1. IMAM AHMAD (R.

A)
See also the Biography of the Last Prophet: Prophet Muhammad

Imaam Abu Abdullah; Imaam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (R.A) was born in Baghdad, where a great number
of scholars and muhadditheen were present. Imaam Ahmad (R.A) traveled far and wide in order to
acquire knowledge. During the period of acquiring knowledge Imaam Ahmad (R.A) made every effort
to practice upon every prophetic tradition.

Imaam Ahmad (R.A) was well known for his God-fearing and abstinent ways, for these reasons he was
top-rated amongst the great people of his time.

Amongst Imaam Ahmad's (R.A) literary works Kitaabul-Musnad (Musnade-Ahmad) is the most
popular. A total number of 40 000 Ahaadeeth have been recorded.

NAME AND GENEALOGY: Imaam Ahmed Ibn Muhammad Ibn Hanbal Ibn Hilaal Ibn As’ad
Ibn Idrees Ibn Abdullah Ibn Hayyaan Ibn Abdullah Ibn Anas.

RENOWNED ADDRESS / OTHER NAMES: Imaam Abu Abdullah.

YEAR AND PLACE OF BIRTH: During the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal 164 A.H, Imaam Ahmad
(R.A) was born in Baghdad. Following a short while after his birth, Imaam Ahmad (R.A) Ibn Hanbal’s
father took leave from this world. Imaam Ahmad (R.A) himself has reported, "Neither have I seen my
father, nor my grandfather. My mother brought me up."

ACQUISITION OF KNOWLEDGE: During his childhood days Imaam Ahmad (R.A) acquired
basic teachings at a Maktab. It was from these very days his good character, pious and scholastic ways
were recognised.

Abu Afeef (R.A) has reported, Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (R.A) was within our learning group at the Maktab.
At that time he was very young, and we, as students were aware of his piety.

Having acquired basic teachings, at the age of 16, Imaam Ahmad (R.A) commenced the teachings of
ahaadith, which was done within the teaching circles of Qaazi Abu Yusuf (R.A).

Having acquired knowledge from the great scholars and Muhadditheen of Baghdad, Imaam Ahmad
(R.A) further traveled to Kufa, Basrah, Makkah, Medina, Yemen, Syria etc, and acquired knowledge
from their great scholars.

A SMALL GLIMPSE OF IMAAM AHMAD'S (R.A) TEACHERS:

Ismaa'eel Ibn Ulayyah, Hushaym Ibn Basheer, Hammad Ibn Khaalid Khayyaat, Mansoor Ibn Salama
Khazaa'i, Uthmaan Ibn Umar Ibn Faaris, Abun-Nadhr Haashim Ibn Qaasim, Yazeed Ibn Haroon
Waasiti, Muhammad Ibn Ja'far Gundur, Wakee Ibn Jarrah, Abu Usaamah, Sufyaan Ibn Uyaynah,
Muhammad Ibn Idrees Shaafi'ee (R.A) etc.

A SMALL GLIMPSE OF IMAAM AHMAD'S (R.A) STUDENTS:

Imaam Ahmad's (R.A) two sons; Saalih and Abdullah, Hanbal Ibn Is'haaq, Hasan Ibn Sabbah Bazzar,
Abbas Ibn Muhammad , Muhammad Ibn Ismaa'eel Bukhari, Abu Zur'aa Raazi, Ibrahim Harabi,
Husayn Ibn Mansoor, Dawood Ibn Amr, Khalaf Ibn Hishaam, Abul Qaasim Bagawi.

IMAAM AHMAD'S (R.A) LITERARY WORKS:

1. Kitaabul Musnad ( Musnad-e-Ahmad ).

2. Kitaabut Tafseer.

3. Kitaabun Naasikh Wal Mansookh.

4. Kitaabut Taareekh.

5. Kitaabu Hadeeth-e-Shu'baa.

6. Kitaabul Muqaddam Wal Mu'akhar Fil Qur'aan.

7. Kitaabu Jawaabaatil Qur'aan.

8. Kitaabul Manaasikil Kabeer.

9. Kitaabul Manaasikis Sagheer.

Imaam Nadeem (R.A) has mentioned the following to be amongst Imaam Ahmad's (R.A) literary
works:

Kitaabul Ilal.

Kitaabul Manaasik.

Kitaabuz Zuhd

Kitaabul Imaan.

Kitaabul Masaa'il

Kitaabul Ashribah.

Kitaabul Fadhaa'il

Kitaabu Taa'atir Rasool.

Kitaabul Faraa'idh

Kitaabur Radd Alal Jahmiyyah.

IMAAM AHMAD'S (R.A) CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN:

Imaam Ahmad's (R.A) children:

1. Saalih, ( born from Imaam Ahmad's first wife Aa'isha ).

2. Abdullah, ( born from Imaam Ahmad's second wife Rayhaanah ).

The following were born from a slave girl Imaam Ahmad (R.A) purchased:

3. Zainab Umme Ali.

4. / 5. Hasan and Husayn, ( twins, who passed away shortly after birth).
6. Hasan.

7. Muhammad.

8. Saeed.

Grandchildren:

1. Zuhayr Ibn Saalih.

2. Ahmad Ibn Saalih.

IMAAM AHMAD'S (R.A) FATEFUL DEATH: In Rabi-ul-Awwal, nine days before his
death on the 2nd, Imaam Ahmad (R.A) fell ill. During these days crowds of people would gather in
order to greet Imaam Ahmad (R.A). Hence, two days before his death Imaam Ahmad (R.A) slowly
requested for young children to be brought by his bedside. Children would attend his bedside one by
one. Imaam Ahmad (R.A) would place his hand on their heads and weep.

However, on Thursday Imaam Ahmad's (R.A) situation worsened and on Friday morning on the 12th
of Rabi-ul-Awwal, Imaam Ahmad (R.A) took leave from this world.

Imaam Ahmad's (R.A) fateful death not only caused grief to Muslims, but also to Jews, Christians and
Fire-worshippers. Over 600,000 people attended the Janaaza prayer, and for one week Salaate-
Janaazah was offered at his grave. Imaam Ahmad (R.A) was 77 years of age when he took leave from
this world.

Bibliography : www.inter-islam.org/Biographies/4imam.htm

(To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.)

[ IMAAM ABU HANIFAH (R.A.) ] [ IMAAM MAALIK (R.A.) ]
[ IMAAM SHAFI’EE (R.A.)] [IMAAM AHMAD (R.A.) ]

2. Biography of Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal (RA)

Imam Abu Abdullah Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Hambal (Rahimahu Allahu Ta'ala) was born in
Marw on the 20th of Rabi-ul-Awwal 164 A.H.

EARLY LIFE: 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.

HIS TEACHERS: 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.

HIS PUPILS: 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).

HIS PIETY: 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.

HIS WORKS: 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.

IMPRISONMENT: 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.

PASSES AWAY: 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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