Ahmad ibn Hanbal
Ahmad ibn Hanbal was an Arab jurist and founder of the Hanbali school who is widely recognized as the scholar who memorized the most Hadiths in Islamic history. One of the most venerated Islamic intellectual figures, ibn Hanbal is notable for his unmatched memorization of over one million prophetic narrations, an unprecedented number that has never been claimed by any other muhaddith. Ibn Hanbal also compiled the largest hadith collection, al-Musnad, which has continued to exercise considerable influence on the field of hadith studies up to the present time,
shaping the methodological framework later employed in both Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. Imam al-Dhahabi described him as “the true Imam, the proof of the religion, the master of hadith, and the leader of the Sunnah”. Imam Ali ibn al-Madini said: “Truly, Allah supported this religion through two men, to whom there is no third: Abu Bakr during the Ridda Wars, and Ahmad ibn Hanbal during the Mihna”.
Having studied jurisprudence and hadith under many teachers during his youth, Ibn Hanbal became famous in his later life for the crucial role he played in the Mihna instituted by the Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun toward the end of his reign, in which the ruler gave official state support to the Mu'tazili doctrine of the Quran being created, a view that contradicted the orthodox position of the Quran being the eternal, uncreated word of God. Living in poverty throughout his lifetime working as a baker, and suffering physical persecution under the caliphs for his unflinching adherence to the traditional doctrine, Ibn Hanbal's fortitude in this particular event only bolstered his "resounding reputation" in the annals of Sunni history.
Heralded as one of the mujaddids, Ibn Hanbal later came to be venerated as an exemplary figure in all traditional schools of Sunni thought, both by the exoteric scholars and ascetic Sufis, with the latter often designating him as a saint in their hagiographies. Ibn al-Jawzi relates he "was the foremost in collecting the prophetic way and adhering to it."
In the last century, Ibn Hanbal's reputation became subject of debate in certain quarters of the world, as the Hanbali reform movement known as Wahhabism has cited him as a principal influence along with the 13th-century Hanbali reformer Ibn Taymiyya, despite both scholars came much earlier. However, it has been argued by certain scholars that Ibn Hanbal's own beliefs actually played "no real part in the establishment of the central doctrines of Wahhābism," as there is evidence, according to the same authors, "the older Hanbali authorities had doctrinal concerns very different from those of the Wahhabis," due to medieval Hanbali literature being rich in references to saints, grave visitation, miracles, and relics. In this connection, scholars have cited Ibn Hanbal's own support for the use of relics as one of several important points on which the theologian's positions diverged from those adhering to Wahhabism. Other scholars maintain he was "the distant progenitor of Wahhabism", who also immensely inspired the similar conservative reform movement of Salafism.
Personal life
Birth
Ahmad ibn Hanbal was born in November 780 CE. This was mentioned by his son Abdullah. Ibn Hanbal's family was originally from Basra, and belonged to the Arab Banu Dhuhl tribe. His father was an officer in the Abbasid army in Khorasan and later settled with his family in Baghdad.Historians differ about his place of birth. Some say he was said that he was born in Merv, located in Mary, Turkmenistan today, where his father and grandfather had also previously worked. While according to others he was born in Baghdad after his mother came pregnant with him from the city of Merv, where his father was. The latter opinion is the most accepted one.
