Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah Based on a lesson of Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah
Ten things we waste
Our Knowledge
Wasted by not taking action with it.
Our Actions
Wasted by committing them without sincerity.
Our Wealth
Wasted by using on things that will not bring us air. We waste our money, our status, our authority, on things which have no benefit in this life or in Akhirah.
Our Hearts
Wasted because they are empty from the love of Allah, and the feeling of longing to go to Him, and a feeling of peace and contentment. In its place, our hearts are filled with something or someone else.
Our Bodies
Wasted because we do not use them in Ibadah (the service of Allah).
Our Love
Our emotional love is misdirected, not towards Allah, but towards something/someone else.
Our Time
Wasted, not used properly, to compensate for that which has passed, by doing what is righteous to make up for past deeds.
Out Intellect
Wasted on things that are not beneficial, that are detrimental to society and the individual, not in contemplation or reflection.
Our Service
Wasted in service of someone who will not bring us closer to Allah, or benefit in Dunya.
Our Dhikr
Wasted because it does not affect us or our hearts.
A few inspirational, yet thought provoking incitements
If those who do not possess knowledge avoid the scholarly discussions, disagreement will end.
[Abu Hamid Al Ghazali]
Never forget that turning a blind eye to oppression and watching from the sidelines is itself opression.
[Harun Yayha]
Meet people in such a manner that if you die, they should weep for you, and if you live, they should long for you.
[Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA)]
Listen, and you will teach yourself: remain silent, and you risk nothing.
[Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA)]
Joy is followed by tears.
[Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA)]
Be hard on yourself, easy on others.
[Imam Ash-Shafi'e]
Historically whoever advocates truth always suffers. I am just a fighter for the truth. Our truths are universal.
[Merve Kavaci - former Turkish Parliamentarian who was prevented from taking oath in Parliament because of her hijab.]
"Through patience and poverty one attains leadership in religion. The seeker of Truth needs the will that inspires him and pushes him upward and knowledge that leads and guides him."
These words sum up the personality of this great man, born one year after the liberation of Jerusalem by Salahuddin Ayyubi.
His full name was Sham Al-din Muhammad Ibn Abi Bakr, Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah. He was born in a small farming village near Damascus, Syria in 691 A.H. (1292 C.E.), and he studied under his father who was the local attendant (qayyim) of al-Jawziyyah school.
Later on, he pursued his quest for knowledge at the hands of renowned masters and scholars of his epoch, as well as he studied the works and teachings of the masters of Tasawwuf known in his time.
His schooling centered around Islamic jurisprudence, theology, and the science of prophetic traditions.
In the year 712 A.H. (1312 C.E.) at the age of 21 he joined the study circle of Imam Ibn Taimiyyah who kept him in his company as his closest student and disciple, who later on became his successor.
Ibn al-Qayyim was fervent in his devotion to his teacher, and he was an excellent student and disciple of the great Muslim scholar Imam Taqiyyu-Deen Ahmad Ibn Taimiyyah. He defended his religious opinions and approaches, and he compiled and edited most of his works, and taught the same.
Because of their perception and opinions, both the teacher and the student were unjustly persecuted, tortured, and humiliated in public by the local authorities then, and they were imprisoned in a single cell, while other disciples were kept separate in the central prison of Damascus, still known to-date as al-Qal'a. Among the imprisoned scholars, there also was a young man named Ibn Kathir who later on became as the most renowned Muslim scholar and compiler of the most comprehensive Qur'anic commentaries Tafsir Ibn Kathir.
Upon the death of Imam Ibn Taimiyyah, the disciples were set free from prison, and Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah furthered his studies, and held study circles and classes for his own students. Ibn Jawziyyah taught Islamic Jurisprudence at al-Sadriyyah school, in Damascus, before he held the position of the Imam of the Jawziyyah school for a long period. Most of his writings were compilations, although he authored several books himself, and manuscripts with his own handwriting are preserved today in the central Library of Damascus.
