Q & A about Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal

Oleh: Muhammad Farid Wajdi *)

BLOGGURU – Siapa yang tak kenal Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal dalam Khazanah Keilmuan Islam? Imam Ahmad merupakan salah satu imam madzhab yang berpegang teguh di atas aqidah ahlusunah waljamaah. Hal ini dibuktikan dari karya-karyanya di bidang aqidah, salah satu kitab karyanya tersebut adalah kitab Ushulussunnah yang berisikan Prinsip-prinsip dasar Aqidah ahlusunah waljamaah yang sesuai dengan Al-Qur’an dan Sunnah. Beliau juga menuliskan risalah, “Ar-Radd ‘ala Al-Jahmiyah” yang membantah aqidah kelompok yang menyimpang dari akidah ahlus sunah.

Berikut ini Pertanyaan (Question) dan Jawaban (Answer) seputar Biografi Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal yang penulis kutip dari salah satu free course pada Situs/Website Online Alkautsar (onlinealkauthar.com) dalam Bahasa Inggris sebagai berikut:

1. Question (Q): Imam Ahmad’s kunya is ? Abu Abdullah Abu Aqeel Abu Saeed Abu Ibraheem

Answer (A): Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal’s kunya is Abu Abdullah.

2. Q: The one who narrated the most from Imam Ahmad ? Abdullah his son Saalih his son Bukhari Muslim

A: The one who narrated the most from Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal was Abdullah, his son.

3. Q: Imam Ahmed’s last child was born when he was what age? (77, 45, 60, or 70?)

A: Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal’s last child was born when he was 77 years old.

4. Q: Imam Ahmad’ (rh) father and grandfather were names ? Father- Hanbal, grandfather-Baghdadi Father- Hanbal- grandfather Muhammad Father – Muhammad, grandfather – Hanbal Father- Hanbal grandfather-Shaybani

A: Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal’s lineage is: Father – Muhammad, grandfather – Hanbal

5. Imam Ahmad (rh) is from the tribe of ? Ash-Shayban Al-Hanbal Al Idris Al Athar

A: Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) is from the tribe of Ash-Shayban.

6. Q: Imam Ahmad (rh) was born ? 164 AH 174 AH 184 AH 154 AH

A: Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) was born in 164 AH (780 CE) in Baghdad.

Would you like a timeline of key events in his life (birth, major studies, trials, works, and death)?

7. Q: Imam Ahmad (rh) died ? 261 AH 241 AH 251 AH 271 AH

A: Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) died in 241 AH (855 CE).

8. Imam Ahmad (rh) married at the age of ? 35 40 45 50

A; Historical reports indicate that Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal married relatively late compared to common practice at the time, and most sources mention he married around the age of 40.

9. Q: The name of Imam Ahmad’s (rh) mother ? Sumayyah bint Maryam Saaliha bint Maria Safiyya bint Maymuna Sara bint Mabruka

A: Historical sources state that Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal’s (رحمه الله) mother was Safiyyah bint Maymuna.

10. Q: Imam Ahmad (rh) was born in ? Mosul Damascus Basrah Baghdad

A: Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) was born in Baghdad in 164 AH (780 CE).

11. Imam Ahmed lived through the rule of 8 Abbasid rulers True False

A: True. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) lived during the reign of eight Abbasid caliphs, including:

Al-Mahdi
Al-Hadi
Harun al-Rashid
Al-Amin
Al-Ma’mun
Al-Mu’tasim
Al-Wathiq
Al-Mutawakkil

12. Q: Imam Ahmad (rh) made hajj how many times? one 5 times & 3 times on foot according to Ibn al-Jawzi 6 times, 3 times on foot 4 times, 3 times on foot

A: According to historical reports, especially from Ibn al-Jawzi, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) performed Hajj 5 times, 3 of them on foot.

13. Q: Who was amongst the most renowned teachers of Imam Ahmad (rh) ? Abu Yusuf and Abu Ishaq Qadi Abu Yusuf and Imam Muhammad Ibn Idris al-Shafi’i Muhammad Ibn idris and Abu Ismail Muhammad Ibn Idris and Malik Ibn Dinar

A: The most renowned teacher of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) was Imam Muhammad ibn Idris al-Shafi’i.

From the options, the best answer is:
Qadi Abu Yusuf and Imam Muhammad Ibn Idris al-Shafi’i

14. Q: Imam Ahmad (rh) was an imam in? Usool (Theology) and Furu (Jurisprudence) Tafsir and Fiqh Hadith and Seerah Ussol fiqh and Usool hadith

A: Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) was recognized as an Imam in Usool (Theology) and Furu’ (Jurisprudence).

