He was born in Qazwin in 512 AH.

He pursued legal studies under Malikdad ibn ʿAli al-ʿUmraki (1); afterwards he travelled to Nishapur, where he studied with Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Faqih and rose to prominence in the Shafiʿi school.

Among those from whom he received hadith were: ʿAbd Allah al-Farawi, ʿAbd al-Ghafir ibn Ismaʿil, Hibat Allah al-Sayyidi, Zahir al-Shahhami, ʿAbd al-Munʿim ibn al-Qushayri, and ʿAbd al-Jabbar al-Khawari, and he acquired the transmission of the major collections.

He taught in Qazwin and in Baghdad, and he also studied under Ibn al-Batti. He preached widely, his fame spread, and he was later appointed to teach at the Nizamiyya.

Ibn al-Najjar said: “He was an authority in the school, in legal theory, Qurʾanic exegesis, dialectical jurisprudence, and public exhortation. He transmitted Sahih Muslim, the Musnad of Ibn Rahawayh, al-Hakim’s History, al-Sunan al-Kabir, Dalaʾil al-Nubuwwa, and al-Baʿth by al-Bayhaqi (2). He dictated scholarly sessions, preached, and people were drawn to him for his dignified bearing, pleasant speech, and vast memorization. Many emirs and notables showed strong allegiance to him, while the common folk loved him as well. He held gatherings in the Palace Congregational Mosque and in the Nizamiyya, attended by great crowds.”