A Letter To the Muslim Sisters


From the pen of
Umaymah Hasan Ahmed Muhammed Hasan
Wife of Sheikh Ayman Al Zawahiri
-May Allah preserve them-


Translated by
Dar Al Murabiteen Publications


All praise is to Allah, Almighty, and peace and blessings on the best of all prophets, our master Muhammad and on his family and companions and who was guided by his guidance and followed his Sunnah to the day of Judgment

My righteous sisters, Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon you...

I wanted to talk with you, from quite a while, about the great happenings and decisive situations our Ummah is going through, but the circumstances intervened between me and you, bur it is high time now that I talk with my honorable sisters, however I start with our families and loved ones in our dear country, and I say to them, don’t worry for us, for we are by the grace of the Almighty in wellness and bounties from Allah Almighty, and our hearts and souls are with you, though we have been separated by the distances.

This is how this world is, meetings and partings as we seek solace in the fact that we are on the truth and for truth are we called upon, as our Lord Almighty has said
“So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers. (Surah Aal Imran 139)”

And it might happen that we meet soon if Allah wills because the ease of Allah is close and His victory is eminent by the will of Allah.

And after the family and loved ones I direct my word to the righteous sisters in our precious Islamic Ummah, and would specify in mentioning our dear stationed sisters in the lands of Jihad in different spots of the earth, and to our mothers who have given up their sons in the way of Allah and the victory of His religion. And in spite of this, they do not tire or get bored from aiding this religion. How many husbands and sons and brothers have they given!!! and How much were they hurt in the way of Allah!!! So all of our conditions are one; Women who are stationed and in Jihad, who are hurt in the way of Allah, and gave what they had of sacrifices, but – by Allah beside who there is no God - all this has not and will not belate us even a moment from aiding our religion in spite of what we have gone through in this path from the losing of loved ones and distance from families.

In spite of all this- we do not find anything except the sweetness of what we are in, accepting what Allah has honored us with, and exalted over the rest of his slaves, that He blessed us with Jihad in His way, and aiding of His religion, and raising His word high. In spite of all these trials we are in sufficiency of living, and honor and blessing from Allah almighty. So my dear and beloved sisters : Steadfastness, steadfastness on this path. For verily, no Super Power nor any international alliances will stop us, and Allah Almighty is with us, and he is our reliance and caretaker, and we will not fear any one, who ever it be, except Allah Almighty, and we are – and praise is to Allah- over what ever we face, steadfast and we seek glad tidings with the promise of Allah to us, as our Lord said
“Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said,"When is the help of Allah?" Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near. (Surah Baqara 214)”


So victory is near by the will of Allah, and our Lord will not abandon, so it is either victory or either martyrdom, and each of it is sweeter than the other. And we will not relax in the service of our religion for it is the most precious thing we posses.


I ask Allah for us and for our sisters in the different spots of earth – and specially in the lands of Stationing, like Palestine and Iraq and Chechnya and Afghanistan and Somalia- patience and steadfastness till death, for it is either victory or martyrdom.
“And Allah is predominant over His affair, but most of the people do not know. (Surah Yusuf 21)”

And I remind my self and my dear Muslim sisters of the (Women)Companions – the Mujahidaat and Migrants and Believers, for they are the best of ideals for us, and through them we are guided and by them we feel solace. For how many are the lessons and how many are the wisdom in their pure life stories. They did not ever tire or falter from the service of our religion, so we –Allah willing – are on their path. And the greatest ideal for us is Sayyidah Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her). She supported the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) immensly in fulfilling his daawah. And she used to say to him ‘Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your Kith and kin, serve your guests generously, help the poor and the destitute and assist the deserving calamity-afilicted ones.’

And similarly Sayyidah Safiyyah –May Allah be pleased with her- she was from the bravest of women. When a Jew passed by the fort, he started patrolling around the fort and the Muslims were in the throats of their enemies. She came down and killed the Jew with a pole. She was not scared and she did not falter. So she was braver than many men of today.

