Birth and education
Ibn al-Qayyim was born on the seventh of Safar in the year 691 AH (Feb. 4, 1292 C.E) in the village of Izrain Hauran, near Damascus, Syria. From an early age, he set about acquiring knowledge of the Islamic sciences from the scholars of his time. He studied under his father, and thereafter pursued his quest for knowledge studying the works and teachings of scholars known in his time. His schooling centered around Islamic jurisprudence, theology, and the science of prophetic traditions. In describing Ibn al-Qayyims desire for knowledge, AI-Hafidh Ibn Rajab noted : "He had an intense love for knowledge and for books, publications and writings." Likewise, Ibn Kathir said in AIBidayah wa al-Nihayah (141235): "He acquired from such books what others could not acquire, and he developed a deep understanding of the books of the Salaf (pious predecessors) and of the khalaf (those who came after theSalat).
Teachers Ibn al-Qayyims teachers included his father, Abu Bakr, Shihaab al-Abir, Taqiyyud-Deen Sulaymaan, Ibn Qayyim AI-Jawziyya, Safiyyud-Deen al-Hindee, Ismaaeel Ibn Muhammad al-Harraanee. However, the most notable of his teachers was Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, whom he accompanied and studied under for sixteen years. In eulogizing Ibn al-Qayyim, AIHaafidh Ibn Kathir stated: "He attained great proficiency in many branches of knowledge; particularly knowledge of tafsir, hadith, and usool." When Shaykh Taqiyyud-Deen Ibn Taymiyyah returned from Egypt in the year 712H (c. 1312), he stayed with the Shaykh until he died; learning a great deal of knowledge from him, along with the knowledge that he had already occupied himself in attaining. So he became a single Scholar in many branches of knowledge.
Manners and worship
Many of Ibn al-Qayyims students and contemporaries have bore witness to his manners of worship. For instance, AI-Haafidh Ibn Rajab emphasized: "He was constant in worship and performing tahajjud (the night Prayer), reaching the limits in lengthening his Salah (Prayer) and devotion. He was constantly in a state of dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and had an intense love for Allah. He also had a deep love for turning to Allah in repentance, humbling himself to Him with a deep sense of humility and helplessness. He would throw himself at the doors of Divine obedience and servitude.lndeed,I have not seen the likes of him with regards to such matters."
Additionally, Ibn Kathir stated that Ibn al-Qayyim : "was constant in humbly entreating and calling upon his Lord. He recited well and had fine manners. He had a great deal of love and did not harbor any envy or malice towards anyone, nor did he seek to harm or find fault with them. I was one of those who most often kept company with him arid was one of the most beloved of people to him. I do not know of anyone in the world in this time, who is a greater worshipper than him. His Salah used to be very lengthy, with prolonged Ruku (bowing) and prostrations. His colleagues would criticise him for this, yet he never retorted back, nor did he abandon this practice. May Allah bestow His Mercy upon him."
Disciple of Ibn Taymiyah
Ibn al-Qayyim ultimately joined the study circle of the Muslim scholar Sheikh ul-Islam Taqiyyud-Deen Ahmad Ibn Taymiyah, 661H- 728H (1263-1328), who kept him in his company as his closest student, disciple and his successor. Ibn Qayyim was fervent in his devotion to Islam, and he was a loyal student and disciple of Ibn Taymiyah. He defended his religious opinions and approaches, and he compiled and edited most of his works, and taught the same. Because of their views, both the teacher and the student were persecuted, tortured by tyrannic rulers, and humiliated in public by the local authorities, as they were imprisoned in a single cell in the central prison of Damascus, known today as al-Qala.
Following the Death of Ibn Taymiyah When Ibn Taymiyyah died, Ibn al-Qayyim was freed and subsequently furthered his studies, holding study circles and classes. He taught Islamic Jurisprudence at al-Sadriyya school in Damascus, before he held the position of the Imam of the Jawziyyah school. Most of his writings were compilations, although he authored several books and manuscripts with his own handwriting which are preserved in the central Library of Damascus. Among the renowned Muslim scholars who studied under him, include Ibn Abd al-Haadi (d.744H), al-Fayruz Aabadi (d.817H), Ibn Rajab (d. 795H), Ibn Kathir, and others who frequented his circles. In praising his teacher, Ibn Kathir stated: "He was most friendly and kind hearted, he never envied anyone, he never caused harm to anyone, he never bore prejudice against anyone, and I was the closest to his heart.
Furthermore, I do not know anyone who is more devout in his worship than him in our time." Ibn Qayyim catered to all the branches of Islamic science, and was particularly known and commended for his commentaries. Ibn Rajab spoke of his teacher, noting : "He was an accomplished scholar of Islamic science, and no one could rival him in his deep understanding of the Quran and prophetic saying, and his interpretations were unique in accuracy."
Spiritual Life
Imam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah was an avid and a resolute worshipper. He devoted long hours to his supererogatory nightly prayers, and was in a constant state of remembrance (dhikr), as he was known for his extended prostrations. During Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyahs imprisonment in al-Qala prison in Damascus, he was constantly reading the Quran, and studying its meanings. Ibn Rajab noted that during that period of seclusion, he gained extensive spiritual success, as well as he developed a great analytical wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the prophetic traditions. Upon his release, he performed the pilgrimage to Makkah several times, and sometimes he stayed in Makkah for a prolonged period of devotion and circumambulation of the holy Ka'bah.
Death
Ibn al-Qayyim died at the age of sixty, on the 13th night of Rajab, 751 AH (c. September 23, 1350), and was buried besides his father at al-Sagh Cemetery.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited