Ibn al-Qayyim was born in Safar of the year 691 AH, corresponding to the year 1292 AD, and his name is Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Abi Bakr bin Saad bin Huraiz al-Zar'i al-Dimashqi. He grew up in a house of knowledge and integrity, so he was raised on religion, and worked hard to obtain knowledge from his father, and then to the most prominent scholars of Damascus.

He was influenced by Ibn Taymiyyah and stayed with him for the last 17 years of his life, and was imprisoned with him.