Ahmad Ibn Hanbal Quotes

So wrongdoing must be understood by standing it against righteousness" explained Abdel Hamid, holding out his hands "like right against left". He turned one hand over and then the other. He paused to take note of whether Rustam Bey was still with him. "Righteousness is good morality but it is also that about which the soul feels tranquil and the heart feels tranquil. This is what the Prophet said to Wabisah bin Ma'bad. As for wrongdoing Nawas bin Sam'an said he heard the Prophet saying that wrongdoing is that which wavers in the soul and which you dislike people finding out about, and Wabisah bin Ma'bad said that he heard the Prophet saying that wrongdoing is that which wavers in the soul and moves to and fro in the breast even though people again and again have given you their legal opinion in its favour. Both of these traditions came from imams with a good chain of authorities, one from Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal and the other from Imam Al-Darimi, may God be pleased with them both. So no doubt that these things were said by the Prophet, peace be upon him.

When you lose the obligatory while striving for the optional, you are like the merchant who looks only at his profits without deducting his capital expenditure, so he spends all of the 'profit' and is left with neither profit nor capital.

Salah will be the last thing to be lost in Islam; after it has gone, nothing will remain of the religion. It is the first of his deeds about which the slave will be asked on the Day of Resurrection, and it is a central pillar of Islam. If the pillar falls, the whole pavilion will fall. The pegs and the ropes will not suffice. If the Salah is lost, the Islam is lost.

Circumcision is a law for men and a preservation of honor for women." (Ahmad Ibn Hanbal 5:75; Abu Dawud, Adab 167)

Ma’mun was the follower of Mu’tazila theology, which derived its beliefs on Islamic principles using intellectual reasoning. The Mu’tazila theology opposed the beliefs of the people of Hadith who believed in the absolute literal meaning of the Hadith. Among various differences between these two groups of Sunni schools of thought, there was a particular subject about the creation of the Quran that took much attention in their debates. Both groups believed that God always existed. However, Mu’tazila believed that the Quran was created by God when it was revealed to the Prophet, while the people of Hadith believed the Quran existed ever since God has existed. In the last year of Ma’mun’s government, he decided to enforce Mu’tazila’s belief about the creation of the Quran. He ordered his government officials, including judges, to be questioned about their belief regarding the creation of the Quran and ousted anyone who had beliefs opposing the Mu’tazila’s. Ma’mun’s decision caused outrage among the people of Hadith. Many were tortured and imprisoned because they held onto their belief. For example, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, the founder of the Hanbali school of thought, was among those who insisted in their belief and was punished by lashes. This incident is known in history as “Mihnat al-Quran” or “Ordeal [regarding the creation] of the Quran”, and was the first time in Islamic history that the people were questioned about their beliefs. Ma’mun’s policy to enforce the Mu’tazila’s belief about the creation of the Quran was continued by his successors, Mu’tasim and Wathiq.

Abstain from luxuries, for those who live luxurious lives are no servants of God.’ HADITH OF AHMAD IBN HANBAL.