The well renowned Scholar, Faqeeh and Muhaddith. He continuously accompanied and studied under his Shaykh, al Haafidh Abul Fadl al ‘Iraaqee.
His father died in the year 778 H, and his mother before that, so he was raised as an orphan.
He traveled to Yemen, Hijaaz, and other areas to study under scholars. He became very famous and people started traveling to him to study under him.He became the Haafidh of his time, when al ‘Iraaqee passed away, he was asked, who will you appoint after you?
He said: ‘Ibn Hajr, then my son; Abu Zur’ah, then al Haythamee.
He authored numerous books in a variety of topics, mainly Hadeeth related sciences...
عالم محدِّث فقيه أديب
توفي ابوه سنة سبعمائة وسبع وسبعين للهجرة , وكانت امه توفيت قبل ذلك فنشأ يتيما
أقبل على الحديث فسمع الكثير، ورحل ولازم شيخه الحافظ أبا الفضل العراقي. رحل إلى اليمن، والحجاز، وغيرهما لسماع الشيوخ، وصارت له شهرة كبيرة. قصده الناس للأخذ عنه، وأصبح حافظ الإسلام في عصره. ولما حضرت العراقي الوفاة قيل له من تخلف بعدك؟ قال: ابن حجر، ثم ابني أبا زرعة، ثم الهيثمي.
أما تصانيفه فكثيرة جداً....