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Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa, Imam Maalik, Imam
Shaafi and Imam Ahmed bin Hambal (radi Allahu anhumul ajma'in)are
the leaders of the four schools of Fiqh (Islamic Law).
"FIQH" is the Science of Islamic
Law or Jurisprudence. It refers to the collection and compilation of Islamic
laws based on the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal
laahu alaihi wasallam). These great Muslims devoted themselves to the task
of developing the science of understanding Islamic Law and its practise.
Although they differed from each other,
all the four great Imams had great respect for each other. They were all
teachers and pupils of each other for the common goal of enhancing their
knowledge about Islam. All of them were unanimous on Aqa'ids (Islamic Beliefs).
We, as Muslims, must respect the different Sunni schools of thought.
Imam Abu Abdullah Ahmed bin Mohammed bin
Hambal (radi Allahu anhu) was born in Marw on the 20th of Rabi-ul-Awwal
164 A.H.
His father, Sayyiduna Mohammed (radi Allahu anhu) was
a warrior (Mujaahid) and lived in Basrah, Iraq. Imam Ahmed bin Hambal (radi
Allahu anhu) was a very intelligent child, keenly interested in furthering
his Islamic education. At the age of 16, he began studying Hadith literature. It
is said that he learnt almost a million Ahadith by heart. He became a famous
Jurist.
Some of his teachers were Imam Shaafa'ee, Sayyiduna Bishar bin
Al Mufaddal, Sayyiduna Ismail bin Ulayyah, Sayyiduna Jarir bin Abdul Hamid and
Sayyiduna Yahya bin Said (radi Allahu anhumul ajma'in).
The great compilers of Ahadith, Imam Bukhaari and Imam Muslim
(radi Allahu anhuma), including his teacher, Imam Shaafa'ee (radi
Allahu anhu), have also reported Hadith from him. Imam Shaafa'ee (radi
Allahu anhu), in spite of being the most learned in his time, used to refer
to Imam Ahmed bin Hambal (radi Allahu anhu) about certain Ahadith.
Amongst his pupils, the most famous were Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Al
Alhram, Sayyiduna Hambal bin Ishaaq and Sayyiduna Abul Qasim Al Baghwi (radi
Allahu anhumul ajma'in).
Imam Ahmed bin Hambal (radi Allahu anhu) was a very pious
scholar who devoted all his life in the Science of Ahadith and Fiqh. He refused
to eat in anyone's house who held a Governmental post. Being extremely poor with
no food to eat at times, he used to still refuse to accept charity saying that
he had full faith in Almighty Allah.
The most famous among his books are: Kitaabul A'maal,
Kitaabut Tafseer, Kitaabul Naasikh wal Mansookh, Kitaabul Zahid, Kitaabul
Masaa'il, Kitaabul Fadaa'il and Kitaabul Mansiq.
His most famous book is his "MUSNAD", a kitab in which
he collected about 50 000 to 70 000 Ahadith.
Imam Ahmed bin Hambal (radi Allahu anhu), in the later
years of his life, was imprisoned and tortured by the ruthless rulers who went
against him due to their un-Islamic beliefs and practises. Caliph Mutasim billah
forced the Imam to accept the beliefs of the "Mu'tazalis" (a corrupt
sect), but he refused, and was beaten to such a degree that his joints were
dislocated. He was kept in heavy chains for 30 months in a prison in Baghdad. He
still refused to accept the beliefs of the corrupt Mu'tazali Sect and was again
beaten till he fell unconscious.
On the 25th of Ramadaan in the year 221 A.H., Caliph Mutasim, in
fear of the sin he committed, repented and set the Imam free. Imam Ahmed bin
Hambal (radi Allahu anhu) forgave all the people except the Mutazalis. He
passed away in the year 241 A.H.
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