Biography of Nizam al-Mulk

Biography of Nizam al-Mulk

By Imam Shams ad-Deen

Translated By Shaykh Hamza Yusuf

One of the benefits of studying the biographies of the people that went before us is that our predecessors inspire us by their lives and by their sacrifices. Among these inspirational people are the prophets, saints, scholars, and even righteous political rulers. One of the most righteous political rulers in the history of Islam was Nizam al-Mulk. He was the patron of the great Imam, Hujat al-Islam (the Proof of Islam), Al-Ghazzali; may Allah be pleased with him. Nizam al-Mulk believed that Imam al-Ghazali had the potential to refute the esoterics, the anthropomorphians, and the philosophers that were causing so much confusion in the Muslim world at that time.

Nizam al-Mulk is called al-Wazir al-Kabir, which means �The Great Minister.� His full name is Nizam al-Mulk, Qiwamu al-Deen, Abu Ali al-Hasan b. Ali ibn Ishaaq al-Tusi. He was originally from Tus, which is the city of Imam al-Ghazzali. Nizam al-Mulk was a brilliant man, a brilliant political leader, and an expert. He was felicitous in his nature, deeply devout, religious, and of extreme modesty. He filled his gatherings with the great reciters of Qur�an and the scholars of his age and vicinity. He built the famous madrasah (university) in Baghdad which bares his name: An-Nizamia. He built other great schools as well, one in Nisapur and another one in Tus. He strongly encouraged people to study the Islamic sciences and arts, and he used to spend much money on the seekers of knowledge. He also recited Hadith himself and was well known as a great reciter during his time...

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