Exemplifying the Nature and Character of Imam Ahmad Bin Hambal

Exemplifying the Nature and Character of Imam Ahmad Bin Hambal

Rabiul Awal in the year 164 Hijri (780 AD) is the birth month of Imam Ahmad bin Hambal. The founding scholar of the Hambali school of jurisprudence, was born in the city of Baghdad as an orphan. His father left him before he was born into this world. Imam Ahmad bin Hambal is known as an intelligent young man who is persistent in learning. There was once someone who questioned his persistence.

“How long will you continue to seek knowledge? In fact, you have now attained a noble position among seekers of knowledge."

Then he answered the question briefly, "I will carry this ink to the grave." This statement emphasized his persistence in seeking knowledge. That is, he will not stop seeking knowledge until death meets him.

According to his Eldest Son, Abdullah bin Ahmad, Imam Ahmad has memorized up to 700,000 hadiths off the top of his head. This achievement cannot be separated from his persistence in learning hadith. Until the age of 16, he learned to memorize the Qur'an, Arabic, hadith, interpretation, the history of the Prophet, companions, and the tabi'in.

He met with several teachers to learn it all. Hammad bin Khalid, Ismail Bin Aliyyah, Muzaffar bin Mudrik, Walin bin Muslim, and Musa bin Tariq were the people who played a role in teaching those sciences to Imam Ahmad. In addition, whenever he heard about the existence of a hadith scholar around him, without thinking twice, he would meet the scholar to obtain a hadith from the scholar. Imam Ahmad has devoted all his attention to learning hadith throughout his life.

During his lifetime, he devoted himself to the study of hadith. He will volunteer himself to travel such a long distance in order to gain knowledge from these scholars. So he had to sacrifice himself to get married at the age of 40.

Imam Ahmad married a woman named Aisyah bint Fadl. After Aisyah died, he married Raihanah. But later on, Imam Ahmad left his wife again to face the Almighty. After the death of Raihanah, Imam Ahmad decided to remarry Husinah. Although his personal life was not going so well, he still established himself in the knowledge of hadith.

Imam Ahmad was not only diligent in seeking knowledge, but he also never forgot to worship and donate what he had. Imam Ibrahim bin Hani, one of Imam Ahmad's friends who is also a famous scholar, witnessed Imam Ahmad's asceticism, "Almost every day, he prayed more night and witr prayers until dawn." Imam Yahya bin Hilal, a scholar of jurisprudence, also recounted the philanthropic nature of Imam Ahmad, "I once came to Imam Ahmad, and he gave me four dirhams while saying, this is the sustenance I got today and I give it all to you."

As an intelligent person, Imam Ahmad always held firm to his position. He dared to oppose the Muktazilah sect which became the official sect of the country. At that time, one of the teachings of muktazilah, regarding the understanding of the Qur'an as God's creation, was openly opposed by Imam Ahmad. He was not even afraid when his statement exposed himself to torture in prison.

The figure of Imam Ahmad who is so diligent, has convictions, is fearless, generous and diligent in worship certainly inspires everyone who knows him. He is not only a smart scholar but also a human being with extraordinary character. He inscribed his name in the history of Islamic civilization with all the forgings and processes he experienced during his life. The life that he devoted to the science of hadith, was never shaken by all the anxiety and trials that Allah SWT gave him. His story is a lesson for all future Muslims to never stop learning and trying. Even though he is gone, he still motivates all Muslims in the world to keep trying.