Imams

Stories of Imams (R.A.H.
Names of Imams:
l-Imam Abu Hanifa: "The Imam" Ibn Thabit, also called: The Greatest Imam Ibn Malik al-Imam al-ShafiÌ Ibn Hanbal Select Imam A $ iblio!ra"h# ukhari A%& A' SI((I)
Abu Musa Al-Ash*ari +MA& I N A' %HATTA
(Taken from: http://
Great Imams of Islam By Maida Malik .!eo"ities."om/#a$d%l ahid/a$%hanifah/the&!reat&imam.html)
1. Al-Imam Abu Hanifa: "The Imam" Al-Nu`man ibn Thabit al-Taymi, al-Imam Abu Hanifa (d. 150), called "The Imam" by Abu Dawud, and "The Imam, ne ! th "e wh ha#e $eached the "%y" by Ibn &a'a$, he i" %n wn in the I"lamic w $ld a" "The ($eate"t Imam" (al-im)m al-a`*am) and hi" "ch l ha" the la$+e"t numbe$ ! ! ll we$" am n+ the ! u$ "ch l" ! Ahl al-,unna. &e i" the !i$"t ! the ! u$ mu'tahid imam" and the nly ,ucce"" $ (t)biì) am n+ them, ha#in+ "een the - m.ani n" Ana" ibn /ali%, Àbd Allah ibn Abi Aw!a, ,ahl ibn ,a`d al-,aìdi, Abu al-Tu!ayl, and Àmi$ ibn 0athila. Abu &ani!a i" the !i$"t in I"lam t $+ani*e the w$itin+ ! !i1h unde$ "ub-headin+" emb$acin+ the wh le ! the 2aw, be+innin+ with .u$ity (taha$a) ! ll wed by .$aye$ ("ala), an $de$ which wa" $etained by all "ub"e1uent "ch la$" "uch a" /ali%, ,ha!iì, Abu Dawud, 3u%ha$i, /u"lim, Ti$midhi, and the$". All the"e and thei$ ! ll we$" a$e indebted t him and +i#e him a "ha$e ! thei$ $ewa$d becau"e he wa" the !i$"t t 4$ .het5 "&e wh "ta$t" " methin+ + .en that $ ad ! $ them, acc $din+ t the hadith ! the d in I"lam ha" it" $ewa$d and the $ewa$d ! th "e wh
.$actice it until the Day ! 6ud+ement, with ut le""enin+ in the lea"t the $ewa$d ! th "e wh .$actice it. The ne wh "ta$t" " methin+ bad in I"lam will incu$ it" .uni"hment and the .uni"hment ! all th "e wh .$actice it until the Day ! 6ud+ement with ut le""enin+ thei$ .uni"hment in the lea"t." Al-,ha!iì $e!e$$ed t thi" when he "aid5 "4e .le a$e all the child$en ! Abu &ani!a in !i1h, ! Ibn I"ha1 in hi"t $y, ! /ali% in hadith, and ! /u1atil in ta!"7$." Al-8hatib na$$ated !$ m Abu &ani!a9" "tudent Abu Nuàym that the latte$ "aid5 "/u"lim" "h uld ma%e duà t Allah n behal! ! Abu &ani!a in thei$ .$aye$", becau"e the ,unan and the !i1h we$e .$e"e$#ed ! $ them th$ u+h him. Al-Dhahabi w$ te ne # lume n the li!e ! each ! the the$ th$ee +$eat Imam" and "aid5 "The acc unt ! Abu &ani!a9" li!e $e1ui$e" tw # lume"." &i" " n &ammad "aid a" he wa"hed hi" !athe$9" b dy ! $ bu$ial5 "/ay Allah ha#e me$cy n y u: ; u ha#e e<hau"ted wh e#e$ t$ie" t catch u. with y u." Abu &ani!a wa" "c$u.ul u"ly .i u" and $e!u"ed Ibn &ubay$a9" !!e$ ! a 'ud+e"hi. e#en when the latte$ had him whi..ed. 2i%e al-3u%ha$i and al-,ha!iì, he u"ed t ma%e =0 c m.lete $ecitati n" (%hatma) ! >u$9an e#e$y ?amadan5 ne in the day, ne in the ni+ht, be"ide" hi" teachin+ and the$ dutie". Ib$ahim ibn ?u"tum al-/a$wa*i "aid5 "@ u$ a$e the Imam" that $ecited the enti$e >u$9an in a "in+le $a%à5 Àthman ibn À!!an, Tamim al-Da$i, ,aìd ibn 6ubay$, and Abu &ani!a." Ibn al-/uba$a% "aid5 "Abu &ani!a ! $ a l n+ time w uld .$ay all !i#e .$aye$" with a "in+le abluti n."
Al-,uyuti $elate" in Tabyid al-,ahi!a that a ce$tain #i"it $ came t
b"e$#e Abu &ani!a and "aw
him all day l n+ in the m "1ue, teachin+ $elentle""ly, an"we$in+ e#e$y 1ue"ti n !$ m b th the "ch la$" and the c mm n .e .le, n t "t ..in+ e<ce.t t .$ay, then "tandin+ at h me in .$aye$ when .e .le we$e a"lee., ha$dly e#e$ eatin+ $ "lee.in+, and yet the m "t hand" me and +$aci u" ! .e .le, alway" ale$t and ne#e$ ti$ed, day a!te$ day ! $ a l n+ time, " that in the end the #i"it $ "aid5 "I became c n#inced that thi" wa" n t an $dina$y matte$, but wil)ya (@$iend"hi. with Allah)." Al-,ha!iì "aid5 "8n wled+e $e# l#e" a$ und th$ee men5 /ali%, al-2ayth, and Ibn Àyayna." AlDhahabi c mmented5 "?athe$, it $e# l#e" al" a$ und al-Aw*aì, al-Thaw$i, /a`ma$, Abu &ani!a, ,hu`ba, and the tw &ammad" Cibn Dayd and ibn ,alamaE." ,u!yan al-Thaw$i .$ai"ed Abu &ani!a when he "aid5 "0e we$e in !$ nt ! Abu &ani!a li%e "mall bi$d" in !$ nt ! the !alc n," and ,u!yan "t d u. ! $ him when Abu &ani!a #i"ited him a!te$ hi" b$ the$9" death, and he "aid5 "Thi" man h ld" a hi+h $an% in %n wled+e, and i! I did n t "tand u. ! $ hi" "cience I w uld "tand u. ! $ hi" a+e, and i! n t ! $ hi" a+e then ! $ hi" ( dwa$ine"" (wa$a`), and i! n t ! $ hi" ( dwa$ine"" then ! $ hi" 'u$i".$udence (!i1h)." Ibn al-/uba$a% .$ai"ed Abu &ani!a and called him a "i+n ! Allah. 3 th Ibn al-/uba$a% and ,u!yan al-Thaw$i "aid5 "Abu &ani!a wa" in hi" time the m "t %n wled+eable ! all .e .le n ea$th." Ibn &a'a$ al" $elated that Ibn al-/uba$a% "aid5 "I! Allah had n t $e"cued me with Abu &ani!a and ,u!yan CalThaw$iE I w uld ha#e been li%e the $e"t ! the c mm n .e .le." Dhahabi $elate" it a"5 "I w uld ha#e been an inn #at $." An e<am.le ! Abu &ani!a9" .e$".icuity in in!e$$in+ le+al $ulin+" !$ m " u$ce-te<t" i" hi" $eadin+ ! the ! ll win+ hadith5 The 4$ .het "aid5 "; u$ li!e in c m.a$i" n t the li!etime ! .a"t nati n" i" li%e the .e$i d between the time ! the mid-a!te$n n .$aye$ (Fa"$) and "un"et. ; u$ e<am.le and the e<am.le ! the 6ew" and -h$i"tian" i" that ! a man wh em.l yed lab $e$" and "aid t them5 F0h will w $% ! $ me until mid-day ! $ ne 1i$)t (a unit ! mea"u$e, .a$t ! a dina$) eachG9 The 6ew" w $%ed until mid-day ! $ ne 1i$)t each. Then the man "aid5 F0h will w $% ! $ me !$ m mid-day until the Fa"$ .$aye$ ! $ ne 1i$)t eachG9 The -h$i"tian" w $%ed !$ m mid-day until the Fa"$ .$aye$ ! $ ne 1i$)t each. Then the man "aid5 F0h will w $% ! $ me !$ m the à"$ .$aye$ until the ma+h$ib .$aye$ ! $ tw 1i$)t eachG9 And that, in t$uth, i" all ! y u. In t$uth, y u ha#e d uble the wa+e". The 6ew" and the -h$i"tian" became an+$y and "aid5 F0e did m $e lab $ but t i" /y 3le""in+ which I +i#e t wh m I wi"h.9" % le"" wa+e".9 3ut Allah "aid5 F&a#e I w$ n+ed y u in any ! y u$ $i+ht"G9 They $e.lied n . Then &e "aid5 FThi"
It wa" deduced !$ m the .h$a"e "0e did m $e lab $" that the time ! mid-day t à"$ mu"t alway" be l n+e$ than that between à"$ and ma+h$ib. Thi" i" c n!i$med by authentic $e. $t" whe$eby5 The 4$ .het ha"tened t .$ay *uh$ and delayed .$ayin+ à"$. The 4$ .het "aid5 "/ay Allah ha#e me$cy n " me ne wh .$ay" ! u$ $a%à" be! $e à"$. Àli delayed .$ayin+ à"$ until "h $tly be! $e the "un chan+ed, and he $e.$imanded the mu9adhdhin wh wa" hu$$yin+ him with the w $d"5 "&e i" t$yin+ t teach u" the ,unna:" Ib$ahim al-Na%haì "aid5 "Th "e that came be! $e y u u"ed t ha"ten m $e than y u t .$ay *uh$ and delay m $e than y u in .$ayin+ à"$." Al-Tahanawi "aid5 "Th "e that came be! $e y u" a$e the - m.ani n". Ibn /a"ùd delayed .$ayin+ à"$. ,u!yan al-Thaw$i, Abu &ani!a, and hi" tw c m.ani n" /uhammad ibn a-&a"an and Abu ;u"u! the$e! $e c n"ide$ed it bette$ t len+then the time between *uh$ and à"$ by delayin+ the latte$ .$aye$ a" l n+ a" the "un did n t be+in t $edden, while the ma' $ity ! the auth $itie" c n"ide$ed that .$ayin+ à"$ ea$ly i" bette$, n the ba"i" ! the$ " und e#idence t that e!!ect. 2i%e e#e$y @$iend ! Allah, Abu &ani!a had hi" enemie". Àbdan "aid that he hea$d Ibn al/uba$a% "ay5 "I! y u hea$ them menti n Abu &ani!a de$ +ati#ely then they a$e menti nin+ me de$ +ati#ely. In t$uth I !ea$ ! $ them Allah9" di".lea"u$e." Authentically $elated !$ m 3i"h$ al&a!i i" the "tatement5 "N - ne c$itici*e" Abu &ani!a e<ce.t an en#ie$ $ an i+n $amu"." &amid ibn Adam al-/a$wa*i "aid5 I hea$d Ibn al-/uba$a% "ay5 "I ne#e$ "aw any ne m $e !ea$!ul ! Allah than Abu &ani!a, e#en n t$ial unde$ the whi. and th$ u+h m ney and .$ .e$ty." Abu /uàwiya al-Da$i$ "aid5 "2 #e ! Abu &ani!a i" .a$t ! the ,unna." &i" 2i!e /ain " u$ce"5 al-8hatib, Ta$i%h 3a+hdad 1B5B2H-B5=I al-Dhahabi, /ana1ib Abi &ani!a 22-B= and Taba1at al-&u!!a* 151=JI Ibn &a'a$, Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 105H50I Ibn 8athi$, al-3idaya wa al-Nihaya 10511HI al-,uyuti, Tabyid al-,ahi!a .. KH-K5I al-&aytami, al-8hay$at al-&i"an.
Ibn Thabit, also called: The Greatest Imam
3ette$ %n wn a" alImam-e-Àdham' The Greatest Imam!, $ by hi" %unyah alLAbu &ani!ahM, NuMman ibn Thabit wa" b $n in the city ! 8u!a (m de$n day I$a1) in the yea$ J0 A.& (=JK A.D). 3 $n int a !amily ! t$ade"men, the ImamM" !amily we$e ! 4e$"ian $i+in a" well a" de"cendin+ !$ m the n ble 4$ .het" ("aw) c m.ani n ,alman al @a$"i ($a). Imam Abu &ani!ahM" !athe$ Thabit had met in 8u!a, Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib ($a) wh made dua ! $ him and hi" .$ +eny, and " me "ay that Abu &ani!ah wa" a $e"ult ! thi" dua. A hadith +i#en by al 3u%ha$i and /u"lim "tate" that Abu &u$ai$ah na$$ated AllahM" /e""en+e$ ("aw) a" "ayin+5 "i! the ?eli+i n we$e at the 4leiade" , e#en then a .e$" n !$ m 4e$"ia w uld ha#e ta%en h ld ! it, $ ne am n+"t the 4e$"ian de"cent w uld "u$ely ha#e ! und it". Abu &u$ai$a al" na$$ate"5 "0e we$e "ittin+ in the c m.any ! AllahM" A. "tle ("aw) when ,u$at al 6uma wa" $e#ealed t him and when he $ecited am n+"t them (th "e wh we$e "ittin+ the$e) "aid )NLAllahM" /e""en+e$GM but AllahM" A. "tle ("aw) made n $e.ly, until he wa" 1ue"ti ned nce, twice $ th$ice, and the$e wa" am n+"t u" ,alman the 4e$"ian. AllahM" A. "tle ("aw) .laced hi" hand n ,alman and then "aid5 "O#en i! !aith we$e nea$ the 4leiade" a man !$ m am n+"t the"e w uld "u$ely !ind it". Imam a"-,uyuti a ,ha!i alim ($h) $ema$%ed "It ha" been c mmunicated unanim u"ly that thi" hadith $e!e$" t Imam Abu &ani!ah". 8u!a at the time ! the Imam" bi$th wa" a +$eat cent$e ! %n wled+e and lea$nin+ , with many ! the n ble 4$ .het" ("aw) c m.ani n" ($a) ha#in+ ta%en $e"idence the$e. Due t the .$e"ence ! the"e #ene$able .e .le wh had en+ende$ed " much inte$e"t in hadith and $iwayat that .$actically e#e$y h u"e in 8u!a had bec me a cent$e ! the"e di"ci.le" and thei$ di"ci.line". At !i$"t , Imam Abu &ani!ah wa" n t a "tudent ! %n wled+e. & we#e$, by c incidence, whil"t ne day .a""in+ by the h u"e ! ,haMbi (acclaimed "($eat ,ch la$ am n+ the ,ucce"" $""), Abu &ani!ah wa" called in by the "hay%h wh mi"t % him ! $ a "tudent. "0he$e a$e y u + in+ y un+ manG" a"%ed ,haMbi. Abu &ani!ah named the me$chant he wa" + in+ t "ee. "I meant t a"%" a"%ed ,haMbi. "0h M" cla""e" y u attendG". "N b dyM"" $e.lied the Imam $e+$et!ully. "I "ee "i+n" ! intelli+ence in y u" be+an ,haMbi, "y u "h uld "it in the c m.any ! lea$ned men". It wa" a!te$ thi" enc unte$ that the y un+ Imam be+an hi" 1ue"t ! $ %n wled+e. Imam Abu &ani!ah ac1ui$ed %n wled+e !$ m #e$ ! u$ th u"and .e .le. &i" teache$" included many .$e"ti+i u" men ! the time wh "e "anad went bac% t a numbe$ ! c m.ani n" ($a). &e him"el! wa" ble""ed with the meetin+ ! the c m.ani n"5 Ana" ibn /ali%, Abdullah ibn A!wa and ,ahl ibn ,aMad ($a), thu" +ainin+ him the $an% ! bein+ a TabiMi ("ucce"" $ t the c m.ani n"). Am n+"t Imam Abu &ani!ahM" "hayu%h wa" &ammad ibn ,ulayman, he ' ined hi" ci$cle at the a+e ! 22, ha#in+ al$eady bec me a well %n wn debate$ and "tudied with thi" "hay%h until the
latte$M" death, whe$e u. n he t % #e$ hi" ma'li" (ci$cle) at the a+e ! ! $ty. ,huMba, a leadin+ muhaddith wh %new by hea$t tw th u"and t$aditi n" wa" al" a teache$ ! Imam Abu &ani!ah. ,huMba wa" +$eatly attached t Imam Abu &ani!ah "ayin+ "6u"t a" I %n w that the "un i" b$i+ht I %n w that lea$nin+ and Abu &ani!ah a$e d uble" ! each the$". The ImamM" 1ue"t ! $ %n wled+e ine#itably t % him t the & ly ,anctua$ie", at a time when /a%%ah wa" a bu"y cent$e ! $ lea$nin+. A numbe$ ! ac%n wled+ed ma"te$" ! &adith, wh had had acce"" t the 4$ .het" ("aw) c m.ani n" ($a) had e"tabli"hed thei$ wn "ch l" the$e. P! the"e wa" )NLAta bin ?abahM" "ch l. )NLAta wa" a !am u" TabiMi wh had a"" ciated with m "t ! the c m.ani n" and ac1ui$ed !$ m thi" a"" ciati n a "tatu" ! auth $ity. &e him"el! claimed t ha#e met tw hund$ed men wh had a"" ciated with the the N ble 4$ .het ("aw). The leadin+ c m.ani n" all ac%n wled+ed hi" lea$nin+. Abdullah ibn )NLAma$ ($a), " n ! the cali.h )NLAma$ !ten u"ed t "ay5 "0hy d .e .le c me t me when )NLAta ibn Abi ?abah i" the$e ! $ them t + t G". P! the the$ /uhaddithin ! /a%%ah wh "e cla""e" the Imam attended wa" )NLI%$imah. &e wa" the "la#e and .u.il ! Abdullah ibn )NLAbba", wh educated him with +$eat ca$e and attenti n, ma%in+ him " .$ !icient that he, du$in+ hi" wn li!etime +a#e Imam Abu &ani!ah the auth $ity t e<e$ci"e .e$" nal 'ud+ement and $ulin+". )NLImam Abu &ani!ah wa" the !i$"t t analy"e I"lamic 'u$i".$udence, di#ide it int "ub'ect", di"tin+ui"h it" i""ue" and dete$mine the $an+e and c$ite$ia ! $ analytical $ea" nin+ (1iya")M. Al &a!i* al-8abi$ Abu 3a%$ Ahmad al- &a$i*mi w$ te in hi" b % (/u"nad), )NL,ai! al AimmaM $e. $t" that when Imam Abu &ani!ah de$i#ed a matte$ !$ m the >u$Man and &adith, he w uld n t +i#e the an"we$ t the in1ui$e$ unle"" all ! them (hi" "tudent") c n!i$med it. Pne th u"and ! Abu &ani!ahM" di"ci.le" attended all hi" cla""e" when he tau+ht in the m "1ue ! 8u!a city. @ $ty ! them we$e mu'tahid". 0hen he w uld !ind an an"we$ ! $ a matte$ he w uld "u++e"t t hi" "tudent" wh w uld "tudy it t +ethe$, and when they $eached an a+$eement ! it bein+ c n"i"tent with The >u$Man and &adith, and with the w $d" ! the ,ahabah, he w uld be deli+hted and "ay, "Al-hamdu liMllah wallahu A%ba$", and all th "e wh we$e .$e"ent w uld $e.eat hi" w $d". Then he w uld tell them t w$ite it d wn. Ibn )NLAbd al- 3a$$ $elate" in al-Inti1aM, )NLAbd Allah ibn Ahmad al-Daw$a1i "aid5 "Ibn /aMinn wa" a"%ed ab ut Abu &ani!ah a" I wa" li"tenin+, " he "aid "&e i" t$u"tw $thy (thi1atun), I ne#e$ hea$d that any ne had wea%ened him" N le"" than ,huMba w$ te t him (! $ na$$ati n"), and $de$ed him t na$$ate hadithM. Ibn &a'a$ "aid in 8ha$i'a ibn al ,altM" n tice in Tahdhib alTahdhib, Ibn Abi 8haythama "aid5 "I! al ,huMbi na$$ate" !$ m " me ne and name" him, that man i" t$u"tw $thy (thi1a) and hi" na$$ati n i" u"ed a" .$ ! (yuhta''u bi hadithihi)".
