The lion of the Sunnah, the scholar, the mujahid, the ascetic, the founder of the Hanbali school of jurisprudence, and a proof between Allah and His servants upon earth, about whom Ali ibn al-Madini said: “Allah supported this religion with two men, with no third: Abu Bakr on the day of Ar-Ridah (apostasy) and Imam Ahmad on the day of the ordeal.”
Imam Al-Shafi’i also praised him, saying: “I left Baghdad without leaving behind anyone more pious, more fearful of Allah, more knowledgeable, or more learned than Ahmad ibn Hanbal.”
He is Abu Abdullah Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal ibn Hilal ibn Asad al-Shaybani, who shares lineage with the Prophet ﷺ through his ancestor Nizar. He was born, according to the most reliable opinion, in Baghdad in the year 164 AH. He grew up as an orphan, as his father passed away in the same year he was born. His great mother, Safiyyah bint Maymunah, took care of his upbringing, ensuring his education and memorization of the Quran. Despite being raised in extreme poverty, this did not deter him from seeking knowledge or excelling beyond the wealthy and noble of his time.
His Pursuit of Knowledge
He began studying Hadith at a young age, learning from all the scholars of Hadith in Iraq, Hejaz, and the Levants. His famous collection, Musnad Ahmad, stands as evidence of his vast learning, as he narrated from 283 Sheiks and studied under more than 400 scholars. His poverty did not stop him from traveling far and wide in search of knowledge, often walking on foot to seek it.
He learned under numerous elite Ummah scholars, among which, Imam Al-Shafi’I, Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah, Qadi Abu Yusuf (the student of Abu Hanifa), Ismail ibn ‘Ulayyah, Yazid ibn Harun, Abdul Rahman ibn Mahdi, and many others.
He also taught many prominent scholars, including, Abdul Malik al-Maimuni, Muhanni ibn Yahya, Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Harbi, and Baqi ibn Makhlad.
His Writings
Imam Ahmad authored many books, the most significant of which are:
- Musnad Ahmad – A collection of 30,000 Hadiths.
- Masa'il Ahmad – A record of his jurisprudential opinions.
- Kitab al-Zuhd – A book on asceticism.
- Al-‘Ilal wa Ma‘rifat al-Rijal – A work on Hadith narrators and their reliability.
Imam Al-Shafi’i described him as: “Ahmad is an imam in eight qualities: an imam in Hadith, an imam in jurisprudence, an imam in language, an imam in the Quran, an imam in poverty, an imam in asceticism, an imam in piety, and an imam in the Sunnah.”
The Great Ordeal
Imam Ahmad faced a severe trial during the reign of Caliph Al-Ma'mun, when the Mu‘tazilites promoted the doctrine that the Quran was created. The caliph forced scholars to accept this belief under threat of punishment. Imam Ahmad led those who stood firm against this heresy. He was imprisoned, whipped, and brutally tortured, yet he remained steadfast in his faith. Three successive caliphs—Al-Ma'mun, Al-Mu‘tasim, and Al-Wathiq—attempted to break him, but he refused to compromise his belief in the eternal and uncreated nature of the Quran.
His endurance in this ordeal made him a symbol of resilience and monotheism. The ordeal lasted twenty years, until Caliph Al-Mutawakkil came to power and ended the persecution. Imam Ahmad’s steadfastness remains an example of how scholars should stand firm in the face of tyranny and deviation.
His Piety and Humility
Imam Ahmad set an extraordinary example in asceticism and devotion. He refused gifts from rulers, fasted frequently, and prayed between Maghrib and Isha and throughout the night until dawn. He preferred solitude with Allah, saying: “I found that solitude is more comforting for my heart.”
Despite his high status, he despised and avoided fame and advised others to do the same. His student Al-Marothi narrated that he once said: “Tell Abdul Wahhab to keep his name unknown, for I have been tested with fame.” Even with his status as a scholar, he remained deeply humble. Once, when a man said to him, “May Allah reward you for your service to Islam,” Imam Ahmad replied: “May Allah reward Islam for me! Who am I, and what am I?”
His Kindness and Forbearance
He was fond of the poor, speaking only when necessary. He was reserved in speech, deep in contemplation, and distinguished by his good character. He was patient, humble, gentle, and forbearing, yet he would become intensely angry when the sanctities of Allah were violated.
He faced hardships with unwavering steadfastness and unshakable determination. Imam Al-Dhahabi said about him: “He is truly the Imam, truly the one who was tested, and truly the one who upheld Allah’s command during the ordeal.”
He was among the scholars most devoted to seeking knowledge, and nothing prevented him from traveling in pursuit of it. This is reflected in his famous saying: “With the inkwell until the grave.”
He was also known for his tolerance and forgiveness. Despite the pain and torture he endured during the ordeal of the Quran’s createdness, when asked about those who had tortured him, he responded: “Whoever has spoken ill of me, I have pardoned him—except for an innovator.”
Ibn al-Qayyim praised this trait, saying: “One of the most astonishing things about Imam Ahmad demonstrating his forbearance and forgiveness toward those who harmed him, what he used to say: 'I have never seen anyone as patient as Ahmad.'”
His Death and Legacy
Imam Ahmad passed away in Baghdad in 241 AH. His funeral was one of the largest in history, attended by hundreds of thousands. It is reported that on the day of his death, twenty thousand Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians embraced Islam. The city of Baghdad witnessed an unprecedented public mourning, attended by different religions. Estimates suggest that his funeral was attended by 800,000 men and 60,000 women.
May Allah have mercy on this great scholar, who sacrificed his life for the truth, “If it were not for him and his sacrifice, Islam would have perished.” as Ishaq ibn Rahwayh said.
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- Al-Mubdi‘ fi Sharh al-Muqni‘ by Ibn Muflih
- Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala’ by Imam Al-Dhahabi
- This is How the Righteous Were by Khalid Al-Husainan
- The Biography of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal by Dr. Tariq Al-Suwaidan
- History of Baghdad by Al-Khatib Al-Baghdadi