And similarly Sayyidah Umm Ammarah (May Allah be pleased with her) she was injured in Uhud twelve times while defending the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and she lost her hand on the day of Yamamah, leaving out which, she was injured on the day of Yamamah 11 times.
So these are the ones whom we follow, in supporting our Husbands on the right, in bravery and in footsteps and we do not fear any one except Allah Almighty.

My second letter is to my Imprisoned Muslim sisters in the prisons of the Tyrants

I say to them: You are in our hearts, and we will not forget you ever, and Allah willing we will not leave any effort to release you from imprisonment, for you are our honor and we are your sisters, and we never forget you. And Allah knows that we always pray to Allah to protect you from every evil and harm and hasten your release.
My third letter is to the common Muslim women in the world

Firstly I call them to adhere with all the rules of Islam, for in it is the happiness of the world and the victory in the here after, specially adherence with Hijab, for it is the title of the Muslim woman who is obedient to her Lord, obedient to His orders. And in leaving it there is obedience to Satan, and as you know O Muslim sisters, the campaign against the Hijab is from the fiercest wars between Islam and Kufr, for these criminal Kuffars want the woman yo get rid of her religion, and the first thing that the woman leaves is her; outfit and cover, for if the woman left her outfit and cover, it is followed by leaving the rest of her religion.

So the Muslim women should take care of this well, and as you know O Muslim sister that the West does not want you except as a commodity to trade with, and to erase with you the poles of Islam, for Hijab is for the Muslim woman the first pole from the pillars of Islam, as in it is your sanctity and your purity and cover.
And the Western world does not want you to be adherent with hijab for the adherence of the woman to Hijab depicts their lowness and the cheapness of their manners and their social habitat. The Kafir West trades with women, and considers woman a cheap commodity, for she is for them neither inviolable nor respected but she is for them a source from the sources of trade of evil and shamelessness, and refuge is with Allah from all this.

The Muslim veiled woman is inviolable and respected in her house and outside and she is the precious jewel, and the expensive pearl. And as our Lord Almighty has said “O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. (Surah Al Ahzaab 59)”. This is the saying of Allah the Almighty to his prophet peace be upon him to address with it his wives and daughters and the women of Muslims. Therefore, we should, me dear sisters, adhere to the Shari Hijab, for that is better for us in the world and hereafter

Secondly, I advice my Muslim sisters to raise their sons on the obedience of Allah the Almighty and the love of Jihad in His way, and persuade their brothers and husbands and sons to defend the lands of Muslims and their wealth, and to retrieve them from the occupiers, who have violated the lands of Muslims, and looted its riches, and to awaken the Ummah to acquit itself from those who want to collaborate with the enemies and give up the lands of Muslims


I also advice them to help the Mujahideen with prayers and money, and to help the families of the injured and the prisoners with money and donations to their children and women, for they are in the greatest of need for support to face the difficulties of life.

I remind my sisters with the saying of Prophet (peace and blessing upon him) : “Fasting is protection and Sadaqah extinguishes the sins like water extinguishes fire” (Reported by Tirmidhi, and he classified it as Hasan Saheeh)

And I also remind them with the saying of Prophet (peace and blessing upon him) : “O the gathering of women, give alms for I have seen you as the majority of the inhabitants of Hell fire” (Reported by Bukhari)

I assure my Muslim sisters everywhere of the role of the Muslim woman in the Islamic world, for women are the siblings of men, so the Muslim women should work beside men to defend her religion and land. Thus she should defend with herself and if she cannot then with her money and if she cannot then by calling in the way of her religion by inviting her Muslim sisters in the Masjids, schools, institutes and houses, and if she is incapable of that then through the internet, she should write her Daawah and spread it and spread the call of the Mujahideen and it will reach by the will of Allah and she will find heedful ears and hearts. So I hope from you my dear sister that you do not tire or get bored , from aiding our religion in any way possible.