/any well %n wn "huyu%h na$$ated !$ m Imam Abu &ani!ah, t name but a !ew5 al Thaw$i, ibn al-/uba$a%, &ammad ibn Dayd and )NLAbd al-?a**a1 ( ne ! Iman al-3u%ha$iM" "hay%h) Al /i**i in Tahdhib al-8amal name" ab ut ne hund$ed name" ! th "e wh na$$ated !$ m Imam Abu &ani!ah. Imam a"-,ha!i ($h) i" $ec $ded t ha#e "tated5 "All men ! !i1h a$e Abu &ani!ahM" child$en". "...I w uld n t ha#e ac1ui$ed anythin+ ! %n wled+e had it n t been ! $ my teache$. All men ! %n wled+e a$e child$en ! the ulema ! I$a1, wh we$e the di"ci.le" ! the ulema ! 8u!a, and they we$e the di"ci.le" ! Abu &ani!ah". The &ana!i madhab, entitled a!te$ the Imam, ".$ead !a$ and wide du$in+ the time ! the Pttaman Om.i$e. T day, m $e than hal! the mu"lim" n the ea$th .e$! $m thei$ ìbabadah acc $din+ t the &ana!i madhab. The &ana!i "ch l ha" decided c u$t ca"e" in the ma' $ity ! I"lamic land" ! $ the +$eate$ .a$t ! I"lamic hi"t $y, includin+ the Abba"i" and Pttaman .e$i d". N t nly wa" Imam Abu &ani!ahM" e<t$a $dina$y mind and %n wled+e " methin+ t be admi$ed but " t wa" hi" e<em.la$y cha$acte$ and .iety. Dhahabi w$ite" "Acc unt" ! hi" .iety and de# ti n ha#e $eached a de+$ee ! tawatu$" (i.e. an unb$ %en chain ! unc nt$adicted na$$ati n"). &e wa" +i#en the title ! the )NL4e+M by " me, ! $ hi" c ntinu u" "tandin+ in .$aye$, !ten $ecitin+ the enti$e >u$Man in hi" ni+htly $a%ah". &e .e$! $med the @a'$ .$aye$ with the abluti n made ! $ the I"ha .$aye$" ! $ ! $ty yea$", (due t him .$ayin+ the wh le ni+ht th$ u+h). It i" $e. $ted that he had $ecited the wh le >u$Man "e#en th u"and time" in the .lace whe$e he died. &e ea$nt hi" li#in+ th$ u+h t$ade, "endin+ + c in" t the . $ ! $ hi" .a$ent"M " ul". d" t the$ .lace" and with the ea$nin+" he met the need" ! hi" "tudent". &e +a#e much t cha$ity and e#e$y @$iday he w uld di"t$ibute twenty + ld In the yea$ 1H= A.&, Abu &ani!ah wa" "ent t .$i" n by /an"u$, the leade$ at the time, a!te$ the ImamM" $e!u"al t "tate that /an"u$ wa" the $i+ht!ul %hali!a, a" well a" $e!u"in+ the . "iti n ! .$e"idency ! the "u.$eme c u$t in $ec m.en"e. 0hil"t in .$i" n Imam Abu &ani!ah wa" th$a"hed with a "tic%. /an"u$ $e.ented and "ent the Imam m ney, nly t be $e!u"ed a+ain. 3y n w Imam Abu &ani!ah had bec me well %n wn and th u"and" !l c%ed t meet and "ee% hi" .ini n whe$e#e$ he went. &i" im.$i" nment !a$ !$ m $educed hi" . .ula$ity, and /an"u$ $eali"ed that he w uld ha#e t t$eat the Imam ca$e!ully, thu" he all wed him t teach whil"t "till in .$i" n. /an"u$ !inally decided t d away with the +$eat Imam and had him . i" ned. Abu &ani!ah !eelin+ the e!!ect" ! the . i" n, bent d wn in .$aye$ and died in the m nth n ?a'ab. New" ! the ImamM" death $eached !a$ and wide, and th u"and" +athe$ed at the .$i" n. The city >adi wa"hed hi" b dy, and %e.t $e.eatin+ "by ( d y u we$e the +$eate"t !a1ih and the m "t .i u" man ! u$ time....".
3y the time the bathin+ wa" !ini"hed " many .e .le had a""embled that the !une$al .$aye$ wa" .e$! $med attended by !i!ty th u"and .e .le. The ($eat Imam died in 3a+hdad in 150 A.& at the a+e ! "e#enty. /ay Allah ("wt) be .lea"ed with him. Ameen.
Ibn "ali# /ali% ibn Ana" ibn "ali# ibn Àm$, al-Imam, Abu Àbd Allah al-&umya$i al-A"bahi al/adani (KB-1QK), the $ha%#h of Islam, 4$ ! ! the - mmunity, Imam ! the Ab de ! Omi+$ati n, and 8n wled+eable ,ch la$ ! /adina .$edicted by the 4$ .het. The "ec nd ! the ! u$ ma' $ mu'tahid imam", wh "e "ch l !illed N $th A!$ica, al-Andalu", much ! O+y.t, and " me ! al-,ham, ;emen, ,udan, I$a1, and 8hu$a"an. &e i" the auth $ ! al-/uwatta9 ("The A..$ #ed"), ! $med ! the " und na$$ati n" ! the 4$ .het !$ m the .e .le ! the &i'a* t +ethe$ with the "ayin+" ! the - m.ani n", the @ ll we$", and th "e a!te$ them. It wa" hailed by al,ha!iì a" the " unde"t b c $$ect b % n ea$th a!te$ the >u$9an, nea$e"t b % n ea$th t the >u$9an, m "t % t "e#enty 'u$i"t" ! % n ea$th a!te$ the >u$9an, and m "t bene!icial b % n ea$th a!te$ the >u$9an
acc $din+ t ! u$ "e.a$ate na$$ati n". /ali% "aid5 "I "h wed my b
/adina, and e#e$y "in+le ne ! them a..$ #ed me ! $ it (%ulluhum w)ta9ani àlayh), " I named it FThe A..$ #ed9." Imam al-3u%ha$i "aid that the " unde"t ! all chain" ! t$an"mi""i n wa" "/ali%, !$ m Na!i`, !$ m Ibn Àma$." The "ch la$" ! hadith call it the ( lden -hain, and the$e a$e ei+hty na$$ati n" with thi" chain in the /uwatta9. Am n+ th "e /ali% na$$ated !$ m in the /uwatta95 Ayyub al-,a%htyani, 6a`!a$ ibn /uhammad (al-,adi1), Dayd ibn A"lam, Àta9 al-8hu$a"ani, al-Duh$i, Ibn al-/un%adi$, Àl1ama, Na!i` the !$eedman ! Ibn Àma$, and the$". Am n+ th "e wh na$$ated !$ m /ali%5 al-Duh$i, Ibn 6u$ay', Abu &ani!a, al-Aw*aì, ,u!yan al-Thaw$i, ,hu`ba, Ibn al-/uba$a%, /uhammad ibn al-&a"an, Àbd al-?ahman ibn /ahdi, 0a%i`, ;ahya al->attan, al-,ha!iì, Ibn 0ahb, Abu Dawud alTayali"i, Àbd al-?a**a1, and many the$". The 4$ .het "aid5 "Re$y " n will .e .le beat the !lan%" ! camel" in "ea$ch ! %n wled+e, and they "hall !ind n - ne m $e %n wled+eable than the %n wled+eable "ch la$ ! /adina." AlTi$midhi, al->adi Ìyad, Dhahabi and the$" $elate !$ m ,u!yan ibn Àyayna, Àbd al-?a**a1, Ibn /ahdi, Ibn /aìn, Dhu9ayb ibn Ìmama, Ibn al-/adini, and the$" that they c n"ide$ed that "ch la$ t be /ali% ibn Ana". It i" al" $elated !$ m Ibn Àyayna that he late$ c n"ide$ed it t be Àbd Allah ibn Àbd al-À*i* al-Àma$i. Al-Dhahabi "aid ! the latte$5 "&e . ""e""ed %n wled+e
and +
d !i1h, ". %e the t$uth !ea$le""ly, $de$ed +
d, and $emained al ! !$ m " ciety. &e u"ed
t .$e"" /ali% in .$i#ate t $en unce the w $ld and "eclude him"el!." Abu /u"àb "aid5 "/ali% did n t .$ay in c n+$e+ati n Cin the 4$ .het9" m "1ueE ! $ twenty-!i#e yea$". &e wa" a"%ed5 F0hat i" .$e#entin+ y uG9 &e "aid5 F2e"t I "ee " methin+ $e.$ehen"ible and be bli+ated t chan+e it.9" An the$ na$$ati n !$ m Abu /u"àb "tate"5 "A!te$ /ali% le!t the C4$ .het9"E m "1ue he u"ed t .$ay in hi" h u"e with a c n+$e+ati n that ! ll wed him, and he .$ayed the 6umà .$aye$ al ne in hi" h u"e." Ibn ,a`d na$$ate" !$ m /uhammad ibn Àma$5 "/ali% u"ed t c me t the / "1ue and .$ay the .$aye$" and the 6umà, a" well a" the !une$al .$aye$". &e u"ed t #i"it the "ic% and "it in the / "1ue whe$e hi" c m.ani n" w uld came and "aw him. Then he 1uit "ittin+ the$e, in"tead he w uld .$ay and lea#e, and he 1uit attendin+ the !une$al .$aye$". Then he 1uit e#e$ythin+, neithe$ attendin+ the .$aye$" n $ the 6umà in the m "1ue. N $ w uld he #i"it any ne wh wa" "ic% $ the$ than that. The .e .le b $e with it, ! $ they we$e e<t$emely ! nd ! him and $e".ected him t much. Thi" la"ted until he died. I! a"%ed % ! $med e<clu"i#ely ! " und ab ut it, he "aid5 FN t e#e$y ne can menti n hi" e<cu"e.9" Ibn Àbd al-3a$$ "aid that /ali% wa" the !i$"t wh c m.iled a b al-3u%ha$i9" b na$$ati n". Abu 3a%$ ibn al-À$abi "aid5 "The /uwatta9 i" the !i$"t ! undati n and the c $e, while % i" the "ec nd ! undati n in thi" $e".ect. A. n the"e tw all the $e"t ha#e built, l" ! 2aw, which "tand in $elati n t it li%e the c mmenta$y "uch a" /u"lim and al-Ti$midhi." ,hah 0ali Allah "aid " methin+ "imila$ and added that it i" the .$inci.al auth $ity ! all ! u$ ,ch "tand" in $elati n t the main te<t. /ali% c m. "ed it in the c u$"e ! ! $ty yea$", ha#in+ "ta$ted with ten th u"and na$$ati n" until he $educed them t thei$ .$e"ent numbe$ ! unde$ 2,000. Al-,uyuti "aid5 "The$e i" n mu$"al na$$ati n in the /uwatta9 e<ce.t it ha" ne $ "e#e$al "t$en+thenin+ .$ !" (`)did aw àw)did)." Ibn Àbd al-3a$$ c m. "ed a b % in which he li"ted all the na$$ati n" ! the /uwatta9 that a$e eithe$ mu$"al, $ mun1ati`, $ mu`dal, and he .$ #ided c m.lete " und chain" ! $ all ! them e<ce.t ! u$5 "In t$uth I d n t ! $+et, but I am made t ! $+et " that I "hall "ta$t a ,unna." Thi" i" the "ec nd hadith in the b % ! ,ahw. b$ie! t $each the am unt ! "The 4$ .het wa" "h wn the li!e".an" ! .e .le be! $e hi" time, $ whate#e$ Allah willed ! it, and "eemed ala$med that the li!e".an" ! hi" - mmunity we$e t deed" $eached by .$e#i u" c mmunitie" wh li#ed l n+. 0he$eu. n Allah +a#e him the / "t 4$eci u" Ni+ht (layla al-1ad$), which i" bette$ than a th u"and m nth"." Thi" i" the !i!teenth hadith in the b % ! I`ti%a!.
10
/uàdh ibn 6abal "aid5 "The la"t in"t$ucti n I $ecei#ed !$ m Allah9" /e""en+e$ when I .ut my ! t in the "ti$$u. wa"5 F3eauti!y y u$ manne$" ! $ the .e .le, P /uàdh ibn 6abal:9" Thi" i" the % ! &u"n al-8hulu1. % ! I"ti"1a9. !i$"t hadith ! the b
"I! cl ud" a..ea$ t wa$d" the "ea then + n $thwa$d", that i" the ma$% ! hea#yi"h $ain." Thi" i" the !i!th hadith ! the b Am n+ the hadith ma"te$", al-Ì$a1i and hi" "tudent Ibn &a'a$ a+$eed with Ibn Àbd al-3a$$ that the ab #e ! u$ hadith" ha#e n chain, but the$" ! ll w a di!!e$ent #iew5 ,hay%h /uhammad al,hin1iti menti ned in hi" Dalil al-,ali% ila /uwatta9 al-Imam /ali% (.. 1H) that ,hay%h ,alih al@ulani al-Àma$i al-/adani "aid5 "Ibn al-,alah .$ #ided c m.lete chain" ! $ the ! u$ hadith" in 1ue"ti n in an inde.endent e.i"tle which I ha#e in my . ""e""i n, w$itten in hi" wn hand." ,hay%h Ahmad ,ha%i$ "aid5 "3ut al-,hin1iti did n t menti n what the"e chain" we$e, and " the "ch la$" cann t 'ud+e n the 1ue"ti n." Al-Du$1ani c unted a" "i<ty-nine the numbe$ ! th "e wh na$$ated the /uwatta9 di$ectly !$ m /ali%, +e +$a.hically ".$ead a" ! ll w"5 - ,e#enteen in /adina, am n+ them Abu /u"àb Ahmad ibn Abi 3a%$ al-Duh$i, wh "e #e$"i n ha" $ecei#ed a $ecent editi nI - Tw in /ecca, am n+ them al-,ha!iìI - Ten in O+y.t, am n+ them Àbd Allah ibn 0ahb, Àbd Allah ibn ;u"u! al-Tinni"i al-Dima"h1i, wh "e na$$ati n al-3u%ha$i ch "e, and Dhu al-Nun al-/i"$iI - Twenty-"e#en in I$a1, am n+ them Àbd al-?ahman ibn /ahdi, wh "e na$$ati n Ahmad ibn &anbal ch "e, ;ahya ibn ;ahya al-Tamimi al-&an*ali al-Nay"abu$i, wh "e na$$ati n /u"lim ch "e, and Abu &ani!a9" "tudent /uhammad ibn al-&a"an al-,haybani, wh "e #e$"i n ha" been .ubli"hed but +$eatly di!!e$" !$ m the the$" and al" c ntain" the$ than what i" na$$ated !$ m /ali%, " that it became %n wn a" /uwatta9 /uhammadI - Thi$teen in al-Andalu", am n+ them the 'u$i"t ;ahya ibn ;ahya al-2aythi "the ,a+e ! alAndalu"" S thu" nic%named by /ali% him"el! S wh "e #e$"i n i" the m "t c mm nly u"ed t day and i" the #e$"i n meant by the te$m "/ali%9" /uwatta9." &e i" mainly $e". n"ible ! $ the ".$ead ! the /ali%i ,ch - Tw !$ m Tuni"I - ,e#en !$ m al-,ham. Imam /ali% i" the c nnecti n ! the enti$e I"lamic - mmunity t the %n wled+e ! the ,unna a" it wa" .$e"e$#ed by the "ch la$" ! the 4$ .het9" city, al-/adina. Thi" $e!e$ence-. int ! hi" "ch l ! 'u$i".$udence i" b"e$#ed time and a+ain in the /uwatta9 with the .h$a"e5 "And thi" i" l in al-Andalu". - Tw !$ m al->ay$awanI
11
what I ha#e ! und ( $ "een) the .e .le ! %n wled+e .$acticin+." &e wa" %eenly awa$e ! hi" mi""i n a" b th the t$an"mitte$ and the elucidat $ ! the ,unna. Thi" i" cha$acte$i"tic ! hi" "tudent"9 .$ai"e ! him, be+innin+ with al-,ha!iì9" !am u" "ayin+"5 "N - ne c n"titute" a" +$eat a !a# $ t me in Allah9" ?eli+i n a" /ali%" and "0hen the "ch la$" ! %n wled+e a$e menti ned, /ali% i" the +uidin+ "ta$." Àbd Allah ibn 0ahb "aid5 "O#e$y mem $i*e$ ! hadith that d e" n t ha#e an Imam in !i1h i" mi"+uided (d)ll), and i! Allah had n t $e"cued u" with /ali% and al-2ayth (ibn ,a`d), I w uld ha#e been mi"+uided." Abu /u"àb $ec unt" the ! ll win+ "t $y5 I went in t "ee /ali% ibn Ana". &e "aid t me5 "2 % unde$ my .lace ! .$aye$ $ .$aye$-mat and "ee what i" the$e." I l %ed and ! und a ce$tain w$itin+. &e "aid5 "?ead it." It c ntained the acc unt ! a d$eam which ne ! hi" b$ the$" had "een and which c nce$ned him. /ali% $ecited it C!$ m mem $yE5 "I "aw the 4$ .het in my "lee.. &e wa" in hi" m "1ue and the .e .le we$e +athe$ed a$ und him, and he "aid5 FI ha#e hidden ! $ y u unde$ my .ul.it (minba$) " methin+ + d T $5 %n wled+e T and I ha#e $de$ed /ali% t di"t$ibute it t the .e .le.9" Then /ali% we.t, " I + t u. and le!t him. The cali.h Abu 6a`!a$ al-/an"u$ had ! $bidden /ali% t na$$ate the hadith5 "The di# $ce ! the c e$ced d e" n t ta%e e!!ect" (lay"a àla mu"ta%$ahin U li mu%$ahin tal)1). Then a ".y came t /ali% and a"%ed him ab ut the i""ue, whe$eu. n /ali% na$$ated the hadith in !$ nt ! e#e$y ne. &e wa" "ei*ed and la"hed until hi" "h ulde$ wa" di"l cated and he .a""ed ut. 0hen he came t , he "aid5 "&e Cal-/an"u$E i" ab" l#ed ! my la"hin+." 0hen a"%ed why he had ab" l#ed him, /ali% $e.lied5 "I !ea$ed t meet the 4$ .het a!te$ bein+ the cau"e ! $ the .e$diti n ! ne ! hi" $elati#e"." Ib$ahim ibn &ammad "aid he "aw /ali% bein+ ca$$ied u. and wal%in+ away, ca$$yin+ ne ! hi" hand" with the the$. Then they "ha#ed hi" !ace and he wa" m unted n a camel and .a$aded. &e wa" $de$ed t de.$ecate him"el! al ud, whe$eu. n he "aid5 "0h e#e$ %n w" me, %n w" meI wh e#e$ d e" n t %n w me, my name i" /ali% ibn Ana", and I "ay5 The di# $ce ! the c e$ced i" null and # id:" 0hen new" ! thi" $eached 6a`!a$ ibn ,ulayman (d. 1Q5) the + #e$n $ ! /adina and c u"in ! al-/an"u$, he "aid5 "3$in+ him d wn, let him + ." Imam /ali% held the hadith ! the 4$ .het in "uch $e#e$ence that he ne#e$ na$$ated anythin+ n $ +a#e a !atwa unle"" in a "tate ! $itual .u$ity. I"maìl ibn Abi Away" "aid5 "I a"%ed my uncle S /ali% S ab ut " methin+. &e bade me "it, made abluti n, "at n the c uch, and "aid5 la hawla wa la 1uwwata illa billah. &e did n t +i#e a !atwa e<ce.t he "aid it !i$"t." Al-&aytham "aid5 "I hea$d /ali% bein+ a"%ed ! $ty ei+ht 1ue"ti n", t thi$ty-tw my c m.etence t d it." ! which he $e.lied5 FI d n t %n w.9" Abu /u"àb $e. $ted that /ali% "aid5 "I did n t +i#e !atwa" be! $e "e#enty "ch la$" !i$"t witne""ed t
12
/ali%9" ethic", t +ethe$ with the "tate" ! awe and em ti n which we$e b"e$#ed n him by hi" ent u$a+e, we$e n d ubt .a$tly inhe$ited !$ m +$eat "hay%h" ! hi" "uch a" 6a`!a$ al-,adi1, Ibn &u$mu*, and Ibn ,hihab al-Duh$i. &e #i"ited hi" "hay%h Ibn &u$mu* (d. 1HJ) e#e$y day !$ m m $nin+ t ni+ht ! $ a .e$i d ! ab ut ei+ht yea$" and $ec unt"5 "I w uld c me t Ibn &u$mu*, whe$eu. n he w uld $de$ the "e$#ant t cl "e the d $ and let d wn the cu$tain, then he w uld "ta$t ".ea%in+ ! the be+innin+ ! thi" Amma, and tea$" w uld "t$eam d wn hi" bea$d." The /ali%i "hay%h Ibn >un!udh al->u"antini (d. J10) w$ te5 It wa" the .$actice ! the 4i u" 4$edece"" $" and the Imam" ! the .a"t that whene#e$ the 4$ .het wa" menti ned in thei$ .$e"ence they we$e #e$whelmed by $e#e$ence, humblene"", "tillne"", and di+nity. 6a`!a$ ibn /uhammad ibn Àli ibn al-&u"ayn ibn Àli ibn Abi Talib w uld tu$n .ale whene#e$ he hea$d the 4$ .het menti ned. Imam /ali% w uld n t menti n a hadith e<ce.t in a "tate ! $itual .u$ity. Àbd al-?ahman ibn al->a"im ibn /uhammad ibn Abu 3a%$ al-,iddi1 w uld tu$n $ed and "tamme$ whene#e$ he hea$d the 4$ .het menti ned. A" ! $ Àmi$ ibn Àbd Allah ibn al-Dubay$ ibn al-Àwamm al-A"adi ( ne ! the ea$ly ,u!i"), he w uld wee. until hi" eye" had n tea$" le!t in them. 0hen any hadith" we$e menti ned in thei$ .$e"ence they w uld l we$ thei$ # ice". /ali% "aid5 "The 4$ .het9" "ac$edne"" (hu$ma) i" in death i" a" hi" "ac$edne"" wa" in li!e." >utayba "aid5 "0hen we went t "ee /ali%, he w uld c me ut t u" ad $ned, wea$in+ %uhl n hi" eye", .e$!umed, wea$in+ hi" be"t cl the", "it at the head ! the ci$cle, call ! $ .alm-lea! !an", and +i#e each ne ! u" a !an." /uhammad ibn Àma$5 "/ali%9" ci$cle wa" a ci$cle ! di+nity and c u$te"y. &e wa" a man ! ma'e"tic c untenance and n blity. The$e wa" n .a$t ! $ "el!-di".lay, #ain tal%, $ l ud ".eech in hi" ci$cle. &i" $eade$ w uld $ead ! $ all, and n - ne l %ed int hi" wn b %, n $ a"%ed 1ue"ti n", ut ! awe be! $e /ali% and ut ! $e".ect ! $ him." 0hen the cali.h al-/ahdi "ent hi" " n" &a$un and /u"a t lea$n !$ m /ali%, the latte$ w uld n t $ead t them but t ld them5 "The .e .le ! /adina $ead be! $e the "ch la$ 'u"t li%e child$en $ead t the teache$, and i! they ma%e a mi"ta%e, he c $$ect" them." ,imila$ly when &a$un al-?a"hid with hi" wn tw " n" $e1ue"ted /ali% t $ead ! $ them, he $e.lied5 "I ha#e "t ..ed $eadin+ ! $ anyb dy a l n+ time a+ ." 0hen &a$un $e1ue"ted the .e .le t lea#e " that he c uld $ead !$eely be! $e /ali%, the latte$ al" $e!u"ed and "aid5 "I! the c mm n .e .le a$e ! $bidden t attend becau"e ! the .a$ticula$", the latte$ will n t .$ !it." It i" %n wn that /ali%9" way in the t$an"mi""i n ! hadith, li%e Ibn al-/u"ayyib, À$wa, al->a"im, ,alim, Na!i`, al-Duh$i, and the$", wa" à$d ("$eadin+ by the "tudent") and n t "am)` ("auditi n !$ m the "hay%h"), alth u+h the "tudent "tate" by c n#enti n, in b th ca"e"5 ", -and-" na$$ated t u"."
