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The Trials Of Imaam Ahmad - Part 2
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A Great way to meet lots of muslims and learn about Islam. Then when they came to a standstill al-Mu’tasim would say, ‘Woe to you, O Ahrnad, what are you saying?’ So I would say, ‘0 AmeerulMu’mineen, give me something from the Book of Allaah, or the Sunnah of Allaah’s Messenger (swallallahu alaihi wasallam), so that I may speak accordingly.’ So Ahmad ibn Abee Duwaad said, ‘You only say what is in the Book and the Sunnaah?’ So I said to him, ‘You are twisting my words and you know best about that, l have not said anything for which I should be imprisoned or chained.’ Hanbal said: Aboo ‘Abdullaah said, ‘They sought to say such evil things as a proof against me that my heart cannot retain them, nor can my tongue he brought to say them. They rejected the narrations, and I did not think they were upon this until I heard it, and they raised their voices, saying, ‘The opponent says such and such. So I used the Qur’aan as a proof against their saying, with His Saying: “0 my father! Why do you worship that which hears not and sees not?” 116 ‘Do you deny this?’ So they said, ‘He has made resemblance, 0 Ameerul-Mu’mineen, he has made resemblance.’ Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem al-Booshanjee said, ‘Some of our companions narrated to me that Ahmad ibn Abee Duwaad turned to Ahmad to speak to him, but he did not turn to him, so al-Mu’tasim said, ‘0 Ahmad, will you not speak to Aboo ‘Abdullaah?’ So I said, ‘I do not know him to be from the people of knowledge so that I should speak to him.’ Saalih said, ‘Then al-Mu’tasim said, ‘0 Ahmad, by Allaah I wish well for you, and I am concerned for you just like my concern for my son Haaroon. So what do you say?’ I said, ‘Give me something from the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger.’ So when the meeting became very prolonged he became exasperated and ordered everyone to leave. He kept me back with ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Ishaaq to speak to me, and he said, ‘Woe to you! Respond to me!’ And he said, ‘Woe to you, had you not used to come to us?’ So ‘Abdur-Rahmaan said to him, ‘0 Ameerul-Mu’mineen, I have known him for thirty years, he holds obedience to you and Hajj and Jihaad along with you.’ So he said, ‘By Allaah! he is a person of knowledge, a scholar of understanding and it would not displease me for him to be along with me rebutting the false religions for me.’ Then he said, ‘Hadn’t you used to know Saalih ar-Rasheedee?’ I said, ‘I have heard of him He said, ‘He was my educator, and was sitting over there,’ and he pointed to a corner of the house, ‘but he asked me about the Qur’aan and disagreed with me, so I ordered that he be trampled on and dragged away! 0 Ahmad, give me some response that will contain the slightest relaxation — so that I may free you with my own hands.’ I said, ‘Give me something from the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger.’ So the sitting became prolonged (and) so I was sent back again. Then when it was after Maghrib two men from the companions of Ibn Abee Duwaad were sent to me to spend the night with me, and to debate and stay with me. So at the time for breaking the fast food was sent, they tried hard to persuade me to eat it, but I would not, and it was Ramadaan. Then in the night al-Mu’tasim sent Ibn Abee Duwaad to me and he said, ‘The Ameerul-Mu’mineen says to you, ‘What do you say?’ So I gave the same answer as I had been giving previously. Thus Ibn Abee Duwaad said, ‘By Allaah, your name was written down amongst the seven 117 but I erased it, and it grieved me that they seized you. Then he said, ‘The Ameerul-Mu’mineen has worn that he will lash you again and again, and cast you into a place where you will not see the sun, and he said, ‘If he responds to me, I will free him with my own hands.’ Then he left. In the morning his messenger came and took me by the hand and lead me to him, and he said to them, ‘Debate with him and speak to him.’ So they debated with me and I rebutted them, and when they came with some innovated rhetoric not in the Book or the Sunnah I said, ‘I do not know what this is.’ So they said, ‘0 chief of the Believers, when he finds a proof against us he stays firm, and when we say anything to him he says, ‘I do not know what this is.’ He said, ‘Then debate with him.’ So a man said, ‘0 Ahmad, I see that you mention the ahaadeeth and take that as your position.’ So I said, ‘Then what do you say about His Saying: “Allaah commands you as regards your children’s (inheritance). To the male, a portion equal to that of two females.” 118 He said, ‘Allaah has particularised it to the Believers.’ I said, ‘What do you say if he is the killer or a slave?’ So he was silent, and I used this as a proof against them since they used the apparent meaning of the Qur’aan as a proof, so when he said to me, I see that you take the ahaadeeth as your position’ I used the Qur’aan as a proof, meaning the Sunnah paricularised and made exception with regard to the murderer and the slave, and it took them out of the general ruling.’ So this continued until close to midday. Then when he became exasperated he said that everyone should leave. Then he remained behind with me and with ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Ishaaq, and continued speaking to me. Then he stood and entered his apartments and I was sent back. on the third night it seemed as if something was going to be done with me on the next day, so I asked the guard to bring me a cord. He did so, and I tied my chains together with it and returned the draw-string to my trousers for fear that something should happen which would cause me to become naked. Then on the next morning I was entered into the house, and it was full of people. So I was moved from place to place, and saw some men with swords and others with whips and other things. Hardly any of them had been present in the previous two days. When I reached him he said, ‘Sit.’ Then he said, ‘Debate with him, speak with him.’ So they debated with me. one would speak and I would rebut him, and my voice began to rise above their voices, so someone standing by me indicated to me with his hand. When the meeting became prolonged he called me to one side and spoke to me in private, and he said to me, ‘Woe to you, 0 Ahmad! Respond to me so that I may free you with my own hands,’ so I replied to him as before, so he said, ‘Upon you be…” and he mentioned a curse, ‘Seize him, drag him off and strip off his outer garment. So I was dragged off and my outer garment was removed. I had a hair from the hair of the Prophet (swallallahu alaihi wasallam) in the sleeve of my shirt, so Ishaaq ibn Ibraaheem turned to me and said, ‘What is this small pouch?’ I said, ‘A hair from the hair of Allaah’s Messenger (swallallahu alaihi wasallam),‘ some of them rushed to tear the shirt away from me, (but) al-Mu’tasim said, ‘Do not tear it.’ So it was taken off and I think that the shirt was not ripped off because of the hair. Then al-Mu’tasim sat upon his seat and he said, ‘Bring the flogging posts and the whips.’ So the flogging posts were brought forward and my arms were stretched, and someone behind me said, ‘Seize the two pommels of the frame and hold them tightly,’ but I didn’t understand what he said, so my arms became dislocated.’ Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem al-Booshanjee said, ‘They mention that when al-Mu’tasim saw them tie Ahmad to the flogging posts, and he saw how he remained firm and resolute he felt like relenting, until Ahmad ibn Abee Duwaad incited him and said, ‘0 Ameerul-Mu’mineen, if you leave him it will be said, ‘He has renounced the view of al-Ma’moon,” and he caused him to become angry, so that provoked him to continue with the lashing.’ Saalih said, “My father said, ‘When they brought the whips al- Mu’tasim examined them and said, ‘Bring me different ones.’ Then he said to those who were to perform the lashing, ‘Come forward.’ Each of them would come forward and lash me twice, and he would say to him, ‘Strike him with severity, may Allaah cut off you hand!’ Then he would move aside and another would step forward and lash me twice, and every time he would say, ‘Strike him with severity, may Allaah cut off your hand!’ Then after they had given me seventeen lashes al-Mu’tasim came up to me, and said, ‘0 Ahmad, why are you killing yourself? By Allaah, I feel sympathy for you,’ and ‘Ujayf was prodding me with the hilt of his sword, saying, ‘Do you wish to get the better of all these people?’ Others said, ‘Woe to you! Your ruler is standing at your head,’ and others said, ‘0 Ameerul-Mu’mineen, I will take the responsibility of his blood, kill him,’ and they said, ‘0 Chief of the Believers, you are fasting and you are standing in the sun!’ He said to me, ‘Woe to you Ahmad, what do you have to say?’ So I said, ‘Give me something from the Book of Allaah or the Sunnah of Allaah’s Messenger, so that I should speak accordingly.’ Thus he returned and sat down and said to those with the whips, ‘Come forward, and cause severe pain, may Allaah cut off your hand.’ Then he stood up again and said, ‘Woe to you Ahmad, respond to me. So they turned to me and said, ‘0 Ahmad, your ruler is standing before you!’ And ‘Abdur- Rahmaan said, ‘Who from your companions has done as you have done regarding this matter?’ And al-Mu’tasim was saying, ‘Give me even the slightest agreement so that I may set you free with my own hands.’ Then he went back and said to those with the whips, ‘Come forward.’ So each would come forward and lash me twice and then move away and each time he would say, ‘With force, may Allaah cut off your hand,’ eventually I lost consciousness. Then I came around and the chains had been removed from me. A man who had been present said, “We threw you down upon your face, and threw a mat upon your back and trampled upon you,’ and I was not aware of that. Then they brought me gruel and said, ‘Drink it and vomit. So I said, ‘I will not break my fast.’ I was taken to the house of Ishaaq ibn Ibraaheem and it became time for the Zuhr Prayer, so Ibn Samaa’ah went forward and led the Prayer. When he completed the Prayer he said to me, ‘You prayed when blood was flowing upon your clothes? So I said, “Umar prayed and his wound was pouring blood forth.” 119 Saalih said, ‘Then he was left alone and allowed to return home. He had remained in prison from the time he was taken until he was lashed and released for twenty-eight months. one of the two men who was along with him said, ‘0 son of my brother, may Allaah have mercy upon Aboo ‘Abdullaah. By Allaah, I have never seen anyone like him. I kept saying to him at the time food was brought to us, ‘0 Aboo ‘Abdullaah you are fasting in a place where you have excuse,’ and he was very thirsty, so he said to the person in charge of drinking water, ‘Give me some.’ So he gave him a bowl a containing water and ice, he took it and looked into it, but then returned it without drinking. I was amazed at his patience in putting up with hunger and thirst in that frightful condition.’ Saalih said, ‘So I used to try by various means to get food through to him, or at least some bread, during those days — but I was unable. A man who was present with him informed me that he had no food during those three days when they debated with him, but he didn’t make a slip with regard to a single word. He said, ‘And I didn’t think that anyone could have the courage and strength of heart that he did.’ Hanbal said, “I heard Aboo ‘Abdullaah say, ‘I became unconscious a number of times, and when the lashing stopped I came around. When I became limp and dropped, the lashing was halted and this happened a number of times, and I saw him, (meaning al-Mu’tasim), sitting in the sun without shade and I heard him say to Aboo Duwaad, when I came around, ‘I have earned a great sin for what I have done to this man.’
So he replied, ‘0 Ameerul-Mu’mineen, he is, by Allaah, an Unbeliever, a Mushrik. He has committed shirk in more than one way.’ He continued speaking with him until he dissuaded him from what he wanted to do, and he had wanted to release me without lashing me, but he (Ibn Abee Duwaad) and Ishaaq ibn Ibraaheem would not leave it at that.”’ Hanbal said, “And it reached me that at-Mu’tasim said to Ibn Abee Duwaad after Aboo ‘Abdullaah was lashed, ‘How many lashes did he receive?’ So he said, ‘Thirty-four or so. Abul-Fadl Saalih said, “He was released and allowed home and has taken to the cellar. one who specialized in wounds and
At-Tufaawee said, ‘0 Aboo ‘Abdullaah, the common people hold you in esteem. So he said, I praise and thank Allaah for my Religion, indeed this is the just Religion. If I had said what they wanted, I would have committed Unbelief.’ So at-Tufaawee said, ‘Inform me about what they did to you. So he said, ‘When they lashed me, I started to remember the saying of the bedouin Arab. Then the one with the very long heard, meaning Ujayf, came and struck rue with the hilt of his sword. Then when that came about I said, ‘Relief has come, he is about to behead me, and so I may be at peace.’ And Ibn Samaa’ah said, ‘0 Ameerul-Mu’mineen, strike his neck, and I will take responsibility for the shedding of his blood.’ So Ibn Abee Duwaad said, ‘Do not do that, since if he is killed or (lies in your home the people will say that he stayed patient until death, so the people will take him as one to be followed, and they will remain upon what they are upon. Rather release him now, so that if he dies outside your house the people will be unsure of what occurred, some will say, ‘He responded’ and some will say, ‘He did not respond.’ So at-Tufaawee said, ‘How could it have harmed you if you had said it?’
