Abu Abdallah ibn Jarada, full name Abū 'Abdallāh Muḥammad ibn Jarada (1004-1084), was a wealthy merchant and member of the Hanbali community in 11th-century Baghdad.[1] [2] Originally from Ukbara,[3] he was born in 1004 (395 AH) and originally did trading between his hometown and Baghdad, where he later settled.[4] He lived in the Bab al-Maratib quarter on the east side of Baghdad, in a massive residence consisting of 30 buildings and including a garden, a hammam, and two private mosques.[4] His residence hosted various social functions, such as weddings, for members of the Hanbali community.[4]
Ibn Jarada was a son-in-law of another wealthy Hanbali merchant, Abu Mansur ibn Yusuf, who wielded influence with the Abbasid caliph al-Qa'im.[2] [5] After Abu Mansur's death in 1067, Ibn Jarada inherited his position as family patriarch (together with Abu'l-Qasim ibn Ridwan) and adopted his title of "Shaykh al-Ajall", or "the most eminent shaykh".[2] [5]
Although sources have little to say about the exact nature of Ibn Jarada's commercial activities, they do describe his philanthropic activities.[4] He had a mosque built and named after him, the Masjid Ibn Jarada, near the caliphal palace, where he had Abu Ali ibn al-Banna teach.[1] He also built a school for girls and hired Abu Talib al-Ukbari to teach there.[1] He also hired Abu Ali ibn al-Banna as a private tutor for his family.[1]
He died in 1084 (476 AH), at the age of 81 (in lunar years).[1] [2]