1B
The cali.h &a$un al-?a"hid "aid t /ali% a!te$ hea$in+ hi" an"we$" t ce$tain 1ue"ti n" he .ut t him5 "; u a$e, by Allah: the wi"e"t ! .e .le and the m "t %n wled+eable ! .e .le." /ali% $e.lied5 "N , by Allah: P 2eade$ ! the 3elie#e$"." &e "aid5 ";e": 3ut y u %ee. it hidden. 3y Allah: I! I li#e, I "hall .ut y u$ "ayin+" in w$itin+ li%e the mu"ha!" a$e .ut d wn in w$itin+, and I "hall di""eminate them t the end" ! the w $ld." 3ut /ali% $e!u"ed. 0hen ne ! the cali.h" mani!e"ted hi" intenti n t $e.lace the 4$ .het9" w den .ul.it with a .ul.it ! "il#e$ and 'ewel" /ali% "aid5 "I d n t c n"ide$ + Am n+ /ali%9" "ayin+"5 @$ m Ibn 0ahb5 "8n wled+e Allah .lace" whe$e#e$ &e will". It d e" n t c n"i"t in na$$atin+ a l t." @$ m Ibn 0ahb5 "The "ayin+ ha" $eached methat n ne $en unce" the w $ld and +ua$d" him"el! e<ce.t he will ".ea% wi"d m." @$ m Ibn 0ahb5 "8n wled+e dimini"he" and d e" n t inc$ea"e. 8n wled+e ha" dimini"hed ince""antly a!te$ the 4$ .het" and the 3 %"." @$ m Àbd Allah ibn Àbd al-&a%am5 "The - m.ani n" di!!e$ed in the 3$anche" (al-!u$S`) and ".lit int !acti n" (ta!a$$a1S), and each ne ! them wa" c $$ect in him"el!." @$ m 6a`!a$ ibn Àbd Allah5 "0e we$e with /ali% when a man came and a"%ed him5 FP Abu Àbd Allah: "The /e$ci!ul i" e"tabli"hed #e$ the Th$ ne" (2055)5 h w i" &e e"tabli"hedG9 N thin+ a!!ected /ali% a" much a" that man9" 1ue"ti n. &e l %ed at the +$ und and "ta$ted .$ ddin+ it with a twi+ he held in hi" hand until he wa" c m.letely " a%ed in "weat. Then he li!ted hi" head and "aid5 FThe "h w" ! it i" inc ncei#ableI the "e"tabli"hment" .a$t ! it i" n t un%n wnI belie! in it i" bli+at $yI a"%in+ ab ut it i" an inn #ati nI and I belie#e that y u a$e a man ! inn #ati n.9 Then he +a#e an $de$ and the man wa" led ut." @$ m Ibn 0ahb5 "0e we$e with /ali% when a man a"%ed him5 FP Abu Àbd Allah: "The /e$ci!ul i" e"tabli"hed #e$ the Th$ ne" (2055)5 h w i" &i" e"tabli"hmentG9 /ali% l we$ed hi" head and be+an t "weat .$ !u"ely. Then he li!ted u. hi" head and "aid5 F"The /e$ci!ul i" e"tabli"hed #e$ the Th$ ne" 'u"t a" &e de"c$ibed &im"el!. Pne cann t a"% "h w." "& w" d e" n t a..ly t &im. And y u a$e an e#il man, a man ! inn #ati n. Ta%e him ut:9 The man wa" led ut." @$ m ;ahya ibn ;ahya al-Tamimi and /ali%9" "hay%h ?abià ibn Abi Àbd al-?ahman5 "0e we$e with /ali% when a man came and a"%ed him5 FP Abu Àbd Allah: "The /e$ci!ul i" e"tabli"hed #e$ the Th$ ne" (2055)5 h w i" &e e"tabli"hedG9 /ali% l we$ed hi" head and $emained thu" until he wa" c m.letely " a%ed in "weat. Then he "aid5 FThe e"tabli"hment i" n t d the hind$ance ! the .e .le !$ m acce"" t the 4$ .het9" $elic"." (l) a$a an yuh$ama al-n)"u atha$a $a"ulillah.)
1H
un%n wnI the "h w" i" inc ncei#ableI belie! in it i" bli+at $yI a"%in+ ab ut it i" an inn #ati nI and I d n t thin% that y u a$e anythin+ but an inn #at $.9 Then he $de$ed that the man be led ut." @$ m /a`n5 "Di".utati n (al-'id)l) in the ?eli+i n ! "te$" "el!-di".lay, d e" away with the li+ht ! the hea$t and ha$den" it, and be1ueath" aimle"" wande$in+." @$ m /a`n and the$"5 "The$e a$e ! u$ ty.e" ! na$$at $" ne d e" n t ta%e !$ m5 An ut$i+ht "c !!e$, e#en i! he i" the +$eate"t na$$at $I an inn #at $ wh in#ite" .e .le t hi" inn #ati nI " me ne wh lie" ab ut .e .le, e#en i! I d n t cha$+e him with mendacity in hadithI and a $i+hte u", h n $able w $"hi..e$ i! he d e" n t mem $i*e what he na$$ate"." /ali%9" la"t clau"e $e!e$" t the tw c nditi n" "ine 1ua n n ! the t$u"tw $thy na$$at $, wh mu"t . ""e"" n t nly m $al u.$i+htne"" (àd)la) but al" accu$acy in t$an"mi""i n (dabt). The clau"e elucidate" the .a$ad < cu$$ent am n+ hadith "ch la$" whe$eby "N - ne lie" m $e than the $i+hte u"." The $ea" n ! $ thi" i" that the $i+hte u" d n t d ubt the /u"lim9" att$ibuti n ! a "ayin+ t hi" 4$ .het, and " they acce.t it with ut "u".ici n, whe$ea" al-,ha!iì "aid5 "I! /ali% had the "li+hte"t d ubt ab ut a hadith, he di"ca$ded the enti$e hadith." D$. Nu$ al-Din Ìt$ "aid5 "The manne$ ! the $i+hte u" wh na$$ate e#e$ythin+ indi"c$iminately "tem" !$ m .u$ity ! hea$t and + d .ini n, and the "ch la$" ha#e "aid ab ut "uch na$$at $"5 F2ie" $un !! thei$ t n+ue with ut thei$ intendin+ it.9" The$e i" a !undamental di!!e$ence between the latte$ and th "e wh delibe$ately ! $+e lie" $ na$$ate ! $+e$ie" .a""ed ! $ hadith, and wh a$e c ndemned by the 4$ .het9" "ayin+5 "0h e#e$ lie" ab ut me will!ully, let him ta%e n w hi" "eat in the @i$e:" @$ m Ibn al->a"im5 "/ali% u"ed t "ay5 F3elie! inc$ea"e".9 &e w uld "t . "h $t ! "ayin+ that it dec$ea"e"." @$ m Ibn Abi al-Dubay$5 "I "aw Àta9 ibn Abi ?abah ente$ the C4$ .het9"E / "1ue, then ta%e h ld ! the . mmel ! the 4ul.it, a!te$ which he !aced the >ibla Ct .$ayE." In the /uwatta95 ",ha#in+ the m u"tache i" an inn #ati n." It i" el"ewhe$e $elated that /ali% him"el! wa" tall, hea#y"et, im. "in+ ! "tatu$e, #e$y !ai$, with white hai$ and bea$d but bald, with a hu+e bea$d and blue eye"I he "dete"ted and c ndemned" "ha#in+ ! the m u"tache, and he alway" w $e beauti!ul cl the", e".ecially white. Na$$ated by Ibn Abi Dayd5 "The tu$ban wa" w $n !$ m the be+innin+ ! I"lam and it did n t cea"e t be w $n until u$ time. I did n t "ee any ne am n+ the 4e .le ! O<cellence e<ce.t they w $e the tu$ban, "uch a" ;ahya ibn ,aìd, ?abià, and Ibn &u$mu*. I w uld "ee in ?abià9" ci$cle m $e than thi$ty men wea$in+ tu$ban" and I wa" ne ! themI ?abià did n t .ut it d wn until the 4leiade" $ "e and he u"ed t "ay5 FI "wea$ that I !ind it inc$ea"e" intelli+ence.9 6ib$il wa" "een in the ima+e ! (the - m.ani n) Dihya (ibn 8hali!a) al-8albi wea$in+ a tu$ban with it" e<t$emity
15
han+in+ between hi" "h ulde$-blade"." A"hhab "aid5 "0hen /ali% w $e the tu$ban he .a""ed it unde$ hi" chin and let it" e<t$emity han+ behind hi" bac%, and he w $e mu"% and the$ "cent"." /ain " u$ce"5 Abu Nuàym, &ilya al-Awliya9 =5BH5-BK2 VBJ=I al-Dhahabi, ,iya$ A`lam alNubala9 Q5BJ2-HBQ V11J0I /. @ uad Àbd al-3a1i, Int$ ducti n t /ali%9" /uwatta9.
al-Imam al-$hafiì /uhammad ibn Id$i" ibn al-Àbba", al-Imam al-$hafiì, Abu Àbd Allah al-,ha!iì al&i'a*i al->u$a"hi al-&a"himi al-/uttalibi (d. 20H), the !!".$in+ ! the & u"e ! the 4$ .het, the .ee$le"" ne ! the +$eat mu'tahid imam" and 'u$i".$udent .a$ e<cellence, the "c$u.ul u"ly .i u" a"cetic and @$iend ! Allah, he laid d wn the ! undati n" ! !i1h in hi" ?i"ala, which he "aid he $e#i"ed and $e-$ead ! u$ hund$ed time", then "aid5 "Pnly Allah9" 3 % i" .e$!ect and !$ee !$ m e$$ $." &e i" the c u"in ! the 4$ .het S Allah9" ble""in+" and .eace u. n him S de"cendin+ !$ m al/uttalib wh i" the b$ the$ ! &a"him, Àbd al-/uttalib9" !athe$. , me ne .$ai"ed the 3anu &a"him in !$ nt ! the 4$ .het, whe$eby he inte$laced the !in+e$" ! hi" tw hand" and "aid5 "0e and they a$e but ne and the "ame thin+." Al-Nawawi li"ted th$ee .eculia$ me$it" ! al-,ha!iì5 hi" "ha$in+ the 4$ .het9" linea+e at the le#el ! thei$ c mm n ance"t $ Àbd /ana!I hi" bi$th in the & ly 2and ! 4ale"tine and u.b$in+in+ in /eccaI and hi" educati n at the hand" ! "u.e$lati#e "ch la$" t +ethe$ with hi" wn "u.e$lati#e intelli+ence and %n wled+e ! the A$abic lan+ua+e. T thi" Ibn &a'a$ added tw m $e5 the hadith ! the 4$ .het, "P Allah: (uide >u$ay"h, ! $ the "cience ! the "ch la$ that c me" !$ m them will enc m.a"" the ea$th. P Allah: ; u ha#e let the !i$"t ! them ta"te bitte$ne"", " let the latte$ ! them ta"te $ewa$d." An the$ hadith ! the 4$ .het "ay"5 "T$uly, Allah "hall "end ! $th ! $ thi" - mmunity, at the n"et ! e#e$y hund$ed yea$", " me ne wh will $enew thei$ ?eli+i n ! $ them." The "ch la$" a+$eed, am n+ them Abu >ilaba (d. 2Q=) and Imam Ahmad, that the !i$"t na$$ati n "i+ni!ied al-,ha!iì, and the "ec nd "i+ni!ied Àma$ ibn Àbd al-À*i* and then al-,ha!iì. &e wa" b $n in (ha**a $ À"1alan in 150, the yea$ ! Abu &ani!a9" death, and m #ed t /ecca at the a+e ! tw , ! ll win+ hi" !athe$9" death, whe$e he +$ew u.. &e wa" ea$ly a "%ill!ul a$che$, then he t % t lea$nin+ lan+ua+e and . et$y until he +a#e him"el! t !i1h, be+innin+ with hadith. &e mem $i*ed the >u$9an at a+e "e#en, then /ali%9" /uwatta9 at a+e ten, at which time hi"
1=
teache$ w uld de.uti*e him t teach in hi" ab"ence. At a+e thi$teen he went t "ee /ali%, wh wa" im.$e""ed by hi" mem $y and intelli+ence. /ali% ibn Ana" and /uhammad ibn al-&a"an al-,haybani we$e am n+ hi" m "t .$ minent teache$" and he t % . "iti n a+ain"t b th ! them in !i1h. Al-,ha!iì "aid5 "@$ m /uhammad ibn al-&a"an I w$ te a camel-l ad." Al-&a%im na$$ated !$ m Àbd Allah ibn Àbd al-&a%am5 "Al,ha!iì ne#e$ cea"ed t ".ea% acc $din+ t /ali%9" . "iti n and he w uld "ay5 F0e d n t di!!e$ !$ m him the$ than in the way ! hi" c m.ani n",9 until " me y un+ men ". %e unbec min+ly at len+th behind hi" bac%, whe$eu. n al-,ha!iì $e" l#ed t .ut hi" di!!e$ence" with /ali% in w$itin+. Pthe$wi"e, hi" wh le li!e he w uld "ay, whene#e$ a"%ed " methin+5 FThi" i" what the Teache$ "aid9 S h)dha 1awl al-u"tadh S meanin+ /ali%." 2i%e Abu &ani!a and al-3u%ha$i, he $ecited the enti$e >u$9an each day at .$aye$, and twice a day in the m nth ! ?amadan. Al-/u*ani "aid5 "I ne#e$ "aw ne m $e hand" me ! !ace than al-,ha!iì. I! he +$a".ed hi" bea$d it w uld n t e<ceed hi" !i"t." Ibn ?ahuyah de"c$ibed him in /ecca a" wea$in+ b$i+ht white cl the" with an inten"ely blac% bea$d. Al-Da`!a$ani "aid that when he wa" in 3a+hdad in the yea$ 1K5 he dyed hi" bea$d with henna. Abu Àbayd al->a"im ibn ,allam "aid5 "I! the intelli+ence ! an enti$e nati n wa" b$ u+ht t +ethe$ he w uld ha#e enc m.a""ed it." ,imila$ly, al-/u*ani "aid5 "I ha#e been l ,ha!iì9" ?i"ala ! $ !i!ty yea$", and I d n t $ecall a "in+le time I l " me new bene!it." Al-,a%hawi in the int$ ducti n t hi" al-6awahi$ wa al-Du$a$ and the$" na$$ate that " me ne c$itici*ed Ahmad ibn &anbal ! $ attendin+ the !i1h "e""i n" ! al-,ha!iì and lea#in+ the hadith "e""i n" ! ,u!yan ibn Àyayna. Ahmad $e.lied5 "8ee. 1uiet: I! y u mi"" a hadith with a "h $te$ chain y u can !ind it el"ewhe$e with a l n+e$ chain and it will n t ha$m y u. 3ut i! y u d n t ha#e the $ea" nin+ ! thi" man Cal-,ha!iìE, I !ea$ y u will ne#e$ be able t !ind it el"ewhe$e." Ahmad i" al" $elated by hi" "tudent" Abu Talib and &umayd ibn Dan'uyah t "ay5 "I ne#e$ "aw any ne adhe$e m $e t hadith than al-,ha!iì. N - ne .$eceded him in w$itin+ d wn the hadith in ab %." The meanin+ ! thi" i" that al-,ha!iì . ""e""ed the unde$"tandin+ ! hadith a!te$ which Ahmad " u+ht, a" e#idenced by the latte$9" "tatement5 "& w $a$e i" !i1h am n+ the "ch la$" ! hadith:" Thi" i" a $e!e$ence t the hadith5 "It may be ne ca$$ie" unde$"tandin+ (!i1h) with ut bein+ a .e$" n ! unde$"tandin+ (!a17h)." ,u!yan him"el! w uld de!e$ t al-,ha!iì in matte$" ! ta!"7$ and !atwa. ;unu" ibn Abi ;a`la "aid5 "0hene#e$ al-,ha!iì went int ta!"7$, it wa" a" i! he %in+ int al%ed at it with ut lea$nin+
1Q
had witne""ed the $e#elati n." Ahmad ibn &anbal al" "aid5 "N t ne ! the "ch la$" ! hadith t uched an in%well n $ a .en e<ce.t he wed a hu+e debt t al-,ha!iì." Al-,ha!iì wa" %n wn ! $ hi" .eculia$ "t$en+th in A$abic lan+ua+e, . et$y, and .hil l +y. 3ayha1i na$$ated5 C@$ m Ibn &i"ham5E I wa" al-,ha!iì9" "ittin+-c m.ani n ! $ a l n+ time, and I ne#e$ hea$d him u"e e<ce.t a w $d which, ca$e!ully c n"ide$ed, ne w uld n t !ind (in it" c nte<t) a bette$ w $d in the enti$e A$abic lan+ua+e. . . . Al-,ha!iì9" di"c u$"e, in $elati n t lan+ua+e, i" a .$ ! in it"el!. C@$ m al-&a"an ibn /uhammad al-Da`!a$ani5E A +$ u. ! bed uin" u"ed t !$e1uent al-,ha!iì9" +athe$in+ with u" and "it in a c $ne$. Pne day I a"%ed thei$ leade$5 "; u a$e n t inte$e"ted in "ch la$"hi.I why d y u %ee. c min+ t "it with u"G" They "aid5 "0e c me t hea$ al-,ha!iì9" lan+ua+e." Al-,ha!iì t$ d the .ath ! the ,ala! in a# idin+ any inte$.$etati n ! the #e$"e" and na$$ati n" .e$tainin+ t the di#ine att$ibute". &e .$acticed "$ele+ati n ! the meanin+" (ta!w7d al-mi`na) t a hi+he$ " u$ce, a" e"tabli"hed in hi" "ayin+5 "I lea#e the meanin+ ! the #e$"e" ! the Att$ibute" t Allah, and I lea#e the meanin+ ! the hadith" ! the att$ibute" t Allah9" /e""en+e$." At the "ame time, $a$e in"tance" ! inte$.$etati n a$e $ec $ded !$ m him. Thu" al-3ayha1i $elate" that al/u*ani $e. $ted !$ m al-,ha!iì the ! ll win+ c mmenta$y n the #e$"e5 "T Allah bel n+ the Oa"t and the 0e"t, and whe$e" e#e$ y u tu$n, the$e i" Allah9" !ace (wa'h)" (25115)5 "It mean" T and Allah %n w" be"t T thithe$ i" the bea$in+ (wa'h) t wa$d" which Allah ha" di$ected y u." Al&a%%a$i (d. HJ=) $elated in hi" b % À1ida al-,ha!iì that the latte$ "aid5 "0e a!!i$m th "e att$ibute", and we ne+ate !$ m them li%ene"" between them and c$eati n (al-ta"hb7h), 'u"t a" &e ne+ated it !$ m &im"el! when &e "aid5 FThe$e i" n thin+ what" e#e$ li%e unt &im9 (H2511)." Al-,ha!iì9" hat$ed ! dialectic the l +y (%al)m) wa" ba"ed n hi" e<t$eme cauti n a+ain"t e$$ $" which bea$ hea#y c n"e1uence" a" they induce ne int !al"e belie!". Am n+ hi" "ayin+" c nce$nin+ thi"5 "It i" bette$ ! $ a "ch la$ ! %n wled+e t +i#e a !atwa a!te$ which he i" "aid t be w$ n+ than t the l +i*e and then be "aid t be a he$etic (*ind71). I hate n thin+ m $e than the l +y and the l +ian"." Dhahabi c mment"5 "Thi" indicate" that Abu Àbd Allah9" . "iti n c nce$nin+ e$$ $ in the .$inci.le" ! the ?eli+i n (al-u"Sl) i" that it i" n t the "ame a" e$$ $ in the c u$"e ! "ch la$ly e<e$ti n in the b$anche"." The $ea" n i" that in belie! and d ct$ine neithe$ i'tih)d n $ di#e$+ence" a$e .e$mitted. In thi" $e".ect al-,ha!iì "aid5 "It cann t be a"%ed F0hyG9 c nce$nin+ the .$inci.le", n $ F& wG9" ;et al-,ha!iì did n t c m.letely cl "e the d $ t the u"e ! %al)m in de!en"e ! the ,unna, a" "h wn bel w and in the n tice n Ahmad ibn &anbal. ;unu" ibn Abi ;a`la na$$ated that al-,ha!iì de!ined the ".$inci.le"" a"5 "The >u$9an, the ,unna, anal +y (al-1iy)"), and c n"en"u" (al-i'm)`)"I he de!ined the latte$ t mean5 "The adhe$ence !
