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Ibn Taymiyya

ابن تيمية

661 AH – 728 AH

The Hanbali jurist and theologian titled Shaykh al-Islam Taqi al-Din, of Harran and Damascus, author of al-Aqida al-Wasitiyya, which he wrote in 698 AH.

Depth

At a glance

Roles
Scholar · Jurist · theologian
Counted among
Sunni
Era
The Mongol and Post-Mongol Era
Region
Levant & Iraq
Identifiers
Wikidata
Review
Draft Completeness 1/5 · Help complete it

Contested: This record includes matters on which scholars differ. The speaker's views are labelled as his, and other views are marked where no cited source yet exists.

Creed

Place in the story

    sunni-hanbali (documented)

    Roles are dated and sourced; the museum describes the act and attributes the judgement.

    Overview

    Taqi al-Din Ahmad ibn Abd al-Halim ibn Taymiyya al-Harrani al-Hanbali, known by the title Shaykh al-Islam. A Hanbali jurist and theologian from Harran and Damascus. 1

    Life

    The title page of the Salafiyya Press edition of al-Aqida al-Wasitiyya gives 661 AH as his year of birth and 728 AH as his year of death. These dates come from one source and need an additional source. 1

    His books

    He wrote al-Aqida al-Wasitiyya in 698 AH, setting out the creed in the manner of the People of the Sunna and the Community and the early generations. 1 He is also credited with Iqtida' al-Sirat al-Mustaqim (The Demand of the Straight Path). 2

    The dhimmis in 709 AH

    Al-Suyuti says that in 709 AH the vizier spoke of returning the dhimmis to wearing white turbans, and that they committed to the treasury seven hundred thousand each year. Ibn Taymiyya spoke out strongly to overturn this, and the matter was dropped. 3

    Ghazan in 700 AH

    Ibn al-Imad says that Ghazan crossed the Euphrates with his army and headed for Aleppo. Ibn Taymiyya sent a dispatch by post to Cairo to rouse people to holy war, and met the chief emirs. The people of Damascus were afraid and gathered in the citadel, and the fear subsided when Ghazan turned back. 4

    From Sheikh Omar Abdelkafy's Tafsir lectures (episode 8)

    The Sheikh relates that Ibn Taymiyya was asked whether he was a believer, a question hard to answer, and that he first replied that he was if faith meant belief in God, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day and the divine decree (needs_source) 5. He says that he answered a second time that he was a believer also if faith meant that the heart trembles when God is mentioned Al-Anfal 2 6. The Sheikh recalls the saying of Abu Bakr that, with one foot in Paradise and one outside, he would not feel secure from God's plan (needs_source) 6 7.

    From Sheikh Omar Abdelkafy's lecture series Al Dinu Al Qayem

    Sheikh Omar Abdelkafy recounts that Ibn al-Qayyim described his teacher Ibn Taymiyya as one who subdued his desire until desire no longer ruled him (needs_source: the description is paraphrased) 9 10.

    He cites a saying of Ibn Taymiyya that God grants victory to a just state even when it is not Muslim, and the sheikh repeats the saying in the episode (needs_source: the wording is as the sheikh gives it, without a source in this episode) 8.

    In the 'Al-Mubdi'un' programme (part 1 of 2)

