1. Ahmad bin Hanbal أحمد بن حنبل 164-241 H نبذة عن حياة الأئمة الأربعة نبذة عن حياة الأئمة الأربعة Lives of The Great Four Imams

2. Abu Hanifah 80-150 H Malik 93-179 H Shafe ’ i 150-204 H Ahmad 164-241 H

3. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) His Birth in Baghdad His upbringing and youth Seeking knowledge Travels

4. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Started teaching at the age of 40 Characteristics of his Halaqa –Seriousness –Accuracy –Documentation of Hadith, not opinion –Avoiding argumentations and debates

5. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) His life style His relationship with Authority (Khilafa) –Refused donations and gifts –The Ordeal Knowledge of Imam Ahmad

6. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) His Personal Attributes His Teachers and Mentors His Life Experiences His Time

7. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) His Personal Attributes: –Strong Memory and understanding of Hadith –Patience and Perseverance –Honesty –Adherence to Sunnah and Avoiding Arguments –Sincerity –Presence and Character

8. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) His Teachers and Mentors: –Direct Teachers (among many) Hushaym bin Bashirهُشَيم بن بشير الواسطي Imam Shafe’I محمد بن ادريس الشافعي –Influencing Teachers Sufian Al-Thawri سفيان بن سعيد الثوري Abdullah bin Al-Mubarak عبد الله بن المبارك

9. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) His Teachers and Mentors: –Sufian bin Uyaynah سفيان بن عيينة –Waki’ bin Al-Jarrah وكيع بن الجراح –Abdur-Razzaq عبد الرزاق بن همام الصنعاني –Yahya Al-Qattan يحيى بن سعيد القطان

10. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) His Time –Political: Abbasids Dominance Conflicts within Abbasid family Strength of Persian and Turks (Ma’moon) –Maturation of Fiqh and Knowledge of Hadith. Compilation of Hadith –Creed Divisions (Mu’tazilah and others)

11. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Matters of Division and Conflict –Faith (Iman) Belief, words, and deeds? Increases and decreases? –Capital Sin Does it lead to Kufr and eternity in Hell? –Destiny and Free Will Are we free to choose our actions or is it our fate? Is it our prerogative to ask this question? –Attributes of Allah What can a human being understand about the Creator?

12. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Matters of Division and Conflict –Faith (Iman) Belief, words, and deeds? Increases and decreases? –Capital Sin Does it lead to Kufr and eternity in Hell? –Destiny and Free Will Are we free to choose our actions or is it our fate? Is it our prerogative to ask this question? –Attributes of Allah What can a human being understand about the Creator?

13. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Murji’ah المرجئة Imam Ahmad Belief only Belief, Words and Deeds Matters of Division and Conflict –Faith (Iman)

14. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Matters of Division and Conflict –Faith (Iman)

15. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Mu’tazilah المعتزلة Kawarej الخوارج Imam Ahmad One station, does not change. Increases and Decreases Matters of Division and Conflict –Faith (Iman)

16. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Matters of Division and Conflict –Faith (Iman) Imanإيمان Obedient Muslim مسلم مؤمن Jannah Muslim who commits capital sins. مسلم فاسق (مرتكب الكبائر) كفرKufr Rejecter of Belief كافرHellfire Shahadah الشهادة Tawbah التوبة

17. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Matters of Division and Conflict –Faith (Iman) WorshipSunnah Hope الرجاء Fear الخوف Love الحب

18. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Matters of Division and Conflict –Faith (Iman) WorshipSunnah Hope الرجاء Fear الخوف Love الحب الإسراء

19. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Matters of Division and Conflict –Faith (Iman) WorshipSunnah Hope الرجاء Fear الخوف Love الحب Extreme Sufism غلاة الصوفية Murji’ah المرجئة Khawarej الخوارج

20. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Matters of Division and Conflict –Faith (Iman) Belief, words, and deeds? Increases and decreases? –Capital Sin Does it lead to Kufr and eternity in Hell? –Destiny and Free Will Are we free to choose our actions or is it our fate? Is it our prerogative to ask this question? –Attributes of Allah What can a human being understand about the Creator?

21. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Matters of Division and Conflict –Capital Sin Imanإيمان Obedient Muslim مسلم مؤمن Jannah Muslim who commits capital sins. مسلم فاسق (مرتكب الكبائر) كفرKufr Rejecter of Belief كافرHellfire Shahadah الشهادة Tawbah التوبة

22. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Matters of Division and Conflict –Capital Sin Khawarej –Capital Sin Khawarej الخوارج Imanإيمان Obedient Muslim مسلم مؤمن Jannah Muslim who commits capital sins. ”كافر“ (مرتكب الكبائر) ”كافر“ (مرتكب الكبائر) كفرKufr Rejecter of Belief كافرHellfire Shahadah الشهادة Tawbah التوبة

23. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Matters of Division and Conflict –Capital Sin Mu’tazilah المعتزلة Imanإيمان Obedient Muslim مسلم مؤمن Jannah “in- between” ”منزلة بين المنزلتين“ Muslim who commits capital sins. ”منزلة بين المنزلتين“ (مرتكب الكبائر) ”منزلة بين المنزلتين“ (مرتكب الكبائر) كفرKufr Rejecter of Belief كافرHellfire Shahadah الشهادة Tawbah التوبة

24. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Matters of Division and Conflict –Faith (Iman) Belief, words, and deeds? Increases and decreases? –Capital Sin Does it lead to Kufr and eternity in Hell? –Destiny and Free Will Are we free to choose our actions or is it our fate? Is it our prerogative to ask this question? –Attributes of Allah What can a human being understand about the Creator?

25. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Matters of Division and Conflict Destiny and Free Will –Principles: Avoid Discussions and Arguments about trying to reach a universal and complete understanding regarding matters pertaining to Allah’s Wisdom and Determination for His Creation. Knowledge about Deviated Sects are only important to avoid Deviation in Creed.

26. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Matters of Division and Conflict Destiny and Free Will –Principles: STOP at the Text of the Quran and Sunnah! السنة التوقيفية The Text does not have to conform with Philosophy and Study of Human Logic. We cannot understand many details that are related to Allah Himself, His Decree, His Wisdom and His Knowledge.

27. Matters of Division and Conflict Destiny and Free Will –Principles of Sunnah: Belief in the Eternal and Unlimited Knowledge of Allah. Belief in the Pre-Recording of All Events and Deeds in The Book of Allah. (Al-Lawh اللوح المحفوظ) Belief in the Absolute Will and Determination of Allah. Belief that Allah has Created Everything, The Servants and Their Deeds. Allah has given His Servants the Free Choice, by which they are taken to Accountability. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H)

28. Matters of Division and Conflict Destiny and Free Will –Principles of Sunnah: Belief in the Eternal and Unlimited Knowledge of Allah. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) الأحزاب الأنعام

29. Matters of Division and Conflict Destiny and Free Will –Principles of Sunnah: Belief in the Pre-Recording of All Events and Deeds in The Book of Allah. (Al-Lawh اللوح المحفوظ) Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) الحديد

30. Matters of Division and Conflict Destiny and Free Will –Principles of Sunnah: Belief in the Absolute Will and Determination of Allah. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) طهالبقره

31. Matters of Division and Conflict Destiny and Free Will –Principles of Sunnah: Belief that Allah has Created everything, The Servants and Their Deeds. Allah has given His Servants the Free Choice, by which they are taken to Accountability. Servants’ will cannot be independent and higher that Allah’s Will Imam Ahmad (164-241 H)

32. Matters of Division and Conflict Destiny and Free Will –Principles of Sunnah: Belief that Allah has Created everything, The Servants and Their Deeds. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) الصافات

33. Matters of Division and Conflict Destiny and Free Will –Principles of Sunnah: Allah has given His Servants the Free Choice, by which they are taken to Accountability. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) الكهف

34. Matters of Division and Conflict Destiny and Free Will –Principles of Sunnah: Servants’ will cannot be independent and higher that Allah’s Will Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) التكوير

