THE HAMBALI SCHOOL OF FIQH - IMAM AHMED BIN HAMBAL (164 A.H. - 241 A.H.)

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.
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.