    Tareq al-Suwaidan presents Ibn Taymiyya as 'Shaykh al-Islam, imam of his age', explaining his name: he was named for his grandmother Taymiyya the preacher — 'see how great women bring forth the great' — and distinguishes him from his grandfather Majd al-Din, author of al-Muntaqa in the hadiths of rulings 11 12 13. His general observation: over ninety percent of leading and learned families' children grow into creators in their fields — contrary to common belief (the speaker's view) 14 15. Of his life: born in Harran on Monday 10 Rabi' I 661 AH into a scholarly family, he studied under more than two hundred shaykhs and sat for fatwa and teaching in his father's place at twenty 15 16 17. Of his description: fair with black hair and little grey, squarely built, broad-shouldered, deep-voiced, a glint and sharpness in his eyes; quick to anger at times yet quelling it by patience 18 19. Of his asceticism: al-Bazzar's 'we never saw a scholar content with as little of this world as he' — he never married, took no house, wealth or office, not even the permitted 20 21 22. The outing story: when his family returned from a picnic they chided him for staying behind — 'I gained nothing from you; in your absence I memorised this volume', and it was Junnat al-Nazir 23 24 25. Of the scholars' testimony: Ibn Daqiq al-Id's 'I saw a man with all the sciences between his eyes, taking of them what he willed', al-Suyuti's 'my eye never glanced one broader in knowledge or quicker in wit' with asceticism and standing for truth, and al-Dhahabi's 'a marvel of intelligence and quickness of grasp, a head in knowledge of Book and Sunna and scholars' differences… counted among jurists he is the absolute mujtahid' 26 27 28 29 30. Of his worship: after dawn prayer, remembrance and supplication until sunrise, speaking to none without need — 'this is my provision' — his limbs trembling in prayer 31 32 33. His childhood: his Qur'an teacher offered forty dirhams monthly at his father's behest to spur him, but the boy refused — 'I have covenanted with God not to take payment for the Qur'an' — at seven 34 35 36. Of his generosity: passing a beggar while owning nothing, he stripped off his garment and gave it with apology; in knowledge he answered a questioner with the schools' views, the weighing, and related questions until his critics faulted him — the speaker replies 'the fault is ignorance and pride; he loved to benefit' 37 38 39 40 41. Of his humility: he met every questioner with warmth and gentleness until the questioner was the one to leave — sharp in debate, yet with common folk of utmost kindness 41 42 43.

    In the 'Al-Mubdi'un' programme (part 2)

    Al-Suwaidan continues, noting that those who revere Ibn Taymiyya and those who oppose him alike have not truly known him 44 45. Of his courage: he fought the Tatars before and after their occupation of Syria, riding through the army steadying the men and charging himself, sharing in the conquest of Acre by deed and counsel; his saying 'a man fears other than God only for a sickness in his heart'; and the chamberlain's story of placing him at 'the station of death', where he raised his eyes to heaven long, then charged 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53. Of his clemency: he was imprisoned for his views some twenty-one times by the count, driven by Egypt's opposing scholars; yet when al-Malik al-Nasir returned and asked him about executing the judges who had harmed him, Ibn Taymiyya magnified them and said 'whoever harmed me is pardoned — I do not seek vengeance for myself', until the sultan forgave them; and Ibn Makhluf's words 'we roused against him and could not prevail; when he prevailed over us he pardoned us and pleaded our case' 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61. Of his independent rulings: the oath by divorce counts as an oath, not divorce, with expiation; and the triple divorce in one sitting counts as one — both caused his imprisonment, and the speaker notes the latter is the settled view today 62 63 64 65 66. Of his stands: he bore the banner against innovation and the stray sects; had no quarrel with Sunna-grounded Sufism — counting al-Jilani and al-Junayd among the people of truth — but with the innovators in intercession, grave-invocation and invented devotions; and confronted the Tatars who professed Islam while permitting wine 67 68 69 70 71. In prison: he taught the inmates fiqh and led them in prayer making a school of them; and his words 'my imprisonment is a retreat, my exile a journey, my killing martyrdom — what can my enemies do to me?' 71 72 73. Of his works: the collected Fatawa in thirty-seven volumes, al-Fatawa al-Kubra in five, Dar' Ta'arud al-'Aql wa-l-Naql in seven, Minhaj al-Sunna al-Nabawiyya, and al-Sarim al-Maslul ala Shatim al-Rasul 74 75. Of his death: he died in Damascus' citadel on the night of Monday 20 Dhu al-Qa'da 728 AH after books and ink were denied him — having completed the Qur'an in prison eighty-two and three-quarter times — and hundreds of thousands gathered for his funeral, senior scholars completing his unfinished recitation in his honour 76 77 78 79 80.

    Opinions on the question

    First opinion · Sunni tradition (the museum's frame) · Sunni view: not yet sourcedMain reference

    not yet attributed.
    More opinions (3)

    speaker's view (opinion) viewOther opinion

    Sheikh Omar Abdelkafy holds, citing Ibn Taymiyya, that a just state may be given victory even if it is not Muslim 8.

    academic view: not yet sourced viewSecondary opinion

    not yet attributed.

    other view: not yet sourced viewOther opinion

    not yet attributed.

