Important Lessons from the Life of Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal [May Allaah have Mercy on him]

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Lecture given by Shaykh Khaalid al-Ghaamidee [May Allaah Preserve him]
Imaam of the Haram in Makkah and Professor at Umm al-Quraa University
Lecture Given at the Third Annual Makkan Conference, 1430 AH
Jaami’ al-Muhaajireen, Makkah
In the name of Allaah, ar-Rahmaan, ar-Raheem

Praise be to Allaah, the One who has made it that every generation has a forerunner for those who follow the Messengers and the rightly guided scholars, those who protect us from the deviations of those who have created heresies. Those scholars who warn the Ummah from those who innovate, those who are lenient and those who have exaggerated.

These are three characteristics; those who follow and introduce falseness, those who are lenient and negligent and those who exaggerate and go into extremes, are from the doors that open and lead into Fitnah. A Fitnah which causes anguish for the Ummah and is from the ways of the Ummah being destroyed.

I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, may the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him, the one who has been sent as a witness, a bringer of good news and a warner against a terrible end, a caller to Allaah, with His Permission.

For the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] is the criterion for us to follow, in his statements, actions and from what he had silent approval of. So if you want to evaluate something in the correct way then use this precise and accurate criterion; look and see! How many from the great men have used this criteria and have succeeded. How many situations people faced in their lives but they don’t have benefit from extracted from it;

“…thus does Allah (by parables) show forth truth and falsehood. Then, as for the foam it passes away as scum upon the banks, while that which is for the good of mankind remains in the earth.” [R’ad 13:17]

To proceed:

This Ummah has been protected and preserved from many generations and as Imaam of Daar al-Hijrah, Imaam Maalik bin Anas [May Allaah have Mercy on him said, “The latter part of this Ummah will not be rectified except with that what rectified the first part of it.”

We should think that history is in history, it has gone by and the events that have taken place within are no value. Pay attention to the good that has happened to the Ummah in the past and be warned and take a lesson from the trials and tribulations it has been effected by. Therefore, the Ummah has been protected and preserved for a very long time by those who were truthful.

For by Allaah, the only One worthy of worship, the Ummah will not be rectified except if it returns to its roots and origins, in statement, deeds and all its worldly affairs. Return back to the pioneer that has proceeded you, take from it lessons, specifically by looking at the lives of the men from the earlier generations. All those who had their feet firm upon the truth, knowledge and upbringing, such as the leaders of this Ummah from the Companions and those who followed them from the Tabi’een [May Allaah be Pleased with them all] and those scholars such as ash-Shaafi’ee, Abee Haneefah, Maalik, the two Sufyaans, the two Hamaads, Ayoob as-Sakhteeyaanee, Ibn Mubaarak, Hasan al-Basree, Ibn Sireen, Ibn Mahdee, Ibn Jareer at-Tabaree, Izz bin ‘Abdus-Salaam, Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn al-Qayyim, Ibn Katheer, Ibn Hajar, as-San’aanee, ash-Shawkaanee and from those contemporary such as the likes of Shaykh Muhammad bin ‘Abdul-Wahaab, Shaykh Muhammad bin Ibraaheem, Shaykh ‘Abdullah bin Humayd, Shaykh Bin Baaz and Ibn ‘Uthaymeen and al-Albaanee and others, May Allaah have Mercy on all of them. Their status for a very long time and the Ummah, because of their continuation of bringing about goodness was a cause for this Ummah being alive.

From a very early stage in the works of the scholars, books have been written about the lives and the affairs of men, their history, their status and the like. Such books include Tabaqaat al-Kubraa, Taareekh al-Kabeer, Siyaar al-‘Alaam an-Nubalaa, Hilya al-Awliyaa, Sifah as-Safwah, ‘Isaabah, Badr at-Taali’, Kamaal, Tahteeb al-Kamaal and others which have reached volumes and volumes. The point and goal behind these publications was to protect the lives of those major scholars for those who come after them. Their lives are recorded and documented so that we are guided by them and guide others with it. Regardless of whether you are a leader, a head of state, a minister or a scholar, the point is that you stop and ponder with the lives of these great men, benefit from their wisdom or you will find their lives a cause of your heart becoming illuminated with knowledge and guidance or you will find your Eemaan with the biographies of those who abstained from the Dunyaa and had it exchanged with piety. The more you ponder and reflect on their biographies and the information you receive about them then the components of goodness will be combined in you and your life will be changed as if your living someone else’s life, having someone else’s age and your intellect will be multiplied because of their practices. If a person knows that the information he receives about their lives will connect you with them, like you are living within the first generations of Islaam, living your life as though you were from the major scholars, humble and knowledgeable.

