Imam Muwaffaq al-Din Abu Muhammad 'Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Qudamah Al-Maqdisi stands among the most distinguished scholars of Islamic civilization, with a legacy spanning jurisprudence, theology, hadith studies, and spiritual refinement. His life reflects a rare synthesis of profound scholarship and deep devotion, legal mastery and ascetic piety, intellectual rigor and lived spirituality.
Born in Sha'ban 541 AH (1147 CE) in the Palestinian village of Jamma'il near Jerusalem?hence his epithet ?Al-Maqdisi??Ibn Qudamah hailed from a noble scholarly household traced back to 'Umar ibn al-Khattab. His father, Ahmad ibn Muhammad, a respected scholar known for piety and asceticism, served as the mosque preacher in Jamma'il. This nurturing environment of knowledge and devotion shaped Ibn Qudamah from childhood.
At ten, his family migrated to Damascus to escape Crusader occupation. There he completed memorizing the Qur'an and committed to memory Mukhtasar al-Khiraqi, a foundational Hanbali jurisprudence text, attesting to his exceptional ability. His studies continued under the leading scholars of Damascus, establishing the foundations of his future mastery.
At twenty, he travelled with his cousin and lifelong scholarly companion, Al-Hafiz 'Abd al-Ghani al-Maqdisi, to Baghdad, then the epicentre of Islamic learning. He studied under eminent figures including Shaykh 'Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani?receiving the khirqa (spiritual investiture) from him shortly before his death?and learned from the renowned preacher Abu al-Faraj ibn al-Jawzi, among others. He remained in Baghdad for four years, excelling in jurisprudence while his cousin specialised in hadith.
Upon returning to Damascus, Ibn Qudamah began authoring works that would shape Hanbali thought for centuries. His magisterial al-Mughni, a comprehensive fifteen-volume encyclopedia of comparative jurisprudence, is unmatched in scope and depth. His creedal text Lum'at al-I'tiqad remains a defining theological reference for the Hanbali school. In spiritual literature, he produced Mukhtasar Minhaj al-Qasidin alongside other works addressing purification of the soul and spiritual discipline.
Ibn Qudamah also embodied the tradition of the scholar-activist. In 583 AH (1187 CE), he joined Saladin's campaign to liberate Jerusalem, participating in one of the pivotal victories in Islamic history. His life harmonised intellectual rigour with practical engagement.
His contemporaries recognised his unparalleled mastery. Ibn Taymiyyah remarked: ?No one possessing greater understanding of the religion entered Syria after al-Awza'i other than Shaykh al-Muwaffaq Ibn Qudamah.? Ibn Kathir noted: ?He was Shaykh al-Islam, an Imam, a Scholar, proficient beyond compare. There was none in his time?or long before it?who possessed more fiqh.? Ibn Rajab stated: ?He benefitted all Muslims generally, and the scholars of the Hanbali school specifically.?
Renowned for his humility and piety, Ibn Qudamah earned descriptions of deep respect. Ibn al-Najjar wrote: ?The Imam of the Hanbalis in Damascus Mosque, trustworthy, noble, exceedingly generous, pure in character, cautious in worship, following the methodology of the Salaf, shining with the light of knowledge and piety. One could benefit from merely seeing him before even hearing his speech.?
He passed away on Saturday, Eid al-Fitr, 620 AH (July 7, 1223 CE) in Damascus. His intellectual and spiritual legacy continues to enrich Islamic scholarship. His works remain widely studied, his methodology emulated, and his contributions to preserving and systematising Islamic knowledge remain unmatched within his tradition.