By the way, many questions have been raised concerning the role of the Muslim women in the current Jihad, and I say, and from Allah is guidance: Jihad is Fard Ayn on every Muslim man and woman, but the way of fighting is not easy for Muslim women for it requires a Mahram, as the woman should have a Mahram with her in her going and coming, but we should aid our religion in several ways, and should keep our selves in the service of the Mujahideen, and we should fulfill whatever they ask of us, may it be through monetary aid to them or any service or information or suggestion or participation in fighting or even through a martyrdom operation, How many sisters have performed martyrdom operations in Palestine and Iraq and Chechnya, and vexed the enemy, and caused them a great defeat!!! We ask Allah to accept them and make us follow them in goodness.

But our basic role in which we hope Allah to accept from us, is to protect the Mujahideen in their children and houses and secrets, and to help them by giving good upbringing to their children. Your Migrant sisters- and to Allah is all praise and thanks- are doing a great work in this field, and are practicing great patience and steadfastness and bravery and abstinence from the world and love of the Hereafter and working for it, in spite of what they are facing of hardship in living, and losing of their husbands and children and fathers, and lack of stability, to the point that some of them have been put to trial through captivity, but your migrant sisters are patient and seeking the pleasure of Allah, and to Allah is all praise and thanks.

At the end of my statement I would like to remind my sisters that our end and sustenance are written with Allah, and Jihad does not bring hasten ones death, nor does it decrease sustenance, and that Jihad today has become Fard Ayn, as the foreign Kafir enemy has occupied the lands of Muslims and the three sacred sites are under its control and occupation and also the apostate puppet rulers have taken control over the Muslims, and the scholars have consensus on the necessity of the removal of the apostate.

As the martyr of Islam –as we hold him – the Sheikh Abd Allah Azzam –May Allah have mercy on him said– Jihad has become Fard Ayn on the Ummah since the fall of Andalus.
As the commanders of the Mujahideen call the Ummah to leave to the battlefields of Jihad, we should , my dear sisters, not abstain from this religious obligation and we should persuade others to it.

I give you glad tidings that Jihad is in victory and development, and the Western media in spite of its acceptance of the losses of the Crusades and the Jews in many fields of Jihad, does not transfer except a part of the truth, and hides most of it. So you should take by the Media of the Mujahideen, that transfers the reality from the battlefield, and depicts the fake of the Western media. And here, we stand in front of you as a living example of the incapability of the Crusaders, for after 8 years from the starting of the Crusades we are still – by the grace of Allah - carrying out Jihad from Chechnya to the Islamic Algeria, so have faith in the victory of Allah, who says in his Book “Those who believe fight in the cause of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the cause of Taghut. So fight against the allies of Satan. Indeed, the plot of Satan has ever been weak. (Surah An Nisa’a 76)”
And I leave you in the protection of Allah and His care

Our final call is praise is to Allah, the Lord of the worlds and Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad and his family and companions

Wassalamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh


Your sister in Allah
Umaymah Hasan Ahmed Muhammed Hasan
Wife of your brother Ayman Al Zawahiri

Pray for the Mujahideen




Your Brothers in
Sahab Media Productions
Source- Al Fajr Media Center



Translated by
Dar Al Murabtieen Publications

Two Green Birds in Jannah

Disclaimer: We do not know anythng about duniya ghaib (the unseen) except what Allah has revealed to us.

Shaikh Anwar al-Awlaki was flying around Jannah in his green bird pleased with the promise of Allah to the Shuhada', and he was pleased with his investement - for himself and for his family because now he would be able to intercede for them on Judgement Day and the family would be reunited in the Best of places.

While he is gliding about he notices another green bird flying near him, flying in a happy way, flying here and there, in circles, upside down and doing all kinds of tricks. Then Anwar realises that it is his 17 year old son Abdur-Rahman.

"What on Earth happened? What are you doing here? It's only been a week since I arrived!"

"Ya Baba they said you were dead and I didn't believe them so I went out to look for you and look how fast I found you!"

