His lineage
He is the Imaam Shamsid-deen Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Abee Bakr bin Ayyub bin Sa'd bin Hareez az-Zar'ee, ad-Damishqee (Damascus). He is popularly known as Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah because his father headed the school of Jawziyyah.
His search for Knowledge
Ibn Qayyim studied first under the guidance of his righteous and very devoted father who was well endowed with the knowledge of inheritance. He travelled in search for knowledge to Naabalis, Qudus (Jerusalem), Egypt and Makkah where he performed hajj many times.
He learnt Arabic studies from Majd-deen at- Tuunusee ash-Shaafi'ee and also from Muhammad bin Abul-Fatih al-Balabakee al Hambalee.
He learnt hadith from Ash-Shihaab an-Naabilisee and also from al-Qaadee Taqy-ud-deen bin Sulaymaan and others. He studied Usuul (knowledge of the fundamentals) and fiqh from Shaykh Safiyud-deen al-Hindee and from the great scholar of Islaam lbn Taymeeyyah and others. He accompanied Ibn Taymeeyyah till his death.
He learnt different subjects and excelled in the science of hadith, he memorized the texts and was well acquainted with the science of Rijaal (The narrators of hadith), their weaknesses and uprightness.
His strong memory, reading ability and strong reasoning ability based upon the influence of the Qur'aan and the Sunnah were of great help in his jihad against the deviant sects.
His Jihad
Ibn Jawzi along with his famous teacher Ibn Taymeeyyah waged Jihad against the sufis who were prevalent during their time. The sufis had forged the theories of incarnation (Hulul) and the concept ofWahdatul Wujud - which implies that Allaah is everything and everything is
Allaah! Both of them called to a return to the sunnah and were imprisoned for that.
His books
The Imaam authored several books in different aspects of knowledge. Some of his books are: Madaaiij -Saalikeen, Za'd Maad, Kitabur-Ruh and many others.
What the scholars say about him
Al-hatidh Ibn Hajar (RAH) said:
"He was dominated by the love of his teacher Ibn Taymeeyyah to the extent that he did not contradict his statements, instead he aided him in all his sayings and knowledge. He it was, who raised his books and spread his knowledge. He was brave at heart and endowed with wide knowledge and deep understanding of the differences and the way of the pious predecessors."
Ibn Katheer (RAH), one of the famous Imaams of tafseer said:
"He always occupied himself with knowledge both day and night, he performed a lot of Salaah and recitation of the Qur'aan. He was morally upright and had a lot of love for the people. He neither envies nor harbour grudge against anyone."
Ibn Rajab (RAH) said:
"I have not seen anyone who has more knowledge than him, nor did I know anyone with deep understanding of the meaning of the Qur'aan and Sunnah than him. He possessed genuine eemaan (faith), however he is not infallible. Yet I have not seen someone like him."
Imaam As-Suyootee (RAH) said:
Ibn Qayyim al-Jawzi combined knowledge with action and Jihad. He was among those who do not fear the blame of the blamers in the cause of Allaah. He constantly enjoined what is right and forbade what is wrong and was very patient with the conditions he encountered while doing that. He condemned travelling for the purpose of visiting the graves. For all these, he was imprisoned.
His death
Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah died during the time of Adhan for Salatul ishaa on Thursday the twenty third night of Rajab in the year 751 A.H: May Allaah grant mercy upon him and make him among the residents of Paradise (Aamin)