In ‘Siyar A’lam an-Nubala” (13/547), adh-Dhahabi narrated that Abu Muhammad ‘Abdullah bin Muhammad – the father of the famous Spanish scholar Ibn al-’Arabi – said:
“Ibn Hazm related to me the reason he began studying Fiqh.
He was once at a funeral prayer. So, he entered the mosque, and sat down without praying. A man then said to him: “Get up and pray Tahiyyat al-Masjid,” and he was 26 at the time.
Ibn Hazm himself said: “So, I got up and prayed. When we returned from the janazah, I entered the mosque, and prayed before sitting down. It was then said to me: “Sit down, sit down. This is not a time to pray,” as it was after the time of ‘Asr. So, I walked away while I was very sad. I went to my teacher that had nurtured me, and said: “Direct me to the house of the scholar Abu ‘Abdillah bin Dahhun.” So, I went to him, told him of what had happened, and he directed me to ‘al-Muwatta” of Malik. So, I began studying it at his hands, and continued studying it with him and others for a period of three years. After this, I began debating with the people.”
After mentioning this story, adh-Dhahabi then goes on to list almost 80 books that Ibn Hazm had written during his lifetime, the largest being ‘al-Isal ila Fahm Kitab al-Khisal,’ which is a longer version of the more well-known ‘al-Muhalla,’ and is over 15,000 pages long!
Considering that Ibn Hazm began studying Islam at 26, and died at the age of 71, this meant that he wrote an average of two books per year – and this is just in terms of the books whose titles we know of, as he had written over 300 other books that were burned up by the ruler of the time, al-Mu’tadid.
It is quite interesting that such a tremendously influencial scholar, with so many awesome and brilliant works, was driven to study the Din because of this single incident.
Subhana Allah, last words of a ruler, the world once had by Allah's will
Narrated 'Amr bin Maimun Al-Audi:
I saw 'Umar bin Al-Khattab (when he was stabbed) saying, "O 'Abdullah bin 'Umar! Go to the mother of the believers Aisha and say, 'Umar bin Al-Khattab sends his greetings to you,' and request her to allow me to be buried with my companions." (So, Ibn 'Umar conveyed the message to 'Aisha.) She said, "I had the idea of having this place for myself but today I prefer him ('Umar) to myself (and allow him to be buried there)." When 'Abdullah bin 'Umar returned, 'Umar asked him, "What (news) do you have?" He replied, "O chief of the believers! She has allowed you (to be buried there)." On that 'Umar said, "Nothing was more important to me than to be buried in that (sacred) place. So, when I expire, carry me there and pay my greetings to her ('Aisha ) and say, 'Umar bin Al-Khattab asks permission; and if she gives permission, then bury me (there) and if she does not, then take me to the grave-yard of the Muslims. I do not think any person has more right for the caliphate than those with whom Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) was always pleased till his death. And whoever is chosen by the people after me will be the caliph, and you people must listen to him and obey him," and then he mentioned the name of 'Uthman, 'Ali, Talha, Az-Zubair, 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Auf and Sad bin Abi Waqqas.
By this time a young man from Ansar came and said, "O chief of the believers! Be happy with Allah's glad tidings. The grade which you have in Islam is known to you, then you became the caliph and you ruled with justice and then you have been awarded martyrdom after all this." 'Umar replied, "O son of my brother! Would that all that privileges will counterbalance (my short comings), so that I neither lose nor gain anything. I recommend my successor to be good to the early emigrants and realize their rights and to protect their honor and sacred things. And I also recommend him to be good to the Ansar who before them, had homes (in Medina) and had adopted the Faith. He should accept the good of the righteous among them and should excuse their wrongdoers. I recommend him to abide by the rules and regulations concerning the Dhimmis (protectees) of Allah and His Apostle, to fulfill their contracts completely and fight for them and not to tax (overburden) them beyond their capabilities."
Volume 2, Book 23, Number 475
It is reported that Anas b. Mâlik – Allâh be pleased with him – said:
There are two days and two nights the likes of which no one has ever heard of before: the Day on which you will receive the news about Allâh the Exalted: whether you will receive His punishment or His mercy, the Day you will be given your book (of deeds): either in your right hand or your left, that [first] night you will spend alone in your grave, a night like no other you have spent, and that night on the morning of which will be the Day of Resurrection, after which there will be no more night.
Abû Bakr Al-Daynûrî, Al-Mujâlasah wa Jawâhir Al-’Ilm article 19.