There is no doubt that from the major scholars from those pioneers from those predecessors, the Imaam of Ahl as-Sunnah, the noble and righteous man, a true Shaykh al-Islaam, the venerable Imaam, Ahmad bin Hanbal [May Allaah have Mercy on all of them]. 

When I preparing this talk about this sign of Allaah (i.e. Imaam Ahmad), I pondered for a long time and found that the lives of two great Imaam exemplified each other, the lives of Imaam Ahmad and Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah [May Allaah have Mercy on them]. Thinking about how I would write and compile a talk about Imaam Ahmad took me a long time to ponder until Allaah made it easy for me to present this to you about this great and blessed topic.

His Birth and Lineage

He was Aboo ‘Abdullah, Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Hanbal ibn Hilaal bin Asad bin Idrees bin Abdillah. His lineage goes back to Adnaan, so he was an Arab from the tribe of Shaybaan.

Saaleh, his son, said that his father said, “I was born in Rabee’ al-Awwal, 164AH. My father died whilst my mother was pregnant.” This makes the Imaam an orphan but his mother played a huge role in his upbringing and had a huge impact on his life.

His Description

The Imaam was very tall, he was red skinned and had a very handsome face. In his beard he had a few black hairs and he would always wear white. He would seclude himself a lot having sittings in his house which would result in those present being instilled with humility and the fear of Allaah, and when he would leave, the level of humility and fear of Allaah wouldn’t decrease.

He said about himself, “I got married at the age of forty and Allaah provided me with great good.”

Seeking Knowledge

The very time Imaam Ahmad [May Allaah have Mercy on him] indulged in seeking Hadeeth was in the year 179 AH, aged fifteen years old.

The Imaam says about himself that the number of scholars he took knowledge from exceed 280 scholars, as he said in al-Musnad.

One of his Shaykh passed away with Imaam Ahmad being only 20 years old. He was one of the senior narrators of that time, however before the demise of his Shaykh, Ahmad had also memorised every single Hadeeth from him [May Allaah have Mercy on him]. 

His Teachers

Ahmad then travelled travelled for ten years, going to Koofah and then Basra. He would frequently go to Makkah as well. He would also travel to the ‘Aalim of Yemen, ‘Abdur-Razaaq [May Allaah have Mercy on him]. Also from his teachers were the likes of Sufyaan bin ‘Uyaynah, Aboo Yoosuf, Aboo Bakr ‘Ayyaash, Wakee’ bin Jarrah, Yahyaa Qattaan, ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin Mahdee and he benefitted a great deal from ash-Shaafi’ee as well and likewise, Imaam ash-Shafi’ee benefitted from Ahmad a great deal [May Allaah have Mercy on them all].

His Students

From his students include the likes of Imaam al-Bukharee, Imaam Muslim, Imaam Aboo Dawood, Imaam an-Nasa’ee, Imaam at-Tirmidhee and Imaam Ibn Maajah. Also there was Athraam, Khalaal and many others [May Allaah have Mercy on them all].

His Death
He died, May Allaah have Mercy on him, 241 AH on the day of Jumu’ah on 12^th of Rabee’ al-Awwal, aged 77 years old.

Why did Allaah choose Imaam Ahmad [May Allaah have Mercy on him]?

Allaah, the Most High, has raised him for various reasons. From the greatest of these reasons was the fact that he preserved the religion, practising it and acting upon the knowledge he had. 

Imaam Ahmad [May Allaah have Mercy on him] was an Imaam in Hadeeth, an Imaam in Fiqh, an Imaam in Quraan, an Imaam in the Arabic language, an Imaam in Jarh and Ta’deel.

He was a linguist, no mistakes in the language were ever found from his speech.

He had strong intellect and had the ability to understand the texts and derive from them.

He once said to his son ‘Abdullah, “Take any books that you want from the books of Wakee’. There is nothing that you may take from that books but I will be able to tell you about the Isnaad and there is no Isnaad except I will be able to tell you the meaning of the text.”

And there is no one who is able to do all of this except the Haafidh.

Aboo Zur’ah [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said to the son of Ahmad, “Your father has memorised thousands and thousands of Hadeeth” meaning, a million Ahadeeth

Adh-Dhahabee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “What Aboo Zur’ah said is Saheeh due to the depth of knowledge of Aboo ‘Abdullah (i.e. Imaam Ahmad).”