"Indeed, ALlahu akbar! My son is shaheed with me and the shuhada' are not dead. As Allah told us in his book, "And do not say of those who are killed in the way of ALlah 'they are dead', nay they are liing but you do not perceive it (Al-Baqara 154), they are alove with their Lord and they have provision (aal-Amran 139)."

And off they flew together to catch up on each others news.

ALlah accept them amongst the shuhada' and for them a high place in Jannah. May He accept all of us. Amin

Amongst the Smog

The electricity crisis in Yemen is a constant annoyance, especially for students studying for exams and for their teachers madly marking papers before the sunset.

Along with the poor electricity service, is the very lacking garbage collection service. This problem when linked to the electricity problem means oranger skies over Sana'a in particular. People are firing up the generators and burning up the garbage.

These two phenomena also affect sleep. The generators an obvious noise polution along with the air polution, but the acrid smell of plastics burning in the rubbish pile burn your nose and create a headache.

It is being said it will all be fixed up after the elections on 21 February. I doubt it - services weren't so good BEFORE the revolution.

There isn't much going on for muhajireen. Arabic courses are still running in some institutes, but either ridiculously expensive or cheap with a non-existant curriculum (do not try to study Arabic at Sana'a University - its a scam!).

The Islamic centres are mostly open, even Eman University reopened. Dammaj is under fire from the Houthis and is currently a Jihad destination.

Other than that there is not a long going on an visas are still a difficult commodity to obtain, especially for Western and Euro Musoims. Suggest you try Egypt or Libya as a hijra destination.

Why a Popular Uprising in Yemen is Unlikely- (for now)

No, it is not because everyone is chilling out at a qat chew.

Firstly we need to consider Yemen as three different areas, North, South and Sana'a. Popular uprising is already happening in the south with almost daily events, but it doesn't make much difference to life in Sana'a. If a popular uprising is to force the President out, it has to happen in Sana'a and all the people need to be unified in the effort.

It may seem suprising to many, but however unhappy people are with the government, they don't necessarily hate the President. He actually still has quite a lot of support from the general population. Even those who agree he is corrupt and at times acts contrary to Islam, they won't support an uprising against the President for two main reasons.

Firstly, the common sentiment is that there is no one else who could possibly replace him and do the job of Ra'is al-Jumhooriya (President of the Republic).

Secondly and rather interestingly, many believe that uprising against him is haram (Islamically illegal) because he is a Muslim leader who establishes the prayer.

In the hadith narrated by Awf ibn Malik al-Ashja'i:
The Messenger of Allah (sas) said "The best of your leaders are those whom you love and who love you and for whom you pray and who pray for you, and the worst of your leaders are those whom you hate and who hate you and to whom you curse and who curse you."

Then the sahaba asked the Messenger of Allah, "should we not rid ourselves of them?" the Messenger of Allah replied, "No, not so long as they establish prayer amongst you." (Muslim)

So from this hadith, a large number of Yemenis (in Sana'a) would not uprise against the President. This is also the official stance of the country's main respected scholars, including Shaikh Abdul-Majid Zindani, the Rector of Al-Eman University.

May Allah strengthen and guide the Yemeni people along His path - Whether their stance is right or wrong, they are a people who think about Allah before acting against their ruler.

Sugar Coated - First Impressions of Abu Dhabi

On arrival at Abu Dhabi airport, I immediately noticed people's dress. As I waited for my luggage, all the women were dressed head to toe in black with niqab and the men in long white dress (kandora) and head covering, as well as a beard of some description. I was very pleased at this sight.

I had to spend the first few weeks in a hotel as the company that hired me had not yet arranged accommodation for me. One evening I sat in the restaurant (which was supposed to be alcohol free with a bar serving alcohol upstairs away from public view), I saw a man in his long white dress and head covering, sporting a long beard sitting alone at an adjacent table. I didn't take much notice of him and ate my meal.

