A brief mention of Ibn Taymiyyah’s Dawah in prison

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

During his imprisonment, Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allah have mercy upon him] observed that the prisoners were engrossed in different forms of entertainment, including chess, backgammon, and similar activities. These distractions caused them to neglect their obligatory five daily prayers. The Shaikh expressed his strong disapproval of this behaviour and instructed them to prioritise their prayers, seek closeness to Allah through righteous actions, glorify Allah, seek forgiveness for their sins, and making supplications. He familiarised them with their needs from the Sunnah, instilled in them a passion for it, and encouraged them to follow it, resulting in significant positive changes within the prison. This included a focus on acquiring knowledge and understanding of the Religion, making the prison environment more beneficial than many schools. Many of the prisoners decided to stay with him even after their release, leading to a high number of returnees that eventually overcrowded the prison.

An Excerpt from “Al-Uqood Ad-Du’riyyah Fee Dhikri Manaaqib Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah 330-331