It was said to his teacher Wakee’ [May Allaah have Mercy on him], “Who has memorised more, you or Ahmad?” he replied, “Of course it is Ahmad.” The questioner asked, “Who do you know?” Wakee’ said, “I found that his books have men and narrations that I have not narrated.”

Wakee’ [May Allaah have Mercy on him] also said, “In his book, he mentioned the name of Sufyaan, Sufyaan and Sufyaan, I thought he only mentioned narrations from one man. But then I saw narrations from Wakee’, Ibn Mahdee and others, until I got amazed.”

Ibraaheem al-Harbee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “Ahmad has combined knowledge from the very first of the Ummah and the latter part.”

Qutaybah [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “Imaam Ahmad was an Imaam of piety, if it wasn’t for Ahmad people would talk about the religion as they pleased. He was the Imaam of the Dunyaa.”

Ash-Shaafi’ee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “I left Baghdaad and I have never met a man who is more pious, knowledgeable and intellectual than Ahmad.”

Aboo Ubayd [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “I am pleased when I remember Ahmad. For I have never met anyone who was more knowledgeable about the Sunnah than Ahmad.”

Note here, that remembering the pious and taking note of the way they live their lives is a way of us getting closer to Allaah.

Muhammad bin Hussayn said, “We were sitting with Aboo Khaythamah and Yahya bin Ma’een. They were talking about Ahmad and praising him until someone present disliked it. So they asked him, ‘What is the matter?’ He replied, ‘You are praising him too much’. So Yahya looked at him and said, ‘You don’t like us over-praising Ahmad? If you sit with us regularly then you will realise that we haven’t praised him according to his true status.’”

So Imaam Ahmad had an effect on everyone, not only his students but his teachers also benefitted and ended up learning from him.

Ash-Shaafi’ee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] once asked, “Oh Abaa ‘Abdillah [i.e. Imaam Ahmad]! If there are Ahadeeth that are Saheeh then inform us so that we may come to you because you are more knowledgeable in Hadeeth about the Saheeh than us.”

Talking about his knowledge and his expertise in Hadeeth is a very big subject in itself and the quotes and statements from the scholars are many. It is sufficient for you to know that one of the biggest collection of Hadeeth books ever authored was al-Musnad of Imaam Ahmad and from this include 27647 Hadeeth, and this was only one of the books he wrote!

Therefore, Allaah has made Ahmad an Imaam and a shining lamp through his knowledge, understanding and intellect.

Another reason why Allaah chose him; the ‘Aqeedah and Usool of Imaam Ahmad [May Allaah have Mercy on him]

Imaam Ahmad was one of those scholars who was guided to have the right ‘Aqeedah and Manhaj. He was extremely strict on this and his statements and views regarding the people of innovation and false ‘Aqaaid (pl. ‘Aqeedah) was particularly harsh and he was a proof for us and against them.

His understanding of the religion was always based on Hadeeth and evidence, all of his Fataawa were based on narrations going back to the Sunnah and the understanding of the Companions [May Allaah be Pleased with him].

Another reason why Allaah chose him; the worship of Imaam Ahmad [May Allaah have Mercy on him]

Ahmad was known to worship for long hours and this is favour that Allaah only blesses to those who have virtue. Worship, trueness and sincerity are some characteristics that is must for everyone who wishes to be a rightly guided scholar, someone who is firmly grounded in knowledge. Added to this, if one increases in worship and beautifies it then the status with Allaah will be even more excelled and perfected. The opposite, my brothers, how many have left this important principle and have been deprived with the help of the creator in understanding His Religion and gaining His Support and having ones inner self content?

Shaykh Bakr Aboo Zayd [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said in his book al-Madhkhal ila Fiqh Imaam Ahmad:

From the greatest characteristics of the Imaam return to the heart of Imaam Ahmad and the constant remembrance of Allaah that he had, the worship, the abstinence from the Dunyaa, his recitation of the Quraan, his piety and humbleness are all characteristics that we shouldn’t be amazed by because they are all ways of getting support from your Lord. Because of this, he was an Imaam in the true sense and an ‘Aalim cannot be an ‘Aalim until he becomes someone who acts upon his knowledge. End quote.