November 644, Umar is reported to have left the following testament:
Be kind and generous to the Muhajirun and the Ansar. Those out of them who are good, be good to them; those who are bad overlook their lapses. Be good to the people of the conquered lands. They are the outer line of our defense; they are the target of the anger and distress of our enemies. They contribute to our revenues. They should be taxed only on their surplus wealth. Be gracious to the Bedouins as they are the backbone of the Arab nation. I instruct you to be good to the Dhimmis for they are your responsibility. Do not tax them beyond their capacity. Ensure that they pay the Jizya without undue inconvenience. Fear God, and in all that you do keep His pleasure in view. In the matter of people fear God, and in the matter of Allah do not be afraid of the people. With regard to the people, I enjoin upon you to administer justice with an even hand. See that all the legitimate requirements of the people are met. Be concerned for their welfare. Ensure the safety of their person and property. See that the frontiers of our domains are not violated. Take strong steps to guard the frontiers. In the matter of administration do not prefer the rich to the poor. Be hard against those who violate the law. Show them no mercy. Do not rest content until you have brought the miscreants to book. Treat all the people as equal. Be a pillar of strength for those who are weak and oppressed. Those who are strong but do wrong, make them pay for their wrong-doings. In the distribution of booty and other matters be above nepotism. Let no consideration of relationship or selfish interest weigh with you. The Satan is at large; it may tempt you. Rise above all temptations and perform your duties in accordance with the injunctions of Islam. Get guidance from the Holy Quran and Sunnah. Freely consult the wise men around you. Apply your own mind in difficult cases, and seek light from God. Be simple in your living and your habits. Let there be no show or ostentation about you. Lead life as a model Muslim. As you are the leader of the Muslims, justify your leadership by being the best among them all. May God bless you.
From
The 100, Michael H. Hart
Reference:Sahab.net
Author: Shaykh Ahmad Bazmool
Not every person who puts himself forward to teach the people, or gives lectures in gatherings is qualified to be a scholar, because those who put themselves forward are of different levels.
Amongst them is level of the scholars who are able to practice Ijtihaad unrestrictedly – they are the people of Fatwaa, and they are the ones who are the reference point during Nawaazil.
Amongst them is the level of the scholars who can practice restricted Ijtihaad in specific affairs.
Amongst them is the level of the students of knowledge who have not reached the level of the scholars.
Amongst them is the level of the commoners who learnt a little about the religion and then put themselves forward to lecture and call to the religion of Allaah.
Amongst them is the level whom knowledge can never be taken from.
You must know these levels and differentiate between them, and you must know that not everybody who puts himself forward to teach the people is qualified to give Fatwaa to them.
The benefit of knowing the levels of the scholars, is to know which level to return to in each issue, and whose opinion amongst the scholars we are to follow.
Ibn Abi Du'ad came to him and said, ‘O Ahmad, say in my ear: ‘The Qur’an is created,’ so that I may save you from the hand of the Caliph.’ So Imam Ahmad said to him, “O Ibn Abi Du'ad, say in my ear: ‘The Qur’an is the Speech of Allaah, it is not created,’ so that I save you from the punishment of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic!!” ["Al-Manhaj Al-Ahmad", 1/35].
There comes a time in our lives when we have to stand up for the truth even though we might be alone in doing so. Standing up for the truth regardless of who might oppose us. Just like Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal did:
The muslim ummah used to be one community [united in their aqeedah] and their religion was upright during the reign of Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq and ‘Umar al-Faaruuq. When ‘Umar was martyred the door that prevented fitnah was broken, just as the Prophet had foretold it would be. It was then that evil started to appear and disunity appeared [amongst the muslims] and sects that declared the majority of the companions of the Messenger of Allah as disbelievers became apparent.
Until the Khaleefah al-Ma’muun came to power, he was a man of great intellect and great elquance, ordering the books of ancient Greece to be translated into arabic [i.e philosophy books] and a group amongst the Mu’tazilah [this is a deviant group] started influencing the Khaleefah and diverted him from truth to falsehood. And they made the idea of the Qur’aan being created [as opposed to the correct idea that the Qur'aan is the word of Allah and not created] look beautiful to him and they also started denying some of the names and attributes of Allah.
This in turn resulted in the fact that the Khaleefah orded the entire muslim Ummah to adopt these [deviant] ideas and he put the scholars under a [great] test. Even though all the leaders before him had been upon the guidance of the salaf and their manhaj.