Aboo ‘Abdullaah said, ‘if I had said it I would have been guilty of Unbelief.’
Hanbal said, ‘And I heard him [i.e., Ahmad] say, ‘Everyone who spoke against me, then I have pardoned him except for an innovator, and I have pardoned Aboo Ishaaq, meaning, al- Mu’tasim, since I see that Allaah says: “Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allaah should forgive you?” 120 and the Prophet (swallallahu alaihi wasallam) ordered Aboo Bakr to pardon in the case of Mistah - and how would it benefit you that Allaah should punish your Muslim brother because of you?’ Ibn Abee Ya’laa reports in his Tabaqaatul-Hanaabilah 121, 1/163-167, from Sulaymaan ibn ‘Abdullaah as-Sijzee (who said), “I came to the door of al-Mu’tasim and saw that the people had crowded together at his door, as if it was the day of ‘Eed. I entered the place and saw a spread out carpet and a chair that had been thrown on the floor. I stood facing the chair and whilst I was standing, al-Mu’tasim approached and sat on the chair. He removed his shoes from his feet and placed one foot on top of the other. Then he said, ‘Let Imaam Ahmad be present,’ so he was brought out in his presence. After Imaam Ahmad had stood in front of him and greeted him he (al- Mu’tasim) said, ‘0 Ahmad, speak and do not be afraid.’ So Imaam Ahmad said, “By Allaah, 0 Ameeru Mu’mineen, I have just entered upon you and there is not a seed’s weight of anxiety in my heart.” Al-Mu’tasim said to him, ‘What do you say about the Qur’aan?’ He said, “The speech of Allaah, eternal, not created. Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, said: “And if anyone of the Mushrikeen seeks your protection, then grant him protection, so that he may hear the Word of Allaah (the Qur’aan).” 122 So he said, ‘Do you have a proof other than this?’ Imaam Ahmad replied, “Yes, 0 Ameerul-Mu’mineen, the saying of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic: “Ar-Rahmaan. He taught you (mankind) the Qur’aan.” 123 And He did not say: ‘Ar-Rahmaan. He created the Qur’aan.’ And His saying, the Mighty and Majestic: “Yaa seen. By the Qur’aan, full of wisdom” 124 And He did not say: ‘Yaa Seen. By the Qur’aan (that is) created.’ So al-Mu’tasim said, ‘Imprison him.’ So he was imprisoned and the people dispersed. When I arose (the next morning) I made my way to the door (of al-Mu’tasim) and the people were entering, so I entered along with them. Al-Mu’tasim approached and sat on his chair and said, ‘Bring Ahmad ibn Hanbal,’ and so he was brought. When he stood in front of him, al-Mu’tasim said to him, ‘How were you in your cell yesterday, 0 Ahmad?’ Imaam Ahmad said, “In goodness, and all praises are due to Allaah, except that in my cell, 0 Ameerul-Mu’mineen, I saw something amazing.” He said to him, ‘And what did you see?’ So he replied, “I arose in the middle of the night, performed ablution for the prayer and prayed two rak’ahs. In one rak’ah I recited: ‘Al.Hamdulillaah ...‘ and ‘QulA’oodhu bi-Rabbin.Naas,’ and in the second rak’ah: ‘Alhamdulillaah ...‘ and ‘Qul.A’oodhu bi- Rabbil-Falaq.’ Then I sat down, read the tashahhud and gave salutation (to my right and left). Then I stood (again), made the takbeer and recited: ‘Alhamdulillaah ...‘ and then I desired to read: ‘Qul-Huwallaahu-Ahad,’ and I was not able. I tried hard to read something else from the Qur’aan and I was not able. . Then I stretched my eyes to the corner of the prison and (behold) I saw the Qur’aan laid out (on the floor), dead. So I washed it and shrouded it, then prayed over it and buried it.” So al-Mu’tasim said, ‘Woe be to you, 0 Ahmad, and does the Qur’aan die!?’ So Ahmad said to him, “Well, that is what you say — that it is created. And everything that is created dies.” Al-Mu’tasim said, ‘Ahmad has subdued us, Ahmad has subdued us.’ Then Ibn Abee Duwaad and Bishr al-Mareesee said, ‘Kill him, so that we can rest (in his absence).’ Al-Mu’tasim said, ‘I have pledged to Allaah that I will not kill him with a sword and that I will not order for him to be killed with a sword.’ Ibn Abee Duwaad said to him, ‘(Then) lash him with a whip.’ So al-- Mu’tasim said, ‘Yes,’ and then said, ‘Bring the executioners,’ and so they were brought. Al-Mu’tasim said to one of them, ‘With how many lashes will you kill him?’ He said, ‘With ten, 0 Ameerul-Mu‘mineen.’ Then he replied, ‘Take him to yourself (heat him).’ Sulaymaan as-Sijzee continued, ‘So Imaam Ahmad was undressed and made to wear a garment of wool around his waist. Two new ropes were drawn tight around his hands. The man took the whip in his hand and said, ‘Shall I strike him, 0 Ameerul-Mu’mineen?’’ Al-Mu’tasim said, ‘Strike him,’ and he struck him with one lash. Imaam Ahmad said, “All praise is due to Allaah” Then he lashed him a second time and Imaam Ahmad said, “Whatever Allaah will occurs.” Then he struck him a third time and lmaam Ahmad said, “There is no movement nor power save that of Allaah, the Most High, the Mighty.” When the man desired to strike him a fourth time I looked at the garment around his waist and it had become loose. He wished that he should fall to the ground, so he raised his head towards the sky and moved his lips — and suddenly the earth shook and two hands came out of it, and supported his weight, by the power of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. When al-Mu’tasim saw that he said, ‘Leave him,’ then Ibn Abee Duwaad came to him and said, ‘0 Ahmad, say in my ear: ‘The Qur’aan is created,’ So that I may save you from the hand of the khaleefah.’ So Imaam Ahmad said to him, “0 Ibn Abee Duwaad, say in my ear: ‘The Qur’aan is the Speech of Allah, it is not created,’ so that I save you from the punishment of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic.” Al-Mu’tasim then said, ‘Place him into the prison.’ Sulaymaan said, ‘He was then carried to the prison and the people departed, so I departed with them. Then when the next day arrived the people came (to the door of al-Mu’tasim) so I came with them and stood in front of the chair. Then al- Mu’tasim appeared and sat on the chair and said, ‘Bring Ahmad ibn Hanbal.’ So he was brought and when he stood in front of him al-Mu’tasim said to him, ‘How were you in your cell during the night, 0 son of Hanbal?’