‘Abdullah, his son, said, “My father would pray 300 Rak’aat every day and night. When he got ill towards the end of his life, he became weak so he prayed 150 Rak’aat every day and night. My father would pray every day and night a seventh of the Quraan and would complete it every week. He would sleep very little during the night after ‘Ishaa and then would stand in prayer, reciting and supplicating. I would often hear my father supplicating. He would also pray between Maghrib and ‘Ishaa, and then would pray Witr at the end of the night. He would then have a nap and then stand to pray Fajr. He would recite carefully and beautifully and if he came to an Aayah that he didn’t understand, he would weep. He was also very addicted to fasting, but he would not fast for periods as well, however he never left fasting Mondays and Thursdays and the Ayyaam al-Beedh.”

Marwoodhee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “When Aboo ‘Abdullah (i.e. Imaam Ahmad) would remember death he would weep and would say, ‘I am not able to drink or eat because of this fear I have.’”

He also said, “I was with Ahmad for four months, he finished the Quraan every week and he fasted regularly during this period but I didn’t know any of this except towards the very end of this period I stayed with him.”

Aboo Shamaas [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “I have known Ahmad since he was a child and he would stand all night, even when he was a child.”

Allaah chose him because of his love for the Sunnah and acting upon it

Imaam Ahmad talked about himself in this regard and said, “I have never written a Hadeeth except that I have acted upon it. To the extent that I came across a narration that the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] was cupped and paid with Deenaar so I got cupped and gave the cupper Deenaar, in order to act upon this Hadeeth.”

‘Alee bin Deenaar [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “I have known Abaa Abdillah for fifty years, every day he got better and better upon goodness.”

Maymonee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “My eyes have not seen anything like the likes of Imaam Ahmad and I have not seen any of the Muhaditheen that was stricter than him with the rulings and boundaries of Allaah and the Sunnah of his Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him]. If he found a narration to be Saheeh then there was no one more firmer in resolve to act upon it than him [May Allaah have Mercy on him].”

Once a student of knowledge stayed at the house of Ahmad as a guest, so when it became the time to sleep, Imaam Ahmad left him with a bowl of water. When morning came, Imaam Ahmad was surprised to see that the bowl of water was as it was at night, so he asked the student, “A student of knowledge and he doesn’t stand during the night? A student of knowledge and he doesn’t stand during the night?” The student replied, “Yes, but I am a traveller.” So Imaam Ahmad [May Allaah have Mercy on him] replied this by saying, “Even if you are a traveller! Masrooq preformed Hajj and he didn’t sleep except in Sajdah!”

And there are many example of this my brothers; this was his state with his Lord in worshipping Him and his connection with Him, due to his knowledge and strength of Eemaan.

In the day we live in today, this is all still applicable. Many of us are busy with seeking knowledge and others busy with giving Da’wah but the Dunyaa has deceived us and we have become neglectful in worshipping Allaah, the Glorified and the Exalted, and become heedless about our connection with Him. The heart rusts just like iron rusts so we are always in need of purification and rectifying our connection with Allaah, the High and the Magnified.

Allaah chose him because of his humility and his mercy towards to the Muslims  

Being humble to Allaah is an amazing yet strange thing. The slave of Allaah because beatified and his status raised and exalted, there is no one from us who is humble and has humility except Allaah, the Exalted, raises his status. Allaah, the Most High, says;

“That home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We shall assign to those who rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief by committing crimes. And the good end is for the Muttaqun (pious - see V.2:2).” [Qassas 28:83]

Humility is to accept the truth from any way that it comes to you, no matter who the person saying it is, to be merciful to the believers, to be kind and happy when meeting them and in their faces, without looking down upon anyone, not being proud, not giving yourself status and to accept the good that the believers do and to overlook their mistakes.

Talking about humility and the effects it has on oneself and the society would take great effort, but we should know that humility and humbleness are characteristics that are only given to those whom Allaah has chosen and is pleased with.

“Allah knows best with whom to place His Message” [An’aam 6:124]

Looking at the life of Imaam Ahmad and his humility will be enough for you to be infatuated with this man and have your hearts trembled with the example he has set. Allaah is the One Who Knows those who deserved to have knowledge and those who will act as a guard for this religion

“…and your Lord knows best of him whose path (religion, etc.) is right” [Israa 17: 84]

So from the example of this blessed Imaam, Yahya bin Ma’een [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “I have not seen anyone like Ahmad, I accompanied him for fifty years and I have never seen anything from him to suggest he had even an element of pride.”

