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The Trials Of Imaam Ahmad - Part 1
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A Great way to meet lots of muslims and learn about Islam. He was Shaikhul-Islaam Aboo ‘Abdullaah, Ahmad ibn [i.e.Muhammad ibn Hanbal, adh Dhuhlee, ash-Shaybaanee al-Marzee, al-Baghdaadee He was born in the year 164 after the Prophetic hijrah and began seeking knowledge at the age of 15.The scholars he himself narrated from include: Ibraaheem ibn Sa’d, Hushaym ibn Basheer, ‘Abbaad ibn ‘Abbaad al-Muhallabee, Mu’tamir ibn Sulaymaan at-Taymee, Sufyaan ibn ‘Uyaynah al-Hilaalee, ‘Umar ibn ‘Ubayd at- Tanaafisee, Yoosuf ibn al-Maajishoon, Jareer ibn ‘Abdul- Hameed, Bishr ibn al-Mufaddal, Aboo Bakr ibn ‘Ayyaash, ‘Abdah ibn Sulaymaan, Aboo Khaalid al-Ahmar, Aboo Mu’aawiyah ad- Dareer, Marwaan ibn Mu’aawiyah, Ghundar, Ibn ‘Ulayyah, Hafs ibn Ghiyaath, al-Waleed ibn Muslim, Yahyaa ibn Sulaym, Yazeed ibn Haaroon, ‘Alee ibn ‘Aasim, Wakee’ ibn al-Jarraah, Yahyaa al-Qattaan, ‘Abdul-A’laa as-Saamee, ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Mahdee, ‘Abdullaah ibn Numayr, Zayd ibn al-Hubaab, Muhammad ibn Idrees ash-Shaafi’ee, Aboo ‘Aasim, ‘Abdur- Razzaaq, Aboo Nu’aym, ‘Affaan, Yahyaa ibn Aadam, Aboo ‘Abdur-Rahmaan al-Muqri, Hajjaaj ibn Muhammad, ‘Abdus-Samad ibn ‘Abdul-Waarith, Rawh ibn ‘Ubaadah and Wahb ibn Jareer. Those who narrated from him include Al-Bukhaaree (a single hadeeth), Muslim, Aboo Daawood, his son Saalih ibn Ahmad, his son ‘Abdullaah ibn Ahmad, his paternal cousin Hanbal ibn Ishaaq, and his teachers ‘Abdur- Razzaaq, al-Hasan ibn Moosaa al-Ashyab, and Aboo ‘Abdullaah ash-Shaafi’ee. Also, ‘Alee ibn al-Madeenee, Yahyaa ibn Ma’een, Duhaym, Muhammad ibn Yahyaa adh-Dhuhlee, Ahmad ibn al-Furaat, Ahmad Ibn Ibraaheem ad Dawraqee, ‘Abbaas ad-Dooree, Aboo Zur’ahi, Aboo Haatim, Ishaaq al-Kawsaj, Aboo Bakr al-Athram, Ibraaheem al-Harbee, Aboo Bakr al-Marroodhee, Ahoo Zur’ah ad-Dimashqee, Baqiyy ibn Makhlad, Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullaah Mutayyan, Ibraaheem ibn Haani an-Neesaahooree and Muhannaa ibn Yahyaa ash-Shaamee.
Below is a list of what scholars from the Pious Predecessors said about Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.
Yahyaa ibn Aadam said, “Ahmad ibn Hanbal is our Imaam.” Yahyaa al-Qattaan said, “No one has come to us the like of these two, Ahmad and Yahyaa ibn Ma’een. And no one has come to me from Baghdaad more beloved to me than Ahmad ibn Hanbal.”
‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Mahdee mentioned the companions of Hadeeth and said, “The most knowledgeable of them regarding the ahaadeeth of ath-Thawree is Ahmad ibn Hanbal.” Then
Ibn Mahdee said, “I have not looked at Ahmad except that he caused me to remember Sufyaan.” Nooh ibn Habeeb al-Qoomasee said, “I greeted Ahmad ibn Hanbal in the year 198H in al-Khayf mosque, and he was giving extensive religious verdicts.” Ahmad ibn Sinaan al-Qattaan said, “I have not seen Yazeed (ibn Haaroon) having greater respect for anyone than he had for Ahmad ibn Hanbal, nor did he behave more generously and graciously than he did with him. He would sit him at his side, give him respect, and he would not joke with him.” ‘Abdur-Razzaaq said, “I have not seen anyone having better knowledge and understanding, nor more piety than Ahmad ibn Hanbal.” Adh-Dhahabee adds, “He said this having seen the like of ath-Thawree, Maalik and Ibn Jurayj.” Qutaybah ibn Sa’eed said, “The best of the people of our time is ‘Abdullaah ibn al-Mubaarak, and then this young man (meaning Ahmad ibn Hanbal) - and if you see a man who loves Ahmad, then know that he is a person of the Sunnah. If he had reached the time of ath-Thawree, al-Awzaa’ee and al-Layth, he would have been the one having precedence amongst them.” So it was said to Qutaybah, “You would mention Ahmad along with the Taabi’een?” So he said, “With the greater Taabi’een.” Qutaybah said, “If it were not for ath-Thawree, piety would die out, and if it were not for Ahmad they would innovate in the Religion. Ahmad is the Imaam of the world.”
Hurmulah said “I heard ash-Shaafi’ee say, ‘I left Baghdaad and I did not leave behind in it a man more excellent, nor more knowledgeable, nor better in Fiqh, nor having more taqwaa
Muhammad ibn Ishaaq ibn Raahawaih said, “My father narrated to me, saying, ‘Ahmad ibn Hanbal said to me, ‘Come with me and let me show you someone the like of whom is not to be seen.’ So he took me to ash-Shaafi’ee,’ My father said, “And ash-Shaafi’ee did not see the like of Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and were it not for Ahmad and how he sacrificed himself, meaning on the day of the trial concerning the Qur’aan, then Islaam would have departed.’” ‘Alee ibn al-Madeenee said, “In my view Ahmad is more excellent than Sa’eed ibn Jubayr in his time, since Sa’eed had equals.”
‘Alee ibn al-Madeenee also said, “Allaah honoured and strengthened this Religion with as-Siddeeq on the day of Apostasy, and with Ahmad on the day of the trial (al-Mihnah).”
Hajjaaj ibn ash-Shaa’ir said, “I have not seen anyone more excellent than Ahmad. I would love that I should have been killed fighting in Allaah’s cause if it meant that I should miss
‘Amr an-Naaqid said, “If Ahmad ibn Hanbal agrees with me about a hadeeth then I do not care about those who disagree with me.” Aboo Haatim was asked who was the greater memoriser, ‘Alee ibn al-Madeenee or Ahmad ibn Hanbal, so he said, “They were close to each other in memorisation, and Ahmad had better comprehension. If you see someone loving Ahmad, then know that he is a person of the Sunnah.” Aboo Zur’ah said, “Ahmad ibn Hanhal was greater than, and had better comprehension than lshaaq. I have never seen anyone more complete than Ahmad.” Aboo ‘Umayr an-Nuhaas ar-Ramlee mentioned Ahmad and said, “May Allaah have mercy upon him. None had more patience than him in resisting this world; none more closely resembled those of the past than him; none was more fitting to be in the company of the righteous than him. This world was presented to him and he refused it, and innovations were presented before him so he refuted them.” Ibn Waarah said, “Ahmad was a person of fiqh, a person of memorisation, a person of knowledge.” An-Nasaa’ee said, “Ahmad ibn Hanbal gathered knowledge of Hadeeth, fiqh, piety, abstemiousness (zuhd) and patient forbearance (sabr).” Aboo Daawood said, “The gatherings of Ahmad were gatherings of the Hereafter. Nothing of the affairs of this world would be mentioned — and I never saw him mention this world.” Saalih ibn Muhammad Jazarah said, “The person who best understood ahaadeeth, from those whom I met, was Ahmad ibn Hanbal.” ‘Alee ibn Khalaf said, “I heard al-Humaydee say, ‘As long as I remain in the Hijaaz, and Ahmad in ‘Iraaq, and Ibn Raahawaih in Khuraasaan, nobody will overcome us.”’ Ibn Waarah said, “Ahmad ibn Hanbal in Baghdaad, Ahmad ibn Saalih in Egypt, Aboo Ja’far an-Nufaylee in Harraan and Ibn Numayr in Koofah — they are the supports of the Religion.” Aboo Yahyaa an-Naaqid said, “We were with Ibraaheem ibn ‘Ar’arah and they mentioned Ya’laa ibn ‘Aasim, so a man said, ‘Ahmad ibn Hanbal declares him weak.’ So a man said, ‘And how will that affect him if he is reliable?’ So Ibn ‘Ar’arah said, ‘By Allaah, if Ahmad were to speak about ‘Alqamah and al-Aswad (i.e., two of the greater taabi’een) it would affect them.”’ Ibraaheem al-Harbee said, “The scholar of his time was Sa’eed ibn al-Musayyib; Sufyaan ath-Thawree in his time and Ahmad ibn Hanbal in his time.” Al-Husayn al-Karaabeesee said, “The example of those who speak against Ahmad ibn Hanbal is like the example of a people who come up to the mountain of Aboo Qubays intending to demolish it with their shoes.”
Saalih ibn Ahmad said, “I said to my father (i.e., Ahmad ibn Hanbal), ‘Ahmad ad-Dawraqee has been given a thousand deenaars,’ so he said, ‘0 my son: “But the provision of your
‘Abdullaah ibn Ahmad said, “I heard my father say concerning this world, ‘A little of it suffices, and a great deal of it does not suffice.”
Al-Marroodhee said, “I entered a Christian upon Aboo ‘Abdullaah and the Christian said to him, ‘I have wished to see you for some years. Your presence is not just beneficial for
‘Abbaas ad-Dooree said, “‘Alee ibn Fazaarah, our neighbour, narrated to us, saying, ‘My mother had been unable to walk for about twenty years, then one day she said to me, ‘Go to Ahmad ibn Hanbal and ask him to supplicate for me.’ So I went to him and knocked his door and he was in his entrance hall. So he said, ‘Who is there?’ I said, ‘A man whose mother has asked him to ask you to supplicate for her — she is crippled.’ So I heard him reply as if he was angry, ‘We have more need that she should supplicate for us.’ So I left and then an old woman came out and said, ‘You have left him and he (Imaam Ahmad) is supplicating for her.’ So when I came to our house, and knocked the door my mother came out to me walking.”’ Adh--Dhahabee said, “This event is reported from ‘Abbaas by two reliable narrators, Al-Marroodhee said, “Ahmad said to me, ‘1 have not written a hadeeth except that I have acted upon it, to the point that when it came to me that the Prophet (swallallahu alaihi wasallam) got himself cupped and gave Aboo Taybah a deenaar 101 - I gave the blood-letter a deenaar when he cupped me. ‘Abdullaah ibn Ahmad said, “I heard my father say, ‘Ash-Shaafi’ee said, ‘0 Aboo ‘Abdullaah, if a hadeeth is authentic with you then inform me of it so that 1 may return and act upon it. You are more knowledgeable of the authentic narrations than us. So if a narration is authentic, then inform me so that I can accept it, whether it is narrated from Koofah, Basrah, or Shaam. Ibn Raahawaih said, “When Ahmad travelled to ‘Ahdur-Razzaaq his money ran out. So he hired himself out to work for some camel-drivers until he reached San’aa. His companions offered him monetary assistance but he refused to accept it. Yahyaa ibn Ma’een said, “I have not seen the like of Ahmad, we have accompanied him for fifty years, and he never boasted about anything from the good which he was characterised with.”