He said, “In goodness, and all praises are due to Allaah.” Al- Mu‘tasim said, ‘0 Ahmad, I saw a dream yesterday.’ He said, “And what did you see, 0 Ameerul-Mu’mineen?” He said, ‘I saw in my dream as if there were two lions approaching me and they desired to tear me apart. And then two angels appeared and repelled them from me. They gave me a hook and said to me, ‘This written (piece) is the dream that Ahmad ibn Hanbal saw in his cell.’ So what is it that you saw, 0 son of Hanbal?’ So Ahmad faced al-Mu’tasim and said, “0 Ameerul-Mu’mineen,
So Ahmad said to him, “0 Ameerul-Mu’mineen, I saw as if the Day of Judgement had been established, and as if Allaah had gathered the first and the last (of people) in a single plain and He was calling them to account. Whilst I was standing, I was called for, so I proceeded until I stood in front of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, and He said to me, ‘0 Ahmad, for what were you beaten?’ I said, “On account of the Qur’aan.” He said, “And what is the Qur’aan?” I said, “Your words, 0 Allaah, belonging to You.” He said, ‘From where do you (derive and) say this?’ I said, “0 Lord, ‘Abdur-Razzaaq narrated to me.” So ‘AbdurRazzaaq was called for and he was brought, until he was made to stand in front of Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent, and He said to him, ‘What do you say about the Qur’aan, 0 ‘Abdur-Razzaaq?’ He said, ‘Your words, 0 Allaah, belonging to You,’ so Allaah said, ‘From where do you (derive and) say this?’ He said, ‘Ma’mar narrated to me.’ So Ma’mar was called for and he was brought, until he was made to stand in front of Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent, and He said to him, ‘What do you say about the Qur’aan, 0 Ma’mar?’ He said, ‘Your words, 0 Allaah, belonging to You,’ so Allaah said, ‘From where do you (derive and) say this?’ He said, ‘Az-- Zuhree narrated to me.’ So az-Zuhree was called for and he was Brought, until he was made to stand in front of Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent, and He said to him, ‘What do you say about the Qur’aan, 0 Zuhree?’He said, ‘Your words, 0 Allaah, belonging to You,’ So Allaah said, ‘From where do you (derive and) say this?’ He said, “Urwah narrated to me.’ So ‘Urwah was brought, and He said to him, ‘What do you say about the Qur’aan?’ He said, ‘Your Words, 0 AIIaah, belonging to You,’ so Allaah said, ‘0 ‘Urwah, from where do you (derive and) say this?’ He said, “Aa’ishah, the daughter of Aboo Bakr as-Siddeeq, narrated to me.’ So ‘Aa’ishah was called for and she was brought, until she was made to stand in front of Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent, and He said to her, ‘What do you say about the Qur’aan, 0 ‘Aa’ishah?’ She said, ‘Your words, 0 Allaah, belonging to You,’ so Allaah said, ‘From where do you (derive and) say this?’ She said, ‘Your Prophet Muhammad (swallallahu alaihi wasallam) narrated to me.’ He said, ‘So Muhammad (swallallahu alaihi wasallam) was called for and he was brought, until he was made to stand in front of Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent, and He said to him, ‘What do you say about the Qur’aan, 0 Muhammad?’ He said, ‘Your words, 0 Allaah, belonging to You,’ so Allaah said, ‘From where has this come to you?’ So the Prophet (swallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, ‘Jibreel narrated to me.’ So Jibreel was called for and he was brought, until he was made to stand in front of Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent, and He said to him, ‘What do you say about the Qur’aan, 0 Jibreel?’ He said, ‘Your words, 0 Allaah belonging to You,’ so Allaah said, ‘From where has this come to you?’ He said, ‘Such did Israafeel narrate to me. So Israafeel was called for and he was brought, until he was made to stand in front of Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent, and Allaah, the Sublime, said to him, ‘What do you say about the Qur’aan, 0 Israafeel?’ He said, ‘Your words, 0 Allaah, belonging to You,’ so Allaah said, ‘From where has this come to you?’ He said, ‘I saw that in the Lawhul-Mahfooz (the Preserved Tablet).’ So the Preserved Tablet was brought and stood in front of Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent, and He said, ‘0 Lawh, what do you say about the Qur’aan?’ And it said, ‘Your words, 0 Allaah, belonging to You.’ Then Allaah, the Exalted said, ‘From where has this come to you?’ And the Lawh said, ‘Such did the Qalam (the Pen) inscribe upon me.’ Then the Pen was brought until it stood in front of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, so Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, said to it, ‘0 Qalam, what do you say about the Qur’aan?’ The Qalam said, ‘Your words, 0 Allaah, belonging to You.’ So Allaah said, ‘From where has this come to you?’ The Qalam said — ‘You dictated and I wrote.’ Then Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent, said, ‘The Qalam has spoken the truth. The Lawh has spoken the truth. Israafeel has spoken the truth. Jibreel has spoken the truth. Muhammad has spoken the truth. ‘Aa’ishah has spoken the truth. ‘Urwah has spoken the truth. Az-Zuhree has spoken the truth. Ma’mar has spoken the truth. ‘Abdur-Razzaaq has spoken the truth. Ahmad ibn Hanbal has spoken the truth. The Qur’aan is My Speech, it is not created.’ Sulaymaan as-Sijzee said, ‘Al-Mu’tasim leapt upon hearing that and said, ‘You have spoken the truth, 0 son of Hanbal.’ Then al- Mu’tasim repented, ordered the necks of Bishr al-Mareesee and Ibn Abee Duwaad to be beaten and revered Ahmadl ibn Hanbal and bestowed upon him, but (Ahmad) refrained from that. He was then ordered to be taken to his house and was taken.’ The Trial of Waathiq Hanbal said, ‘After Aboo ‘Abdullaah recovered from the lashing he would attend the Jumu‘ah and Congregational Prayers. We would narrate ahaadeeth and deliver verdicts until al-Mu’tasim died and his son al-Waathiq became the ruler. He then manifested the trial with regard to the Qur’aan and his attachment to Ahmad ibn Abee Duwaad and his companions. So when the affair became severe for the people of Baghdaad, and the judges tried people regarding the Qur’aan and Anmaatee was forcibly separated from his wife because of it, likewise with regard to Aboo Saalih and his wife. Then Aboo ‘Abdullaah would be present for the Jumu’ah, but would repeat the Prayer when he returned home, and say, ‘The people should go to the Jumu’ah for its excellence, but the Prayer is to be repeated when said behind one who holds this saying (i.e., that the Qur’aan is created).’A group of people came to Aboo ‘Abdullaah and said, ‘This matter has grown widespread and very serious, and we fear that he will bring worse. They mentioned Ibn Abee Duwaad, and he is about to order the teachers to teach to the children in the schools, ‘The Qur’aan is so and so ...,‘ so we are opposed to him continuing as the ruler. So Ahmad forbade them from that and debated with them, and he made clear what was necessary, and he ordered them to have patience. Then in the days of al-Waathiq, Ya’qoob came during the night with a message from the Emir Ishaaq ibn Ibraaheem to Aboo ‘Abdullaah, ‘The Emir says to you, ‘The Ameerul-Mu’mineen has made a mention of you, so no one should be seen to meet with you, and nor should you live in a land or town which I am in, so go wherever you wish upon Allaah’s earth. So Aboo ‘Abdullaah went into a state of hiding for the rest of the life of al-Waathiq, and that tribulation occurred, and the killing of Ahmad ibn Nasr al-Khuzaa’ee. So Aboo ‘Abdullaah remained in hiding in a house and would not go out for the Prayer or for other reasons until al-Waathiq died.’ Ibraaheem ibn Haani said, ‘Aboo ‘Abdullaah remained in hiding with me for three days, and then said, ‘Find me another place.’ So I said, ‘I do not feel safe for you.’ He said, ‘Do so, since I release you from any blame.’ I found somewhere else for him, so when he left he said, ‘Allaah’s Messenger (swallallahu alaihi wasallam) remained in hiding in the cave for three days, and then he moved on, and it is not fitting that we should follow the Sunnah of Allaah’s Messenger (swallallahu alaihi wasallam) in times of ease, and abandon it in times of hardship.’ The Condition of Imaam Ahmad during the Rule of Al- Mutawakki Hanbal said, ‘Then al-Mutawakkil Ja’far assumed power, Allaah made the Sunnah manifest, and relieved the people. Aboo ‘Abdullaah narrated to us, and narrated to his companions during the time of al-Mutawakkil, and he said, ‘The people were never in greater need of the hadeeth and knowledge than they are in our time.’ Saalih ibn Ahmad said, “My father said to me, ‘Ishaaq ibn Ibraaheem said to me, ‘Forgive me for being present at your hashing,’ so I said, ‘I have already forgiven all of those present.’ He said to me, ‘From where have you said that it is not created?’ So I said, ‘Allaah said: “Surely, His is the Creation and Commandment.” 125 So He distinguished between creation and command.’ Ishaaq said, ‘The command is created.’ So he said, ‘0 how free is Allaah from all imperfections! Something created which itself creates creation?!’ I said (meaning), ‘The created things were created through His command, which is His Saying: Be! 126 He said, ‘Then he said to me, ‘Who do you report the saying that it is not created from?’ So I said, ‘From Ja’far ibn Muhammad who said, ‘It is neither a creator, nor is it created. Ahoo Daawood said, “I heard Ahmad ibn Hanbal say, Eemaan is speech and action, it increases and decreases. All of good is from Eemaan, and sins reduce Eemaan.”’ Ismaa’eel ibn al-Hasan as-Siraaj said, “I asked Ahmad about one who says that the Qur’aan is created,’ so he said, ‘He is an Unbeliever,’ and about one who says, ‘My recital of the Qur’aan is created,’ so he said, ‘He is a Jahmee.’ Adh-Dhahabee said, “The matter as it was established is that Aboo ‘Abdullaah used to say, ‘Whoever says that my recital of the Qur’aan is not created is an innovator,’ and he used to say, ‘Whoever says that my recital of the Qur’aan is created, then he is a Jahmee.’ So he (rahimahumullah) did not say either of the two. Sometimes he would clarify that by saying, ‘Whoever says, ‘My recital of the Qur’aan is created,’ meaning by that the Qur’aan, then he is a Jahmee.” Ahmad ibn Zanjawaih said, “I heard Ahmad say, ‘The Lafziyyah (i.e., those who say, ‘My recital of the Qur’aan is created) are worse than the Jahmiyyah. Saalih said, “I heard my father say, ‘The Jahmiyyah are three sects: A sect who say that ‘the Qur’aan is created,’ and a sect who say, ‘It is the speech of Allaah and then remain silent,’ and a sect who say, ‘Our recital of it is created.’ Then he said, ‘One should not (even) pray behind those who withhold and remain silent, nor those who say that there recital is created. Al-Marroodhee said, “I informed Aboo ‘Abdullaah that Aboo Shu’ay as-Soosee ar-Raqqee separated between his daughter and her husband when he withheld with regard to the Qur’aan, so he said, ‘He did well, may Allaah protect and keep him well,’ and he started to supplicate for him.” Al-Marroodhee said, “When Ya’qoob ibn Shaybah manifested withholding from making a clear statement regarding the Qur’aan (al-waqf] Aboo ‘Abdullaah warned the people against him and ordered that he should be cut off from. There are many narrations from Aboo ‘Abdullaah about the question of the person’s recital. So the first one who manifested the question of a persons recital was Husayn ibn ‘Alee al- Karaabeesee, who was a storehouse of knowledge, and he wrote a book about the Mudalliseen, attacking a group of people in it, and saying that Ibn az-Zubayr was one of the Khawaarij. It contains narrations, which the Raafidah use to support themselves. Ahmad was informed of him, so he warned against him. This reached al-Karaabees.ee so he became furious and said, ‘I will say something so that Ibn Hanbal will say the opposite and become an Unbeliever,’ thus he said, ‘My recital of the Qur’aan is created.’ And al-Marroodhee mentions in the book, al-Qasas, ‘So I mentioned to Aboo ‘Abdullaah that al-Karaaheesee said, ‘My recital of the Qur’aan is created,’ and that he said, ‘I say that the Qur’aan is uncreated in all aspects, except that my recital of it is created, and whoever does not say, ‘My recital of the Qur’aan is created’ is an Unbeliever’ So Aboo ‘Abdullaah said, ‘Rather he is the unbeliver, may Allaah kill him. What is the saying of the Jahmiyyah except this? How can it benefit him, when the last part of his saying contradicts the first part?!’ Then he said, ‘What is the news from Aboo Tlrawr, has he agreed with him “upon this?’
101 Reported by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.
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