A scholar once received food from Ahmad and asked him, “I have heard that you are from the Arab?” Imaam Ahmad replied, “Oh Abaa Nu’maan, we are poor and a needy nation.”

Saaleh bin Imaam Ahmad said, “I my father would eat bread mixed with water and salt eating and if he wanted to perform Wudhoo then no one would fetch the water for him, he would extract the water himself, he would go to the shop to get the shopping with his own hands, if his clothes needed repairing he would repair them with his own hands, he would stand the night.”

It is also narrated that Imaam Ahmad would sit with people and when he when he intended to leave he would ask the permission of the people, despite the people wanting to sit with him because of his high status.

He also said, “I wish I was like a grass from the grass of Makkah, unnoticed and unknown but now I have been tested with fame.”

Maymoonee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “Whenever I asked Imaam Ahmad for something he would say, ‘I am at your service.’”

Marwoothee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “Imaam Ahmad was extremely humble, he was filled with tranquillity and humility, he would never move quickly, and when he would leave to go to the Masjid he would always arrive early. Once someone praised him and I saw his face become saddened by it. And it was also said to him once, ‘May Allaah reward you with good because of the service to this Ummah’ he replied, ‘Rather, may Islaam reward me! Who am I? Who am I?’”

Muhammad bin Hasan said, “I saw Aboo Abdillah and when he walked, he hated that people would walk behind him.”

Listen Oh student of knowledge!

Khalaf, one of the teachers of Imaam Ahmad, said, “Ahmad came to me to listen to Hadeeth so I wanted for him to sit up and teach us, so he said, ‘I will never sit in front of you.’ He taught us humility and humbleness; we learned and benefitted from him.”

Aboo Ja’far [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “Ahmad was the most modest and humble of people, he had the best of characters and manners, he would be very careful, we wouldn’t hear from except if it was Hadeeth or mentioning of pious men. He was tranquil and peaceful, he was handsome and when he would meet people he would show a very glad face, smiling at them and welcoming them. He was very humble towards his teachers and with Yahya bin Ma’een especially, I have never seen him praise anyone like he did with Yahya and Yahya was elder than Ahmad by seven years.”

These are just a few examples of his humility, generosity and exemplify manners and behaviour. He was like this with everyone and there is no doubt that these characteristics are from the greatest reasons why Allaah would raise His Servant so that others will benefit from him. Verily, Allaah Loves actions that bring benefit to everyone and He Rewards it with rewards that are not given to others.

This is Imaam Ahmad, the blessed leader, the one who achieved and gained a lot despite being poor and not thinking much of himself.

Marwoodhee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “There was no one that looked poorer in our gatherings than Ahmad, he wouldn’t sit with the people of the Dunyaa. He was humble, tranquil, not haste, forebearing and he wouldn’t talk until he was talked too.”

Aboo Sa’eed [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “He came and sat down and we were narrating Hadeeth, he had only three Dirhams with him and at the end of our sitting, he gave me half of his wealth.”

Haroon al-Mustandee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “I came to him and I needed money, he gave me five Dirhams and said, ‘This is all the wealth I have.’”

Aboo Sa’eed ad-Dareer [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “I came to him needing money so he told me he only had this animal and nothing else. So he went and sold it for nine Dirhams. That was Abaa Abdillah, extremely modest, extremely well-mannered, kind to others, extremely pleasant and welcoming, he would bare patient the mistakes of his neighbour, his amazed generosity me and he would not remain ignorant. If things would become difficult for him he would say, ‘Allaah is sufficient, Allaah is sufficient, Allaah is sufficient.’ He would love for Allaah and hate for Allaah and if the religion and its rulings were breached he would become extremely angry. ”

Marwoodhee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “Ahmad didn’t argue or disagree with his wife for thirty years.”

It is also well known that in his lessons he would have around 5000 students if not more, from them 500 would listen and write Hadeeth whilst others 4500 would learn from his goodly manners and timely silence.

Maymoonee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “I don’t know anyone who would look after his body and hair and wear whiter clothes than Ahmad. He clothes would be average, not expensive and not cheap.”

Listen to this Oh my brothers, the level of justice that he had with himelf;

‘Abdullah al-Warraad [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “I came to sit with Ahmad and he asked, ‘Where have you come from?’ I replied, ‘From the sitting with Abee Qurayth.’ So Ahmad [May Allaah have Mercy on him] replied, ‘Write from him because he is a pious Shaykh’. So I said to him, ‘But he dispraises you!?’ So Ahmad said, ‘What more do you need except a pious Shaykh that you may learn from?’”

