| Full name | Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdasi |
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| Born | 1147 Palestine[1] |
| Died | 7 July 1223 Damascus |
| Region | Palestine/Syrian scholar |
| School | Hanbali |
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Imam Mawaffaq ad-Din Abdullah Ibn Ahmad Ibn Qudama al-Maqdisi (Arabic ابن قدامة Ibn Qudamah) was a noted Islamic scholar of the Hanbali madhhab, author of many treatises of Hanbali jurisprudence and doctrine, including al-Mughni (the most widely known textbook of Hanbali 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.
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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.
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 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 died. They stayed at his school, learning from him as well as from other scholars and students 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:
In later life, Ibn Qudamah left Damascus to join Saladin in his expedition against the Franks in 1187AD / 573AH, participating particularly in Saladin's conquest of Jerusalem.[2] He died on Saturday, the Day of Eed-ul Fitr on 7 July 1223 AD / 620 AH.[3]
Some of the Scholars that were influenced by him are:[4]
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![5]
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)"[3]
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."[6]
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."[7]
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:
His works are thought to number more than a few dozen. Amongst his printed works are:[9]
On Fiqh:
On 'Aqeedah:
On Usool-ul-Fiqh:
Zuhd:
On Hadith: