"He had gathered characteristics which were never before gathered in any scholar in his time in the entire world"

"The lands of Khurasan have not brought out, anyone like Ibn al-Mubarak (May Allah have mercy upon him)"

From amongst such figures are those who excelled in certain fields be they in leadership, scholarship, political thought, arts of war, business or literature to name but a few. However, rarely has history in the post-Prophethood era witnessed personalities who had gathered all these characteristics and succeeded across numerous fields and avenues. Rarely has it witnessed lives that were so enriched and yet enriching, so influential and inspiring, so powerful and empowering, so humble and yet so humbling. 

One of these rarities lies in the very being of that scholar from Khurasan, the mujahid (warrior) between the army ranks, the faqih (jurist) and muhaddith (narrator) of his time, the righteous abid (worshipper) of his Lord, the successful merchant across cities, the well known zahid (ascetic), the poet and writer, the grammarian and linguist, the respected and the leader of the Pious writer, the grammarian and linguist, the respected and the leader of the Pious.