15. Q: Imam Ahmad (rh) had 5000 students (500 dedicated and 4500 who would learn from his manners) True False

A: True. Historical accounts mention that Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) taught around 5000 students — about 500 focused on learning Hadith and Fiqh, while 4500 attended mainly to observe his manners, humility, and conduct.

16. Imam Ahmad wrote over a million ahadith according to his son Salih True False

A: True. According to his son Salih, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) compiled and wrote over one million ahadith, which formed the basis of his monumental work Musnad Ahmad.

17. Q: The most prominent students of Imam Ahmad ? An Nasai, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud Bukhari, Muslim and Ibn Majah Abdur Raqar Ibn Abi Shaybah, and Bukahri Bukhari, Muslim, Dawud, Kawsaj, Abu Hatim, al-Athram

A: The most prominent students of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) include Imam al-Bukhari, Imam Muslim, Abu Dawud, Abu Hatim, al-Athram, and Ishaq ibn Rahwayh (Kawsaj).

From your options, the best answer is: Bukhari, Muslim, Dawud, Kawsaj, Abu Hatim, al-Athram

18. Of the people who stood firm with Imam Ahmad (rh) was ? Al Ma’mun Muhammad ibn Nuh Al Mu’tasim bi’llah Al Waathiq bi’llah

A: The correct answer is Muhammad ibn Nuh.

He was one of the few who stood firm with Imam Ahmad (رحمه الله) during the Mihnah (Inquisition), when scholars were pressured to accept the belief that the Qur’an was created.

19. Q: Imam Ahmad (rh) died where ? Mosul Damascus Basrah Baghdad

A: Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) died in Baghdad in 241 AH (855 CE).

20. Q: How many people were reported to have attended the janazah of Imam Ahmad(rh) ? Over 10,000 Over 100,000 Over 1,000,000 Over 10,000,000

21. Q: Which one of Imam Ahmad’s relatives died when he was very young ? His mother His uncle His father His brother

A: Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal’s father died when he was very young, leaving him under the care of his mother.

22. Q; Imam Ahmed was a poor Imam and wouldn’t take any gifts from the rulers. True False

A: True. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) was known for his zuhd (asceticism) and independence. He refused gifts and stipends from rulers to avoid any compromise on his integrity and scholarly independence.

23. When he was in Yemen studying under Imam Abdur Razak as-Sanani he ran out of money but still refused to accept help. True False

A: True.

Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) maintained extreme independence and reliance on Allah, even during hardship. While studying under Imam Abdur Razzaq as-San‘ani in Yemen, he ran out of money but refused to accept assistance to preserve his integrity.

24. Q: Imam Ahmed disliked looking at a Christian becase he didn’t like looking at someone who lies about Allah. True False

This statement is True.

25. Q: He would pray 300 units of nafl prayers daily. True False

A; True.

26. Q: Hanbal was the name of Imam Ahmed’s grandfather? True False

A: True

27. Q: Imam Ahmed Ibn Hanbal was from …. and passed away in …. Istanbul Baghdad Andalus Makkah

A: Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) was from Baghdad and also passed away in Baghdad in 241 AH (855 CE).

28. Q: Which of the 3 Abbasid Caliphs were upon the ‘Mithna of Mutazilites’? Harun Al Rashid, Al Ameen and Al Mahdi Al Hadi, AlMutawakkil and Al Muntassid Al Ma’mun, Al Mutassim and Al Wathiq Al Mansur, Al Muqtaddir and Al Muqtafi

A: The correct answer is:

Al-Ma’mun, Al-Mu’tasim, and Al-Wathiq

These three Abbasid caliphs enforced the Mihnah (Inquisition), compelling scholars to affirm the Mu‘tazilite belief that the Qur’an was created, during which Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) was famously persecuted for refusing.

29. Q: Imam Ahmed Ibn Hanbal’s kuniyya (nickname) was ‘Abu Abdillah’? True False

A; True.

Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (رحمه الله) was known by the kunya “Abu Abdillah”, as his eldest son was named Abdullah.

30. Q: I swear by Allah that I have answered the above exam honestly. Yes No

A: Yes

Semoga bermanfaat adanya. Barakallahu fiikum. (*)

(* Muhammad Farid Wajdi, Teacher of Fikih at Ponpes Modern Putri IMMIM Minasatene-Pangkep, Sulsel.