How Are You Today?

Friday, November 20, 2009

It was related from Al-Marroodhee that he asked (Al-Imaam) Ahmad:

How are you today (lit. How is your morning)?

He replied:

How can one’s day be while he is required by his Lord to perform obligatory acts of worship?

(How can one’s day be while) his Prophet is calling him to practice the Sunnah?

(How can one’s day be while) two angels are requiring from him to correct his deeds?

(How can one’s day be while) his nafs urges him to follow its desires?

(How can one’s day be while) Iblees is beckoning him to commit all types of indecent, evil deeds?

(How can one’s day be while) the Angel of Death is observing him (waiting) to take his soul?

(How can one’s day be while) his dependants are asking him to provide them with maintenance?

 

Taken from Siyaar A'laamin Nubalaa by Al-Imaam adh-Dhahaabee; volume 11/227

Translated by Dawud Adib

Over Eighty Lashes...

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Shabat (one of Ahmad’s torturers who later repented) said:

“I whipped Ahmad bin Hambal with over eighty lashes. If I had struck an elephant with these lashes, they would have caused it to collapse.

['Manaqib al-Imam Ahmad'; p. 157]

One of the Oppressors

When Ahmad bin Hambal was imprisoned, one of the prison guards came to him and asked him:

“O Abu 'Abdillah! The hadith that is narrated regarding the oppressors and those that aid them – is it authentic?”

He said: “Yes.”

The prison guard then said: “So, I am considered to be an aide of the oppressors?”

Imam Ahmad replied: “No. The aides of the oppressors are those that comb your hair, and wash your clothes, and prepare your meals, and buy and sell from you.

As for you, then you are one of the oppressors themselves.”

['Manaqib al-Imam Ahmad:' p. 397]

What An Ugly Leg..

Saturday, November 7, 2009

On the day that Imam Ahmad [Rahimahullah] was punished, it was said to Bishr ibn al-Harith, 'To this hour, Ahmad ibn Hanbal has been whipped 17 times.' He (Bishr) stretched out his leg and looked at it saying, 'What an ugly leg this would be if it does not become fettered in chains out of support for this man!'

This is the Sunnah - Stick Fast To It and You Will Be Safe. Taking It Is Guidance and Abandoning It Is Going Astray

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Al-Qaadee Abul-Husain Muhammad Ibn Abee Ya'laa said: "I read to Al-Mubarak saying to him, "'Abdul Azeez Al-Azjee informed us: 'Alee Ibn Bushran informed us: 'Uthmaan, known as Ibn us-Samaak, informed us: al-Hasan Ibn 'Abdul Wahhaab narrated to us: Sulaymaan Ibn Muhammad al-Munqari narrated to us: 'Abdoos Ibn maalik Al-'Attaar narrated to me: I heard Aboo 'Abdullah Ahmad ibn Hanbal, may Allah be pleased with him, saying:

"The Fundamental Principles of the Sunnah with us are:

1. Holding fast to what the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (SalAllahu alayhi wa salam) were upon.

[Rasoolullah (SalAllahu alayhi wa salam)  said, "Indeed, the Children of Israa'eel split up into 71 sects and my Ummah will split into 73, all of them are in the Fire except one." It was said, "Which one?" He (SalAllahu alayhi wa salam)  said, "That which I and my Companions are upon." (Reported by  at-Tirmidhi no. 2792)]

2. Taking them [and their way] as a model to be followed.

['Abdullah Ibn Mas'ood (RadiAllahu anhu) said, "Verily, we emulate and do not initiate and we follow and do not innovate." (Reported by al-Laalikaa'ee in Usool ul-I'tiqaad, 1/86)]

3. The abandonment of innovations and every innovation is misguidance.

[Rasoolullah (SalAllahu alayhi wa salam)  said, "Every innovation is misguidance and going astray." (Reported by Abu Dawood, No. 4607 & at-Tirmidhi No. 2676 and is Saheeh)]

4. The abandonment of controversies.

5. The abandonment of sitting with the people of Ahwaa (desires).

[Al-Fudayl Ibn 'Iyaad (d. 187H) said, "I met the best of people, all of them people of the Sunnah and they used to forbid from accompanying the People of Innovation." (Reported by al-Laalikaa'ee, No. 267.)]

[Sufyaan ath-Thawree (d. 161H) said, "Whoever listens to an innovator has left the protection of Allah and is entrusted with inovation." (Reported by Abu Nu'aym in Al-Hilyah, 7/26 & Ibn Battah, No.444)]\

6. And the Abandonment of quarelling, argumentation and controversy in the Religion."

[Imaam as-Saaboonee (d.449H) said about Ahlus-sunnah, "They follow the Salafus-Saalih, the Imaams and the Scholars of the Muslims and they cling to the firm Deen that they clung to and to the clear Truth. And they hate Ahlul-Bid'ah (the People of Innovation) who innovate into the Deen that which is not from it. They do not listen to their sayings, nor sit with them, nor argue with them about the Deen, nor debate with them. Rather, they protect their ears from hearing their futility, things which if they pass through the ears and settle in the hearts, will cause harm and cause doubts and wicked ideas to appear. And concerning this, Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, sent down:

"And when you see people engaged in vain discourse about Our Signs, then turn away from them unless they turn to a different theme." [Soorah al-An'aam: 68]

7. And the Sunnah with us are the aathaar (narrations) of the Messenger of Allah (SalAllahu alayhi wa salam).

[Hassaan Ibn Atiyyah (d.120H) said, "Jibreel (alayhi salaam) used to descend upon the Messenger of Allah (SalAllahu alayhi wa salam)  with the Sunnah just as he used to descend with the Qur'aan." (Reported in Ash-Sharh wal-Ibaanah of Ibn battah, p. 128 and in the Majmoo'ul-Fataawaa of Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, 3/336)]

...To be Continued InshaAllah...