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]