1J
the - n+$e+ati n ('am)à) ! the /u"lim" t the c nclu"i n" ! a +i#en $ulin+ .e$tainin+ t what i" .e$mitted and what i" ! $bidden a!te$ the .a""in+ ! the 4$ .het, ble""in+" and .eace be u. n him." Al-,ha!iì did n t cl "e the d $ n the $i+ht u"e ! %al)m a" i" clea$ !$ m Ibn Abi &atim9" na$$ati n !$ m al-?abi` ! hi" w $d"5 "I! I wi"hed, I c uld .$ duce a b % a+ain"t each ne ! th "e wh de#iated, but dialectic the l +y i" n ne ! my bu"ine"", and I w uld n t li%e t be att$ibuted any .a$t in it." ,imila$ t it i" hi" ad#ice t hi" "tudent al-/u*ani5 "Ta%e .$ !" !$ m c$eati n ab ut the -$eat $, and d n t bu$den y u$"el! with the %n wled+e ! what y u$ mind did n t $each." Ibn Abi &atim him"el! ". %e "imila$ly when he wa" t ld ! Ibn 8hu*ayma9" un"ucce""!ul attem.t at %al)m5 "It i" .$e!e$able n t t meddle with what we did n t lea$n." N te that al-,ha!iì al" ". %e ! hi" wi"h n t t ha#e a "in+le lette$ ut ! all hi" w $%" att$ibuted t him, $e+a$dle"" ! t .ic. Al-,ha!iì9" attitude t wa$d" ta"awwu! wa" a" "t$ict a" with %al)m, and he b th .$ai"ed it and deni+$ated it" abu"e at the hand" ! it" c $$u.te$". In c$itici"m ! the latte$ he "aid5 "N - ne bec me" a ,u!i in the m $nin+ e<ce.t he end" u. a d lt by n n" while n the the$ hand he decla$ed in hi" Diwan5 "3e at the "ame time a !a17h and a ,u!i." In /ecca al-,ha!iì wa" the "tudent ! @udayl ibn Ìyad. Imam al-Nawawi in hi" 3u"tan al-À$i!in !i al-Duhd wa al-Ta"awwu! ("The (a$den ! the (n "tic" in A"cetici"m and Ta"awwu!") na$$ated !$ m al-,ha!iì the "ayin+5 "Pnly the "ince$e ne (al-mu%hli") can $ec +ni*e "el!-di".lay (al-$iy)9)." Al-Nawawi c mment"5 "Thi" mean" that it i" im. ""ible t %n w the $eality ! "el!-di".lay and "ee it" hidden "hade" e<ce.t ! $ ne wh $e" lutely "ee%" (a$)da) "ince$ity. ,uch a ne "t$i#e" ! $ a l n+ time, "ea$chin+, meditatin+, e<aminin+ at len+th within him"el! until he %n w", $ %n w" " methin+ ! what "el!-di".lay i". Thi" d e" n t ha..en ! $ e#e$y ne. Indeed, thi" ha..en" nly with ".ecial ne" (al-%haw)""). 3ut ! $ a +i#en indi#idual t claim that he %n w" what "el!-di.lay i", thi" i" $eal i+n $ance n hi" .a$t." Al-,ha!iì de!e$$ed .$imacy in the ! undati n" ! !i1h t Imam Abu &ani!a with hi" !am u" "tatement5 "4e .le a$e all the child$en ! Abu &ani!a in !i1h." Ibn &a'a$ al-&aytami menti ned in the thi$ty-!i!th cha.te$ ! hi" b % n Imam Abu &ani!a entitled al-8hay$at al-&i"an5 "0hen Imam al-,ha!iì wa" in 3a+hdad, he w uld #i"it the +$a#e ! Imam Abu &ani!a, +$eet him, and then a"% Allah ! $ the !ul!illment ! hi" need th$ u+h hi" mean"." Tw "ch l" ! le+al th u+ht $ madhahib a$e actually att$ibuted t al-,ha!iì, en+l bin+ hi" l" a$e %n wn in the te$min l +y ! 'u$i"t" w$itin+" and le+al .ini n" (!at)wa). The"e tw "ch
a" "The Pld" (al-1ad7m) and "The New" (al-'ad7d), c $$e". ndin+ $e".ecti#ely t hi" "tay" in I$a1 and O+y.t. The m "t .$ minent t$an"mitte$" ! the New am n+ al-,ha!iì9" "tudent" a$e al-
1K
3uwayti, al-/u*ani, al-?abi` al-/u$adi, and al-3ul1ini, in 8itab al-Amm ("The / the$b Abu Thaw$, in 8itab al-&u''a ("3 % ! the 4$ !"). 0hat i" .$e"ently %n wn a" the ,ha!iì . "iti n $e!e$" t the New e<ce.t in a..$ <imately twenty-tw 1ue"ti n", in which ,ha!iì "ch la$" and mu!ti" ha#e $etained the . "iti n" ! the Pld.
%").
The m "t .$ minent t$an"mitte$" ! the Pld a$e Ahmad ibn &anbal, al-8a$abi"i, al-Da`!a$ani, and
Al-,ub%i $elated that the ,ha!iì "ch la$" c n"ide$ed al-?abi`" na$$ati n !$ m al-,ha!iì " unde$ !$ m the #iew. int ! t$an"mi""i n, while they c n"ide$ed al-/u*ani9" " unde$ !$ m the #iew. int ! !i1h, alth u+h b th we$e e"tabli"hed hadith ma"te$". Al-,ha!iì "aid t al-?abi`5 "& w I l #e y u:" and an the$ time5 "P ?abi`: I! I c uld !eed y u the ,cience I w uld !eed it t y u." Al->a!!al al-,ha"hi in hi" @atawa $elate" that al-?abi` wa" "l w in hi" unde$"tandin+, and that al-,ha!iì nce $e.eated an e<.lanati n ! $ty time" ! $ him in a +athe$in+, yet he did n t unde$"tand it then + t u. and le!t in emba$$a""ment. 2ate$, al-,ha!iì called him in .$i#ate and $e"umed e<.lainin+ it t him until he unde$"t Al-,ha!iì t d. Thi" "h w" the accu$acy ! Ibn ?ahuyah9" "tatement5 "I c n"ide$ the be"t .a$t ! me the time when I !ully unde$"tand al-,ha!iì9" di"c u$"e." % the #e$"e "P$ i! y u ha#e t uched w men" (H5HB) lite$ally, and c n"ide$ed that c ntact between the "e<e", e#en accidental, nulli!ied abluti n. Thi" i" al" the . "iti n ! Ibn /a"ùd, Ibn Àma$, al-,ha`bi, al-Na%haì, al-Duh$i, and al-Aw*aì, which i" c n!i$med by Ibn Àma$9" $e. $t5 "0h e#e$ %i""e" $ t uche" hi" wi!e with hi" hand mu"t $enew hi" wudS9." It i" authentic and $elated in nume$ u" .lace" includin+ /ali%M" /uwatta9. Al-,ha!iì "aid5 ", methin+ "imila$ ha" $eached u" !$ m Ibn /a"ùd." They all $ead the ab #e #e$"e lite$ally, with ut inte$.$etin+ "t uch" t mean ""e<ual inte$c u$"e" a" d the &ana!i", $ "t uch with .lea"u$e" a" d the /ali%i". A ma' $ c nt$ibuti n ! al-,ha!iì in the ! undati n" ! the 2aw wa" hi" di#i"i n ! inn #ati n (al-bidà) int + d and bad n the ba"i" ! Àma$9" w $d" ab ut the ta$)wih $ c n+$e+ati nal "u.e$e$ +at $y ni+ht .$aye$" in the m nth ! ?amadan5 "0hat a !ine inn #ati n thi" i":" &a$mala na$$ated that al-,ha!iì c ncluded5 "The$e! $e, whate#e$ inn #ati n c n! $m" t the ,unna i" a..$ #ed (mahmSd), and whate#e$ .. "e" it i" ab minable (madhmSm)." A+$eement ! $med in the @ u$ ,ch l" a$ und hi" di#i"i n, a" illu"t$ated by the end $"ement ! " me ma' $ late$ auth $itie" in each "ch l. Am n+ the &ana!i"5 Ibn Àbidin, al-Tu$%umani, and al-TahanawiI am n+ the /ali%i"5 al-Tu$tu"hi, Ibn al-&a'', and al-,hatibiI c n"en"u" am n+ the ,ha!iì"I and $eluctant acce.tance am n+ late$ &anbali", wh alte$ed al-,ha!iì9" te$min l +y t $ead "le<ical inn #ati n" (bidà lu+hawiyya) and "le+al inn #ati n" (bidà "ha$ìyya), $e".ecti#ely S alth u+h inaccu$ately S matchin+ ,ha!iì9" "a..$ #ed" and "ab minable".
20
Am n+ al-,ha!iì9" the$ n table . "iti n"5 Al-/u*ani "aid5 "I ne#e$ "aw any ! the "ch la$" ma%e " methin+ bli+at $y n behal! ! the 4$ .het a" much a" al-,ha!iì in hi" b %", and thi" wa" due t hi" hi+h $ememb$ance ! the 4$ .het. &e "aid in the Pld ,ch l5 F,u..licati n end" with the in# cati n ! ble""in+" n the 4$ .het, and it" end i" but by mean" ! it.9" Al-8a$abi"i "aid5 "I hea$d al-,ha!iì "ay that he di"li%ed ! $ " me ne t "ay Fthe /e""en+e$9 (al-?a"Sl), but that he "h uld "ay FAllah9" /e""en+e$9 (?a"Sl Allah) ut ! #ene$ati n (ta`*7m) ! $ him." Am n+ al-,ha!iì9" the$ "ayin+"5 "The "tudy ! hadith i" bette$ than "u.e$e$ +at $y .$aye$, and the .u$"uit ! %n wled+e i" bette$ than "u.e$e$ +at $y .$aye$." Ibn Àbd al-3a$$ in 8itab al-Ìlm li"ted the many hadith" ! the 4$ .het n the "u.e$i $ me$it ! %n wled+e. & we#e$, al-,ha!iì by thi" "ayin+ meant the e""ence and .u$. "e ! %n wled+e, n t %n wled+e ! $ it" wn "a%e which lead" t ,atanic .$ide. The latte$ i" widely a#ailable while t$ue %n wled+e i" the %n wled+e that lead" t + dwa$ine"" (ta1wa). Thi" i" c n!i$med by al-,ha!iì9" "ayin+5 "8n wled+e i" what bene!it". 8n wled+e i" n t what ne ha" mem $i*ed." Thi" i" a c $$ecti#e ! $ th "e c ntent t de!ine %n wled+e a" "the %n wled+e ! the .$ !" (ma`$i!a al-dal7l). "&e +i#e" wi"d m t wh me#e$ &e will, and wh e#e$ d." (252=K) % /u`ta1ad Abi &ani!a al-Imam (.. H2)5 "The ea$ly $ecei#e" wi"d m $ecei#e" immen"e + wa" e<.lained by Àli al->a$i in hi" b
"; u Cthe "ch la$" ! hadithE a$e the .ha$maci"t" but we Cthe 'u$i"t"E a$e the .hy"ician"." Thi" "ch la$" "aid5 The hadith "ch la$ with ut %n wled+e ! !i1h i" li%e a "elle$ ! d$u+" wh i" n .hy"ician5 he ha" them but he d e" n t %n w what t d with themI and the !i1h "ch la$ with ut %n wled+e ! hadith i" li%e a .hy"ician with ut d$u+"5 he %n w" what c n"titute" a $emedy, but d e" n t di". "e ! it." "/ali% wa" a"%ed ab ut %al)m and Cthe ,cience !E Pnene"" (tawh7d) and he "aid5 FIt i" inc ncei#able that the 4$ .het "h uld teach hi" - mmunity hy+iene and n t teach them ab ut Pnene"": And Pnene"" i" e<actly what the 4$ .het "aid5 FI wa" $de$ed t !i+ht .e .le until they "ay FThe$e i" n ( d but Allah.9 , , whate#e$ ma%e" bl $eality ! Pnene"" (ha171a al-tawh7d).9" Thi" i" a .$ d and .$ .e$ty unt uchable S that i" the ! !$ m the ,ala! a+ain"t th "e wh , in late$
time", inn #ated "ub-di#i"i n" ! $ tawh7d $ le+i"lated that thei$ wn unde$"tandin+ ! Allah9" Att$ibute" wa" a .$ec nditi n ! $ the decla$ati n ! Pnene"". Al-&alimi "aid5 "In thi" hadith the$e i" e<.licit .$ ! that that decla$ati n (l) il)ha illall)h) "u!!ice" t e<ti$.ate ne"el! !$ m all the di!!e$ent %ind" ! di"belie! in Allah Almi+hty." ",atiati n wei+h" d wn the b dy, ha$den" the hea$t, d e" away with "a+acity, b$in+" n "lee., and wea%en" ne !$ m w $"hi.." Thi" i" "imila$ t the de!initi n ! ta"awwu! a" "hun+e$" (al-'S`) +i#en by " me ! the ea$ly ma"te$", wh ac1ui$ed hun+e$ a" a .e$manent att$ibute and we$e called
21
"hun+e$e$"" ('SìyySn). A n table e<am.le i" al->a"im ibn Àthman al-Àbdi al-Dima"h1i al-6uì (d. 2HJ), wh m al-Dhahabi de"c$ibe" a" "the Imam, the e<em.la$, the wali, the muhaddith, the "hay%h ! the ,u!i" and the !$iend ! Ahmad ibn al-&awa$i." "I ne#e$ "w $e by Allah S neithe$ t$uth!ully n $ dece.ti#ely." Thi" i" "imila$ t the "ayin+ ! the ,u!i ma"te$ ,ahl ibn Àbd Allah al-Tu"ta$i na$$ated by al-Dhahabi5 "Am n+ the manne$" ! the t$uth!ul "aint" (al-"idd717n) i" that they ne#e$ "wea$ by Allah, n $ c mmit bac%bitin+, n $ d e" bac%bitin+ ta%e .lace a$ und them, n $ d they eat t "atiati n, i! they .$ mi"e they a$e t$ue t thei$ w $d, and they ne#e$ ".ea% in 'e"t." Al-3uwayti a"%ed5 ",h uld I .$ay behind the ?a!idiG" Al-,ha!iì "aid5 "D n t .$ay behind the ?a!idi, n $ behind the >ada$i, n $ behind the /u$'i9." Al-3uwayti "aid5 "De!ine them ! $ u"." &e $e.lied5 "0h e#e$ "ay" F3elie! c n"i"t" nly in ".eech9 i" a /u$'i9, and wh e#e$ "ay" FAbu 3a%$ and Àma$ a$e n t Imam"9 i" a ?a!idi, and wh e#e$ att$ibute" de"tiny t him"el! i" a >ada$i." Abu &atim na$$ated !$ m &a$mala that al-,ha!iì "aid5 "The -ali.h" (al-%hula!)9) a$e !i#e5 Abu 3a%$, Àma$, Àthman, Àli, and Àma$ ibn Àbd al-À*i*." In hi" Diwan he named them "leade$" ! thei$ .e .le, by wh "e +uidance ne btain" +uidance," and declaimed ! the @amily ! the 4$ .het5 The @amily ! the 4$ .het a$e my inte$media$y t him: (wa"7lat7) Th$ u+h them I h .e t be +i#en my $ec $d with the $i+ht hand. and5 P @amily ! Allah9" /e""en+e$: T l #e y u i" an bli+ati n 0hich Allah $dained and $e#ealed in the >u$9an. It i" en u+h .$ ! ! y u$ immen"e +l $y that 0h e#e$ in# %e" n t ble""in+" u. n y u, hi" .$aye$ i" in#alid. Ibn &a'a$ "aid that the !i$"t t w$ite a bi +$a.hy ! al-,ha!iì wa" Dawud al-Dahi$i (d. 2Q5). AlNawawi in Tahdhib al-A"ma9 wa al-2u+hat (15HH) menti ned that the be"t bi +$a.hy ! al-,ha!iì wa" al-3ayha1i9" ! $ it" " und chain" ! t$an"mi""i n. Ibn &a'a$ "umma$i*ed it and added t it al,ha!iì9" /u"nad in hi" Tawali al-Ta9"i" !i /aàli Ibn Id$i". In the int$ ducti n ! hi" c m.endium ! ,ha!iì !i1h entitled al-/a'mu` al-Nawawi menti n" that al-,ha!iì u"ed a wal%in+ "tic% ! $ which he wa" a"%ed5 "0hy d y u ca$$y a "tic% when y u a$e neithe$ ld n $ ailin+G" &e $e.lied5 "T $emembe$ I am nly a t$a#elle$ in thi" w $ld." /ain " u$ce"5 al-,ha!iì, DiwanI Abu Nuàym, &ilya al-Awliya9 K5Q1-1Q2 VHH2I al-Nawawi, Tahdhib al-A"ma9 wa al-2u+hat 15HH-=Q V2I al-Dhahabi, ,iya$ A`lam al-Nubala9 J5BQQ-H2B V15BK, 105QK, 105=HKI al-,ub%i, Taba1at al-,ha!iìyya al-8ub$a 251BB-1BHI Ibn &a'a$, Tawali alTa9"i" .. B-15Q.