A waitress came to his table to serve him none other than tequila shooters. I was flabbergasted. It was a confusing sight for me because back in the States, anyone wearing this type of clothing is an Imam or a pious person, and here is one dressed as such sitting in a hotel restaurant alone drinking tequila shooters.

The sight made me feel the same odd confused but disgusted feeling I felt when I first saw a drag queen in New York.

My wife joined me once the accommodation was settled and started working at a school with a large local student body. I asked her about the mothers, how they were in their Deen, and my wife simply replied, "sugar coated".

It is easy for muhajireen to have big aspirations and expectations of the Muslims they encounter in the new country, and it is very common for them to become disappointed and disillusioned. Just be realistic, people who immigrate for the Sake of Allah are few and far between. We are strangers in the land. That however, is not a reason to not make hijrah, it is only one of the difficulties and it isn't meant to be easy. If it was easy, the rewards of hijrah would not be so huge.

Wiping Over Socks is Logical

Ali May Allah be pleased with him, once said, that if all of the Islamic rulings were logical, then we would wipe the underneath of our socks when making wudhoo, and not the top as is prescribed to us by Rasool Allah Peace and blessing be upon him.

I was thinking about this the other day, and not to disagree with Ali, al-Mu'mineen, but this example he gave concerning logic, is from his logic.

Think about this. Not everyone uses a sit down toilet. A lot of people squat to urinate, and may be wearing socks or khufs (leather socks) and so the wiping rule is applicable. Now if you are squatting to urinate, where might any splash go? On the top of your socks! While the bottom of your socks stay clean pressed hard against your bathroom shoes. So perhaps wiping the top of your socks is not so illogical afterall.

The Deen of Allah is true guidance for all of mankind.

G20 Summit "Robin Hood Tax"

The G20 is currently in session in Soeul Korea. One of the big ideas to come out of it was the global "Robin Hood" tax - a tax on financial transactions. So the bigger the transaction the bigger the tax.

Some have said it is progressive and innovative - a good idea but almost impossible to implement on a global level.

Islam already has a "Robin Hood" tax. It is called zakat and it is obligatory for every Muslim to pay it once a year according to his means.

Zakat is a payment calculated on an individuals wealth*. Zakat is one of the pillars of Islam and it is the major economic means for establishing social justice and leading the Muslims society to prosperity and security. (Commentary from Sahih Bukhari English Translation).

* Zakat is not payable upon a Muslim's horse or slave. As we don't use horses for transporting ourselves, some say that this can be applied to one's car - however I don't have any evidence to present on this issue.

If every Muslim payed the correct amount of Zakat owed as well as this money being distributed according to the Sunnah, I doubt there would be such hardship and poverty amongst the Muslims that I see now - that poverty is not just lack of food, housing and health but lack of education and Islamic knowledge. As there is no Islamic state, Zakat, in my opinion is not collected or distributed in a proper way.

Those entitled to receive from the Zakat funds as stated in Surah al-Taubah are as follows:

1. The poor(fuqara)
2. The needy (masakeen)
3. Officials appointed to collect Zakat(to prevent corruption on their behalf)
4. Those whose hearts have been inclined to islam(new reverts and those who need encouragement)
5. The ransoming of captives (freeing of slaves in particular)
6. Those in debt
7. Those i the way of Allah (Muhajireen and Mujahideen)
8. The wayfarer (traveller)

So Islam is the progressive entity not only proposing but implementing a global "Robin Hood" tax. We can learn a lot from our religion and there in only benefit in it.

Ramadan Road Rage in Sana'a

During the first two weeks of Ramadan 117 people were killed in road accidents. Thats more than were killed in clashes between Government troops and Al-Qaeda.

Not all these fatalities are attributed to road rage, some of them where pedestrians, some people simply fell off the back of a truck.

I have seen some road rage however. Once incident on the bus from Jama'ah Sana'a, as we drove by the University of Science and Technology, a taxi driver did something to bother the bus driver who quickly cut him off, and stormed out of the bus with his jambiya unsheathed to chase down the taxi driver. I don't know how this incident ended because I disembarked and walked home.

