Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥusayn ibn Muḥammad (1) al-Rūdhrawarī (2).

He was born at Qalʿat Kankūr (3), a fortress in the province of Hamadan, in 437 AH.

Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Malik al-Hamadhānī relates, “The caliph al-Qāʾim became displeased with his vizier Abū Naṣr ibn Jahīr, dismissed him, and appointed Abū Yaʿlā al-Ḥusayn ibn Muḥammad in his stead. Abū Yaʿlā’s son, Abū Shujāʿ—the son-in-law of Ibn Riḍwān—then entered the caliph’s service for a payment of thirty thousand dinars.

In 460 AH Ibn Jahīr was again removed, and in that same year Abū Yaʿlā died. The caliph compensated Abū Yaʿlā’s son by granting him the Basāsīrī residence, which he sold for several times the amount he had advanced, thereby making a handsome profit and investing in property.

Subsequently he served the crown prince al-Muqtadī and became his confidential secretary. When al-Muqtadī succeeded to the throne, Abū Shujāʿ’s standing grew. Niẓām al-Mulk heard of this and wrote urging the caliph to remove him. Al-Muqtadī answered in his own handwriting, explaining Abū Shujāʿ’s station with him and praising his piety and merit. The caliph then ordered Abū Shujāʿ to proceed to Isfahan, sending a personal servant to attend him. Niẓām al-Mulk humbled himself, and by 475 AH their relations had been restored.

In 476 AH al-Muqtadī dismissed Ibn Jahīr once more and appointed Abū Shujāʿ (4) as vizier. Good fortune now smiled upon him: he enjoyed marvelous influence over the caliph, the caliphate regained its prestige, security spread among the people, Iraq flourished, and commerce increased.

He devoted much time to reciting the Quran and to voluntary night prayer (tahajjud), copied Qur’anic manuscripts with his own hand, and held public sessions to redress grievances.