Zayn al-Dën ÿAbd al-RaḥmÃÂn ibn Aḥmad ibn ÿAbd al-RaḥmÃÂn ibn al-Ḥasan ibn Muḥammad ibn ÿAbd al-BarakÃÂt MasÃ¿à «d al-Sulamë al-Ḥanbalë al-BaghdÃÂdë al-Dimashqë (), commonly known as Ibn Rajab (; 736-795 AH/ 1335âÂÂ1393 CE), was a Sunni scholar. He was a prominent Hanbali jurist, traditionist, historian, theologian and preacher. He was also associated with the Qadiriyya Sufi order.
He was born in Baghdad in Rabiÿ al-Awwal 736 (November 1335). He became known as Ibn Rajab in reference to his grandfather, who was nicknamed Rajab because of the month in which he was born.
He received his first education from his father and grandfather, both of whom were ḥadëth scholars. According to his own statement, he attended the lectures of ÿAbd al-Raḥëm b. ÿAbd AllÃÂh al-ZarërÃÂnë at the MujÃÂhidiyya Madrasa in Baghdad while still a childâÂÂtoo young, as he said, to fully appreciate the scholarâÂÂs worth. Encouraged by his father, he joined scholarly gatherings in Baghdad even at a young age, studying under such scholars as á¹¢afë al-Dën Ibn ÿAbd al-Ḥaqq al-BaghdÃÂdë, and Abà « ÿAbd AllÃÂh Muḥammad b. Aḥmad al-Tilë al-Dimashqë, from whom he received ijÃÂzas (certificates of transmission).
In 744 (1343), he travelled with his father to Damascus, where he received ijÃÂzas from the ḥadëth scholars Ibn al-Naqëb al-Miá¹£rë and ÿAlÃÂþ al-Dën Aḥmad b. ÿAbd al-Muþmin al-Subkë. He also studied ḥadëth with Muḥammad b. IsmÃÂÿël al-ḤabbÃÂz and IbrÃÂhëm b. DÃÂwà «d al-ÿAá¹Âá¹ÂÃÂr. He later went to Nablus, where he studied under pupils of ḤÃÂfiẠIbn BadrÃÂn, and afterward to Jerusalem, where he attended the ḥadëth lectures of the eminent SalÃÂh al-Dën al-ÿAlÃÂþë.
In 748 (1347), he returned to Baghdad with his father, and during this time he studied ḥadëth with Abà « al-MaÿÃÂlë Muḥammad b. ÿAbd al-RazzÃÂq al-ShaybÃÂnë. The following year, he performed the pilgrimage with his father, and in Mecca he heard the ThulÃÂthiyyÃÂt of al-BukhÃÂrë from Abà « Ḥafs ÿUmar. Upon returning to Damascus, he became a pupil of Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya and remained under his instruction until the latter's death.
He later travelled to Cairo, where he joined the ḥadëth circles of Ibn al-Mulà «k and Muḥammad b. Muḥammad b. Abë al-Ḥaram al-QalÃÂnisë. In 763 (1362), he performed the pilgrimage again. Among his teachers were Zayn al-Dën al-ÿIrÃÂqë, Ibn ÿAbd al-HÃÂdë, Fakhr al-Dën ÿUthmÃÂn b. Yà «suf al-Nà «rë, Abà « ÿAbd AllÃÂh Muḥammad b. ÿAbd al-ÿAzëz al-WarrÃÂq, and ÿAlÃÂþ al-Dën ÿAlë b. Zayn al-Dën al-MunajjÃÂ.
Eventually settling in Damascus, Ibn Rajab succeeded his teacher Ibn QÃÂá¸Âë al-Jabal after the latterâÂÂs death (771/1370), taking over his gatherings. After the death of Ibn al-Taqë (788/1386), he began teaching at the Ḥanbaliyya Madrasa. He also preached at the ÿUmariyya al-Shaykhiyya and Turbat al-ÿIzziyya madrasas.
Ibn Rajab was a devout and ascetic figure, known for his mastery of ḥadëth, his deep knowledge of the virtues of the Salaf, and his eloquent and moving sermons. Detached from worldly affairs and avoiding contact with political authorities, he devoted himself to teaching and writing at the Sukkariyya Madrasa in the QassÃÂþën district. He trained numerous students, including Muḥammad b. Aḥmad al-Maqdisë, Ibn al-LaḥḥÃÂm, Ibn al-RassÃÂm, ÿAbd al-RaḥmÃÂn b. Aḥmad b. ÿAyyÃÂsh, QÃÂá¸Âë al-Quá¸ÂÃÂt Abà « al-Faá¸Âl Muḥibb al-Dën Aḥmad b. Naá¹£r AllÃÂh al-BaghdÃÂdë, and Abà « Dharr ÿAbd al-RaḥmÃÂn b. Muḥammad al-Miá¹£rë.
He died in Damascus on 4 Ramaá¸ÂÃÂn 795 (14 July 1393) and was buried in the Bab al-Saghir Cemetery. His tomb remains one of the city's known visitation sites. Some sources, however, record his death month as Rajab.
Ibn Qadi Shuhbah said: âÂÂHe read and became proficient in the various fields of science. He engrossed himself with the issues of the madhhab until he mastered it. He devoted himself to the occupation of knowledge of the texts, defects and meanings of the hadith.âÂÂ
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani said: âÂÂHe was highly proficient in the science of hadith in terms of the names of reporters, their biographies, their paths of narration and awareness of their meanings.âÂÂ
Ibn Muflih: âÂÂHe is the Shaykh, the great scholar, the Hafiz, the ascetic, the Shaykh of the Hanbali madhhab and he authored many beneficial works.âÂÂ