Ibn Hajar al-_x02BF_Asqalani (d. 1449) was a medieval polymath-an
innovative religious commentator, a historian and biographer, a
judge on the highest court in Cairo, an author of spiritual poetry,
and a trader from a powerful family of spice merchants. His
masterpiece is a twelve-volume commentary on prophetic traditions
called Fath al-Bari (The Divine Aid to Victory), parts of which he
incorporated into Merits of the Plague.
Joel Blecher (editor/translator) is an associate professor of
history at The George Washington University and the author of Said
the Prophet of God- Hadith Commentary across a Millennium as well
as numerous articles. His work has been supported by the National
Endowment for the Humanities, the American Council of Learned
Societies, and the Library of Congress.
Mairaj Syed (editor/translator) is an associate professor of
religious studies and the director of the medieval and early modern
studies program at the University of California, Davis, and the
author of Coercion and Responsibility in Islam. He has received
many awards for his research, including a Fulbright Scholarship.
“This is the first English-language edition of his work, deservedly
bringing it to a wide new audience. . . . Having lost three of his
daughters to the Black Death, [Ibn Hajar] reflects with empathy and
grief on examples of plagues from the time of the Prophet Muhammad
to his own. . . . At a time when many ruins of the coronavirus
pandemic are yet to be rebuilt, Merits of the Plague helps us to
place our experience of the disease in a longer arc of history.”
—The Times Literary Supplement
“An outstanding translation that brings Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani’s
work to life for a modern audience . . . Merits of the Plague not
only provides a fascinating historical account but also prompts
reflection on our contemporary challenges.” —Islamic Insight
“Remarkable . . . A landmark work of history and religious thought
. . . Surprisingly modern and has a lot to say to us in the era of
coronavirus.” —History Unplugged Podcast
“A valuable addition to our understanding of the pandemic and how
people reacted to it . . . This book offers a much-needed
perspective from the Islamic world.” —Medievalists.net
“A unique, non-Western medieval perspective on the Black Death and
pandemics in general.” —Jara News
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
