He grew up in a knowledgeable environment and studied Faraa-id under his father; As Saaleh Qayyim al Jawzeeyyah.
He travelled to Egypt and Palestine and performed Hajj numerous times.
He was imprisoned with his Shaykh but in a separate cell, after being beaten and circulated in town on a donkey.
He was also imprisoned for rebuking those who travel to the grave of al Khaleel.
Ibn Rajab said concerning him: ‘He was a man of worship, performing long night prayers to the upmost extent, as well as remembrance of Allaah, repentance, seeking forgiveness, needy to His lord, I have not witnessed the likes of him concerning this, nor have I heard of anyone more knowledgeable and more informed of the meanings of the Qur-aan, the Sunnah and the reality of Eemaan. He is not free of error, but I have never seen the likes of him.
He was put to trials a number of times, he was imprisoned with his Shaykh ibn Taymiyyah during his last imprisonment. He was put in a separate cell and was not freed until ibn Taymiyyah passed away. During his imprisonment he busied himself with reciting the Qur-aan and the remembrance of Allaah and contemplation. He attained a lot of good from that.’
Ibn Katheer stated: ‘I do not know of anyone in our time who practices more worship than him, he had a way of praying where he would lengthen it greatly, he would extend the Rukoo’ and Sujood. Sometimes some of his companions would fault him for that but he would not change – may Allaah have mercy on him.’
As Suyootee stated: ‘He authored books, debated, strived hard and became from amongst the great Imaams in Tafseer, Hadeeth and other sciences including Usool and the Arabic language.’
Ibn Hajar stated: ‘If Shaykul Islaam had no other asset other than his renowned student; Shams ad Deen ibn Qayyim al Jawzeeyah, the author of beneficial books which have been a source of benefit for both those who agree with and contradict him, it would have been sufficient as a sign of his great status.’
He met Shaykhul Islaam in the year 712 H when he returned from Egypt to Damascus where he remained until his death.
You can download a program consisting of all ibn al Qayyim’s books here.
His teachers:
He had a great number of teachers; Shaykh Bakar Abu Zayd numbered them
over 53, amongst them:
Amongst his students:
Amongst the 98 books he authored:
إسمه: محمد بن أبي بكر بن أيوب بن سعد بن حريز بن مكي زيد الدين الزُّرعي ثم الدمشقي الحنبلي
قال ابن رجب ـ رحمه الله ـ : وكان ـ رحمه الله تعالى ـ ذا عبادة وتهجد وطول صلاة إلى الغاية القصوى ، بالذكر ، والإنابة والاستغفار والافتقار إلى الله والانكسار له ، لم أشاهد مثله في ذلك ولا رأيت أوسع منه علماً ، ولا أعرف بمعاني القرآن والسنة وحقائق الإيمان منه ، وليس بمعصوم ، ولكن لم أر في معناه مثله . وقد امتحن وأوذي مرات ، وحبس مع الشيخ تقي الدين في المرة الأخيرة بالقلعة منفردا عنه ولم يخرج إلا بعد موت الشيخ . وكان في مدة حبسه منشغلا بتلاوة القرآن بالتدبر والتفكر ففتح عليه من ذلك خير كثير.
وقال ابن كثير ـ رحمه الله ـ : ( لا أعرف في هذا العالم في زماننا أكثر عبادة منه ، وكانت له طريقة في الصلاة يطيلها جدا ، ويمد ركوعها وسجودها ، ويلومه كثير من أصحابه في بعض الأحيان فلا يرجع ولا ينزع عن ذلك ـ رحمه الله تعالى ـ )
وقال السيوطي -رحمه الله- : "قد صَنَّفَ ، وناظر ، واجتهد ، وصار من الأئمة الكبار في التفسير والحديث ، والفروع ، والأصلين ، والعربية" .
قال ابن حجر -رحمه الله- ، "ولو لم يكن للشيخ تقي الدين من المناقب إلا تلميذه الشهير الشيخ شمس الدين ابن قيم الجوزية صاحب التصانيف النافعة السائرة التي انتفع بها الموافق والمخالف لكان غاية في الدلالة على عظم منزلته" .
مشايخه:
له عدد كبير من المشايخ جمعهم معالي الشيخ بكر أبو زيد وذكر منهم خمسة وعشرين ونذكر بعضهم
مؤلفاته:
بلغ بها معالي الشيخ بكر أبو زيد 98 مؤلفا ومنها