22
Ibn Hanbal Ahmad ibn /uhammad ibn Hanbal, Abu Àbd Allah al-Dhuhli al-,haybani al-/a$wa*i al3a+hdadi (d. 2H1). Al-Dhahabi "ay" ! him5 "The t$ue ,hay%h ! I"lam and leade$ ! the /u"lim" in hi" time, the hadith ma"te$ and .$ ! ! the ?eli+i n. &e t % hadith !$ m &u"haym, Ib$ahim ibn ,a`d, ,u!yan ibn Àyayna, Àbbad ibn Àbbad, ;ahya ibn Abi Da9ida, and thei$ laye$. @$ m him na$$ated al-3u%ha$i Ctw hadith" in the ,ahihE, /u"lim C22E, Abu Dawud C25HE, Abu Du$à, /utayyan, Àbd Allah ibn Ahmad, Abu al->a"im al-3a+hawi, and a hu+e a$$ay ! "ch la$". &i" !athe$ wa" a " ldie$ S ne ! th "e wh called t I"lam S and he died y un+." Al-Dhahabi c ntinue"5 Àbd Allah ibn Ahmad "aid5 "I hea$d Abu Du$à Cal-?a*iE "ay5 F; u$ !athe$ had mem $i*ed a milli n hadith", which I $ehea$"ed with him acc $din+ t t .ic.9" &anbal "aid5 "I hea$d Abu Àbd Allah "ay5 FI mem $i*ed e#e$ythin+ which I hea$d !$ m &u"haym when he wa" ali#e.9" Ib$ahim al-&a$bi "aid5 "I held Ahmad a" ne ! $ wh m Allah had +athe$ed u. the c mbined %n wled+e ! the !i$"t and the la"t." &a$mala "aid5 "I hea$d al-,ha!iì "ay5 FI le!t 3a+hdad and did n t lea#e behind me any ne m $e #i$tu u" (a!dal), m $e lea$ned (a`lam), m $e %n wled+eable (a!1ah) than Ahmad ibn &anbal.9" Àli ibn al-/adini "aid5 "T$uly, Allah $ein! $ced thi" ?eli+i n with Abu 3a%$ al-,iddi1 the day ! the ($eat A. "ta"y (al-?idda), and &e $ein! $ced it with Ahmad ibn &anbal the day ! the In1ui"iti n (al-/ihna)." Abu Àbayd "aid5 "The ,cience at it" .ea% i" in the cu"t dy ! ! u$ men, ! wh m Ahmad ibn &anbal i" the m "t %n wled+eable." Ibn /aìn "aid, a" $elated by Àbba" Cal-Du$iE5 "They meant ! $ me t be li%e Ahmad, but S by Allah: S I "hall ne#e$ in my li!e c m.a$e t him." /uhammad ibn &ammad al-Taha$ani "aid5 "I hea$d Abu Thaw$ "ay5 FAhmad i" m $e lea$ned S $ %n wled+eable S than al-Thaw$i.9" Al-Dhahabi c nclude"5 "Al-3ayha1i w$ te Abu Àbd Allah9" bi +$a.hy ("7$a) in ne # lume, " did Ibn al-6aw*i, and al" ,hay%h al-I"lam CÀbd Allah al-&a$awiE al-An"a$i in a b$ie! # lume. &e .a""ed n t Allah9" + d .lea"u$e n the day ! 6umà, the twel!th ! ?abi` al-Awwal in the ! hi" "h $t-chained na$$ati n" (àw)l7h), and a yea$ 2H1, at the a+e ! "e#enty-"e#en. I ha#e tw
2B
licence (i')*a) ! $ the enti$e /u"nad." Al-Dhahabi9" cha.te$ n Imam Ahmad in ,iya$ A`lam alNubala9 c unt" n le"" than 11B .a+e". Pne ! the mi"unde$"tandin+" .$e#alent am n+ the ",ala!i"" wh mi"$e.$e"ent Imam Ahmad9" "ch l t day i" hi" . "iti n $e+a$din+ %al)m $ dialectic the l +y. It i" %n wn that he wa" !" and aband nin+ all $ec u$"e t unc m.$ mi"in+ly .. "ed t %al)m a" a meth d, e#en i! u"ed a" a mean" t de!end the t$uth, .$e!e$$in+ t "tic% t the .lain na$$ati n ! te<tual .$ dialectical $ $ati nal ne". Ibn al-6aw*i $elate" hi" "ayin+5 "D n t "it with the .e .le ! %al)m, e#en i! they de!end the ,unna." Thi" attitude i" at the $ t ! hi" di"a# wal ! al-/uha"ibi. It al" e<.lain" the di"a!!ecti n ! late$ &anbali" t wa$d" Imam al-A"hà$i and hi" "ch l, de".ite hi" "ub"e1uent "tandin+ a" the Imam ! ,unni /u"lim" .a$ e<cellence. The $ea" n" ! $ thi" $i!t a$e n w b" lete alth u+h the $i!t ha" am.li!ied bey nd all $ec +ni*able "ha.e, a" it i" e#ident, in $et$ ".ect, that .. "iti n t A"hà$i", ! $ #a$i u" $ea" n", came ut ! a ma' $ mi"unde$"tandin+ ! thei$ actual c nt$ibuti n" within the - mmunity, whethe$ a" indi#idual" $ a" a wh le. The$e a$e "e#e$al +ene$al $ea" n" why the &anbali-muta%allim $i!t "h uld be c n"ide$ed a$ti!icial and b" lete. @i$"t, %al)m in it" $i+inal ! $m wa" an inn #ati n in I"lam (bidà) a+ain"t which the$e wa" unanim u" .. "iti n am n+ Ahl al-,unna. The !i$"t t u"e %al)m we$e t$ue inn #at $" .. "ed t the ,unna, and in the lan+ua+e ! the ea$ly "ch la$" %al)m wa" "yn nym u" with the d ct$ine" ! the >ada$iyya, /u$'i9a, 6ahmiyya, 6ab$iyya, ?aw)!id, and /u`ta*ila and thei$ multi!a$i u" "ub-"ect". Thi" i" "h wn by the e<am.le" Ibn >utayba +i#e" ! %al)m and muta%allimSn in hi" b % /u%htali! al-&adith, n ne ! which bel n+" t Ahl al-,unna. ,imila$ly the adhe$ent" ! %al)m b$ u+ht u. in the ".eech ! al-&a"an al-3a"$i, Ibn al-/uba$a%, Ibn ?ahuyah, Imam al-,ha!iì and the $e"t ! the .$e-&anbali "ch la$" ! hadith a$e the inn #at $" ! the ab #e-menti ned "ect", n t th "e wh late$ .. "ed them u"in+ the "ame meth d" ! $ea" nin+. The latte$ cann t be .ut in the "ame cate+ $y. The$e! $e the ea$ly blame" ! %al)m cann t be a..lied t them in the "ame b$eath with the inn #at $". ,ec nd, the$e i" di!!e$ence ! .ini n am n+ the ,ala! n the . ""ible u"e ! %al)m t de!end the ,unna, n twith"tandin+ Imam Ahmad9" . "iti n 1u ted ab #e. Pne $ea" n why they di"all wed it i" wa$a`5 becau"e ! e<t$eme "c$u.ul u"ne"" a+ain"t lea$nin+ and .$acticin+ a di"ci.line initiated by the enemie" ! the ,unna. Thu" they c n"ide$ed %al)m $e.$ehen"ible but n t ! $bidden, a" i" clea$ !$ m thei$ "tatement". @ $ e<am.le, Ibn Abi &atim na$$ated that al-,ha!iì "aid5 "I! I wanted t .ubli"h b al-,ha!iì le!t the d "t$ict ( dwa$ine"". %" $e!utin+ e#e$y "in+le .. nent C ! the ,unnaE I c uld ea"ily d " , but %al)m i" n t ! $ me, and I di"li%e that anythin+ ! it be att$ibuted t me." Thi" "h w" that $ .en ! $ the$" t ente$ a !ield which he ab"tained !$ m ente$in+ ut !
2H
Thi$d, %al)m i" a di!!icult, delicate "cience which demand" a mind ab #e the n $m. The imam" ! $bade it a" a "add al-dha$7à $ .$e-em.tin+ mea"u$e. They $i+htly ! $e"aw that unle"" ne . ""e""ed an ade1uate ca.acity t .$actice it, ne wa" c u$tin+ di"a"te$. Thi" wa" the ca"e with Ahmad9" "tudent Abu Talib, and the$ ea$ly &anbali" wh mi"inte$.$eted Ahmad9" d ct$inal . "iti n" a" 3u%ha$i him"el! "tated. 3u%ha$i, Ahmad, and the$" ! the ,ala! thu" e<.e$ienced !i$"t hand that ne wh .layed with %al)m c uld ea"ily la."e int he$e"y, inn #ati n, $ di"belie!. Thi" wa" made abundantly clea$ in Imam /ali%9" an"we$ t the man wh a"%ed h w Allah e"tabli"hed &im"el! #e$ the Th$ ne5 "The e"tabli"hment i" %n wn, the Fh w9 i" inc ncei#able, and t a"% ab ut it i" an inn #ati n:" /ali%9" an"we$ i" the e""ence ! %al)m at the "ame time a" it wa$n" a+ain"t the mi"u"e ! %al)m, a" b"e$#ed by the late D$. Abu al-0a!a9 al-Ta!ta*ani. /ali%9" $ea" nin+ i" ech ed by al-,ha!iì9" ad#ice t hi" "tudent al-/u*ani5 "Ta%e .$ !" !$ m c$eati n in $de$ t %n w ab ut the -$eat $, and d n t bu$den y u$"el! with the %n wled+e ! what y u$ mind did n t $each." ,imila$ly, Ibn 8hu*ayma and Ibn Abi &atim admitted thei$ technical i+n $ance ! the "cience ! %al)m, at the "ame time ac%n wled+in+ it" . ""ible + c m.letely clea$ ! it. In c nclu"i n, any ca$e!ul $eade$ ! I"lamic intellectual hi"t $y can "ee that i! the A"hà$i "ch la$" ! %al)m had n t en+a+ed and de!eated the #a$i u" the l +ical and .hil " .hical "ect" n thei$ wn te$$ain, the "ilence ! Ahl al-,unna mi+ht well ha#e "ealed thei$ de!eat at the hand" ! thei$ .. nent". Thi" wa" indicated by Ta' al-Din al-,ub%i wh ". %e ! the bli+at $ine"" ! %al)m in ce$tain ".eci!ic ci$cum"tance", a" .. "ed t it" "u.e$!lu u"ne"" in the$ time". "The u"e ! %al)m in ca"e ! nece""ity i" a le+al bli+ati n (wa'ib), and t %ee. "ilence ab ut %al)m in ca"e the$ than nece""ity i" a "unna." The bi +$a.hical n tice n Imam Ahmad in the ?eliance ! the T$a#elle$ $ead"5 "Put ! .iety, Imam Ahmad ne#e$ +a#e a ! $mal le+al .ini n (!atwa) while ,ha!iì wa" in I$a1, and when he late$ ! $mulated hi" "ch l ! 'u$i".$udence, he mainly d$ew n e<.licit te<t" !$ m the C>u$9anE, hadith, and "ch la$ly c n"en"u", with $elati#ely little e<.an"i n !$ m anal +ical $ea" nin+ (1iy)"). &e wa" .$ bably the m "t lea$ned in the "cience" ! hadith ! the ! u$ +$eat Imam" ! ,ac$ed 2aw, and hi" "tudent" included many ! the ! $em "t "ch la$" ! hadith. Abu Dawud "aid ! him5 FAhmad9" +athe$in+" we$e +athe$in+" ! the a!te$li!e5 n thin+ ! thi" w $ld wa" menti ned. Ne#e$ nce did I hea$ him menti n thi"-w $ldly thin+".9 ... &e ne#e$ nce mi""ed .$ayin+ in the ni+ht, and u"ed t $ecite the enti$e C>u$9anE daily. &e "aid, FI "aw the 2 $d ! 4 we$ in my "lee., and "aid, "P 2 $d, what i" the be"t act th$ u+h which th "e nea$ t ; u d$aw nea$e$G" and &e an"we$ed, "Th$ u+h C$ecitin+E ("ic) /y w $d, P Ahmad." I a"%ed, "0ith d u"e by 1uali!ied e<.e$t". A" ! $ Ibn >utayba, he $e+$etted hi" %al)m day" and .$e!e$$ed t "tee$
25
unde$"tandin+, $ with utG" and &e an"we$ed, "0ith unde$"tandin+ and with ut."9. . . Ahmad wa" im.$i" ned and t $tu$ed ! $ twenty-ei+ht m nth" unde$ the Abba"id cali.h al-/u`ta"im in an e!! $t t ! $ce him t .ublicly e". u"e the C/u`ta*ilaE . "iti n that the & ly C>u$9anE wa" c$eated, but the Imam b $e u. un!linchin+ly unde$ the .e$"ecuti n and $e!u"ed t $en unce the belie! ! Ahl al-,unna that the C>u$9anE i" the unc$eated w $d ! Allah, a!te$ which Allah deli#e$ed and #indicated him. 0hen Ahmad died in 2H1UJ55, he wa" acc m.anied t hi" $e"tin+ .lace by a !une$al .$ ce""i n ! ei+ht hund$ed th u"and men and "i<ty th u"and w men, ma$%in+ the de.a$tu$e ! the la"t ! the ! u$ +$eat mu'tahid Imam" ! I"lam." Ibn al-6aw*i na$$ate" !$ m 3ilal al-8hawa"" that the latte$ met al-8hid$ and a"%ed him5 "0hat d y u "ay ! al-,ha!iìG" &e "aid5 "Pne ! the 4illa$-,aint" (Awt)d)." "Ahmad ibn &anbalG" "&e i" a ,idd71." /ain " u$ce"5 al-Dhahabi, ,iya$ A`lam al-Nubala9 K5HBH-5HQ V1JQ= and Tadh%i$a al-&u!!a* 25HB1 VHBJ.
$elect &iblio'ra(h% Abu Nuàym al-A"!ahani. &ilya al-Awliya9 wa Taba1at al-A"!iya9. 12 # l". Od. /u"ta!a Àbd al>adi$ Àta. 3ei$ut5 Da$ al-8utub al-Ìlmiyya, 1KKQ. Ahmad ibn &anbal. Al-/u"nad. 20 # l". Od. Ahmad ,ha%i$ and &am*a Ahmad al-Dayn. -ai$ 5 Da$ al-&adith, 1KK5. Al-3ayha1i, Abu 3a%$. Al-A"ma9 wa al-,i!at. Od. /uhammad Dahid al-8awtha$i. 3ei$ut5 Da$ Ihya9 al-Tu$ath al-À$abi, n.d. ?e.$int ! 1B5J&. -ai$ editi n. -------. Al-A"ma9 wa al-,i!at. 2 # l". Od. Àbd Allah al-&a"hidi. ?iyad5 /a%taba al-,awadi, 1KKB. Al-Dhahabi, /uhammad ,ham" al-Din. Tadh%i$a al-&u!!a*. Oditi n includin+ a la"t # lume entitled Dhayl Tadh%i$a al-&u!!a* which c m.$i"e" al-&u"ayni9" Dhayl Tadh%i$a al-&u!!a*, /uhammad ibn @ahd al-/a%%i9" 2ah* al-Alha* bi Dhayl Tadh%i$a al-&u!!a*, and al-,uyuti9" Dhayl Taba1at al-&u!!a*. -------. ,iya$ A`lam al-Nubala9. 1K # l". Od. /uhibb al-Din al-Àm$awi. 3ei$ut5 Da$ al-@i%$, 1KK=. Al-(huma$i, Àbd Allah. I$+ham al-/ubtadi` al-(habi bi 6awa* al-Tawa""ul bi al-Nabi. Od. &a"an Àli al-,a11a!. 2nd ed. Amman5 Da$ al-Imam al-Nawawi, 1KK2.
2=
Ibn Abi À"im. Al-,unna. Od. /. Na"i$ al-Din al-Albani. 3ei$ut and Dama"cu"5 Al-/a%tab alI"lami, 1KKB. Ibn Abi Dayd al->ay$awani. Al-6ami` !i al-,unan wa al-Adab wa al-/a+ha*i wa al-Ta$i%h. Od. /. Abu al-A'!an and Àthman 3atti%h. 3ei$ut5 /u9a""a"a al-?i"alaI Tuni"5 al-/a%taba al-Àti1a, 1KJ2. Ibn &a'a$ al-À"1alani. @ath al-3a$i ,ha$h ,ahih al-3u%ha$i. 1H # l". N te" by Àbd al-À*i* ibn 3a*. 3ei$ut5 Da$ al-8utub al-Ìlmiyya, 1KJK. -------. Ibidem. -ai$ 5 al-/atbaà al-3ahiyya, 1BHJ &. -------. Al-I"aba !i Tamyi* al-,ahaba. J # l". -alcutta, 1J5B. -------. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib. 10 # l". 1"t ed. &yde$abad5 Da9i$a al-/aà$i! al-Ni*amiyya, 1B2Q&. -------. Ta1$ib al-Tahdhib. Od. /uhammad Àwwama. Ale.. 5 Da$ al-?a"hid, 1KKQ. -------. Tawali al-Ta9"i" li /aàli /uhammad ibn Id$i". Od. Àbd Allah al->adi. 3ei$ut5 Da$ al8utub al-Ìlmiyya, 1KJ=. Ibn &ibban. ,ahih Ibn &ibban bi Ta$tib Ibn 3alban. 1J # l". Od. ,huàyb al-A$na9ut. 3ei$ut5 /u9a""a"a al-?i"ala, 1KKB. Ibn al-6aw*i. /ana1ib al-Imam Ahmad. 2nd ed. Od. /uhammad Amin al-8han'i al-8utbi. 3ei$ut5 8han'i wa &amdan, 1BHK&. -------. ,i!a al-,a!wa. 2 # l". 3ei$ut5 Da$ al-8utub al-Ìlmiyya, 1KJK. Ibn 8athi$. Al-3idaya wa al-Nihaya. 15 # l". Od. Oditin+ 3 a$d ! al-Tu$ath. 3ei$ut5 Da$ Ihya9 al-Tu$ath al-À$abi, 1KKB. Ibn >udama. /u%hta"a$ /inha' al->a"idin li Ibn al-6aw*i. Od. /. Ahmad &amdan and Àbd al>adi$ al-A$na9ut. 2nd. ed. Dama"cu"5 /a%tab al-,habab al-/u"lim wa al-/a%tab al-I"lami, 1K=1. Ibn Taymiya. Da$9 Taà$ud al-À1l wa al-Na1l. Od. /uhammad al-,ayyid 6ulaynid. -ai$ 5 /u9a""a"a al-Ah$am, 1KJJ. -------. /a'mu` @atawa Ibn Taymiyya. B= # l". -ai$ , 1H0H&. Al-8awtha$i, /uhammad Dahid. /a1alat. ?iyadh and 3ei$ut5 Da$ al-Ahna!, 1KKB. 8elle$, N ah &a /im, ed. and t$an". The ?eliance ! the T$a#elle$. Dubai5 / de$n 4$intin+ 4$e"", 1KK1. T$an"lati n ! Ahmad ibn Na1ib al-/i"$i9" Àmda al-,ali%. Al-8halili. Al-I$"had !i /a`$i!a ÀlamaM al-&adith. Od. /uhammad ,aìd ibn Ama$ Id$i". B # l". ?iyad 5 /a%taba al-?u"hd, 1KJK. Al-8hatib al-3a+hdadi. Ta$i%h 3a+hdad. # l". /adina5 al-/a%taba al-,ala!iyya, n.d. Al-/uba$a%!u$i. Tuh!a al-Ahwadhi bi ,ha$h 6ami` al-Ti$midhi. 10 # l". 3ei$ut5 Da$ al-8utub alÌlmiyya, 1KK0.
2Q
Al-Nawawi. ,ha$h ,ahih /u"lim. 1J # l". Od. 8halil al-/ay". 3ei$ut5 Da$ al-8utub al-Ìlmiyya, n.d. -------. Tahdhib al-A"maM wa al-2u+hat. -ai$ 5 Ida$a al-Tibaà al-/uni$iyya, C1K2QGE. -------. Al-Ta1$ib wa al-Tay"i$ li /a`$i!a ,unan al-3a"hi$ al-Nadhi$. 3ei$ut5 Da$ al-8utub alÌlmiyya, 1KJQ. Al-,a%hawi, /uhammad ibn Àbd al-?ahman. Al-6awahi$ wa al-Du$a$ !i /ana1ib ,hay%h alI"lam Ibn &a'a$. -ai$ 5 2a'na Ihya9 al-Tu$ath al-I"lami, 1KJ=. Al-,ub%i, Ta' al-Din. Taba1at al-,ha!iìyya al-8ub$a. 10 # l". Od. /ahmud /. al-Tannahi and Àbd al-@attah /. al-&ilw. 2nd. ed. 6i*a5 Da$ &i'$, 1KK2. Al-,uyuti, 6alal al-Din. Ta$i%h al-8hula!a9. Od. ?ahab 8hid$ À%%awi. 3ei$ut5 /u9a""a"a Ì** alDin, 1KK2. htt.5UUummah.netUal"ala!y nUOn+li"h4 "t"Ubu%ha$i.html
Imam &u#hari Imam 3u%ha$i wa" called the W- mmande$ ! the @aith!ul &adith"X, Ami$ al /u9minin !i al &adith, and hi" "ahih c llecti n ! hadith" i" %n wn a" the m "t authentic ! all b the m "t . we$!ul mem $y in the w $ld. &i" name wa" /uhammad ibn I"ma9il, %n wn al" a" Abu Abd Allah. &e wa" b $n n the day ! 'umu9ah 'u"t a!te$ "alah n the 1B ,hawwal 1KH A.&. at 3u%ha$a, n w a city in A*be%i"tan. 0hile "till a "mall child, hi" !athe$ I"ma9il died and le!t him and hi" lde$ b$ the$ Ahmed in the ca$e ! thei$ m the$. &i" !athe$ wa" him"el! a na$$at $ ! " me $e.uteI Ibn &ibban menti ned him in hi" b % ! $eliable na$$at $", 8itab al Thi1at, and $ec $ded that I"ma9il had hea$d hadith" !$ m Imam /ali%, had "ha%en the hand ! Abd Allah ibn /uba$a%, and that the "ch la$" ! I$a1 had $elated the hadith" they hea$d !$ m him. O#idently, in additi n t hi" lea$nin+, I"ma9il wa" an indu"t$i u" and u.$i+ht man a" well, he le!t hi" " n" a + d deal ! wealth, all ! which wa" ca$e!ully +athe$ed by law!ul mean". Ahayd ibn &a!" $e. $ted, FI went t "ee I"ma9il, the !athe$ ! Abu Abd Allah at the time ! hi" death. &e "aid t me, F I d n t %n w ! a "in+le di$ham in my wealth that i" ha$am and n t a "in+le di$ham that may be c n"ide$ed 1ue"ti nable.9 %" a!te$ the >u$9an. &i" . we$" ! $etenti n we$e "uch that he wa" called &a!i* al Dunya, $ the . ""e"" $ !
