About the Author

Imam Abu Muhammad 'Abdullâh ibn Ahmad ibn Qudâmah al-Maqdisi was a distinguished scholar of fiqh, known for his mastery of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) knowledge and principles and for his wisdom in promoting the correct practice of Islam. Ibn Katheer said of him: "There was not found in his era nor before it by a long span of time, anyone possessing more fiqh—understanding of the religion—than him." Ibn Taymeeyah and others also said the same.

Born in 541 H (1147 CE) in Nablus, Palestine, Ibn Qudâmah began his Islamic studies at a young age, eventually studying under many scholars in Damascus, Badgdâd and Makkah. He wrote more than thirty books on fiqh, Hadith, ‘aqeedah (creed) and zuhd (spirituality and asceticism), though he is most famous for his books of fiqh al-Mughni and ‘Umdat al-Fiqh, both considered textbooks of Hanbali fiqh. Always striving to fully implement the teachings of Islam in his own life, Ibn Qudâmah participated in jihad with the forces of Salâh-ad-Deen as they conquered Jerusalem. He died at the age of 79 in his home in Damascus.
 

IIPH is pleased to offer The Fiqh of Worship, an English translation of Ibn Qudâmah’s esteemed ‘Umdat al-Fiqh, an abridged book of fiqh according to the Hanbali school. The Fiqh of Worship has been has translated and elaborated on by Dr. Hatem al-Haj, who also noted the opinions of other schools of Islamic jurisprudence in it, thus giving the English-speaking student a broader base for his or her understanding of fiqh.