Upbringing
Ibn Hanbal lost his father when he was a young child. His father died young at the age of thirty only. His mother raised him under the care of those who remained from his father's family. His father had left him a property in Baghdad in which he lived, and another which yielded him a small rental income sufficient for his living. The reports are conflicting about whether it was large or small. Ibn Kathir mentioned its amount, saying: "His income from his property was seventeen dirhams each month, which he spent on his family, and he was content with that, seeking the mercy of Allah, patiently and seeking reward." It is also narrated that a man asked Imam Ahmad about the property he was using on which he made a house on. He replied: "This is something I inherited from my father. If a man comes to me and confirms that this is his, I will get rid of it and give it to him".Marriage and children
Ahmad ibn Hanbal did not marry until he reached the age of forty. It is said that this was because he was busy with seeking knowledge and because he traveled a lot and was away from his country for a long time. When he reached the age of forty and became closer to settling down than before, he thought about marriage.His first wife was "Abbasa bintul Fadl", an Arab girl from the suburbs of Baghdad, and she lived with Ahmad ibn Hanbal for thirty years, and bore him their son "Salih", and hence her she was known by her title Umm Salih. Ibn Hanbal remarked about her: "In the 30 years we were together, we never had a disagreement." After she died Ahmad married his second wife, "Ummu 'Abdillah Rayhana bintu 'Uma" known simply as "Rayhana", and she bore him one son, "Abdullah". She was known for having only one eye, and Ibn Hanbal married her because he was impressed by her religious commitment. Reports suggest that they were together for seven years. He also had a concubine named "Husn", who bore him a female girl "Zainab", then twins, "Al-Hasan" and "Al-Hussein", who died after their birth. Then she bore "Al-Hasan" and "Muhammad", and then she bored him "Saeed". Among his sons, Salih and Abdullah excelled in jurisprudence, while Saeed later became the judge of Kufa.
Education and work
Ibn Hanbal studied extensively in Baghdad, and later traveled to further his education. At the age of fourteen, he began to work as a scribe in Divan. He learnt the Qur'an from Yahya ibn Adam, and jurisprudence under the celebrated judge of Hanafi jurisprudence, Abu Yusuf, a student of Abu Hanifa. He learnt Quran from Yahya ibn Adam. After completing his studies with him, Ibn Hanbal began traveling throughout Arabia to collect narrations of Muhammad. Ibn al-Jawzi stated Ibn Hanbal had 414 traditionists whom he narrated from. With this knowledge, he became a leading authority in the field, leaving behind an immense encyclopedia of narrations, al-Musnad. After several years of travel, he returned to Baghdad to study Islamic law under al-Shafi'i, with whom he formed a close bond with.Ibn Hanbal became a judge in his old age. Through his students, the Hanbali school of jurisprudence was established, which is now most dominant in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Unlike the other three schools—Hanafi, Maliki, and Shafi'i—the Hanbali school remained largely Athari in its theology.
In addition to his scholastic enterprises, Ibn Hanbal was a soldier in the war frontiers and performed pilgrimage five times in his life, twice on foot.
Inquisition
Ibn Hanbal is known to have been called before the Mihna of the Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun, who wanted to assert his religious authority by pressuring scholars to adopt the Mu'tazili doctrine of the Quran being created, rather than uncreated. According to Sunni tradition, Ibn Hanbal was one of the foremost scholars in resisting the caliph's interference and his imposed doctrine. Ibn Hanbal's stance led to the Hanbali school establishing itself firmly as not only a school of jurisprudence, but theology as well.Because of Ibn Hanbal's refusal to accept the Mu'tazili doctrine, he was imprisoned in Baghdad throughout the reign of al-Ma'mun. In an incident during the rule of al-Ma'mun's successor, al-Mu'tasim, Ibn Hanbal was flogged to unconsciousness; however, this caused great upheaval in Baghdad and forced al-Mu'tasim to release him. After al-Mu'tasim's death, al-Wathiq became caliph and continued his predecessors' policies of enforcing the Mu'tazili doctrine and, in this pursuit, banished Ibn Hanbal from Baghdad. It was only after al-Wathiq's death and the ascent of his brother al-Mutawakkil, who was much more tolerating of the traditional Sunni beliefs, that Ibn Hanbal was welcomed back to Baghdad.
Illness and death
At the end of his life, Ibn Hanbal became severely ill. His son Salih describes his illness as:Ibn Hanbal died on Friday, 2 August 855 at the age of 74–75 in Baghdad. He was buried after the afternoon prayer. Historians relate his funeral was attended by 800,000 men and 60,000 women, and 20,000 Christians and Jews converted to Islam on that day. His grave is located in the premises of the Ahmad ibn Hanbal Mosque in al-Rusafa District. It is reported among the people of Baghdad that during the flood of the Tigris in 1937, the remains of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal were supposedly relocated to Arif Agha Mosque. However, later historians have doubted the story, stating that it to be erroneous.