From the reasons why Allaah chose him; His Praise of Allaah and his Tawakkul upon Him.

This characteristic is from the greatest characteristic Allaah gave him and blessed with him. This was something he was known for, not proud but known to have an extreme level of trust and love for Allaah, the Glorified and the High.

He was a practitioner of the Quraan and the Sunnah and he wouldn’t depend on others.

Imaam Ahmad was mentioned to ‘Abdur-Rahmaan as-San’aanee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] so he began to cry and he said, “I was with him once and I said to him, ‘It has reached me that you need money so he closed the door behind him and said take this nine Deenar. People have money but you have nothing.’ He replied, ‘I can’t accept what you are giving’. He said this even though he was in a great need, more so than those who were really poor.”

Imaam Aboo Dawood said, “Our sittings with Ahmad used to sittings that remind one of the Aakhira, never was anything from the Dunyaa discussed, he never talked about the Dunyaa at all.”

Ahmd bin Sinaan [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said, “Ahmad was in need, ‘Abdur-Razaaq offered him Dirhams but he rejected, so we asked Saaleh to accept it, he also refused and said, ‘My father has prepared his shroud and is preparing himself to get in it.’”

Once the clothes of Imaam was stolen and he sat in his house and his son said to him, “Father, you have no clothes and you have no money to buy new ones.” One of his companions came to him and offered him some money so that he could buy some clothes but he refused and said, “Are you the person who heard the Hadeeth from Sufyaan? Tell me what you have heard.” So he wrote what he heard but the man didn’t leave until Ahmad accepted the Dirhams, so he accepted and bought clothes.

This was the Imaam! He knew poverty, he knew despair and need but none of this changed desire for Allaah and the Hereafter. He was free from needing the people and falling in debt. The beauty of the Dunyaa didn’t tempt him.

From the reasons why Allaah chose him; his patience with trials

From the greatest and most famous of trials of Imaam Ahmad was with those who claimed that the Quraan was created. This theory began towards the end of the leadership of Ma’moor, 212AH and it ended at the time of Mutawakkil 234AH. He was tested throughout this period yet remained firm in his stance, standing for the sake of Allaah with the patience of the Prophets despite being imprisoned and tested for 23 years.

Talking about his tests during this period would need further discussion but I would like to point out something very important. This Fitnah was a cause for Imaam Ahmad becoming firm in the land and status raised. It began when he was 48 years old and even before this he was known for knowledge, being an Imaam and his piety, however after this Fitnah he became even stronger and elevated as an example of knowledge and truth.

Through this Fitnah he also evolved in his ability to debate, bring proofs, explain the issues to the people, he had extoled in his experience in dealing with the people in calling to Allaah.

This Fitnah had a huge impact in the personal development of this major Imaam and this remained in his time and it still is an example until our day today in dealing with Fitnah and remaining on the truth.

Despite his disagreement with the ruler and the imprisonment, he warned against rebelling against the ruler, rather he would supplicate to the ruler. He took this stance with great seriousness and repelled any form of rebellion against the ruler with great strictness.

He replaced being harsh and repelling against the ruler with being kind and patient with him, this is a huge evidence that he wanted good for him and his sincerity towards him and the Ummah.

‘Alee bin Madeenee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] spoke the truth when he said, “Allaah brought honour to this religion with two men, Aboo Bakr as-Siddeeq in the time when people were becoming apostates and Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal in his trial.”

Therefore the trial of Ahmad wasn’t a trial of one man alone, rather it was a trial for the Ummah, it was a battle between truth and falsehood and Allaah chose from this Ummah a man to stand firm and represent this Ummah and that great man was Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal.

Some people think that the trial entailed imprisonment, torture, starvation and ridicule, and that was it. But this is wrong; this was only part of the trial. Rather the other part of the trial was when he was released the Dunyaa and the Ummah as a whole accepted him as being an Imaam and they raised the status of this man. The world was given to him after this trial, wealth and gifts, a life of luxury was presented to a very poor man who has just been released from torture and imprisonment, a man who was in great need of help and assistance, yet he refused and remained patient and dispelled all the Fitnah that the Dunyaa had to present to him.

Despite his poor status and his refusal of the Dunyaa, the hearts of the believers were filled with love for this man.

May the Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon the Messenger of Allaah, His Family, His Companions and all those who follow them.