He was born in Nablus - Palestine in Sha'baan 541 AH.

He memorised the Qur'aan at an early age, studied its sciences and was known to have a nice hand-writing.

His early life (youth) and his travels:
- He went to Damascus with his family when he was ten years old, he read the Qur’an, and he memorized the Mukhtasar (Summary / Compendium) (of) al-Khiraqee.
- He travelled to Baghdaad with the son of his aunt (maternal cousin) al-Haafidh ‘Abd al-Ghanee in the year 561 H. and they heard a lot from the many scholars there.
- He studied (Islamic) jurisprudence (fiqh) until he surpassed his peers/equals and he was very successful, thus he mastered the knowledge of the madhhab (school of law) and its principles. 

His piety and his asceticism (zuhd):
He was pious, ascetic, God-fearing, consequently he had dignity, and he possessed  olerance and leniency, and all of his time he was preoccupied with knowledge and action, he would counter disputes with arguments and proofs/evidences, he would not become enraged or aroused, while his opponents would scream and become angry.

He left with his cousin, Al-Hafidh Abdul-Ganee, for Baghdad in 561 AH and caught up with Shaykh Abdul-Qaadir in his final days (i.e. before he passed away). They stayed at his school, learning from him as well as from other scholars and student of knowledge of that time such as Ibn Al-Jawzee, Hibat-ullaah Ibn Al-Hasan Ad-Daqaaq, Abi'l Fath Ibn Al-Battee, Abi Zur'ah Ibn Taahir, Yahya Ibn Thaabit, Khadeejah An-Nahrawaaniyah and others.

He also studied with the following scholars of his time:

Damascus / Syria - Abi Al-Makaarim Ibn Hilaal
Mosull / Iraq - Abi Al-Fadl at-Toosee
Makkah Al-Mukarramah - Al-Mubaarak Ibn At-Tabbaakh

Some of the Scholars that relayed his 'Ilm (knowledge) to us are:

Al-Bahaa'
'Abdur-Rahmaan
Al-Jamaal Abu Moosa Ibn Al-Haafidh
Ibn Khaleel
Ibn An-Najjaar
Ash-Shams Ibn Kamaal
Zaynab Bint Al-wasitee and many others

He was known for his vast knowledge, wisdom and wit and renown as the Scholar of the people of Ash-Shaam of his time. Ibn An-Najjaar describes him as:

"The Imaam of Al-Hanaabilah in Damascus Mosque, he was a trust worthy, noble figure, extremely generous, of a clean character, a cautious worshipper, follower of the Salaf methodology, emitting light (of knowledge and piety) and repectful. One may benefit from his sighting before even hearing his speech!

Some of his books:

Al-Mughnee - 10 volumes
Al-Kaafee - 4 volumes
Ar-Rawdah - 1 volume
Ar-Riqqah - 1 volume
At-Tawwaabeen - 1 volume
Al-I'tiqaad - 1 volume
Al-Mutahabbeen - 1 volume
...and many others

 Statements from the learned about him:
Aboo ‘Amr bin as-Salaah said: «I didn’t see anyone like ash-shaykh Muwaffaq».
Ibn Taymiyyah said: «No one possessing more understanding of the religion – fiqh – entered ash-Shaam - after al-Awzaa'ee - other than ash-shaykh al-Muwaffaq».
Al-Mundhiree said: «He was al-Faqeeh al-Imaam, he narrated (ahaadeeth) in Damascus, he issued fatawaa and taught/gave lessons, he wrote books in fiqh and other subjects, summarized and long».
Adh-Dhahabee said: «He was one of the eminent imaams and an author of many books».
Ibn Kathir said: «Shaykh al-Islam, an imaam an ‘aalim, proficient, 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.»

He died on Saturday, the Day of Eed-ul Fitr in 620 AH. May Allaah, subhanahu wata'aala, accepts him in His vast mercy, benefit us from his knowledge and gather us with his likes on the Day of Judgement, Aameen.