2J
At the a+e ! ten yea$" $ e#en ea$lie$ Imam 3u%ha$i be+an mem $i*in+ hadith" and "ittin+ in the c m.any ! hadith na$$at $". /uhammad ibn Abi &atim $ec $ded that Imam 3u%ha$i w$ te, c nce$nin+ th "e ea$ly yea$"I WI be+an t + $e+ula$ly t al Da%hili and the$". Pne day he (,hei%h Da%hili) "aid, a" he wa" $eadin+ hi" hadith" t hi" "tudent", W,u!yan $e. $ted !$ m Abu Dubay$ !$ m Ib$ahim.X I "aid t him, WAbuDubay$ ne#e$ $elated anythin+ !$ m Ib$ahim.X 3ut he $ebu!!ed me, I $e.lied, W( bac% t y u$ $i+inal c .y, i! y u "till ha#e it.X , he went and l %ed at it and then came bac% and "aid, WAl$i+ht: Then h wi" it "u.. "ed t $ead, y un+ manGX % hi" .en and c $$ected hi" b %, "ayin+, W; u a$e $i+ht:X ! them attended n a $e+ula$ ba"i". I "aid, WIt i" actually Dubay$ ibn WAday, and he na$$ated the hadith !$ m Ib$ahim.X Then he (al Da%hili) t &a"hid ibn I"ma9il and an the$ .e$" n $e. $ted t /uhammad ibn &atimthat when Imam 3u%ha$i wa" y un+, he went t the "ame hadith le"" n that the tw 0hen they n ticed that "e#e$al day" had .a""ed and that the b y wa" n t w$itin+ anythin+ d wn, they a"%ed him ab ut it. &e (al 3u%ha$i) t ld them, F; u tw ha#e been he$e l n+e$ than I ha#e. 0hy d y u n t tell me what y u ha#e w$ittenG9 They did " , and the t tal came t #e$ !i!teen th u"and hadith". 0hen they !ini"hed $eadin+, al 3u%ha$i $e.eated !$ m mem $y e#e$y w $d ! e#e$y hadith they had $ead t him and a"%ed them, FD y u "till thin% that I c me he$e ! $ n thin+ $ that I am wa"tin+ my timeG9 In hi" ea$ly teen", Imam 3u%ha$i mem $i*ed the hadith c llecti n" ! Abd Allah ibn /uba$a% and lea$ned the !i1h ! 0a1i9 and ! the &ana!i "ch la$" in hi" a$ea. In 210 A.&. he t$a#eled wit hi" m the$ and b$ the$ t /a%%ah ! $ ha''. @ $ the ne<t yea$ he li#ed n hi" wn in /edina and "tudied hadith". &e t ld /uhammad ibn Abi &atim, FThen I ".ent !i#e yea$" in 3a"$a with my b %", + in+ ! $ ha'', and then $etu$nin+ !$ m /a%%ah t 3a"$a. I ne#e$ $elated hadith" unle"" I %" ! the $ati nal 'u$i"t" %new the authentic !$ m the b'ecti nable and until I had "tudied the b (! $ what they had t "ay ab ut th "e hadith"). I %n w ! n thin+ c n"ide$ed e""ential, whethe$ it be in $e+a$d t le+i"lati n, eti1uette, $ " ciety that cann t be ! und in eithe$ the 3 % ! Allah $ the ,unnah ! &i" .$ .het, .eace be u. n him.9 Thu" be+an the +$eat Imam9" ca$ee$ ! t$a#el in .u$"uit ! hadith". Du$in+ thi" time, he #i"ited e#e$y im. $tant cente$ ! $ lea$nin+ in the/u"lim w $ld5 3al%h, /e$#, Ni"abu$, ?ayy, 3a+hdad, 3a"$a, 8u!a, /a%%ah, /adina, 0a"it, O+y.t, Dama"cu", >ay"a$iya, FA"1alan, 4ale"tine, and ,y$ia. &e "aid WI ha#e w$itten hadith" ! ne th u"and ei+hty .e .le, all ! wh m we$e "ch la$" ! hadith.X /ahmud ibn Na"$ $e. $ted5 FI went t 3a"$a, ,y$ia, the &i'a* and 8u!aand met "ch la$" the$e. 0hene#e$ 3u%ha$i wa" menti ned, e#e$y ne ! them "tated that he wa" thei$ bette$.9
2K
&a!i* ,alih ibn /uhammad 6a*a$ah $e. $ted5 F0hen 3u%ha$i "at in3a+hdad, I u"ed t dictate hadith" t him. Twenty th u"and .e .le at a time w uld attend th "e "e""i n".9 An the$ inte$e"tin+ a".ect ! hi" li!e wa" that he wa" an a#id a$che$. &i" bi +$a.he$ w$ te5 F&e w uld !ten $ide ut t "h t a$$ w". I d n w thin% I e#e$ "aw him, ! $ a" l n+ a" I acc m.anied ne e#e$ beat him in him, mi"" the ta$+et m $e than twice. Pthe$wi"e he wa" alway" n ta$+et. N
a c nte"t.9 ;et ! $ all hi" lea$nin+, .e$" nal inte+$ity, and $i+hte u"ne"", in the end he denied the .. $tunity t $etu$n t hi" h me in 3u%ha$a t .a"" hi" la"t day" the$e. /ay Allah ha#e me$cy n him. ,ahih al 3u%ha$i ,ahih al 3u%ha$i i" c n"ide$ed the m "t authentic ! all hadith c llecti n". @ew .e .le a$e e1ui..ed t deal with hi" w $%" includin+ thi" c llecti n. In the t$aditi nal I"lamic educati nal "y"tem, ! $ in"tance the "tudy ! thi" c llecti n came nly a!te$ the "tudent had ".ent yea$" lea$nin+ the cla""ical di"ci.line"5 the A$abic lan+ua+e, $het $ic and lite$atu$e, the $ati nal "cience" ! l +ic and .hil " .hy, the le+al di"ci.line" ! !i1h and u"ul al !i1h, the #a$i u" >u$9anic "cience" !$ m ta'wid t ta!"ee$, and the "tudy ! u"ul al hadith. Pnly a!te$ the "tudent ma"te$" the"e "ub'ect" wa" he all wed t attend the da$" (le"" n"), u"ually +i#en by the m "t lea$ned and $e".ected ! all teache$" n ,ahih al 3u%ha$i. The b % i" " !ull ! technicalitie" $elated t u"ul al hadith and ilmal $i'al that a th$ u+h ut %. In the t$aditi nal "ettin+, %n wled+e ! th "e "ub'ect" i" needed i! thi" c llecti n i" t be a..$eciated !ully. ,ahih al 3u%ha$i i" t be lea$ned and li#ed and i" an e<.e$ience than a b the$e i" a ".ecial .lace ! $ the 3u%ha$i le"" n and the "tudent" will "it n the +$ und in a "emi ci$cle a$ und the "hei%h an the "hei%h will inte$'ect hi" c mment", c $$ecti n" and lea$ned ta!"ee$. N thin+ will be le!t ut, e#e$y hadith e#e$y na$$at $ e#e$y cha.te$ headin+ i" di"cu""ed. It i" n w nde$ that many "ch la$" we$e .. "ed t it" t$an"lati n in On+li"h. The ma' $ity ! "huyu%h had n di!!iculty in acce.tin+ t$an"lati n ! the te<t ! >u$9an int l cal lan+ua+e" becau"e the meanin+" ! the >u$9an a$e clea$ and n ne wh $ead" them with an .en mind will + a"t$ay. 3ut the hadith lite$atu$e i" a di!!e$ent "t $y. 0hat $e"ult" when an un.$e.a$ed n n"ch la$ attem.t" t $ead the hadith lite$atu$e i" !itnah, in the "en"e that the .e$" n w uld be " c n!u"ed and #e$c me a!te$ ta%in+ "uch an unin! $med and ne dimen"i nal $eadin+ ! that lite$atu$e. Thi" i" b und t ccu$ in t$an"lati n with ut the .$e"ence ! a "hei%h t +uide him $ he$ th$ u+h the b"tacle", that he $ "he w uld !ace a c$i"i" in thei$ $eli+i n.
B0
Imam 3u%ha$i le!t a +$eat le+acy ! lea$nin+ t +ene$ati n" ! ,ch la$". &i" c nt$ibuti n" t the .$e"e$#ati n ! the ,unnah we$e .a$am unt. An! $tunately n t all hi" w $%" ha#e "u$#i#ed the .a""a+e ! time. &e$e a$e " me ! hi" ma' $ w $%"5 al ta$i%h al %abi$, al ta$i%h al aw"at, al ta$i%h al "a+hi$, al du9a!a al "a+hi$al tawa$i%h wa al an"ab, %itab al %una, al adab al mu!$ad, $a!a9al yadayn !i al "alah, %itab al 1i$a9ah %hal! al imam, %hal1 a!9al al ibn, al ta!"i$ al %abi$%itab al a"h$ibah, %itab al hibbah, 1adaya al "ahabah wa al tabi9in wa a1awilihum, %itab a"ami al "ahabah---1) Ibn /uba$a% wa" a +$eat muhaddith an a c m.ani n ! abu &ani!ah, hi" be"t w $% wa" %itab al *uhd and hi" l #e ! $ 'ihad. 2) 8itab al Du9a!a al ,a+hi$, .a+e 5 B) 8itab al Du9a!a al ,a+hi$, .a+e = H) Dhahabi, Tadh%i$at al &u!!a* 1555= 5) @adl Allah al ,amad !i ,ha$h al Adab al /u!$ad, int$ ducti n =) 8itab al Du9a!a al ,ah+i$ Q) 8itab al Du9a!a al ,ah+i$, .a+e Q
A&) &A*+ A, $I--I. Abu 3a%$ $adi Allahu anhu i" ne ! the ! $em "t belie#e$" wh acce.ted Allah9" me""a+e which called .e .le t I"lam and t belie#e in &i" /e""en+e$ "allallahu alayhi wa "allam. &e wa" called al ,iddi1, ne wh ne#e$ !ailed t te"ti!y t the t$uth, becau"e ! hi" un1ue"ti nable !aith in what ?a"ulullah "allallahu alayhi wa "allam b$ u+ht !$ m Allah "ubhana wa ta9ala. &e ne#e$ had any d ubt ab ut the "u.$eme auth $ity ! the Pne wh $e#ealed it. Abu 3a%$ $adi Allahu anhu wa" al" called al FAti1, the ancient, becau"e he wa" ne ! the !ew belie#e$" wh emb$aced I"lam a" " n a" he hea$d ab ut the di#ine me""a+e. &e wa" +$anted t$ue #ict $y !$ m the hea#en". &e wa" ne ! the be"t c m.ani n" ! ?a"ulullah "allallahu alayhi wa "allam. &e "ha$ed with ?a"ulullah "allallahu alayhi wa "allam a ma+ni!icent !$iend"hi. !illed with l #e, c m.a""i n and "ha$in+ unde$ all ci$cum"tance". Allah"ubhana wa taMala ch "e him t be ?a"ulullah9" "allallahu alayhi wa "allam c m.ani n n the hi'$a !$ m /a%%ah t /ad ina. @inally, he wa" bu$ied within the "ame chambe$ whe$e ?a"ulullah "allallahu alayhi wa "allam "allallahu alayhi wa "allam wa" laid t $e"t, in the a$ea ! .eace and beauty ! the 4$ .het9"
B1
/ "1ue, in the ".lend $ ! the +a$den ! .a$adi"e which +leam" with the e#e$la"tin+ li+ht" ! the me""a+e, the ch "en /e""en+e$ and the ,eal ! Allah9" .$ .het", and the th "e ! hea#enly an+el" wh c ntinu u"ly, u. t the Day9" ! ?e"u$$ecti n, will c ntinue t de"cend u. n hi" $e"tin+ .lace. Abu 3a%$ and thi" 2i!e Abu 3a%$ $adi Allahu anhu u"ed t ea"ily and $eadily di"ca$d hi" !leetin+ inte$e"t in thi" w $ld, and he " licited the e#e$la"tin+ deli+ht" ! the &e$ea!te$. It wa" a" th u+h he had di# $ced the w $ld and wa" unyieldin+ t it" allu$ement". Imam Ahmad na$$ated that FAbdu ?ahman bin FAw! "aid5 WI #i"ited Abu 3a%$ $adi Allahu anhu du$in+ the illne"" ! which he died. I .aid my $e+a$d" ! .eace and I "at nea$ him. Abu 3a%$ $adi Allahu anhu tu$ned t me and "aid, FI "aw the w $ld (dunya) c me be! $e me and it %nelt d wn, but it $e!$ained !$ m c min+ cl "e$. ,u$ely a day will c me, when .e .le will ad $n them"el#e" with "il% and !ine$ie", and they will c ndemn w len +a$ment". I "wea$ t mi+hty Allah "ubhana wa taMala that it will be m $e ad#anta+e u" ! $ ne t be un'u"tly beheaded than t wall w in the th$ e" ! thi" w $ld.9X FA$wa bin Al-Dubai$ $e. $ted that FAi"ha "aid5 WI nce w $e a new $ be and I %e.t n admi$in+ it. Abu 3a%$ $adi Allahu anhu "aw me and "aid5 F0hat a$e y u l %in+ atG D y u n t %n w that $i+ht n w Allah"ubhana wa taMala i" n t l %in+ at y uG9 I $e.lied5 F0hy i" thatG9 Abu 3a%$ $adi Allahu anhu an"we$ed5 F0hen a "e$#ant admi$e" the +litte$" ! the w $ld, Allah "ubhana wa taMala Almi+hty dete"t" him until the "e$#ant c me" ut ! it.9 FAi"ha immediately t % !! he$ new $ be and +a#e it away in cha$ity. 0hen Abu 3a%$ lea$ned ab ut what hi" dau+hte$ did, he c mmented5 F4e$ha." thi" will be y u$ at nement.9 ;ahya bin Abi 8athi$ $e. $ted that " metime" du$in+ hi" @$iday "e$m n, Abu 3a%$ $adi Allahu anhu u"ed t "ay5 W0he$e a$e the b$i+ht ne", the hand" me l %in+ ne", and whe$e a$e th "e wh t % .$ide in thei$ y uth!ulne"", whe$e ha#e they + neG 0he$e a$e the +$eat %ind" wh built citie" and ca"tle" and ! $ti!ied them with t we$in+ wall"G 0hat ha..ened t the li nhea$ted #al $ u" ne" wh made thei$ enemy "u!!e$ humiliati n in the battle!ield"G Time waned unde$ thei$ !eet and they ended in"ide da$% +$a#e". Thin% ! it and ta%e heed. They ha#e + ne !a$ !a$ away.9 Abu 3a%$ $adi Allahu anhu w uld then c$y ut .e$tu$bedly5 F&el., hel.:9 Abu 3a%$ and hi" l #e ! $ the T$uth Abu 3a%$ $adi Allahu anhu wa" m "tly " be$ and +$aci u". &e "t$uc% a balance ! the $i+htly +uided ne", and he ne#e$ went bey nd hi" limit". &e wa" "e$i u" in e#e$y endea# $ in hi" .u$"uit t .lea"e Allah, the 8in+ ! all 8in+". Abi ,alih $e. $ted that du$in+ the cali.hate ! Abu 3a%$ $adi Allahu anhu a dele+ati n !$ m ;emen a$$i#ed t /adina and when they hea$d a $ecitati n !$ m the >u$9an, they we.t. Abu 3a%$ $adi Allahu anhu $ema$%ed5 F0e we$e li%e that in the be+innin+, but "ince then, u$ hea$t" ha#e ha$dened.9 In thi" "en"e he meant that the c m.ani n"9 !aith hel.ed thei$ hea$t" +$ w "t$ n+e$ in the c m! $t !
B2
%n win+ Allah "ubhana wa taMala Almi+hty. ,a9id bin Pma$ na$$ated that 3ilal al &aba"hi wa" unde$ t $tu$e, and he wa" bu$ied ali#e unde$ hea#y "t ne" when Abu 3a%$ $adi Allahu anhu came and b u+ht hi" !$eed m ! $ !i#e mea"u$e" ! + ld. A!te$ acce.tin+ the deal, the >u$ai"hi headman $ema$%ed t Abu 3a%$. WI w uld ha#e " ld him t y u e#en i! y u had in"i"ted and ba$+ained n a "in+le mea"u$e ! + ld:X Abu 3a%$ $e.lied5 W,h uld y u e#en had in"i"ted n a"%in+ ne hund$ed mea"u$e" ! + ld ! $ hi" !$eed m, I w uld ha#e .aid them.X 9Am$u ibnu Dina$ 1u ted !$ m an the$ "e$m n in which Abu 3a%$ "aid5 W4e .le: wh e<h $t y u t bewa$e ! the day when y u bec me . $ and needy, t +ea$ y u$ 2 $d, t &ail hi" h ly name with .$ai"e" that be!it &i" ma'e"ty and +l $y, and t .$ay ! $ ! $+i#ene"", ! $ &e i" m "t ! $+i#in+.X Abdullah bin A%im $e. $ted an the$ "e+ment ! thi" "e$m n 1u tin+ Abu 3a%$ $adi Allahu anhu t ha#e "aid5 W;e .e .le: ; u mu"t %n w that when y u "e$#e Allah "ubhana wa taMala Almi+hty "ince$ely, y u will ha#e beyed y u$ 2 $d, a" well a" y u will ha#e .$ tected y u$ $i+ht". 4ay y u$ alm" ta<e" and when y u w e be! $e y u a$e a"%ed and .$e""u$ed t d " , and n a day y u ha#e n mean" t d " . 4ay them e#en in ad#ance when y u a$e c m! $table, and ma%e them w $% ! $ y u, th "e will be $e+a$ded a" y u$ "u.e$ +at $y !!e$in+". Pnly i! y u d " , that y u may $ecei#e a $e!und, and .a$ticula$ly when y u a$e . $ and need it m "t. P "e$#ant" ! Allah, thin% ! $ a m ment ab ut y u$ .$edece"" $". 0he$e we$e they ye"te$day, and whe$e a$e they t day: 0he$e a$e the +$eat %in+" wh a$ u"ed the land and $ai"ed it" citie"G They a$e ! $+ tten, and n n ne $emembe$" them. T day they a$e ali%e n thin+. N w thei$ dwellin+" a$e de" late $uin" becau"e ! thei$ "in". (2Q552) layin+ dead in da$% +$a#e". -an y u !ind a "in+le ne ! them ali#e, $ can y u hea$ a" much a" a whi".e$ !$ m themG (1K5KJ) P ye .e .le, tell me, whe$e a$e y u$ the$ !$iend" and b$eth$enG They a$e n w $ea.in+ the !$uit ! thei$ ea$lie$ w $% in thi" w $ld. T day, they a$e eithe$ ha..y $ a++$ie#ed. Allah "ubhana wa taMala d e" n t ha#e a %in"hi. with any ne in &i" c$eati n, and the$e! $e, &e d e" n t +$ant any ne ".ecial "tatu", !a# $" $ e<em.ti n", e<ce.t with $e+a$d" t beyin+ &i" c mmand and ab"tainin+ !$ m what &e ! $bid". d deed that d$i#e" it" auth $ t hell-!i$e, and the$e In !act, the$e i" n bene!it in any " -called +
i" n e#il deed a!te$ which $e.entance lead" it" auth $ t hell-!i$e, and the$e i" n e#il deed a!te$ which $e.entance lead" it" auth $ t .a$adi"e. Indeed, the$e i" n bene!it in any ".eech that d e" n t " licit Allah9" acce.tance, n $ in a deed that i" n t d ne ! $ &i" .lea"u$e, and "u$ely the$e i" n bene!it in a weath whch i" n t ".ent !$eely ! $ Allah9" "a%e. In !act, ne9" deed" a$e ! n w $th wha t" e#e$ i! hi" i+n $ance e<ceed" hi" ! $bea$ance. ,u$ely the$e i" n $i+hte u"ne"" $ #i$tue in ne wh di"dain" t ".ea% the t$uth in !ea$ ! .e .le9" c$itici"m $e+a$din+ Allah9" $i+ht". Thu", I c nclude my "e$m n, and I a"% ! $ Allah9" ! $+i#ene"" ! $ my"el! and ! $ y u.X
BB
FAbdu ?ahman Ibn Abdullah Ibn Dabit na$$ated that du$in+ Anhu Na%$9" la"t illne"", he called ! $ Pma$ bin al 8hattab and "aid5 WPma$ !ea$ Allah "ubhana wa taMala and $eali*e that &e ha" en' ined u. n u" dutie" which we mu"t !ul!ill du$in+ the day, and &e will n t acc$edit them i! we !ul!ill them at ni+ht. &e al" en' ined u. n u" dutie" &e dec$eed that we mu"t !ul!ill them du$in+ the ni+ht, and the$e! $e, he will n t acce.t them "h uld we c m.ly with them du$in+ the daytime. In !act, Allah "ubhana wa taMala d e" n t acce.t an e<t$a deed unle"" ne !!e$" the bli+at $y ne" !i$"t. In the &e$ea!te$ , the balance ! .e .le9" + d deed" nly tilt the balance in thei$ !a# $ becau"e they had acce.ted and ! ll wed hi" c mmand in thi" w $ld, hence, thei$ $ec +niti n ! thei$ 2 $d %ee." them heed!ul du$in+ thi" li!e. I! "uch t$uth i" .laced in the balance t m $$ w, it will de!initely wei+h hea#y in thei$ !a# $. Pn the the$ hand, the + ! ll w nau+ht but c n'ectu$e and !al"eh d deed" ! the unluc%y ne" a$e w $thle"" and they will wei+h n thin+ n the day ! $ec% nin+, and that i" becau"e they d in thi" w $ld. And the$e! $e, it will be 'u"t and 1u table ! $ the balance n the day ! 'ud+ment t c m.ute thei$ deed" a" inc n"e1uential. 0hene#e$ Allah "ubhana wa taMala menti ned the dwelle$" ! .a$adi"e, he de"c$ibed them acc $din+ t thei$ + d deed", and &e di"c unted thei$ .it!all". 0hene#e$ I $emembe$ed "uch #e$"e" in the >u$9an, I w $$ied ab ut my"el! "h uld I n t t be in thei$ c m.any. / $e #e$, whene#e$, Allah "ubhana wa taMala menti ned dwelle$" ! hell-!i$e in the >u$9an, &e de"c$ibed them by thei$ e#il deed", and he $e!u"ed t acce.t thei$ + d ne" ! $ they we$e n t d ne ! $ &i" "a%e, and hence, whene#e$ I $emembe$ed "uch .e .le, I alway" .$ayed n t t be in thei$ +$ u.. Thu", Allah9" "e$#ant mu"t be c n"tantly yea$nin+ and unea"y at the "ame time. &e "h uld n t c n"ide$ hi" de# ti n a" #aluable, n $ "h uld he de".ai$ ! Allah9" !a# $ and me$cy. I! y u acce.t my adm niti n, then await the a $$i#al ! n di"tant #i"it $ m $e than y u await the an+el ! death, and it will "u$ely c me. And "h uld y u n t heed my adm niti n, then hate n thin+ m $e the "u$e a$$i#al ! a di"tant #i"it $ m $e than the an+el ! death, and yet y u cann t !$u"t$ate him.X