‘Abdullaah ibn Ahmad said, “My father used to recite a seventh of the Qur’aan every day and he would sleep briefly after ‘Ishaa. Then he would arise and pray and supplicate until
Ahmad ad-Dawraqee said, “When Ahmad ibn Hanbal returned from ‘Abdur-Razzaaq, I saw him looking very weak in Makkah and he was clearly tired out and exhausted. I spoke to him so he said, ‘It is insignificant compared to the benefit we have taken from ‘Abdur-Razzaaq”’ Al-Marroodhee said, “When Aboo ‘Abdullaah remembered death, remembrance of it would take hold of him severely, and he would say, ‘Fear prevents me from food and drink, and when I remember death all the affairs of this world become insignificant. It is just a matter of a small amount of food, sufficient clothing and a few limited days. I do not hold anything equal to poverty, and if I was able, I would go off so that people would not mention me.’ And he said, ‘I wish I could live unknown in the mountain-passes of Makkah. I have been tested with fame. indeed I wish for death day and night. Ahmad said, “One who takes up theological rhetoric (kalaam) will not Prosper, and will not be free from becoming Jahmiyy.” Al-Marroodhee said, “I have not seen the poor honoured more highly than in the gathering of Ahmad. He would favour them,and be less inclined to the worldly people. He displayed gentleness forbearance and was not a hasty person. He was a person of great modesty and characterised by calmness and dignified bearing. When he sat in a gathering to deliver verdicts after ‘Asr he would not speak until he was asked a question, and when he went out to his mosque he would not put himself in front of the people.” Aboo Bakr al-Marroodhee said, “Aboo ‘Abdullaah would not behave ignorantly and if anyone treated him ignorantly then he would have patience and overlook it, and say, ‘Allaah suffices.’ He was not a person who bore grudges and was not hasty.’ He was very modest and of good character. He would always have a cheerful countenance and was gentle and affable, not coarse and harsh. He would love for Allaah’s sake and hate for Allaah’s sake. If something pertained to the Religion he would become very angry, and he would put up with the harm caused by neighbours.” Saalih ibn Ahmad said, “I often heard my father recite Sooratul-Kahf, and I often heard him say, ‘0 Allaah keep us safe, keep us safe.”’ Al-Marroodhee said, “I saw Aboo ‘Abdullaah standing in Prayer with his due portion of recitation for about half of the night, until close to dawn, and I saw him praying in the time between Maghrib and ‘Ishaa.” Ar-Ramaadee said, “I heard ‘Abdur-Razzaaq, and when Ahmad was mentioned his eyes shed tears and he said, ‘He came and it reached me that he had run out of money, so I took ten deenaars and offered them to him, so he smiled and said, ‘0 Aboo Bakr, if I accepted anything from the people I would accept from you.’ But he would not accept anything from me.” Ahmad ibn Shihaah al-Isfaraayeenee said, “I heard Ahmad, when he was asked about whom we should hear and write narrations from on our way, say, ‘Take from Hannaad and Sufyaan ibn Wakee’, and in Makkah from Ibn Abee ‘Umar. And beware of writing anything at all from anyone from the companions of innovated sects. Take from the companions of the narrations and sunnah,” Concerning the Trial with Regards to the Qur‘aan 102
102 The saying that the Qur’aan is created was innovated by Bishr al- Mareesee, and due to this innovation the Khaleefah ar-Rasheed swore that if he caught Bishr, he would kill him. However the Khaleefah al- Ma’moon studied theological rhetoric (kalaam) and was attended by Saalih ibn Ahmad said, “I heard my father say, ‘When we entered upon Ishaaq ibn Ibraaheem to bhe tried he read to us the proclamation of the one who had gone to Tarus...‘ meaning al-Ma’moon, ‘…and from what he read out to us was: “There is nothing like unto Him” 103
