Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani (1372–1449) was one of the most influential thinkers of the fifteenth century. Drawing on autobiographical texts and contemporary accounts, Jaques focuses on the most widely read of Ibn Hajar’s works – Fath al-bari (a commentary on the Sahih al-Bukhari), Inba’ al-ghumr (a history of the Mamluk period), as well as his many works of prosopography, and explains how he drew on the theories, ideas, and aspirations of the preceding centuries of Islamic scholarship to project an enduring solution to the crises of his time. An important strand in the story is how, despite personal suffering and the dangerous intrigues around him, Ibn Hajar rose to prominence as the chief Shafi‘i judge of Egypt. This book recounts a fascinating life profoundly devoted to religious learning. It describes the severe personal and professional problems that Ibn Hajar faced: the deaths of most of his children, plague, and the political scheming of the Mamluk court. The book also demonstrates how Ibn Hajar found solace and protection in the Sunna and how he attempted to transform it into a personal and moral guide for Muslim life. Understanding his life and work is of direct relevance to Muslims now witnessing comparable traumas, political upheavals and uncertainties