Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal الإمام أحمد بن حنبل

Ahmad on Rulers: Supplication for guidance of Caliphs and Imams

Abu Bakr al-Marrudhi reported: I heard Ahmad ibn Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioning the Caliph al-Mutawakkil and he said, “Indeed, I pray for his righteousness and well-being.” Source: al-Sunnah li-Abī Bakr al-Khallāl 16 عَنْ ‌أَبِي بَكْرٍ الْمَرُّوذِيُّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَحْمَدَ بْنَ حَنْبَلٍ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ وَذَكَرَ الْخَلِيفَةَ الْمُتَوَكِّلَ فَقَال إِنِّي لَأَدْعُو لَهُ بِالصَّلَاحِ …

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Hadith on Graves: Permission to set up a humble tombstone

Wisdom الحكمة

Al-Mutallib reported: When Uthman ibn Madh’un died, he was brought out for his funeral and he was buried. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, ordered a man to bring a rock but he was unable to carry it. The Prophet went to it and rolled up his sleeves, then he carried it and …

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Ahmad on Divorce: Not an obligation to divorce upon parental request

Scholars العلماء

Sindi reported: A man asked Abu Abdullah, Imam Ahmad, “My father has ordered me to divorce my wife.” Ahmad said, “Do not divorce her.” He said, “Did not Umar command his son Abdullah to divorce his wife?” Ahmad said, “Is your father like Umar, may Allah be pleased with him?” Ibn Muflih said, “If his …

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Hadith on Marriage: Condemnation of Nikah Halala

Sin الإثم

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, cursed the one who marries a woman to overturn an irrevocable divorce and the man for whom it is done. Al-Tirmidhi said, “This tradition was acted upon by the people of knowledge among the companions of the Prophet (ṣ), among them …

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Hadith on Divorce: Evidence triple talaq only counts as one divorce

Wisdom الحكمة

Yazid ibn Rukanah reported: Rukanah had divorced his wife irrevocably and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, only counted it as one divorce. Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 2196 Grade: Hasan (fair) according to Al-Albani Ibn al-Qayyim writes, “It was judged to count as one divorce by Al-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwam and Abdur Rahman ibn …

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Ahmad on Love: True love for Allah seeks no worldly benefits

Scholars العلماء

Al-Maruwidhi reported: Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked about love for the sake of Allah and he said, “It is that you not love him for the sake of some worldly benefit.” Source: Ṭabaqāt al-Ḥanābilah 1/60 عَنِ المروذي قد سئل الإمام أحمد ابن حنبل رحمه الله عَنِ الحب فِي …

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Hadith on Nikah: Minimum legal requirements for valid marriage

Wisdom الحكمة

Aisha reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “There is no marriage unless with a guardian and two credible witnesses. Any marriage contracted with less than that is invalid. If there is a dispute, the ruler is the guardian for one without a guardian.” Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 4075 Grade: …

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Ahmad on Ummah: Imam Ahmad’s supplication for the Muslim nation

Scholars العلماء

Al-Bayhaqi reported: Ahmad ibn Hanbal, may Allah be pleased with him, would supplicate in prostration, “O Allah, whomever among this nation is not upon the truth, but thinks he is upon the truth, bring him back to the truth that he may be among the people of truth.” And he would say, “O Allah, if …

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Ahmad on Amr: Enjoin good, forbid evil with humble gentleness

Scholars العلماء

Muhanna reported: I asked Abu Abdullah Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, about enjoining good and forbidding evil, “How should one enjoin it?” Ahmad said, “One should enjoin good with gentleness and humility. If they make him hear what he dislikes, he should not get angry such that he wants to avenge himself.” …

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Ibn Abbas on Rulers: Do not confront rulers if they will kill you

Scholars العلماء

Sa’id ibn Jubayr reported: I asked Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, “Shall I enjoin good and forbid evil upon the ruler?” Ibn Abbas said, “If you fear he will kill you, then no.” Then, I asked him again and he said the same to me. Then, I asked him again and he …

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Hadith on Ashura: Fasting the 9th and 10th of al-Muharram

Righteousness البر

Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, ordered fasting on the day of Ashura, the tenth of al-Muharram. Al-Tirmidhi said, “It is reported from Ibn Abbas that he said to fast on the ninth and tenth of the month and to do so differently from the Jews, and this …

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Muslim on Sujud: Looking at place of prostration in prayer

Scholars العلماء

Abu Qilabah reported: I asked Muslim ibn Yasar, may Allah have mercy on him, “Where should one fix his gaze in prayer?” Muslim said, “If it is where you prostrate, it is good.” Source: Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 6501 Ibn Qudamah said, “It is recommended for one praying to fix his vision at the place …

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Hadith on Ashura: Fasting day of Ashura with 9th of al-Muharram

Wisdom الحكمة

Al-Hakam ibn al-A’raj reported: I went to Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, and I said, “Tell me about fasting the day of Ashura.” Ibn Abbas said, “When you see the crescent of the month of al-Muharram, count the days and wake up to fast on the ninth day.” I said, “Is this …

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Hadith on Knowledge: Each generation refutes distortions against Islam

Wisdom الحكمة

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “This knowledge will be carried by the trustworthy of every successive generation, refuting the corruption of extremists, the distortions of falsifiers, and the interpretations of the ignorant.” Source: Musnad al-Shāmiyyīn 588 Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Ahmad ibn Hanbal عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ …

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Hadith on Ramadan: One portion of any food due for Zakat al-Fitr

Righteousness البر

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported: We would bring for Zakat al-Fitr a portion of food, or a portion of barley, or a portion of dates, or a portion of cheese, or a portion of raisins. Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1435, Ṣaḥīḥ 985 Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim Al-Tirmidhi said, “This is …

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Ahmad on Sahaba: Speaking badly of the Companions is against Islam

Scholars العلماء

Abdul Malik ibn Maymun reported: Ahmad ibn Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, said to me, “If you see a man speaking badly about any of the companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, be wary of his practice of Islam.” Source: Tārīkh Dimashq 59/209 عن عَبْد الملك بْن …

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Hadith on Salat: No voluntary prayer after ‘Asr and Fajr, with exceptions

Wisdom الحكمة

Ibn Abbas reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, only prayed two cycles after the afternoon prayer because some property came to him, which occupied him from performing two cycles after the noon prayer. The Prophet prayed them after the afternoon prayer and he did not repeat it. Al-Tirmidhi said, “Most of the …

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Hadith on Tarawih: Reward for praying with the Imam until he finishes

Wisdom الحكمة

Abu Dharr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, whoever stands for prayer in Ramadan with the Imam until he is finished, it will be recorded as if he prayed the entire night.” Al-Tirmidhi said, “The scholars differed over the night prayer in Ramadan. Some of them are of …

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Hadith on Ramadan: Adolescents fasting Ramadan if they are able

Wisdom الحكمة

Al-Rabia’ bint Mu’awwidh reported: We would order our children to fast and we would make toys for them out of wool. If one of them cried for food, we would give them those toys until it was time to break fast. Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1859, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1136 Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari …

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Hadith on Travel: Permission to fast or not on journey, whatever is easiest

Wisdom الحكمة

Aisha reported: Hamzah ibn Amr asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, about fasting while traveling. The Prophet said, “If you wish, you may fast. And if you wish, you may break your fast.” Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1841, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1121 Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and …

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