammad. Her extraordinary personality and strength cause her to stand out on the pages of history. She was the first person to embrace Islam, and she stood behind the Prophet and lent him strength as he went through unbearable stress and suffering. A highly successful businesswoman, she was the one who proposed to the Prophet despite being 15 years older and a widowed mother. Her devotion as a believer, her loyalty as a wife, her success as a busines...

Khalid bin Waleed, also known as the Sword of Allah, was one of the greatest generals in history, both Islamic and otherwise. He was undefeated in battle, his courage was unparalleled, his strategic mind was stunning, and his humility and obedience to his ruler were astonishing. He contributed hugely in the initial wave of military successes of the Muslims that gave them the momentum to spread throughout the world. Apart from his competence and talent in the battlefield, he was a pious Mus...

Imam Muhammad Ghazali is one of the most celebrated scholars in Muslim history. One of the greatest jurists, theologians and mystics of the time, he is unanimously considered as the Reviver of Islam in the 5th century Hijri. He changed the course of early Islamic philosophy, shifting it away from the influence of Greek and Hellenistic philosophies. Imam Ghazali is credited with integrating Sufism into mainstream Islam. The Western medieval world knew him as Al-Gazel, the man who launched a...

Imam Bukhari is the most prominent name among the Islamic scholars of Hadith sciences. Born in Bukhara (now part of Uzbekistan), he travelled all over the Islamic world, learning from many notable scholars. His biggest contribution is his Hadith collection Sahih al-Bukhari, which is regarded by Muslims as the most authentic book in existence after the Holy Quran. In addition, he wrote several other books, the first of which he finished when he was merely 18 years old. He had a brilliant me...

Sultan Muhammad Fateh was a remarkable Ottoman ruler who made history in world naval warfare during his conquest of Constantinople, a city which Muslims had been trying to conquer for centuries. He was only 21 at the time, and his bravery, wit and determination allowed him to achieve what was at the time thought to be impossible. He conquered many lands and was a great warrior, but he is remembered also for his endeavours in the fields of education and public service. His great love for li...

Imam Ibne Taymiyyah was a scholar, a preacher, and also a warrior. He lived in the tumultuous times of the Mongol invasion, when the Muslims faced unprecedented challenges. A man of extraordinary intelligence and a master of multiple fields of knowledge of his time, he was immensely popular among both the common people and the academics for his wisdom and insight. His main area of expertise was religious sciences and he taught for over 15 years in peace. After the Mongol invasions, he also...

Ayesha (RA) was a beloved wife of the Prophet Muhammad. Born in the cradle of Islam and having spent her early years in the constant company of the Prophet, she dedicated her life to the cause of Islam. She was deeply familiar with the personality and Sunnah of the Prophet, and this made her a fountain of knowledge and wisdom regarding his life and actions. Many companions of the Prophet came to her to learn about the Quran and Hadith. She is also a wonderful role model for Muslim women of...

Imam Shaafai, the founder of the Shaafai school of thought, was a well travelled scholar and a magnificent teacher. While a youth, he was considered the king of experts in Arabic linguistics. He later achieved mastery in the study of the Quran, Hadith (sayings of the Prophet) and Islamic jurisprudence. His main contribution is his highly original work in determining the bases and guidelines for the principles of jurisprudence. In this he integrated the knowledge of Madinah's traditionalist...

Muhammad Iqbal - also known as Allama Iqbal - needs no introduction. He is rightly called the poet of the East. His works in both Urdu and Persian are considered the height of poetic excellence. More than that, they convey a deeply philosophical message and a worldview which is the masterpiece of a genius mind. He may justly be called a founding father of the Islamic renaissance in the 20th century, and his influence on the pan-islamic movement makes him a giant in the field of Islamic tho...

Malik bin Anas is the founder of Maliki school of thought. He was a famous Muslim scholar and an expert on Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh). He began teaching at an early age, and went on to become one of the most influential and respected scholars of his time. He is the author of the famous book Al-Mautah, one of the earliest collections of Ahadith. Besides the sayings of the Prophet, it also contains the practices of the Prophet's companions, traditions and customs of Madina and his own reli...

Umar bin Abdul Aziz is considered to be the fifth rightly guided caliph of Islam. He ruled in the early eight century, and is known for his reforms. The Umayyad rulers before and after were interested in increasing their own power, influence and wealth. Unique among them, Umar bin Abdul Aziz brought the spirit of Islam back into the caliphate, and despite huge pressures, ended the favouritism and nepotism that had become a characteristic of the Umayyads. He withdrew illegitimate taxes, hel...