Ibn Qudamah

Infobox_Philosopher
region = Palestine/Syrian scholar
color = #B0C4DE

image_caption =

name = Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdasi
birth = 541 AH in Palestine [ [http://www.sunnahonline.com/ilm/seerah/0038.htm Ibn Qudaama (www.islaam.org.uk) ] ]

death = 620 AH
school_tradition = Hanbali
main_interests =

influences = Abdul-Qadir Gilani
influenced = Ibn Khaleel
notable_ideas =

Ibn Qudamah (Arabic أبن قدامة ) was a noted Islamic scholar of the Hanbali madhhab, author of "al-Mughni" (a well-known Hanbali book of fiqh) as well as "Tahrim an-Nazar" ("Censure of Speculative Theology", criticism of Ibn Aqil's rationalist views.) He was born in Palestine, and died in Damascus.

Full name

He was Muwaffaq ad-Deen Abu Muhammad 'Abd Allaah Ibn Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Qudaamah Ibn Miqdaam Ibn Nasr Ibn 'Abdillaah al-Maqdisee, who later became ad-Dimashqi, as-Saalihee.

Biography

Early life

He was born in Palestine in Sha'aban 1147AD/541AH. He memorized the Qur'an at an early age, studying its sciences and was known to have a nice handwriting. At the age of ten his family moved to Damascus, where he memorized the Qur'an in addition to an abridged form of Al-Kharqi (a Hanbali book of Fiqh).

He left with his cousin, 'Abd al-Ghani, for Baghdad in 561AH and met Abdul-Qadir Gilani shortly before he passed away. They stayed at his school, learning from him as well as from other scholars and student of knowledge of that time such as Abu-al-Faraj ibn Al-Jawzi, Hibat-ullaah Ibn Al-Hasan Ad-Daqaq, Abi'l Fath Ibn Al-Battee, Abi Zur'ah Ibn Tahir, Yahya Ibn Thabit, Khadeejah An-Nahrawaniyah and others.

He also studied with the following scholars of his time:

*Abi al-Makarim ibn Hilal (Syria)
*Abi al-Fadl at-Tusi (Iraq)
*Al-Mubarak ibn at-Tabbakh (Mecca)

Death

He died on Saturday, the Day of Eed-ul Fitr in 620 AH.Siyar A'laam An-Nubalaa']

Legacy

Some of the Scholars that were influenced by him are: [al-Bidaayah wan-Nihayah’ by Ibn Katheer Volume # 13 Pages 99-101]

*al-Bahaa'
*Ibn Taymiyya (hanbali school, a century later)
*'AbdurRahman
*al-Jamal Abu Musa ibn al-Hafidh
*Ibn Khaleel
*Ibn an-Najjaar
*Ash-Shams ibn Kamal
*Zaynab bint al-Wasitee

Comments from other Muslim scholars

Ibn an-Najjaar describes him as:"The Imaam of Al-Hanabilah (Hanbalis) in Damascus Mosque, he was a trust worthy, noble figure, extremely generous, of a clean character, a cautious worshipper, follower of the Salaf in methodology, emitting light (of knowledge and piety) and respectful. One may benefit from his sighting before even hearing his speech! [Sharh Lum`atul-I`tiqaad]

Shaikh al-Islam, Ibn Taymiyyah said about him, "No one possessing more understanding of the religion entered Shaam, after Al-Awzaa'ee, other than Shaykh al Muwaffaq (Ibn Qudamah)"

Ibn Kathir said about him , "He was the Shaikh ul Islam, an Imaam, a Scholar, outstandingly proficient. there was not found in his time nor before it by a long span of time, anyone possessing more Fiqh than him." [al-Bidaayah wan-Nihaayah]

Ibn Rajab said about his books "He generated benefit to all the Muslims on a general level, and to the scholars of the (Hanbali) Madhab on a specific level. These books spread widely and grew very popular, according to the nobility of his intention and sincerity when writing them." [Dhayl Tabaqaatil-Hanabilah’ Volume # 2 Page # 133]

Views

Ibn Qudamah was considered one of the primary proponents of the Athari school of Aqidah during his time, and was famous not only for his opposition to Kalam but also his opposition to the Ash'ari school of thought. He was reported to have been greeted by Ibn Asakir with As-Salamu Alaykum and did not reply; when asked the reason why, his explanation was:
:"He believes in "kalam nafsi" (an Ash'ari belief that actions such as speech oppose Allah’s special quality of being eternal, therefore Allah is eternally speaking within Himself) so I too also reply with the salams bi nafsi (saying the salams within myself)."Ashraf Ibn 'Abdil-Maqsood, Sharh Lum'at-ul-'Itiqaad, pg. 8-10, Dar Al-Istiqaamah Printing]

Works

His works are thought to number more than a few dozen. Amongst his printed works are: [Ikhtiyarat Ibn Qudamah al-Fiqhiyyah’ By Dr. `Ali ibn Sa`eed al-Ghamidi]

On Fiqh:
*Al-Mughnee
*Al-Kaafi
*Al-'Uddah
*Al-'Umdah
*Al-Muqn'a

On 'Aqeedah:
*Lum'at-ul-'Itiqaad
*Al-Qadar
*Dhamm-ut-Ta'weel
*al-Uloow

On Usool-ul-Fiqh:
*Raudat-un-Naadhir On Raqaa'iq

Zuhd:
*Al-Ruqqah wal-Bukaa
*At-Tawwaabeen

On Hadeeth:
*Mukhtasar 'Ilal-ul-Hadeeth Lil-Khilaal

References

ee also

*Islam
*Ahmad bin Hanbal
*Hanbali Scholars

External links

* [http://www.sunnahonline.com/ilm/seerah/0038.htm Biography from Sunnah Online]