Merits of the Plague

“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

Ibn Hajar al-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.