    Connections

    Explore the connections

    Related to
    Ibn Qudama al-Maqdisi· Majd al-Din Ibn Taymiyya
    Authored
    al-Aqida al-Wasitiyya· Iqtida' al-Sirat al-Mustaqim Mukhalafat Ashab al-Jahim· Al-Jawab al-Sahih li-man Baddala Din al-Masih
    Participated in
    The Hanbali-Ash'ari Fitna at Damascus, 835

    People and things also explored

    Lum'at al-I'tiqad· Abu Umar al-Maqdisi· al-Fakhr ibn al-Bukhari, musnid of the age· al-Muhibb Abdallah, Mufid al-Jabal· al-Ras'ani· Fakhr al-Din ibn Taymiyya· Ibn Qudama al-Maqdisi· Ibrahim, khatib of the Mountain

    Sources

    1. al-Aqida al-Wasitiyya, Ibn Taymiyya (al-Matba'a al-Salafiyya)
    2. Kashf al-Zunun an Asami al-Kutub wa'l-Funun — Hajji Khalifa (Furqan ed.)
    3. Tarikh al-Khulafa — al-Suyuti (Dar al-Minhaj edition) , p.734-735
    4. Shadharat al-Dhahab — Ibn al-Imad al-Hanbali , p.429
    5. Assabile archive of Omar Abdelkafy's lectures (audio and video) , Tafsir Al Quran Al Qareem, episode 8, at 00:26:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    6. Assabile archive of Omar Abdelkafy's lectures (audio and video) , Tafsir Al Quran Al Qareem, episode 8, at 00:26:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    7. Assabile archive of Omar Abdelkafy's lectures (audio and video) , Tafsir Al Quran Al Qareem, episode 8, at 00:27:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    8. Assabile archive of Omar Abdelkafy's lectures (audio and video) , Al Dinu Al Qayem, episode 9, at 00:43:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    9. Assabile archive of Omar Abdelkafy's lectures (audio and video) , Al Dinu Al Qayem, episode 3, at 01:13:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    10. Assabile archive of Omar Abdelkafy's lectures (audio and video) , Al Dinu Al Qayem, episode 6, at 00:39:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    11. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:01:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    12. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:01:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    13. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:02:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    14. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:03:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    15. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:04:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    16. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:07:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    17. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:07:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    18. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:04:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    19. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:05:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    20. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:09:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    21. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:09:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    22. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:10:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    23. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:11:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    24. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:12:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    25. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:12:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    26. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:10:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    27. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:11:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    28. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:14:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    29. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:15:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    30. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:15:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    31. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:17:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    32. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:17:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    33. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:18:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    34. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:19:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    35. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:20:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    36. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:20:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    37. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:21:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    38. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:21:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    39. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:22:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    40. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:23:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    41. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:23:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    42. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:24:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    43. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 21, at 00:24:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    44. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:01:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    45. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:02:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    46. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:02:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    47. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:03:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    48. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:03:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    49. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:04:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    50. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:04:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    51. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:05:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    52. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:06:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    53. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:06:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    54. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:07:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    55. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:07:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    56. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:08:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    57. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:08:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    58. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:09:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    59. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:09:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    60. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:10:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    61. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:10:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    62. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:12:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    63. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:13:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    64. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:13:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    65. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:14:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    66. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:14:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    67. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:15:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    68. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:16:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    69. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:16:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    70. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:17:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    71. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:17:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    72. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:18:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    73. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:18:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    74. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:20:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    75. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:21:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    76. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:21:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    77. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:22:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    78. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:22:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    79. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:23:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    80. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Al Mubdioune, episode 22, at 00:23:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
    Cite this page

    islam.museum contributors. “Ibn Taymiyya”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/person/ibn-taymiyya/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-26.

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    Lum'at al-I'tiqad

    A short statement of the creed of Ahl al-Sunna on the way of the early generations by the Hanbali Muwaffaq al-Din Ibn Qudama al-Maqdisi, running from God's attributes, speech and vision to belief in what the Prophet reported, the Companions, the caliphate and avoiding innovators.