An incident I saw today involved a young man. A stupid one. There were a small group of young men standing around on the corner near Huda supermarket on Zubairy street and one of them suddenly and without provication smacked one of the others in the face. Of course a pursuit ensured , into the traffic and ended with the perpetrator being hit by a car a flung into the air some distance. He got up and cheered his heroics. Poor car driver was freaked out.

Sana'a is a crazy place at the best of times and Ramadan hasn't done anything to temper tempers.

Running is Ayb, Just Be Late

Two cases of running is ayb have been posted on the Yemen Hijrah blog. You can read them here (running is ayb; Yemen) and here (security issues).

Today I will narrate the first ever case of “running is ayb, just be late” of our sister who just doesn’t get it: DON’T RUN – SAFETY HAZARD!!!

It was a fine sunny day in Sydney and our sister was accompanying her friend and her mother to the city for a doctor’s appointment, however, once at the train station, our sister realised that she had left her wallet in the car.

“Quick! Run! We don’t want to be late!” was the unanimous call, so our sister ran fast, and masha Allah she was a good runner so it was nothing at all for her to bolt up the hill to fetch her wallet out of the car.

As she attempted to open the car door with a bent key, she noticed her wallet on the ground beside the car door. “Alhamdulillah!!!” she exclaimed and quickly retrieved her wallet and brushed off the dirt and leaves.

As she turned to run back to the train station, an unmarked policed car pulled over beside her and five police officers jumped out ordering her to not move. Having had no prior incidents with police, she didn’t realise how hard up they were, especially against Muslims, and especially hijabi or beard wearing Muslims who take to running at pace near train stations. So, she did move, and the police shouted at her again not to move and one pulled out his gun.

So she didn’t move this time and one of the police officers gave her a quick pat down weapon check and asked for ID.

The only photo ID the sister had on her was a government employee ID card. Although the date on the card was still valid, the sister had since resigned from the job due to conflicting interests.

Once the police saw this Government ID card, they lightened up and even laughed. One asked, “why were you running so fast just now?” to which the sister replied, “so I won’t be late.”

The policeman grinned and said, “looks like you’re gonna be late mate!”
Sure thing! Running is ayb - just be late.

(just for the record, it happens that the day that his event occurred was “National Terrorism Day”. Great timing sister!)

Imam Ahmad Part 2

His contribution to Islam:

Imam Ahmad was known by many for his great contribution to Islam, through not only his works, but also his actions.

One of his most famous works of Imam Ahmad is al Musnad, in which he collected and documented over 30 000 hadith. This is just one of the many works Imam Ahmad left behind.

The Imam did not like students documenting his lessons, for fear that it would be a cause for the ummah to abandon the most important texts from the deen. His students continued in recording his works as they understood the immense benefit he would leave behind for the ummah to follow. Thereafter the Hanbali School of jurisprudence was established, and Imam Ahmad left his mark on humanity and the rectification and preservation of the deen of Allaah ta’aala.

Al Mihnah: In everything Imam Ahmad left behind, he is most remembered for His steadfastness in regards to al Mihnah.

His steadfastness under the oppressive rule of al-Mamum, and al-Mu’tasim of the Abbasid Caliphate, in regards to the inquisition (al mihnah), in which the ruling Government professed that the noble Quran is a creation. Many of the prominent ulaama of this time refused to bear witness to such a claim. Imam Ahmad was from those who denied the doctrine of the creation of the Quran, therefore he suffered much at the hands of the oppressive rule of this time, and he was imprisoned for a lengthy period of time and subjected to severe punishment.

He was brought before the court in chains and questioned about his aqeeda. Patiently he persevered on this path, until Allah would send relief through al mutawakkil - the new ruler.

It was said about the Imam in regards to his punishment at the hands of the oppressors:

There remains no Angel in the sky except that it has witnessed over him whilst he was beaten.’ Abu Bakr al Marwadhi

"Allaah shall raise for this Ummah at the head of every century a man who shall renew (or revive) for it its religion" (Sunan Abu Dawud, Kitab al-Malahim, ch. 1.)