Then he went out for Jihaad towards Rome and wrote to his men in Baghdaad to call people towards the idea of the creation of the Qur’aan, this was only a few months before his death. When his order reached Baghdaad the scholars of hadeeth were brought together and were told to accept that the Qur’aan was created but they refused.
So most of them were beaten severly and their income was cut off which led to many of them reluctantly accepting [i.e they were forced]. But Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal and Imaam Muhammad bin Nuuh both continued to refuse, they were then carried together on one donkey to the Khaleefah but on their way they got the news of his demise.
Al-Mu’tasim took over the leadership but Muhammad bin Nuuh passed away during the journey towards the new Khaleefah. Ahmad bin Hanbal offered the funeral prayer and then buried him. When they reached Baghdaad Imaam Ahmad was put into prison for about 30 months.
Afterwards the Khaleefah brought Ahmad out to debate with the leaders of the Mu’tazilah. ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin Is-haaq [their leader] said to Ahmad ‘What do you say regarding the Qur’aan’? And Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal replied ‘The Qur’aan is from the knowledge of Allah, whoever assumes that the knowledge of Allah is created then he has left Islaam’ Where upon they [the Mu'tazilah] said ‘O leader of the believers he has called you a disbeliever and called us disbelievers!’
But the Khaleefah did not pay attention to them. And their debate went on for a very long time until al-Mu’tasim said ‘Woe to you O Ahmad! What is it you say!’ And Ahmad replied ‘O leader of the believers, give me something from the Book of Allah or a hadith from the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah so I can say [what you say] Ahmad bin Abee Dawuud [amongst the Mu'tazilah] said ‘And you do not speak except by these two things?’ [trying to ridicule the Imaam] So Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal said ‘And what is Islaam other then the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger?’
Ahmad bin Hanbal was brought out the next day for more debating and even for a third day and every day he was brought out to debate he won because these people had no knowledge of hadeeth instead they started denying the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allah. Throughout the debating the Khaleefah appeared soft towards Imaam Ahmad and said ‘O Ahmad, answer me regarding this [i.e say as we say] then I will make you amongst my closest people and I will free you of your chains with my own hands!’ Ahmad bin Hanbal replied ‘O leader of the believers give me a verse from the Book of Allah or a hadith from the Messenger of Allah so I can answer you [i.e say as you say]
Al-Mu’tasim wanted to free Ahmad at that point but then Is-haaq bin Ibraaheem [from amongst the Mu'tazilah] said ‘O leader of the believers, it is not wise for you to let Ahmad go and have him as an opponent’ This increased al-Mu’tasim in anger and he said ‘Seize him! [i.e Ahmad bin Hanbal] Drag him! Whip him!’ So two men where brought to whip the Imaam, one of them whipped him twice and the Khaleefah said ‘Tighten your grib, may Allah cut your hand off!’ [i.e hit harder] and the two men took turns in beating the Imaam until he fainted and became unconscious. This made the Khaleefah scared and ordered for his release [back to his family], in total Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal was whipped around about thirty times, but they were very severe whippings.
When the Imaam returned to his house a doctor came to see him and he started to treat him, cutting off the dead flesh from his body. When he was cured he forgave everyone for the ordeal except the deviants [i.e the leaders amongst the Mu'tazilah] and he used to recite the verse:
وَلْيَعْفُوا وَلْيَصْفَحُوا أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
but let them pardon and forbear. [For,] do you not desire that God should forgive you your sins, Verily God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace
But he was put under house arrest and prevented from teaching hadeeth.
This carried on until al-Mu’tasim finally passed away and his son al-Waathiq took over the leadership. Yet al-Waathiq was even more severe then his father and the fitnah intensified upon the people of Baghdaad. And he sent a letter to Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal ‘Do not live in the same land nor city as me’ the Imaam then went into hidding.
When al-Waathiq passed away al-Mutawakil ‘ala Allah took over the leadership over the muslims and the people rejoiced for al-Mutawakil loved the Sunnah and its people and under his reign the fitnah finally stopped. He even sent a command across all the muslim lands ‘Let no one say that the Qur’aan was created’
Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal only lived a short while after this and passed away the year 241 AH.
May Allah have immense Mercy upon our beloved Imaam.
[Translation from: Duruus fil Qiraa-ah by Dr. F. Abdur-Rahmaan and Shaykh Ahmad ar-Raashid al-Ruhayli]
