Ibn Shaykh al-Hizamayn

Ibn Shaykh al-Hizamayn (657–711 AH / 1259–1311 CE) was an Iraqi-born ascetic, jurist, and spiritual writer who settled in Damascus and became one of the closest companions of Ibn Taymiyya al-Radd al-Wafir+1.

Lineage and Early Life

His full name was Imad al-Din Abu al-Abbas Ahmad ibn Ibrahim ibn Abd al-Rahman ibn Mas'ud ibn Umar al-Wasiti al-Hizami, commonly known as Ibn Shaykh al-Hizamayn (or Ibn Shaykh al-Hizamiyyin) and Ibn al-Arif al-Radd al-Wafir+1. He was born in eastern Wasit in Dhu al-Hijjah 657 AH—with specific reports citing the 11th, 12th, 21st, or 22nd of the month—while another report places his birth around 640 AH Mujam al-Muallifin+2. His father was the head of the Ahmadiyya Sufi order in Wasit, where Ahmad grew up before pursuing Islamic sciences Dhayl Tabaqat al-Hanabila….

Intellectual Journey and Discipleship

Al-Wasiti began his studies in Wasit, learning Shafi'i jurisprudence under scholars including Izz al-Din al-Faruthi Dhayl Tabaqat al-Hanabila…. He traveled to Baghdad, where he studied among various jurists, performed the pilgrimage to Mecca, and subsequently resided for a time in Cairo's Sufi hospices Dhayl Tabaqat al-Hanabila…. In Alexandria, he associated with the Shadhiliyya order and adopted their spiritual practices Dhayl Tabaqat al-Hanabila….

Upon moving to Damascus, al-Wasiti met Ibn Taymiyya and became his disciple al-Radd al-Wafir+1. At Ibn Taymiyya's direction, he turned to the study of the Prophet's biography and hadith literature, which led him to renounce his earlier Sufi affiliations and transition to the Hanbali school of law al-Radd al-Wafir+1. In Hanbali jurisprudence, he studied al-Kafi under Majd al-Din al-Harrani and abridged it in a single volume entitled al-Bulgha Dhayl Tabaqat al-Hanabila….

In his personal life, al-Wasiti was known for strict asceticism, maintaining his livelihood solely through copying manuscripts and taking only what met his immediate needs al-Alam lil-Zirikli+1. He composed treatises on scriptural Sufism and devotion, including Miftah Tariq al-Awliya, and wrote polemical treatises refuting philosophical pantheism and monistic Sufi doctrines (al-Ittihadiyya) al-Radd al-Wafir+1.

Scholarly Standing

Al-Wasiti was highly esteemed by his contemporaries. Ibn Taymiyya praised him as "the al-Junayd al-Baghdadi of his time" and addressed him in letters as an exemplar of the spiritual path al-Taj al-Mukallal min Ja…. Al-Dhahabi, who studied under him, recorded his poetry, described him as a devoted caller to the Sunnah who affirmed the divine attributes according to the early Muslims, and noted that no one like him was left in Damascus in his spiritual path al-Taj al-Mukallal min Ja…+1. Al-Birzali commended his solid discourse on authentic Sufism and remarked that his pen was even more articulate than his speech al-Taj al-Mukallal min Ja….

Death

Al-Wasiti died in Damascus on a Saturday in Rabi' al-Akhir 711 AH—with reports recording the date as the 16th, 23rd, or 26th of the month—at the Little Bimaristan (al-Maristan al-Saghir) al-Radd al-Wafir+2. He was buried the following day at the foot of Mount Qasiyun facing the Zawiyat al-Suyufi al-Radd al-Wafir.