Imam 'Ali ibn al-Madini, the great teacher of Imam al-Bukhari said, "Truly, Allah supported this religion with Abu Bakr as-Siddiq the day of the apostasy (ar-Riddah), and He supported it with Ahmad ibn Hanbal the day of the Inquisition ( al-Mihnah).

Therefore this great Imam, may Allaah have mercy upon him, left behind for this ummah a legacy, an example of the best kind of jihad, to speak the truth against an oppressive ruler. And through his struggles Allaah preserved and protected the true and pure Tawheed. His sacrifice paved a path which broke the very core of ahlul bida and their fundamentals. It was through this that Imam Ahmad left a mark in history, and was an example to mankind. This is considered one of the most defining moments in history of Ahlusunnah wal Jama’a.

Over 800 000 people attended his funeral due to the enormous impact he had upon not only the knowledgeable but also the laymen

'Siyar A’lam an-Nubala’, Imam Ath-Dhahabi described Ibn Hanbal as, “The true Sheikh of Islam and leader of the Muslims in his time, the hadith master and proof of the religion”.

Ibrahim al-Harbi said: "I held Ahmad as one for whom Allaah had gathered up the combined knowledge of the first and the last."

Abu Ubayd said “the science at its peak is in the custody of four men, of whom Ahmad bin Hanbal is the most knowledgeable.” (Siyar A’lam an Nubala)

" Verily the pious will be in gardens and springs, Receiving what Allah has given them, Verily they used to do good works before that, They used to sleep little at night, And they used to seek forgiveness in the morning "
[Surah Ath-Thaariyaat #51 Verses #14-18]

Imam Ahmad - Part 1

أحمد بن محمد بن حنبل أبو عبدالله الشيباني

Early life and education:

Imam Ahmad bin hanbal was born in the month Rabee al awwal 164 AH in Baghdad, although his family was originally from Basrah (in present day Iraq), his grandfather then migrated to Khurasan. His father passed away when he was still a young boy, so his mother cared for him in his infancy. Thus he was considered to be an orphan.

It is known that Ahmad bin Hanbal was a boy equipped with excellent manners and sound mind. Abu Siraj bin Khuzaymah noted his good conduct, “I support my children financially and I provide teachers for them, so that they may be educated and well mannered, but I do not see them becoming so. Yet this boy, Ahmad bin Hanbal, who is an orphan, see how he has turned out” (Manaaqib al Imam Ahmad p.23).

Ma'roof Al-Karkhee (may Allaah have Mercy on him) said that he saw Ahmad bin Hanbal when he was a young boy, and he had signs of nusuk on him. I used to hear him making statements that were full of benefit.

After acquiring basic teachings and extending his knowledge of Islamic teachings, by the age of sixteen Imam Ahmad commenced study of ahadith in the circles of Al Qadi Abu Yusuf, a prominent student and companion of Imam Abu Haneefah, may Allaah have mercy on them. Here he studied the science of jurisprudence, he later left these circles and commenced his travels to pursue the science of hadith.

The great Imam studied approximately 40 years in total, during which he developed much knowledge in several different sciences, hadith being his specialty. Ibn al Jawzi said Imam Ahmad had 414 hadith masters he would narrate from, thus he became know for his excellence in this field. Ibn al-Jawzi relates in al-Manaaqib that Imaam Ahmad was the foremost among the Imams in collecting the Sunnah and adhering to it.

It was established that even in his childhood the great Imam possessed a special quality, also his fear of Allaah ta’aala in dealing in everyday matters.


His character:

It was apparent to many the character of Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, as many testified to his truthfulness and piety. The Great Imam Shafi’i was one of Imam Ahmads teachers, all of his teachers held him in very high esteem to the point that it was heard from the Imam:

Harmal said “I heard ash Shafi’i say: I left Baghdad and did not leave behind me anyone more virtuous (afdal) more learned (a’lam) more knowledgeable (afqah) than Ahmad bin Hanbal. (Related by ibn abi haatim, in adaab ash shafi’i).