In fact, it was considered an honor and a privilege to study in his circle. Among the renowned Muslim scholars who studied under him, we mention Ibn 'Abd al-Hadi and Ibn Rajab and others who oft-frequented his circles, and sought his company, such as Imam Ibn Kathir.
Most scholars of the time have acknowledged the author’s excellence, and profound knowledge of Qur'anic interpretation, commentaries on the prophetic traditions, and theology. His extensive knowledge and understanding of Qur’anic commentaries surpassed even some renowned theologians in Islamic history.
Ibn Kathir spoke of him in his book Al-Bidaya wa-Nihaya, saying:
"He was most friendly and kindhearted, he never envied anyone, he never caused harm to anyone, he never bore prejudice against anyone, and I was the closest to his heart. Furthermore, I do not know anyone who is more devout in his worship than him in our time."
A similar opinion also was quoted by Ibn Hijr.
Ibn al-Qayyim catered to all the branches of Islamic science, and was particularly known and commended for his commentaries. Al-Hafiz Ibn Rajab spoke of his teacher, saying:
"He was an accomplished scholar of Islamic science, and no one could rival him in his deep understanding of the Qur’an and prophetic saying, and his interpretations were unique in accuracy."
Ibn Rajab narrated that his teacher Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah learned the science of prophetic sayings (Hadith) from al-Shahab al-Nabulsi, Qadhi Taqiyyu-Deen Sulaiman, and Fatima Bint Jawhar, among others.
During his early student life, Imam Ibn al-Qayyim sought the company of most shaikhs of his period, and he was particularly proficient in interpreting the Hanbali Muslim school of thoughts.
His Spiritual Life
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya was an avid and a resolute worshipper. He devoted long hours to his supererogatory nightly prayers, he was in a constant state of remembrance (dhikr), and he was known for his extended prostrations. One could see on his face the clear expressions of piety, and constant solicitation of God’s bounty and favors.
During Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah’s imprisonment in al-Qal'a prison in Damascus, he was constantly reading the Qur'an, and studying its meanings. Ibn Rajab noted that during that period of seclusion, he gained extensive spiritual success, as well as he developed a great analytical wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the prophetic traditions.
Upon his release, he performed the pilgrimage to Makkah several times, and sometimes he stayed in Mecca for a prolonged period of devotion and circumambulation of the holy Ka'bah.
His works
Al-Nu'man al-Alusi al-Baghdadi once said: "His interpretations are unique in accuracy." The renowned Muslim scholar al-Thahabi once said about him: "He gave great attention to details and references of the prophetic traditions." Furthermore, Shaikh Burhan al-Deen al-Zari' spoke of him saying: "No one is as cognizant as Ibn al-Qayyim was in his time."
Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya’s contributions to the Islamic library are extensive, and they particularly deal with the Qur'anic commentaries, and understanding and analysis of the prophetic traditions (fiqh-u Sunnah).
He compiled a large number of studies besides his own books, including:
1- Tahthib Sunan Abi Dawud (Emendation of Sunan Abu Dawud); 2- Al-Kalam al-Tayyib wa-al-'Amal al-Salih (The Essence of Good Words and Deeds); 3- Commentaries on the book of Shaikh Abdullah al-Ansari: Manazil-u Sa'ireen (Stations of the Seekers), which is considered the epitome of knowledge of tasawwuf books; and, Zad al-Ma'ad (Provisions of the Hereafter), from which this book on the medicine of the Prophet is extracted, besides other manuscripts copied with his own handwriting, and which are preserved in the Central Library in Damascus, Syria.
Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah died in the city of Damascus the year 751 A.H. (1350 C.E.), when he was scarcely 60 years old, and was buried at the cemetery of Bab- al-Saghir, near the grave of his father.
Hey there! Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
When you create an account, we remember exactly what you've read, so you always come right back where you left off. You also get notifications, here and via email, whenever new posts are made. And you can like posts and share your thoughts. Sign Up
Hide
Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks