Ibn Qudaamah Rahimahullah

Born in 541 AH (1147 CE) in Jammaʿil, Palestine. His family moved to Damascus when he was young to escape Crusader control. He quickly excelled in memorization, fiqh, and ʿaqīdah.

Education and Teachers

He traveled to Baghdad  the heart of Hanbali learning  and studied under:

• Abū al-Fatḥ Ibn al-Mannī

• ʿAbd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī (famed Hanbali scholar and ascetic)

• Ibn al-Jawzī (preacher and prolific author)

Expertise and Works

Ibn Qudāmah was among the greatest Hanbali jurists in history. His Al-Mughnī remains a monumental comparative fiqh reference covering all four Sunni schools.

Other works:

• Lumʿat al-Iʿtiqād — concise Sunni creed

• Rawdat al-Nāẓir — foundational text in uṣūl al-fiqh

Famous For

• Authoring Al-Mughnī, still widely studied across madhhabs

• Harmonizing deep legal knowledge with strong spiritual practice

• Defending Hanbali tradition during turbulent political times

Character and Political Stance

Renowned for piety, humility, and avoidance of worldly politics. He did, however, participate in jihād alongside Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn al-Ayyūbī’s forces against the Crusaders.

Famous Quote

“The believer does not reach perfection until his desire follows what the Messenger ﷺ brought.”
(Ibn Qudāmah, Lumʿat al-Iʿtiqād, introduction)

Legacy

His writings, especially Al-Mughnī, are unmatched in detail and comparative depth, serving both Hanbali and non-Hanbali scholars. His creed texts remain central in traditional Sunni teaching.

Interesting Facts

• Memorized large portions of hadith and fiqh literature from an early age

• Balanced scholarly writing with active military participation

• Known for simple, direct prose despite covering complex subjects

References

• Ibn Rajab, Dhail Ṭabaqāt al-Ḥanābilah
• Al-Dhahabī, Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ
• Ibn Qudāmah, Al-Mughnī, Lumʿat al-Iʿtiqād, Rawdat al-Nāẓir