His Name and Lineage
This Salafee Imaam became well-known with the title ‘Ibn Qayyim Al Jawziyyah’ because his father was the principal of the school ‘Al Jawziyyah’ in Damascus. As for his name, it is: Shams-ud-Deen, Abu Abdillaah, Mohammad bin Abu Bakr bin Ayyoob Az-Zar’ee (an ascription to Azra’ which is in the south of Syria), then Dimashqee, Hanbalee.
His Birth and Household
He was born on the 7th of Safar in the year 691H (1292 CE) and was raised in a house of knowledge and excellence and this offered him the chance to take knowledge from the senior scholars of his time, at a time when the various sciences (of knowledge) had flourished.
His Teachers
He studied under:
1. Ash-Shihaab Aan-Naabilisee,
2. Abu Bakr bin Abd-ud-Daayim,
3. Al Qaadee Taqee-ud-Deen Sulaymaan,
4. 'Eesaa Al Mut’im,
5. Faatimah bint Jawhar,
6. Abu Nasr Mohammad bin Imaad-ud-Deen Ash-Shayraazee,
7. Ibn Maktoom, Al Bahaa’ bin Asaakir,
8. 'Alaa-ud-Deen Al Kindee,
9. Mohammad bin Abul-Fath Ba’labkee,
10. Ayyoob bin Al Kamaal,
11. Al Qaadee Badr-ud-Deen bin Jamaa’ah,
He took the knowledge of the laws of inheritance from:
12. Ismaa’eel bin Mohammad
And read the Arabic language to:
• Abul-Fath Al Ba’labkee (Same as number 9)
13. Al Majd At-Toonisee.
He studied fiqh with a group of scholars, amongst them:
14. Ismaa’eel bin Mohammad Al Harraanee.
He took Usool (fundamental issues regarding creed etc.) from:
15. As-Safee Al Hindee.
As for his greatest teacher and his Shaykh whom he accompanied for 17 years from the years of his life, and who left the greatest impact upon him, then that is the Imaam, the Mujaddid, Taqee-ud-Deen Ibn Taymiyyah. He (Ibnul-Qayyim) took the same methodology as him and traversed his path in waging war against the People of Innovations and Desires and those who deviated from the religion.
His Students
As for his own students, then they are many. Amongst them, his son:
1. Abdullaah,
2. Ibn Katheer, the author of ‘Al Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah’,
3. The Imaam and Haafidh, Abdur-Rahmaan bin Rajab Al Baghdaadee, Al Hanbalee, the author of ‘Tabaqaat-ul-Hanaabilah’,
4. And also Shams-ud-Deen Mohammad bin Abdul-Qaadir An-Naabilisee.
His Madh-hab
Ibnul-Qayyim lived in a time in which there was strife and internal confusion and chaos, as well as an external threat which was menacing the Islaamic state. For this reason, he used to order for the rejection of separation and disunity and holding fast to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) .
Amongst his goals was returning to the fountains of the original (and pure) religion and purifying it from the innovations and desires. So he called for the destruction of the Madh-hab of Taqleed (blind-following) and a return to the Madh-hab of the Salaf and traversing upon their way and methodology. And because of this we see that he did not restrict himself to the Hanbalee Madh-hab and often he would take the opinion and view of one of the various Madh-habs or perhaps he may have an opinion which conflicts the opinion of all the other Madh-habs.
Therefore, his Madh-hab was Ijtihaad and the rejection of Taqleed. As a result of this he incurred great harm and was imprisoned along with his Shaykh, Ibn Taymiyyah, in the same prison, but in isolation from him. He was not released from the prison until after the death of the Shaykh.
He took to teaching and giving verdict for a number of years and (all) the people, without exception benefitted from him.
Scholars Praise for him
The scholars also testified to his knowledge and piety, Ibn Hajr said about him: "He had a courageous heart, was vast in knowledge and was well acquainted with the differences (of opinion) and the Madhaahib of the Salaf."
Shaykh-ul-Islaam, Mohammad bin 'Alee Ash-Shawkaanee said: "He restricted (himself) to the (most) authentic of evidences, and admired acting upon them. He did not depend upon opinion (rai’), would overcome (others) with the truth and would not be harsh with anyone with respect to it."
Ibn Katheer said: "He was attached to occupying himself with knowledge, day and night. He would pray and recite the Qur’aan much and was of excellent character, show great affection and friendship. He would not be jealous or envious."
Ibn Katheer also said: "I do not know, in this time of ours, anyone in the world who worships greater than him. He used to have a particular manner with respect to the prayer. He would lengthen it a great deal, would extend its bowing and prostrating. Many of his associates would censure him at times but he would never return and leave alone this (action of his), may Allaah have mercy upon him."
And Mullaa 'Alee Al Qaaree said: "And whoever investigates the book Sharh Manaazil-us-Saa’ireen (i.e. Madaarij-us-Saalikeen), it will become plain and clear to him that both of them (meaning Ibnul-Qayyim and Ibn Taymiyyah) were amongst the most senior from Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah and amonsgt the Awliyaah (of Allaah) of this Ummah."
Al Haafidh As-Suyootee said: "And he became one of the senior scholars in tafseer (exegesis), hadeeth, usool, furoo’ (subsidiary matters) and Arabic language."
His Works
He authored and compiled in the field of fiqh , usool, siyar (biography), history and the sciences of hadeeth. Alongside this, he was a linguist, well-acquainted with grammar, and a poet. He had written much poetry, leaving behind many written works, amongst the most famous of which are:
1. Shifaa-ul-Aleel
2. Miftaah Daar-us-Sa’aadah
3. Zaad Al Ma’aad fee Hadyi Khayr-il-'Ibaad
4. Haadi-ul-Arwaah ilaa Bilaad-il-Afraah
5. Ighaathatul-Lahafaan fee Hukm Talaaq Al Ghadbaan
6. Al Jawaab Kaafee liman Sa’ala 'an Dawaa-ish-Shaafee
7. Madaarij-us-Saalikeen fee Manaazil-is-Saa’ireen
8. Tahdheeb Sunan Abee Daawood
9. As-Sawaa’iq-ul-Mursalah 'alal-Jahmiyyah wal-Mu’attilah
10. Raf’ Yadayn fis-Salaat
11. Kitaab-ul-Kabaa’ir
12. Hukm Taarik-us-Salaat
13. Al Kalim-ut-Tayyib wal-Amal-us-Saalih
14. Sharh Asmaa-il-Husnaa
15. A’laam Al-Muwaqqi’een 'an Rabbil-Aalameen.
His Death
He passed on to the mercy of His Lord at the latter time of 'Ishaa, on the night of Thursday, 13th of Rajab in the year 751H (1350 CE) and was buried at the foot of Mount Qaasiyoon by Damascus, may Allaah have mercy upon this great and notable Imaam, benefit the world by him and elevate his position, rank after rank, in the Hereafter.
[Taken and adapted from the book 'The Path to Guidance', produced by Salafipublications.com]
