Ibn al-Qayyim

Full name: Shams ad-Din Abu 'Abd Allah Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr ibn Ayyub az-Zur'i ad-Dimashqi al-Hanbali.

Birth and death: He was born on 7 Safar 691 AH (1292) in the village of Zur', near Damascus, in Syria, and he passed away on the night of 13 Rajab 751 AH (September 15, 1350) at the age of 60. May Allah have mercy on him.

His place in the Ummah: He was an imam, a hafiz, a scholar of tafsir, usul, and fiqh. Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar said of him: "If the only merit of Sheikh Taqi ad-Din (Ibn Taymiyya) were his famous student Shams ad-Din Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya — the author of numerous works from which both his adversaries and his supporters have benefited — that would suffice as proof of his great standing." Mulla 'Ali al-Qari said: "Whoever examines the book Sharh Manazil as-Sa'irin (i.e., Madarij as-Salikin), it will become clear to him that they (Ibn al-Qayyim and Ibn Taymiyya) were among the greatest of Ahl as-Sunna wa al-Jama'a and among the awliya' of this Ummah."

His origins: His father, Abu Bakr ibn Ayyub, was the director (qayyim) of the madrasa al-Jawziyya, the Hanbali school of Damascus, hence his surname "Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya." He grew up in a household of knowledge and piety, and this baraka was transmitted to his sons: his son 'Abd Allah memorized the Quran at the age of 9 and became a scholar himself, and his son Ibrahim became a learned man in the Arabic language.

His education: He studied under many scholars of his time, including his own father, ash-Shihab an-Nabulusi, Qadi Taqi ad-Din Sulayman, Safi ad-Din al-Hindi (in usul al-fiqh), Isma'il ibn Muhammad al-Harrani (in fiqh), and Imam adh-Dhahabi (may Allah have mercy on him). Al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir said: "He attained great mastery in many branches of knowledge, particularly tafsir, hadith, and usul."

His encounter with Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya: This was the event that changed the course of his life. Before meeting Ibn Taymiyya, he went through a period of intellectual confusion, having been influenced by certain Mu'tazilite and mystical teachings. He described this period himself in his ode, saying: "All these paths I have tried, and I fell into a net, flapping my wings like a bird that knows not where to fly." In 712 AH (1312), at the age of 21, he began studying under Ibn Taymiyya after the latter's return to Damascus, and he remained his companion and closest student for sixteen years, until the death of his sheikh in 728 AH (1328).

Ibn al-Qayyim adopted the same methodology as his master and followed his path in combating the people of innovations and passions and those who deviated from the religion. He became the principal compiler and editor of his sheikh's writings, and without him, this monumental body of work might not have survived.

His trials: In 726 AH (1326), he was imprisoned with his sheikh Ibn Taymiyya in the citadel of Damascus. During his imprisonment, he devoted himself entirely to the Quran. Ibn Rajab reports that this period of forced retreat was for him an immense source of spiritual benefits: he developed a profound analytical wisdom and a deepened understanding of the prophetic traditions. He was only released after the death of his sheikh.

His worship: Ibn Rajab (may Allah have mercy on him) said of his master: "He was a man of great worship and abundant tahajjud. He prolonged his prayer to the utmost! He was attached to dhikr, filled with love for Allah, inaba, istighfar, and humility before Him. I have never seen anyone like him! And I have never seen anyone with more vast knowledge, nor anyone more knowledgeable of the meanings of the Quran and the Sunna and the inner realities of faith than him. He was not infallible, but I have never seen anyone closer to the meaning of infallibility than him."

His students: Among his illustrious students: his son 'Abd Allah, Imam Ibn Kathir — the author of Al-Bidaya wa an-Nihaya and the famous tafsir — and Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali — the author of Tabaqat al-Hanabila and Jami' al-'Ulum wa al-Hikam.

His works: He wrote approximately one hundred works, covering tafsir, hadith, fiqh, usul, 'aqida, spirituality, and the Arabic language. Among the most famous:

Zad al-Ma'ad fi Hady Khayr al-'Ibad — A masterpiece unique in its kind, which expounds the guidance of the Prophet ﷺ in all aspects of life: worship, jihad, transactions, prophetic medicine, justice, and much more. It is an encyclopedia of applied Sunna.

Madarij as-Salikin — His monumental commentary on Manazil as-Sa'irin by al-Harawi al-Ansari, in which he treats the spiritual stations of the journey toward Allah with remarkable depth, while correcting Sufi excesses with knowledge and benevolence. He uttered this famous phrase therein: "Indeed, I love the Sheikh (al-Ansari), but I love the truth more!"

I'lam al-Muwaqqi'in 'an Rabb al-'Alamin — A fundamental work on the foundations of fiqh and fatwa, in which he expounds the principles of ijtihad and combats blind taqlid.

Al-Jawab al-Kafi li man Sa'ala 'an ad-Dawa' ash-Shafi (also known as Ad-Da' wa ad-Dawa') — A book on the diseases of the heart and their remedies, of striking spiritual depth.

An-Nuniyya (Al-Kafiya ash-Shafiya) — His famous poem in verse on the 'aqida of Ahl as-Sunna, in which he refutes the positions of the Jahmites, the Mu'tazilites, and the Ash'arites on the Names and Attributes of Allah.

Miftah Dar as-Sa'ada — On the key to happiness and the wisdom of creation.

Ighathat al-Lahfan min Masa'id ash-Shaytan — On the snares of the Devil and the means of protection from them.

Hidayat al-Hayara fi Ajwibat al-Yahud wa an-Nasara — A response to Christians and Jews.

At-Tibyan fi Aqsam al-Qur'an — On the oaths in the Quran.

And many others, each being a treasure of knowledge and wisdom.

His death: He died on the night of 13 Rajab 751 AH and was buried alongside his father in the cemetery of Bab as-Saghir in Damascus. May Allah grant him His vast mercy and admit him into Firdaws al-A'la.

His legacy: Imam Ibn al-Qayyim is one of the greatest gifts Allah has granted this Ummah after the early generations. If Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya (may Allah have mercy on him) was the reformer and the fighter, Ibn al-Qayyim was the one who refined, organized, and made this immense knowledge accessible to ordinary Muslims. His works are a unique blend of solid scholarship, authentic spirituality founded on the Quran and the Sunna, and an eloquence that touches hearts. He accomplished the remarkable feat of speaking about the purification of the heart, the journey toward Allah, and spirituality with the same rigor as in questions of fiqh and 'aqida, without ever falling into the excesses of deviant Sufism. It is in this that he is irreplaceable, and it is for this reason that his books continue to transform the lives of millions of Muslims around the world.