Abu "usa Al-Ash/ari Abu /u"a al-A"h9a$i, $adi Allahu anhu, wa" a $e#e$ed c m.ani n ! ?a"ulullah "allallahu alayhi wa "allam. &e ha" na$$ated many %n wn hadith" and in hi" li!etime wa" !ten hea$d $ecitin+ the >u$9an in the middle ! the ni+ht with the m "t admi$able # ice, ab" $bed in hi" .$aye$" and $e!lectin+ n the meanin+ ! the >u$9anic $e#elati n" w $d ! $ w $d, #e$"e ! $ #e$"e. Imam Ahmad ibn &anbal na$$ated that Abu /u"a, $adi Allahu anhu, "aid that ?a"ulullah "allallahu
BH
alayhi wa "allam wa" nce wal%in+ al n+ with the m the$ ! the belie#e$", MAi"ha $adi Allahu anha. And a" they .a""ed by hi" h u"e, they hea$d him $ecitin+ the >u$9an. ?a"ulullah "allallahu alayhi wa "allam and FAi"ha, $adi Allahu anha, "t ..ed by the wall ! hi" h u"e and they li"tened ! $ awhile be! $e they c ntinued n thei$ way h me. The ne<t m $nin+, Abu /u"a came t "ee ?a"ulullah "allallahu alayhi wa "allam wh "aid t him5 WP Abu /u"a, I wa" wal%in+ la"t ni+ht with FAi"ha and when we $eached y u$ h u"e, we hea$d y u $ecitin+ the >u$9an " we "t ..ed and li"tened ! $ awhile t y u$ $ecital.X Abu /u"a, $adi Allahu anhu, $e.lied5 WP ble""ed .$ .het ! Allah, I wi"h I %new y u we$e the$e, ! $ I w uld ha#e en$iched my # ice and im.$ #ed my $enditi n.X ,ulaiman bin Ahmad na$$ated that when Abu /u"a, $adi Allahu anhu, a$$i#ed in ;emen he "aid in hi" .enin+ "e$m n5 WThe c mmande$ ! the belie#e$", Pma$ bin Al-8hattab "ent me t teach y u the 3 % ! y u$ 2 $d, ble""ed be &i" name, the 2 $d ! ma'e"ty and +l $y. &e al" c mmi""i ned me t teach y u the ble""ed t$aditi n" (,unnah) ! y u$ .$ .het and t clean"e and .u$i!y y u$ .$actice.X Abu /u"a, $adi Allahu anhu, wa" an e1uitable 'ud+e, %n wled+eable in $eli+i u" 'u$i".$udence and wi"e man wh wa" %n wn ! $ hi" ! $titude in en' inin+ the mem $i*ati n ! the h ly >u$9an. /uhammad bin 6a9!a$ bin al-&aytham na$$ated that Abu /u"a, $adi Allahu anhu, nce called the >u$9an $eade$" t meetin+ and he a"%ed that nly th "e wh ha#e mem $i*ed the enti$e >u$Man by hea$t "h uld c me t "ee him. , me th$ee hund$ed ! them came t hea$ hi" c un"el and he "aid t them5 W; u a$e $e". n"ible ! $ $elayin+ the di#ine $e#elati n t the .e .le ! thi" city. D n let y u$ hea$t" ha$den a" time .a""e" by, a" did the hea$t" ! the 4e .le ! the 3 % be! $e y u. 0e hea$d .$ .hetic adm niti n" which i" "imila$ in len+th and auth $ity t the wa$nin+ $e#ealed in ,u$a 3a$aMa (-ha.te$ K) whe$e ?a"ulullah "allallahu alayhi wa "allam al" "aid FI! the " n ! Adam had tw #alley" !illed with + ld, he will "t$i#e t wn a thi$d ne t inc$ea"e hi" . ""e""i n", alth u+h, n thin+ will e#entually !ill the h ll wne"" ! the " n ! Adam but di$t (when he lie" in hi" +$a#e).X 2i%ewi"e, in menti n ! the ab #e acc unt, Abu 8inana wh al" wa" .$e"ent du$in+ the meetin+, na$$ated that Abu /u"a, $adi Allahu anhu, a!te$ .$ai"in+ the di#ine $e#elati n and celeb$atin+ the ma+ni!icence ! the & ly >u$9an added that ! $ me$ely %n win+ the t$uth ! it" $e#elati n, WThi" >u$9an can eithe$ be y u$ ble""ed $ewa$d, $ it can bec me y u$ une<.ected bu$den n the day ! $ec% nin+. @ ll w the >u$Man and d n t let the >u$9an ! ll w y u:(di"t $tin+ the t$uth within the >u$9an) @ $ wh " e#e$ ! ll w" the >u$9an, it will lead him t the bli""!ul +a$den" ! 'anna, and wh " e#e$ i" ! ll wed by the >u$9an, it will cha"e him and ! $ce him until it "h #e" him int the aby"" ! 'ahannam (hell-!i$e).X Abu /u"a, $adi Allahu anhu, li%e all ! ?a"ulullah9", "allallahu alayhi wa "allam, c m.ani n" e<e$ci"ed "el!-$e"t$aint. &e !ten !a"ted du$in+ the bli"te$in+ heat
B5
! the day" and then ".ent hi" l n+ ni+ht" in .$aye$". &e +ea$ed hi" a".i$ati n" t $e". nd c n"i"tently t hi" ".i$itual yea$nin+. Abu /uhammad bin &ayyan na$$ated that Abu /u"a, $adi Allahu anhu, "aid WA t$ue belie#e$ "h uld e<.ect thi" w $ld t and ti$e" me lab $, be"ide" tem.tin+ and hauntin+ t$ial".X Abu /u"a, $adi Allahu anhu, wa" !illed with +$atitude and alway" ! cu"ed u. n the "i+n" ! "tayin+ n the "t$ai+ht .ath. Imam Ahmad ibn &anbal na$$ated that Ana" Ibn /ali% "aid W0e nce t$a#eled with Abu /u"a and du$in+ u$ ' u$ney, he hea$d .e .le di"cu""in+ the .ath with +$eat int$icacy and intellectual in.ut, "uitin+ the m "t el 1uent e<.$e""i n". Abu /u"a l %ed t wa$d" me and "aid in di"a.. intment, F0hat ha..ened t me P Ana"G 0hy d .e .le9" tal%in+ in "uch a manne$ de.$e"" meG 2et9" + " mewhe$e el"e t $emembe$ u$ l $d, ! $ the "ha$. t n+ue" ! the"e intellectual" can e#en +naw a.a$t ! d that i" ha$d t chew n.X A" we m #ed n, Abu /u"a added5 WP Ana": D y u %n w what hinde$" .e .le !$ m "ee%in+ the he$ea!te$ and hinde$" thei$ .u$"uit ! it" .$ mi"eGX Ana" $e.lied WI +ue"" ".ite!ulne"" and "haytan will d that:X Abu /u"a $e.lied WNay I "wea$ by Allah it i" n t that, but it i" thei$ attachment t the !leetin+ .lea"u$e" ! thi" w $ld that att$act" them t "uch a de+$ee, ma%in+ the .e$manent c m! $t ! the &e$ea!te$ "eem di"tant in thei$ mind"I and yet, e#en i! they we$e t b"e$#e it" .hy"ical ! $m and e<amin e it" t$uene"", they will "till be dete$mined in thei$ .u$"uit ! the .lea"u$e" ! thi" w $ld, and they will n t wai#e$ thei$ attachment t it, n $ will they tu$n bac% t the "t$ai+ht .ath.X Imam Ahmad ibn &anbal na$$ated that Abu /u"a, $adi Allahu anhu, nce deli#e$ed a "e$m n at a m "1ue in 3a"$a, I$a1 whe$e he "aid WP ye .e .le: -$y a" much a" y u can and i! y u c uld n t !ind "uch dee. em ti n" in y u$ hea$t", then .$etend y u$ c$yin+ in the h .e ! $ecei#in+ the di#ine me$cy, ! $ the dwelle$" ! hell !i$e will c$y immea"u$ably until the$e will be n m $e tea$" in thei$ eye", and a!te$ that they will ha#e n thin+ but tea$" ! bl d in " $$ w, and which will $un e<ce""i#ely li%e hu+e $i#e$" whe$e e#en "hi." can !l at becau"e ! what they ha#e b$ u+ht u. n them"el#e".X Pn hi" la"t day", he add$e""ed hi" child$en and +a#e them wi"e c un"el. Am$u Ibn 8halid na$$ated that when Abu /u"a, $adi Allahu anhu, laid n hi" deathbed, he called hi" child$en t hi" "ide and he "aid t them W( and di+ a +$a#e and ma%e it ".aci u" and dee..X 0hen the child$en c m.leted what thei$ !athe$ a"%ed them t d , they came bac% and $e. $ted t thei$ !athe$ W0e du+ a +$a#e, and made it la$+e and dee. a" y u a"%ed.X Abu /u"a, $adi Allahu anhu, "aid WI "wea$ by Allah that it will " n c me t ne ! tw c nclu"i n" 1) Oithe$ my +$a#e will e<.and t ! $m an+le" "t$etchin+ u. t ! $ty ya$d" wide, and then a d $way t .a$adi"e will .en t $e#eal my h u"e, !amily, "tati n", ble""in+" and h n $" Allah ha" $e"e$#ed ! $ me, and I will then %n w my way t my dwellin+" the$ein bette$ than I %n w the $ ad t my h u"e in thi" w $ldI and I will "mell the !$a+$ance ! .a$adi"e and .e$cei#e !!e$ him n thin+ but " $$ w!ul
B=
the ha..ine"" ! that "tati n u. t the day ! $e"u$$ecti n 2) "h uld it be the .. "ite, then my +$a#e will "ti!! en d wn t be "malle$ than the bu"hin+ ! a ".ea$head, and then a d $way t hell-!i$e will .en t $e#eal my chain", and "hac%le" and li%e .$i" n" $e"e$#ed ! men wh dwell in 'ahannam, and I will immediately %n w the way t my "eat ! .uni"hment the$ein bette$ that I %n w the $ ad t my h u"e t dayI m $e #e$ I will "mell the cu$"ed "tench ! it" . i" n" and e<.e$ience the ma+nitude ! it" !lame" u. t the day ! $e"u$$ecti n.X Abi 3u$da na$$ated that when Abu /u"a, $adi Allahu anhu, wa" dyin+ he called hi" child$en t hi" bed"ide and he "aid t them W/y dea$ child$en: ?emembe$ the "t $y ! FThe /an with a 2 a! ! 3$ead.9 2i"ten ca$e!ully t hi" "t $y5 Pnce u. n a time, the$e li#ed a man wh ! $ "e#enty yea$" had dedicated hi" enti$e e<i"tence t w $"hi.in+ Allah "ubhana wa ta9ala, and he nly le!t hi" h u"e ne day a wee% t ac1ui$e hi" ba"ic need". Pne day, while in the ma$%et, the "haytan made an att$acti#e w man "educe him, and the man wa" lu$ed t "tay with he$ ! $ "e#en day" and ni+ht", Pn the "e#enth day, the #eil ! da$%ne"" that cl uded hi" thin%in+ wa" li!ted, and the man le!t the w man9" h u"e $e.entin+ t Allah. 0ith e#e$y "te. the man t %, he .$ayed and .$ "t$ated him"el! t Allah, a"hamed ! him"el!. @ea$!ul ! the c n"e1uence" ! hi" "in, he %e.t n a"%in+ ! $ ! $+i#ene"". 3y ni+ht!all, hi" "te." led him t a "h ., nea$ which "at twel#e de"titute men. In that t wn, the$e li#ed a m n% wh "ent the"e twel#e . $ men a l a! ! b$ead each daily. That ni+ht hi" "e$#ant ca$$ied the twel#e l a#e" ! b$ead and b$ u+ht them t di"t$ibute. In the da$% the "e$#ant di"t$ibuted a l a! ! b$ead ! $ each needy .e$" n, and when he $eached the e<t$a man wh "at in thei$ mid"t, n t c untin+ thei$ numbe$, the "e$#ant th u+ht him t be ne ! the indi+ent", and handed him a l a! ! b$ead. A" he wa" lea#in+, the ne man wh did n t $ecei#e hi" "ha$e ! $ that ni+ht, "h uted F0hy ha#e y u n t +i#en me my u"ual l a! ! b$eadG ; u ha#e ne#e$ d ne that be! $e:9 The "e$#ant wh had n t $eali*ed what ha..ened became u."et, and he $e.lied FD y u thin% I ha#e %e.t anythin+ away !$ m y u, $ d y u thin% that I %e.t it ! $ my"el!G A"% a$ und y u, did I +i#e any ne "ittin+ he$e tw l a#e" ! b$ead in"tead ! neG9 They $e.lied FN :9 The "e$#ant then "aid F; u a$e .$ bably accu"in+ me ! %ee.in+ it ! $ my"el!: I "wea$ by Allah that I will n t +i#e y u anythin+ ! $ t ni+ht.9 0 ith ut delay, the $e.entin+ man made what ha..en %n wn, and he handed hi" l a! ! b$ead #e$ t the .e$" n wh did n t +et hi" "ha$e ! $ that ni+ht. 3y "un$i"e, the $e.entin+ man wa" ! und dead in the "t$eet nea$ the "h .. 0hen the an+el" came and wei+hed hi" deed", the "e#enty yea$" ! w $"hi. he !!e$ed did n t mea"u$e u. t the wei+ht ! hi" "in" du$in+ the la"t "e#en ni+ht" ! hi" li!e, but when the an+el" wei+hed the "in ! the la"t "e#en ni+ht" and hi" la"t .eace !!e$in+ ! a "in+le l a! ! b$ead he +a#e t the indi+ent, hi" cha$ity wei+hed hea#ie$. Thu" he wa" "a#ed !$ m
BQ
ete$nal damnati n.9 Abu /u"a, $adi Allahu anhu, then added W/y dea$ child$en alway" $emembe$ thi" "t $y ! FThe /an with a 2 a! ! 3$ead.9
0"A+ I&1 A, *HATTA& "A2 @A?PA>" Pma$ ibn al 8hattab $adi Allahu anhu wa" the "ec nd %hali!ah a!te$ the $ule ! Abu 3a%$ a",adi1 $adi Allahu anhu. &e wa" the # ice ! the t$uth. &e nly 'ud+ed by the 3 % ! Allah. &e wa" wi"e, and th$ u+h Pma$M" ! $bea$ance, Allah "ubhana wa taMala "t$en+thened &i" me""a+e and "u.. $ted &i" /e""en+e$. &e wa" the an"we$ t the .$aye$" ! ?a"ulullah "allallahu alayhi wa "allam. 0hen Pma$ $adi Allahu anhu became /u"lim, the belie#e$" we$e u.li!ted and b$ u+ht new dete$minati n t de!end the di#ine me""a+e ! Allah. The # ice ! the /u"lim" we$e n l n+e$ clande"tine and the e#il "cheme" ! the n n belie#e$" we$e hea#ily "ha%en. Pma$ $adi Allahu anhu "ha$ed the ha$d"hi." and "u!!e$in+ ! the belie#e$". Pma$ $adi Allahu anhu had #e$y "t$ n+ !aith and hi" dete$minati n .ut an end t the "cheme" ! th "e wh went a+ain"t AllahM" me""a+e. &e challen+ed the enemie" .enly th$ u+h hi" t$u"t and $eliance n Allah "ubhana wa taMala. Ibn Abba" a"%ed him "0hy we$e y u nic%named al @a$ u1G" &e an"we$ed "&am*a acce.ted I"lam th$ee day" be! $e I did, then Allah .ened my hea$t t it, and I e<claimed ",u$ely the$e i" n ( d e<ce.t Allah, the 2 $d ! the ma+ni!icent di#ine Att$ibute".M ,uddenly n ne wa" m $e bel #ed t my hea$t than ?a"ulullah. I went t my "i"te$ and a"%ed he$ "0he$e i" ?a"ulullahG" "he $e.lied "&e i" meetin+ with the belie#e$" at the h u"e ! al A$1am bin al A$1am nea$ the hill ! "a!a." I went the$e immediately. At the time, &am*a and "e#e$al the$ c m.ani n" we$e meetin+ with ?a"ulullah. A" I %n c%ed n the d bac%:" &e then came ut t the d $ and he "h $, the .e .le t % +ua$d and &am*a a"%ed $." ?a"ulullah then "aid t them ",tand %ed me and "aid "P Pma$ when a$e y u + in+ t "0hat i" the matte$G" They $e.lied "Pma$ i" at the d
"t . y u$ actG" I "aid "I came he$e t bea$ witne"" that the$e i" n + d the$ than Allah, n a"" ciate ha" &e, and that /uhammad i" &i" "e$#ant and /e""en+e$." A. n hea$in+ that, the belie#e$" e<claimed "A22A&A A83A?:" And thei$ l ud # ice" $e" nated with ' y a" they we$e hea$d by th "e li#in+ in the #icinity ! the "ac$ed 8aMba." A. n ente$in+ the h u"e ! al A$1am Pma$ a"%ed ";a ?a"ulullah i! we .enly .$ claim u$ !aith, w uld we n t be $i+ht, $e+a$dle"" whethe$ we li#e $ dieG" ?a"ulullah "allallahu alayhi wa "allam an"we$ed "Indeed, I "wea$ by &im in 0h "e hand my " ul "tand", that y u$ $i+ht whethe$ y u
BJ
li#e $ die." Pma$ then "aid "0hy hide thenG I "wea$ by &im 0h "ent y u with the me""a+e ! t$uth that thi" mu"t be decla$ed .enly." Pma$ added "0e then wal%ed ut ! the & u"e ! al A$1am in tw $ w" and ?a"ulullah wal%ed "teadily between &am*a and my"el! in the !$ nt $ w until we $eached the "ac$ed m "1ue. The .e .le ! >u$ai"h "h "aw u", and n that day, ?a"ulullah named me al-@a$ u1." Pma$ $adi Allahu anhu wa" %n wn ! $ hi" cla$ity ! ".eech. &e acce.ted what Allah $e#ealed and di"a+$eed with the .e$" nal .ini n" ! .e .le. Abu &u$ai$ah $adi Allahu anhu na$$ated that ?a"ulullah "allallahu alayhi wa "allam "aid "Allah .laced t$uth and 'u"tice n the t n+ue and in the hea$t ! Pma$." Ali bin Abi Talib $adi Allahu anhu nce "aid "0e u"ed t "ay that the$e i" an an+el that ".ea%" with Pma$M" t n+ue." &e $emained m "tly in the c m.any ! ?a"ulullah "allallahu alayhi wa "allam and ! cu"ed n ac1ui$in+ %n wled+e and emulatin+ the cha$acte$ ! ?a"ulullah "allallahu alayhi wa "allam. &e became a m del ! a t$ue ! ll we$. Abi ,alma na$$ated that Pma$ $adi Allahu anhu nce w $e a new "hi$t and he called hi" " n Abdullah and "aid t him ", n ta%e thi" blade and t$im the"e l n+ "lee#e" ! $ me. 4lace y u$ ! $e !in+e$" ac$ "" the ed+e ! my %nuc%le" and t$im the balance." Ibn Pma$ cut the tw "lee#e" with the blade but the cut l %ed " mewhat "l ..y and the !ab$ic be+an un$a#elin+. Ibn Pma$ then "aid "!athe$ let me ad'u"t the t$im with a .ai$ ! "ci"" $" in"tead, and then I will hem them ! $ y u." Pma$ in"i"ted "It i" all $i+ht " n, lea#e them li%e that. I "aw ?a"ulullah wea$ it thi" way." Pma$ $adi Allahu anhu wa" m "t +$ate!ul ! $ what Allah !a# $ed ! $ him. &e "we$#ed away !$ m !al"eh d and he did n t mi< with thei$ c m.any. &i"ham ibn al &a""an "aid "0hen Pma$ $ead a #e$"e !$ m the >u$Man adm ni"hin+ .e .le, he w uld "u..$e"" hi" em ti n" and +a". ! $ b$eath, and he !ten e$u.ted " bbin+ until he wa" nea$ly ch %ed by hi" wn tea$", and " metime" he !ell unc n"ci u". 0hen Pma$ $ec u.ed he w uld c n"t$ain him"el! t the c n!ine" ! hi" h u"e ! $ " me day". 4e .le w uld thin% that he wa" ill, and they w uld #i"it hmi and in1ui$e ab ut hi" health." In hi" li!e, he eliminated anythin+ that c uld di"t$act hi" ! cu" t wa$d" the t$uth. &i" i%hla" made him !$ee !$ m "hi$% $ a$$ +ance. &e wa" %n wn ! $ the .u$ity ! hi" intenti n, hi" %indne"" and inte$e"t in the$M" wel!a$e. Al Aw*aMi na$$ated that Pma$ $adi Allahu anhu u"ed t wal% ut ! hi" h u"e "ec$etly at ni+ht.. Pne ni+ht Talha "aw that and he ! ll wed him. Talha "aw Pma$ + in+ t ne h u"e, and in awhile he came ut and .$ ceeded t an the$ h u"e be! $e he $etu$ned t hi" wn h u"e. In the m $nin+, Talha went t the h u"e he "aw Pma$ ente$in+ at ni+ht. &e %n c%ed n the d $ t !ind a blind ld w man wh wa" handica..ed and debilitated. &e a"%ed he$ "0h i" the man that #i"ited y u la"t ni+htG" ,he $e.lied "&e ha" been ta%in+ ca$e ! me ! $ "uch a l n+ % and became di"t$e""ed a" they
