Muhammad

The final Prophet and Messenger of Allah, to whom the Quran was revealed; called Ahmad in the Quran (61:6).

Ansari Companion entrusted with sensitive missions by the Prophet; Umar's inspector of provincial governors.

Pioneering hadith scholar raised in Madinah, among the first to compile hadith in written form at the caliph's request.

Great-great-grandson of the Prophet ﷺ through Husain, an eminent Madinan scholar given the title al-Baqir for his vast learning.

Successor scholar of Basra and hadith narrator; later tradition attributes famous works on dream interpretation to him.

Hanbali scholar of Damascus and foremost student of Ibn Taymiyyah, known for works on law, spirituality and prophetic guidance such as Zad al-Ma'ad.

Compiler of Sahih al-Bukhari, regarded by Sunni Muslims as the most authentic collection of hadith.

Theologian, jurist and mystic titled Hujjat al-Islam, author of the classic Ihya Ulum al-Din.

Andalusian Maliki scholar from Cordoba, author of the extensive legal Quran commentary al-Jami' li-Ahkam al-Quran.

Founder of the Shafi'i school, whose al-Risala laid the foundations of Islamic legal theory (usul al-fiqh).

Polymath of Baghdad, author of a monumental Quran commentary and a celebrated universal history.

Hadith scholar of Termez, student of al-Bukhari and compiler of Jami' al-Tirmidhi, one of the six major hadith collections.

Hadith scholar from Qazvin whose Sunan Ibn Majah is counted among the six major hadith collections.

Student of Abu Hanifa whose writings preserved and systematised Hanafi law; a pioneer of Islamic international law.

Grand Mufti of Pakistan, founder of Darul Uloom Karachi and author of the Urdu tafsir Ma'ariful Quran.

Learned Delhi sultan known for ambitious experiments, including moving the capital to Daulatabad and issuing token currency.

Ghurid sultan whose victory at the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192 laid the foundation of Muslim rule in North India.

Young Umayyad general who conquered Sindh and Multan between 711 and 715, beginning Muslim rule in the region.

Polymath from Khwarazm who wrote on astronomy, mathematics and geography, and produced a celebrated study of India and its cultures.

Moroccan traveller who journeyed across Africa, the Middle East, India and China, recording his travels in the Rihla.

Geographer and cartographer who produced a famous world map and geography for King Roger II of Sicily.

Mathematician and astronomer of Baghdad's House of Wisdom; his algebra book named the subject, and the word 'algorithm' comes from his name.

Persian physician, chemist and philosopher who served as chief physician in Rayy and Baghdad and was among the first to distinguish smallpox from measles.

Poet-philosopher of the East who wrote in Urdu and Persian; his ideas inspired the creation of Pakistan.