Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah

Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (691-751 AH / 1292-1350 CE) was born and lived in Damascus, where he became the foremost student and intellectual heir of Ibn Taymiyyah. He accompanied his teacher for sixteen years and was imprisoned with him in the Citadel of Damascus. After Ibn Taymiyyah's death, he continued to teach and write prodigiously from the Hanbali tradition.

Ibn al-Qayyim's works on the spiritual life of the believer are among the most widely read Islamic texts. His Madarij as-Salikin (Stations of the Wayfarers) is a commentary on Manazil as-Sa'irin by the Hanbali Sufi al-Harawi, in which he affirms the validity of spiritual self-purification while grounding it firmly in the Quran and Sunnah. His Ighathat al-Lahfan examines the diseases of the heart and their remedies. Zad al-Maad is a comprehensive study of the Prophet's guidance in all aspects of life. His Ilam al-Muwaqqiin is a foundational work on the objectives and methodology of Islamic jurisprudence.

Ibn al-Qayyim died in Damascus in 751 AH (1350 CE) and was buried near his teacher Ibn Taymiyyah. His unique ability to bridge rigorous legal scholarship with profound spiritual insight makes his works accessible and relevant to Muslims across all schools. His books have seen a remarkable revival in modern publishing and continue to be bestsellers in the Islamic world.