BK
time n w. &e b$in+" me whate#e$ I need, and then he $em #e" the ad#e$"e." Talha e<cu"ed him"el! and le!t. Talha adm ni"hed him"el!5 "I damned my"el! and I "aid t my"el!, "/ay y u$ m the$ m u$n y u and be be$ea#ed ! y u P Talha a$e y u ".yin+ n Pma$ and 1ue"ti nin+ and hi" deed"G" Ta$ia bin ,hahab na$$ated that n hi" way t ,y$ia, a mi$y t$ac% c$ ""ed Pma$M" .ath, " he came d wn !$ m hi" camel, t % !! hi" "h e" and wal%ed th$ u+h the t$ac%. Abu Abaidah wh % in"ide and "aid "Ph: I wi"h " me ne el"e had "aid that P Abu t$a#eled with him "aid "T day y u ha#e d ne " methin+ that i" m "t ut$a+e u" in the eye" ! the .e .le ! the w $ld:" Pma$ "h Abaidah: ; u we$e the m "t undi+ni!ied .e .le n ea$th and Allah ha" h n $ed y u with ?a"ulullah "allallahu alayhi wa "allam. @$ m n w n, whene#e$ y u "ee% h n $ in anythin+ el"e, Allah will humiliate y u." Al &a""an na$$ated that Pma$ wa" nce wal%in+ al n+ with " me ! hi" c m.ani n" when they .a""ed by a t$a"h dum.. Pma$ "t ..ed ! $ a m ment thin%in+, and hi" act di"tu$bed hi" c m.ani n". 0hen he n ticed that they we$e !!ended by the "tench, he c mmented5 "Thi" i" the w $% y u ca$e " much t h a$d, and thi" i" the utc me ! y u$ t$u"t m "tly that $ely u. n ! $ y u$ need":" Pma$ $adi Allahu anhu, e#en du$in+ hi" $ule a" the c mmande$ ! the belie#e$", time and a+ain .ted ! $ ha$d"hi." #e$ c m! $t "ee%in+ the e#e$la"tin+ " lace ! the he$ea!te$. Ibn Atba 1u ted Pma$ $adi Allahu anhu a" "ayin+ "/i< with th "e h w ha#e .atience, ! $ thei$ hea$t" a$e the " !te"t." ,aMad bin Abi 0a11a" na$$ated that at the time ! Pma$M" C$adi Allahu anhuE cali.hate, hi" dau+hte$ &a!"a nce "aid "P - mmande$ ! the belie#e$": I wi"h y u w uld wea$ a +a$ment le"" c a$"e than what y u ha#e, and acce.t t eat ! d le"" .lain that what y u eat, ! $ Allah ha" inc$ea"ed u$ $e#enue", and &i" !a# $" a$e .lenty n w:" Pma$ "aid "I will let y u$ wn $ea" nin+ c unte$ y u$ wn idea. N w tell me, d y u n t $emembe$ h w ?a"ulullah "allallahu alayhi wa "allam and hi" c m.ani n" li#ed, and h w "ca$ce wa" thei$ .e$" nal c m! $tG" &a!"a bu$"t int tea$". Pma$ added "3y Allah, I "aid t my"el!, i! I can "ha$e with them " me ! thei$ ha$d"hi." in the w $ld, .e$ha." I c uld "ha$e with them " me ! thei$ c m! $t in the he$ea!te$." Al &a""an na$$ated that Pma$ $adi Allahu anhu "aid ",u$ely I d ha#e the mean" t wea$ the !ine"t ! cl thin+, t eat the be"t ! d, and t li#e a m "t c m! $table li!e. I "wea$ by Allah that i! thi" wa" the idea ! c m! $t then I ha#e the mean" t d " . I am n t i+n $ant ! h w t d$e"" a camelM" hum. t ma%e it m $e c m! $table $ h w t build my"el! a $ich $ece.ti n hall, ac1ui$e im.$e""i#e c mm ditie", $ t ma%e c m.etiti#e ch ice" in thi" w $ld, but I ha#e hea$d that Allah
H0
$e.$imand" .e .le ! $ d in+ " , and 1u tin+ the >u$Man Pma$ "aid "; u ha#e wall wed in y u$ "ati"!acti n du$in+ y u$ li!e in the w $ld and " u+ht c m! $t the$ein." (H=520) ,aMid bin Abi 3u$da na$$ated that Pma$ nce w$ te a lette$ t hi" de.uty in the N $th, Abu /u"a al-A"hMa$i $adi Allahu anhu. In cl "in+ Pma$ "aid ".....The$e! $e the ha..ie"t ! + #e$n $" n the day ! 'ud+ment i" ne wh "e "ub'ect" we$e ha..y with him in thi" w $ld, and n that day, the m "t w$etched ! + #e$n $" i" ne wh "e "ub'ect" ha#e "u!!e$ed unde$ him in thi" w $ld. 3ewa$e ne#e$ t .$ c$a"tinate $ !ail t "e$#e the .e .le. Pthe$wi"e, y u$ deed" will withe$ away and y u will be li%e a c w, nce it "ee" it" .a"tu$e it $u"he" t eat n it t +$ w !atte$, n t $eali*in+ nce it bec me" !at, it will be !it ! $ "lau+hte$." /uhammad bin ,hahab na$$ated that Pma$ $adi Allahu anhu "aid "D nMt cen"u$e " methin+ which ha" n t immediate lin% t y u$ inte$e"t. @ $"a%e y u$ enemie", and bewa$e ! y u$ cl "e c m.ani n", e<ce.t ! $ the t$u"tw $thy ne", ! $ n thin+ e1ual" the w $th ! a t$u"tw $thy c m.ani n. D n t mi< with an in" lent .e$" n le"t he in!luence" y u with hi" deed". Ne#e$ t$u"t "uch a .e$" n with y u$ "ec$et, and " licit ad#ice nly !$ m .e .le with ta1wa." The Death ! Pma$ $adi Allahu anhu Na$$ated MAm$ bin /aimun5 I "aw Pma$ bin Al-8hattab a !ew day" be! $e he wa" "tabbedin /edina. &e wa" "tandin+ with &udhai!a bin Al-;aman and Athman bin &unai! t wh m he "aid, "0hat ha#e y u d neG D y u thin% that y u ha#e im. "ed m $e ta<ati n n the land ( ! A",wad i.e. MI$a1) than it can bea$G" They $e.lied, "0e ha#e im. "ed n it what it can bea$ becau"e ! it" +$eat yield." Pma$ a+ain "aid, "-hec% whethe$ y u ha#e im. "ed n the land what it can n t bea$."They "aid, "N , (we ha#enMt)." Pma$ added, "I! Allah "h uld %ee. me ali#e I will let the wid w" ! I$a1 need n men t "u.. $t them a!te$ me." 3ut nly ! u$ day" had ela."ed when he wa" "tabbed (t death ). The day he wa" "tabbed, I wa" "tandin+ and the$e wa" n b dy between me and him (i.e. Pma$) e<ce.t Abdullah bin MAbba". 0hene#e$ Pma$ .a""ed between the tw $ w", he w uld "ay, ",tand in "t$ai+ht line"." 0hen he "aw n de!ect (in the $ w"), he w uld + ! $wa$d and "ta$t the .$aye$ with Ta%bi$. &e w uld $ecite ,u$at;u"u! $ An-Nahl $ the li%e in the !i$"t ?a%Ma " that the .e .le may ha#e the time t 6 in the .$aye$. A" " n a" he "aid Ta%bi$, I hea$d him "ayin+, "The d + ha" %illed $ eaten me," at the time he (i.e. the mu$de$e$) "tabbed him. A n n-A$ab in!idel .$ ceeded n ca$$yin+ a d uble-ed+ed %ni!e and "tabbin+ all the .e$" n" he .a""ed by n the $i+ht and le!t (till) he "tabbed thi$teen .e$" n" ut ! wh m "e#en died. 0hen ne ! the /u"lim" "aw that, he th$ew a cl a% n him. ?eali*in+ that he had been ca.tu$ed, the n n-A$ab in!idel %illed him"el!, Pma$ held the hand ! MAbdu$-?ahman bin Au! and let him
H1
lead the .$aye$. Th "e wh we$e "tandin+ by the "ide ! Pma$ "aw what I "aw, but the .e .le wh we$e in the the$ .a$t" ! the / "1ue did n t "ee anythin+, but they l "t the # ice ! Pma$ and they we$e "ayin+, ",ubhan Allah: ,ubhan Allah:(i.e. (l $i!ied be Allah)." Abdu$-?ahman bin Au! led the.e .le a "h $t .$aye$. 0hen they !ini"hed the .$aye$, Pma$ "aid, "P Ibn MAbba": @ind ut wh attac%ed me." Ibn MAbba" %e.t n l %in+ he$e and the$e ! $ a "h $t time and came t "ay. "The "la#e ! Al /u+hi$a." Pn that Pma$ "aid, "The c$a!t"manG" Ibn MAbba" "aid, ";e"." Pma$ "aid, "/ay Allah cu$"e him. I did n t t$eat him un'u"tly. All the 4$ai"e" a$e ! $ Allah 0h ha" n t cau"ed me t die at the hand ! a man wh claim" him"el! t be a /u"lim. N d ubt, y u and y u$ !athe$ (Abba") u"ed t l #e t ha#e m $e n n-A$ab in!idel" in /edina." Al-Abba" had the +$eate"t numbe$ ! "la#e". Ibn MAbba" "aid t Pma$. "I! y u wi"h, we will d ." &e meant, "I! y u wi"h we will %ill them." Pma$ "aid, "; u a$e mi"ta%en (! $ y u canMt %ill them) a!te$ they ha#e ". %en y u$ lan+ua+e, .$ayed t wa$d" y u$ >ibla,and .e$! $med &a'' li%e y u$"." Then Pma$ wa" ca$$ied t hi" h u"e, and we went al n+ with him, and the .e .le we$e a" i! they had ne#e$ "u!!e$ed a calamity be! $e. , me "aid, "D n t w $$y (he will be al$i+ht " n)." , me "aid, "0e a$e a!$aid (that he will die)." Then an in!u"i n ! date" wa" b$ u+ht t him and he d$an% it but it came ut ( ! the w und) ! hi" belly. Then mil% wa" b$ u+ht t him and he d$an% it, and it al" came ut ! hi" belly. The .e .le $eali*ed that he w uld die. 0e went t him, and the .e .le came, .$ai"in+ him. A y un+ man came "ayin+, "Pchie! ! the belie#e$": ?ecei#e the +lad tidin+" !$ m Allah t y u due t y u$ c m.any with AllahM" A. "tle and y u$ "u.e$i $ity in I"lam which y u %n w. Then y u became the $ule$ (i.e. -ali.h) and y u $uled with 'u"tice and !inally y u ha#e been ma$ty$ed." Pma$ "aid, "I wi"h that all the"e .$i#ile+e" will c unte$balance (my "h $tc min+") " that I will neithe$ l "e n $ +ain anythin+." 0hen the y un+ man tu$ned bac% t lea#e, hi" cl the" "eemed t be t uchin+ the +$ und. Pma$ "aid, "-all the y un+ man bac% t me." (0hen he came bac%) Pma$ "aid, "P " n ! my b$ the$: 2i!t y u$ cl the", ! $ thi" will %ee. y u$ cl the" clean and "a#e y u !$ m the 4uni"hment ! y u$ 2 $d." Pma$ !u$the$ "aid, "P MAbdullah bin Pma$: ,ee h w much I am indebt t the$"." 0hen the debt wa" chec%ed, it am unted t a..$ <imately ei+htyi" n t "u!!icient, a"% ! $ it "i< th u"and. Pma$ "aid, "I! the .$ .e$ty ! Pma$M" !amily c #e$" the debt, then .ay the debt the$e !I the$wi"e $e1ue"t it !$ m 3ani MAdi bin 8aMb,and i! that t !$ m >u$ai"h t$ibe, and d n t a"% ! $ it !$ m any ne el"e, and .ay thi" debt n my behal!." Pma$ then "aid (t MAbdullah), "( t MAi"ha (the m the$ ! the belie#e$") and "ay5 "Pma$ i" .ayin+ hi" "alutati n t y u. 3ut d nMt "ay5 MThe chie! ! the belie#e$",M becau"e t day I am n t the
H2
chie! ! the belie#e$". And "ay5 "Pma$ bin Al-8hattab a"%" the .e$mi""i n t be bu$ied with hi" tw c m.ani n" (i.e. the 4$ .het, and Abu 3a%$)." Abdullah +$eeted MAi"ha and a"%ed ! $ the .e$mi""i n ! $ ente$in+, and then ente$ed t he$ and ! und he$ "ittin+ and wee.in+. &e "aid t he$, "Pma$ bin Al-8hattab i" .ayin+ hi" "alutati n" t y u, and a"%" the .e$mi""i n t be bu$ied with hi" tw c m.ani n"." ,he "aid, "I had the idea ! ha#in+ thi" .lace ! $ my"el!, but t day I .$e!e$ Pma$ t my"el!." 0hen he $etu$ned it wa" "aid (t Pma$), "MAbdullah bin Pma$ ha" c me." Pma$ "aid, "/a%e me "itu.." , meb dy "u.. $ted him a+ain"t hi" b dy and Pma$ a"%ed (MAbdullah), "0hat new" d y u ha#eG" &e "aid, "P chie! ! the belie#e$": It i" a" y u wi"h. ,he ha" +i#en the .e$mi""i n." Pma$ "aid, "4$ai"e be t Allah, the$e wa" n thin+ m $e im. $tant t me than thi". , when I die, ta%e me, and +$eet MAi"ha and "ay5 "Pma$ bin Al-8hattab a"%" the .e$mi""i n (t be bu$ied with the 4$ .het ), and i! "he +i#e" the .e$mi""i n, bu$y me the$e, and i! "he $e!u"e", then ta%e me t the +$a#e-ya$d ! the /u"lim"." Then &a!"a (the m the$ ! the belie#e$") came with many the$ w men wal%in+ with he$. 0hen we "aw he$, we went away. ,he went in (t Pma$) and we.t the$e ! $ " metime.0hen the men a"%ed ! $ .e$mi""i n t ente$, "he went int an the$ .lace, and we hea$d he$ wee.in+ in"ide. The .e .le "aid (t Pma$), "P chie! ! the belie#e$": A.. int a "ucce"" $." Pma$ "aid, "I d n t !ind any ne m $e "uitable ! $ the ' b than the ! ll win+ .e$" n" $ +$ u. wh m AllahM" A. "tle had been .lea"ed with be! $e he died." Then Pma$ menti ned MAli, MAthman, A*Dubai$, Talha, ,aMad and MAbdu$-?ahman (bin Au!) and "aid,"Abdullah bin Pma$ will be a witne"" t y u, but he will ha#e n "ha$e in the $ule. &i" bein+ awitne"" will c m.en"ate him ! $ n t "ha$in+ the $i+ht ! $ulin+. I! ,aMad bec me" the $ule$, it will be al$i+ht5 the$wi"e, wh e#e$ bec me" the $ule$ "h uld "ee% hi" hel., a" I ha#e n t di"mi""ed him becau"e ! di"ability $ di"h ne"ty." Pma$ added, "I $ec mmend that my "ucce"" $ ta%e" ca$e ! the ea$ly emi+$ant"I t %n w thei$ $i+ht" and .$ tect thei$ h n $ and "ac$ed thin+". I al" $ec mmend that he be %ind t the An"a$ wh had li#ed in /edina be! $e the emi+$ant" and 3elie! had ente$ed thei$ hea$t" be! $e them. I $ec mmend that the ($ule$) "h uldacce.t the + d ! the $i+hte u" am n+ them and e<cu"e thei$ d t all the .e .le ! the t wn" (Al-An"a$),a" w$ n+-d e$", and I $ec mmend that he"h uld d +
they a$e the .$ tect $" ! I"lam and the " u$ce ! wealth and the " u$ce ! ann yance t the enemy. I al" $ec mmend that n thin+ be ta%en !$ m them e<ce.t !$ m thei$ "u$.lu" with thei$ c n"ent. I al" $ec mmend that he d + d t the MA$ab bed uin, a" they a$e the $i+in ! theMA$ab" and the mate$ial ! I"lam. &e "h uld ta%e !$ m what i" in!e$i $, am n+"t thei$ .$ .e$tie" and di"t$ibute that t the . $ am n+"t them. I al" $ec mmend him c nce$nin+ AllahM" and &i" A. "tleM" .$ tectee" (i.e. Dhimmi") t !ul!ill thei$ c nt$act" and t !i+ht ! $ them and n t t #e$bu$den them with what i" bey nd thei$ ability."
HB
, when Pma$ died, we ca$$ied him ut and "et ut wal%in+. MAbdullah bin Pma$ +$eeted (MAi"ha) and "aid, "Pma$ bin Al-8hattab a"%" ! $ the .e$mi""i n." MAi"ha "aid, "3$in+ him in." &e wa" b$ u+ht in and bu$ied be"ide hi" tw c m.ani n". (,ahih 3u%ha$i5 R lume 5, 3 % 5Q, Numbe$ 50) A"im bin Abaidullah na$$ated that in hi" la"t b$eath, Pma$M" head wa" layin+ n hi" " nM" la.. Pma$ "aid t him ", n .ut my heat d wn n the !l $:" ibn Pma$ an"we$ed +$ie#in+ly "And what di!!e$ence d e" it ma%e whethe$ it i" n my la. $ n the !l $G" Pma$ in"i"ted and when hi" " n ! ll wed hi" !athe$" c mmand", Pma$ bu$"t int tea$", a" he .$ayed with tea$" in hi" eye" "0 e t me and t my m the$ "h uld my l $d n t "h w &i" me$cy t me t day:" YYn te" /ay Allah "ubhana wa taMala ! $+i#e me ! $ my e$$ $" and my "in", hidden and %n wn.
I"A" ")HA""A- &A.I+ A$! Imam /uhammad al-3a1i$ (a.") wa" b $n in the 5Jth yea$ ! the &i'$a, n the thi$d day ! the m nth ! "a!a$, in the city ! /edina. &i" h n u$ed !athe$ i" Imam ,a''ad and hi" $e#e$ed m the$, @atema, dau+hte$ ! Imam &a""an (a."). Imam ,a''ad (a."), acc $din+ t the c mmand ! Allah and the dec$ee ! the .$ .het, a.. inted hi" " n, Imam /uhammad al-3a1i$, t Imamate and leade$"hi. ! the .e .le, and int$ duced him a" "uch. Imam /uhammad al-3a1i$ (a."), li%e the the$ Imam", in %n wled+e and "cience had n e1ual. ($eat lea$ned men bene!ited !$ m hi" %n wled+e and "cience and u"ed t a"% him t " l#e thei$ .$ blem". Imam /uhammad al-3a1i$ (a.") in"t$ucted .e .le in .e$ce.t" ! $eli+i n, tau+ht them the ethic" ! li!e, and u"ed t "t$i#e #e$y ha$d t educate, cultu$e and +uide the .e .le. Du$in+ the c u$"e ! hi" li!e, he tau+ht the .e .le th u"and" ! the l +ical and $eli+i u" .$inci.le", a" well a" "cienti!ic "ub'ect", and hi" teachin+" ha#e been handled d wn t u". &i" wi"d m and lea$nin+ wa" " much that he wa" called 3a1i$ ul-ulum, which mean" "the .ene$ ! "cience"". Imam /uhammad al-3a1i$ (a."), li#ed in thi" w $ld ! $ a .e$i d ! 5Q yea$", and in the 11Hth yea$ ! the &i'$a, n the "e#enth day ! the m nth ! Dul-&i''ah, in /edina he le!t thi" w $ld. &i" b dy wa" bu$ied in 3a1i cemet$y al n+"ide the +$a#e" ! Imam &a""an and Imam ,a''ad (a.") in /edina.
HH

Imams

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Imams

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Stories of Imams (R.A.H.

Abu Musa Al-Ash*ari +MA& I N A' %HATTA

(Taken from: http://

Great Imams of Islam By Maida Malik .!eo"ities."om/#a$d%l ahid/a$%hanifah/the&!reat&imam.html)

Al-,uyuti $elate" in Tabyid al-,ahi!a that a ce$tain #i"it $ came t

b"e$#e Abu &ani!a and "aw

Ibn Thabit, also called: The Greatest Imam

d !i1h, ". %e the t$uth !ea$le""ly, $de$ed +

d, and $emained al ! !$ m " ciety. &e u"ed

You might also like