Imam Ahmad was known for his proficiency in Islamic knowledge. He was also known for his strict adherence to the authentic texts, and not wavering upon these texts. He was also known for his hatred towards newly invented ideologies.
“The graves of sinners from People of sunnah is a garden, while the graves of the pious ascetics from the people of inovation is a barren pit. The sinners among ahlus sunnah are the Friends of Allaah, while the pious among Ahlul-bida’a are the Enemies of Allaah.” Tabaqaat al-Hanaabilah (1/184)

These words illustrate Imam Ahmad’s dislike for bida’a and those who instigate it. This is also one of the reasons that kept him upon the truth under severe punishment, to keep the religion that had been brought by Muhammad (saw) pure, and free from the filth of bida’a.

Therefore his character was strong. He refused to eat from or accept gifts from the rulers or those that did not distance themselves from the rulers, his opinion in such a matter was firm, until his last breath he hated that he would be considered close to the ruling government, to the point he refused a visit from the ruler when he was on his death bed.

When Ahmad bin Hanbal was imprisoned, one of the prison guards came to him and asked him:

"O Abu 'Abdillah! The hadith that is narrated regarding the oppressors and those that aid them - is it authentic?"

He said: "Yes."

The prison guard then said: "So, I am considered to be an aid of the oppressors?"

Ahmad replied: "No. The aids of the oppressors are those that comb your hair, wash your clothes, prepare your meals, and buy and sell from you. As for you, you are one of the oppressors themselves."

['Manaqib al-Imam Ahmad' by Ibn al-Jawzi; p. 397]

Abdullah Bin Muhammad once said that he was with Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal when a man told him: O Abu Abdullaah, I have back-bitten you, please forgive me for what I did. So Imam Ahmad said: You are forgiven if you do not do it again. After he said that I said to him surprisingly: O Abu Abdullaah you simply forgave him for what he did!!! He replied to me: “did not you see me putting a condition on my forgiveness by not doing it ever again!!

As we can see from that recount from Abdulllah Bin Muhammad, the strength of Imam Ahmad’s character was immense but also the gentleness, to forgive immediately but also putting a condition on his forgiveness, so he would be known amongst the masses to be upright, firm, yet gentle and forgiving.

Imam Ahmad never gave a formal legal opinion (fatwa) while Imam Shafi`i was in Iraq, and when he later formulated his school of jurisprudence, he mainly drew on clear texts from the holy [Quran], Hadith, and scholarly agreement, with relatively little expansion from analogical reasoning (qiyâs). He was probably the most learned in the sciences of Hadith of the four great Imams.

It was from his basic principles that he would first and foremost derive decisions from the Quran and Sunnah and he would only resort to qiyâs in necessity, taking great care in this in order to avoid following the nafs of insaan, and strictly following the siraat of the beloved Prophet (saw).

We see here the hikmah and adaab that the Imam possessed, especially in regards to his teachers, he would not issue a fatwa while Imam Shafi’i was in Iraq, and when it came to him issuing fataawa he was extremely diligent in adhering to first hand sources, notably, the Quran and Sunnah.

Imaam Ahmad said about his own self that he did not marry until the age of fourty. This is because the Imam was preoccupied with traveling in the path of Allaah to gain knowledge, so to him, knowledge of deen was more important than worldly affairs. It was known that Imam Ahmad would only speak of the akhira in his gatherings, never was he known to speak of the dunya.

A student of Imam Ahmad 'Abd-us-Samad bin Sulaymaan, said, "I stayed with Ahmad bin Hanbal. He left for me a container of water. In the morning he found that I had not used it. He said, 'A companion of the narrations, and he has no activity in the night?!' I told him, 'I am a traveler.' He replied, 'Even as a traveler!”
The Imam was known not to neglect the night prayer, to the point it has been narrated that he had never left it.