IMAM AHMAD BIN HAMBAL

The Imams of the four Mazh-habs
In the last issue we discussed Imam Shafi'ee (rahmatullahi alaihi). We conclude with...
IMAM AHMAD BIN HAMBAL
NAME: ABU ABDULLAH AHMAD BIN MUHAMMAD BIN HAMBAL SHAIBANI
BIRTH: He was born in Baghdad in Rabiul Owwal 164 A.H.
His father died while Imam Ahmad was still an infant. He grew up in Baghdad, in search of knowledge of Deen. His surname was taken from his grandfather, Hambal.
RANKING: He was a hafiz of hadeeth, i.e. he specialised in the memorising of thousands of ahadeeth. He began his search for knowledge in earnest at the age of sixteen.
He later on became the Imam of his time in hadeeth. After the Asr namaaz he would stand against the foot of the minaret and people would surround him to ask questions on hadeeth. The answers would flow from his lips without and hesitation. He remained standing like this until the Magrib namaaz.
He would never speak in the lessons of his Ustaads, reasoning that man has one tongue and two ears, so he should do more listening than talking. He had natural humility, which could be seen in every movement of his. He only married at the age of forty, since he wanted to devote his youth to the study of Deen.
He compiled his mazh-hab mainly from the Hadeeth of Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam, He would take much from the Mazh-hab of Imam Shafi'ee. His mazh-hab spread in Syria, Iraq, Najd (eastern Arabia), and Hijaz (Arabia proper), especially in the reign of King Saud.
One of his famous books is the Musnad lmam Ahmad, a compilation of over 40,000 ahadeeth.
In the year 220 A.H. he was imprisoned and flogged on the orders of Khaleefa Mamoon for maintaining the belief that The Quran is the un-created word of Allah. The Khaleefa and his supporters wanted him to believe that The Quran is the created word of Allah.
HIS TEACHERS AND STUDENTS: Among those who taught him was Imam Abu Yusuf, the student of Imam Abu Haneefa. He also learnt from Ulema throughout the Islamic empire at that time. He was very close to Imam Shafi'ee, and was considered to be the greatest of Imam Shafi'ee's Baghdadi students.
Some of those who learnt from him were great figures like Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim.
HIS FEATURES: He was very handsome, of medium built, and used to favour the application of henna dye on his beard. In spite of this there were still strands of black hair in his beard.
HIS DEATH: He died in Baghdad in 241 A.H. and was buried in the cemetery known as Baabu Harb.
Note: Out of these famous four Aimma, two have the most following, viz. Imam Abu Haneefa and Imam Shafi'ee.
Allama Shi'raani has disclosed a vision in which he learnt that the last of the mazh-habs that will remain towards the end of this world will be that of Imam Abu Haneefah. And Allah Knows Best.
MAY ALLAH GRANT US THE BARKAT AND SPIRITUAL BENEFITS OF THESE GREAT AAIMMA ARBA'AH, AMEEN.
Stories of pious ladies — From Bahisti Zewar
Hawwa alayhas salam
She is the wife of Adam alayhis salam and the mother of all mankind. Allah, with His absolute power, created her from the left rib of Adam. Thereafter, He got her married to him and made them stay in heaven. There was a tree in heaven from which they were prohibited to eat. Shaytan deluded her into eating it mistakenly. Upon this, Allah commanded them to leave heaven and go to the world. When she came to this world, she cried abundantly on account of her mistake. Allah forgave her and made her stay with Adam, from whom she had separated prior to this. Thereafter, numerous children were born to them.
Lesson: O women! See how Hawwa admitted her mistake and repented. Some women try to defend their actions and do not admit their mistakes. There are many other women who continue sinning throughout their lives without even worrying about giving them up — this is more so when it comes to making ghibah and holding on to baseless customs. O women! Abandon this habit. If you err or commit any sin, give it up immediately and repent.