‘Abbaas ad-Dooree said: I heard Ja’far al-Anbaaree say, “When Ahmad was taken off to al-Ma’moon I heard of it, so I crossed the Euphrates and came to him, and found him sitting in a small room. I greeted him with salaam and he said, ‘0 Aboo Ja’far, you have troubled yourself.’ So I said, ‘Today you are a head whom the people follow, So, by Allaah, if you consent to the saying that the Qur’aan is created, then the rest of the people will consent to it. But if you refuse, then many people will refuse, and even if the man does not kill you then you will still die, and death is certain. So fear Allaah and do not consent.’ So Ahmad began to weep, and say, just as Allaah some of the heads of the Mutazilah who made this saying alluring to him, until he adopted it, called the people to it, and set up the trial (al-Mihnah) for it. wills.’ Then he said, ‘0 Aboo Ja’far, repeat it to me.’ So I repeated it to him, and he was saying, ‘Just as Allaah wills Al-Fadl ibn Ziyaad said, “I heard Ahmad ibn Hanbal - on the first day that Ishaaq tried him, after he (i.e., Ishaaq) left, and that was in Jumaadal-Aakhirah of the year 2l8H. He sat at his place of Prayer, and a group of people asked him who had consented. It was as if this was a severe burden upon him so he said, ‘Not one of our companions consented, and all praise is for Allaah.’ Then he mentioned those who consented and those who agreed to most of what they wanted, and those who said, ‘It is something done, and new.’ ‘He tried them each once, and he would try me twice. He said to me, ‘What do you say about the Qur’aan?’ So I said, ‘The Speech of Allaah, not created.’ So he made me sit at the side and then questioned the others. Then he brought me forward again and questioned me again and sought to use texts whose meanings were not directly manifest, so I said: “There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.” 106 So he said to me, ‘What is as-Samee’al-Baseer?’ So I said, ‘That is what He, the Most High, said.” Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem al-Booshanjee said, “In ar-Raqqah they began to remind Aboo ‘Abdullaah about the allowance of verbally affirming to save oneself, and the reports about that. So he replied, What will you do with the hadeeth of Khabbaab, ‘Amongst those who came before you a man would be sawn in half, but that would not cause him to abandon his Religion.” 107 So we gave up hope regarding him.’ And he said, ‘I do not mind about imprisonment, since, it and my house are the same, nor about being beheaded, but rather I fear the trial of the whip.’ So a fellow prisoner heard him and said, ‘Don’t be concerned, 0 Aboo ‘Abdullaah, for it will only take two lashes, then after that you won’t notice the rest of them strike you.’ So it was as if he felt at peace because of this.” Saalih ibn Ahmad said, “My father and Muhammad ibn Nooh were taken from Baghdaad in chains. So we went out with them to al-Anbaar. Then Aboo Bakr al-Ahwal asked my father, ‘0 Aboo ‘Abdullaah, if you are threatened with the sword will you consent?’ He replied, ‘No.’ Then they were taken, and I heard my father say, ‘We came to ar-Rahbah, and we left there in the middle of the night, and a man came up to us and said, ‘Which of you is Ahmad ibn Hanbal?’ So it was said to him, ‘This one.’ So he said to the camel drivers, ‘Steady on,’ then he said, ‘0 you, how will it harm you if you are killed here and you enter into Paradise?’ Then he said, ‘I entrust you to Allaah’s safe keeping,’ and he departed. So I asked about him and it was said to me, ‘He is a bedouin Arab from the tribe of Rabee’ah who makes clothes of fur in the desert. He is called Jaabir ibn ‘Aamir, and is said to be a good person.”’ lbraaheem ibn ‘Abdullaah said, “Ahmad ibn Hanbal said, ‘I did not hear a word since I fell into this affair stronger than the saying of the bedouin who spoke to me at Rahbah Tawq. He said, ‘0 Ahmad, if you die for the truth then you will die a martyr, and if you live, you will live in a praiseworthy state,’ so that strengthened my heart.”’ The Death of al-Ma ‘moon who was Succeeded by al-Mu ‘tasim Saalih ibn Ahmad said, “My father said, ‘Then we proceeded to Adhana and left in the middle of the night. So when the town gate was opened a man declared, ‘Good news! The man has died,’ meaning al-Ma’moon. My father said, ‘And I had supplicated to Allaah that I should not see him.”’ Saalih said, “So when my father and Muhammad ibn Nooh came to Tarsus, they were then sent back to ar-Raqqah, and were placed on hoard a boat. So when they reached ‘Aanah, Muhammad died, and his chains were removed and my father prayed over him.” Hanbal said, “Aboo ‘Abdullaah said, ‘I did not see anyone, along with his young age and knowledge, who better stood firm for Allaah’s sake than Muhammad ibn Nooh. I hope that his actions were sealed with good. one day he said to me, ‘0 Aboo ‘Abdullaah — for Allaah, for Allaah. you are not the same as me, you are a man who is followed. The people stretch their necks towards you to see what you will do. So fear Allaah, and be firm for Allaah’s sake,’ or the like of it. Then he died, and I prayed over him and buried him,’ I think he said, ‘In ‘Aanah Saalih said, “And my father was taken to Baghdaad in chains and remained a few days in Yaasiriyyah. Then he was imprisoned in a house hired by the house of ‘Umaarah. Then he was moved to the general prison in Mawsiliyyah street, and he said, ‘I used to lead the prisoners in the Prayer and I was chained. Then in Ramadaan of the year 219H ...’ - I say, ‘that was after the death of al-Ma’mooti by fourteen months’ - ‘… I was moved to the house of Ishaaq ibn Ibraaheem, i.e., the deputy of Baghdaad. As for Hanbal, he said, “Aboo ‘Abdullaah was imprisoned in the house of ‘Umaarah in Baghdaad in the stable of the Amir Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem, the brother of Ishaaq ibn Ibraaheem, and he was severely restricted in his imprisonment and fell ill in Ramadaan. Then after a short while he was moved to the general prison. He remained in prison for about thirty months. We used to come to him and he read the book al-Irjaa to me and other books while in the prison. I saw him lead them in the Prayer in chains. He would take his foot out of the main manacle at the times of Prayer and sleep.” Saalih ibn Ahmad said, “My father said, ‘Each day two men would come to me, one called Ahmad ibn Ahmad ibn Rabaah and the other Aboo Shu’ayb at-Hajjaam. They would not cease debating with me, and when they finished they would call for another shackle to be added to those already upon me, so that there were four upon my legs. Then on the third day he entered and debated with me, so I said, ‘What do you say about Allaah’s knowledge?’ So he said, ‘Created.’ So I said, ‘You have disbelieved in Allaah.’ So the messenger who used to attend sent by Ishaaq ibn Ibraaheem said, ‘This is a man sent by the AmeerulMu’mineen.’ So I said, ‘He has committed Unbelief.’ Then on the fourth night al-Mu’tasim commanded Ishaaq to convey me to him, so I was entered upon Ishaaq. He said, ‘0 Ahmad, by Allaah, it is your life that you are to lose. He will not kill you with the sword. He desires, if you do not consent and agree with him, to lash you continually, and then to kill you in a place where you will see neither sun nor moon. Is it not the case that Allaah, the Most High, said: “We verily have made it a Qur’aan in Arabic.” 108 Can something which is made, be anything but created?’ So I said, ‘Then Allaah, the Most High, said: “And made them like an empty field of stalks (of which the corn has been eaten up by the cattle).”109 Did he create them (like that)?’ So he remained silent. Then when we came to the place known as ‘The Gate of the Garden’ I was taken out and placed upon a riding beast in my chains. There was nobody there to hold me, so more than once I nearly fell off upon my face due to the weight of the chains. So I was brought to the home of al-Mu’tasim and entered into a room. Then I was entered into a separate house, and the door was locked upon me, it was the middle of the night and there was no candle. I wanted to make wudoo, so I held out my hands and found a container of water and a basin. I made wudoo and prayed. Then in the morning I took out the draw-string of my trousers and tied my chains with it so that I could carry them, and I secured my trousers. Then the messenger of al-Mu’tasim came and said, ‘Respond to his call,’ so he took my hand and entered me upon him and I was holding the draw-string in my hand, carrying the chains. I came to him and he was sitting, and Ahmad ibn Abee Duwaad was present and had gathered a large number of his companions. So al-Mu’tasim said to me, ‘Come close, come close,’ and continued until I was near to him, then he said, ‘Sit,’ so I sat and the chains had become heavy for me. I remained for a while, and then I said, ‘Do you permit me to speak?’ So he said, ‘Speak.’ I said, ‘What did Allaah and His Messenger call to?’ So he remained silent for a short while, then said, ‘To the testification that none has the right to he worshipped except Allaah.’ So I said, ‘Then I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah.’ Then I said, ‘Your grandfather Ibn ‘Abbaas said, ‘When the deputation of Abul-Qays came to Allaah’s Messenger (swallallahu alaihi wasallam) they asked him about Eemaan, so he said, ‘Do you know what Eemaan is?’ So they said, ‘Allaah and His Messenger know best.’ He said, ‘The testification that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah it, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, and to establish the Prayer, and to give the Zakaat, and to give the fifth due from war-booty.” 110 So he, i.e., al Mu’tasim, said, ‘If I had not found you held by the one who came before me I would not have taken you.’ Then he said, ‘0 ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Ishaaq did I not order you to cease the trial?’ So I said, ‘Allaah is greater! That would be a great relief for the Muslims.’ Then he said to them, ‘Debate with him, and speak to him, 0 ‘Abdur-Rahrnaan, speak to him.’ So he said, ‘What do you say about the Qur’aan?’ So I said, ‘What do you say about Allaah’s Knowledge?’ So he remained silent. So one of them said to me, ‘Has not Allaah, the Most High, said “Allaah is the Creator of all things.” 111 And is not the Qur’aan a thing?’ So I said, ‘Allaah says: “Destroying everything.” 112 So it destroyed everything except what Allaah willed (should not be destroyed).’ So one of them said: “Comes not unto them an admonition from their Lord as a recent revelation.” 113 Can something come newly except that which is created?’ So I said: Saad. By the Qur’aan full of reminding.114 So the adh-Dhikr is the Qur’aan, whereas that one has no al (i.e. is indefinite).’ one of them then mentioned the hadeeth of ‘Imraan ibn Husayn, ‘Allaah created. the Dhikr ..., 115 so I said, ‘This is a mistake, more than one person has narrated to us, ‘Allaah wrote the Dhikr’ And they sought to use the hadeeth of Ibn Mas’ood, ‘Allaah did not create anything neither Paradise, nor Fire, nor heaven, Nor earth, greater than Aayatul-Kursce. ‘ So I said, ‘The creation refers to the Paradise, the Fire, the heaven and the earth, and. not the Qur’aan.’ So one of them said, ‘The hadeeth of Khabbaah, ‘0 so and so, draw near to Allaah with whatever you are able to, and you ill not draw closer to Him with anything more beloved to Him than His Speech.’ So I said, ‘That is how it is.’ Saalih said, ‘And lbn Abee Duwaad was looking angrily at my father, and my father said, ‘One would speak and I would rebut him, and another would speak and I would rebut him. Then when one of them was cut off, Ibn Abee Duwaad would butt in and say, 0 Ameerul-Mu’mineen, he is, by Allaah, astray, leading others astray, an innovator!’ So he would say, ‘Speak with him, debate’ with him.’ So one would speak to me and I would rebut him, and another would speak to me and I would rebut him. From calgaryislam.com |