The Hanbali theologian, Ibn Jowzi

Compiled by: Syed Ali Shahbaz
On 13th of the Islamic month of Zil-Qa'dah in 508 AH, the Hanbali theologian Abdur-Rahman Ibn Ali Ibn Mohammad, known popularly as Abu’l-Faraj Ibn Jowzi, was born in Baghdad. He claimed descent from the first caliph’s son Mohammad Ibn Abu Bakr, who was a loyal follower of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS).
He is famous for the theological stance that he took against other Hanbalites of the time for their deviation concerning God's Attributes, so much so that he criticized them of tarnishing the image of Islam by making it synonymous with extreme anthropomorphism. His famous work in this regard is his “Daff' Shubah at-Tashbih”.
He was a prolific writer and is said to have authored more than 300 books and treatises, including a book on the unsurpassed merits of Imam Ali (AS) and a ten-volume history titled: “al-Muntazam fi Tarikh al-Muluk wal-Umam.” He passed away in 597 AH at the age of 89.