35. Destiny and Free Will –Allah’s Universal Will الإرادة الكونية Allah’s undeniable power and will over everything and being in Heaven and Earth. All events, good or bad, occur due to the Will and Permission of Allah’s alone. –Allah’s Legislative Will الإرادة الشرعية Allah’s commands and instructions to His Creation regarding His Will in regards to what they should do to please Him. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H)

36. Universal Will الإرادة الكونية Legislative Will الإرادة الشرعية الإرادة الشرعية البقره النحل

37. Universal Will الإرادة الكونية Legislative Will الإرادة الشرعية الإرادة الشرعية البقره النحل Allah Allowed The Choice and Accountability for His Servants

38. Universal Will الإرادة الكونية Deeds افعال العباد افعال العبادالتكليفية Legislative Will الإرادة الشرعية الإرادة الشرعية

39. Universal Will الإرادة الكونية ChoiceDeeds افعال العباد افعال العبادالتكليفية Legislative Will الإرادة الشرعية الإرادة الشرعية الطاعةObedience المعصيةDisobedience السنة التوقيفية Sunnah of Acceptance

40. Universal Will الإرادة الكونية Legislative Will الإرادة الشرعية الإرادة الشرعية Sunnah Belief in Qadar الإيمان بالقدر Qadaryahالقدرية Denial of the Universal Will of creating Good and Evil and claiming Servants “create” their own Deeds and Evil Denial of the Legislative Will and denying Servants the choice to follow Good vs. Evil. “Compulsion to do Evil” Jabryahالجبرية

41. Universal Will الإرادة الكونية ChoiceDeeds افعال العباد افعال العبادالتكليفية Legislative Will الإرادة الشرعية الإرادة الشرعية الطاعةObedience المعصيةDisobedience السنة التوقيفية Sunnah of Acceptance

42. Legislative Will الإرادة الشرعية الإرادة الشرعية Allah’s Will “Independent Will” Deeds افعال العباد افعال العبادالتكليفية الطاعةObedience المعصيةDisobedience Qadaryah/Mu’tazilah القدرية المعتزلة “Created” by Servants Absolute Free Will

43. Legislative Will الإرادة الشرعية الإرادة الشرعية Allah’s Will “Independent Will” Deeds افعال العباد افعال العبادالتكليفية الطاعةObedience المعصيةDisobedience Qadaryah/Mu’tazilah القدرية المعتزلة “Created” by Servants الصافات Absolute Free Will Negates: القدير الخالق لكل شيء Absolute Will of Allah

44. Universal Will الإرادة الكونية “No Choice” Deeds افعال العباد افعال العبادالتكليفية الطاعةObedience المعصيةDisobedience No Choice for servants in their own deeds Jabryah/Jahmyah الجبرية الجهمية Negates justice and fairness in regards to accountability before Allah Determinism

45. Universal Will الإرادة الكونية “No Choice” Deeds افعال العباد افعال العبادالتكليفية الطاعةObedience المعصيةDisobedience No Choice for servants in their own deeds Jabryah/Jahmyah الجبرية الجهمية Negates justice and fairness in regards to accountability before Allah العدل الكهف Determinism

46. Universal Will الإرادة الكونية “No Choice” Deeds افعال العباد افعال العبادالتكليفية الطاعةObedience المعصيةDisobedience No Choice for servants in their own deeds Jabryah/Jahmyah الجبرية الجهمية Negates justice and fairness in regards to accountability before Allah الأعراف Determinism

47. Destiny and Free Will – Arguments in Qadar are disliked, it is better to be occupied with achieving Good and avoiding Evil rather that engaging in endless, fruitless, and misguiding discussions. –Actions of Servants cannot be independent of Allah's Will and Knowledge. العليم القدير –Allah is All-Just, no injustice or unfairness can come from His Wisdom. العدل الحكيم –Allah takes us to accountability only on actions that we choose to do or not do. لا يكلف الله نفسا إلا وسعها –Do not use Philosophy premises and Human Logic in trying to understand Devine Wisdom and Will. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H)

48. Destiny and Free Will –Islam is about submission to Allah. Submitting to Allah’s will does not always have to conform with human wisdom and logic. (e.g. Drinking Alcohol in moderation) Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) آل عمران محمد

49. Destiny and Free Will –Islam encourages thinking and intellectual methodology. Allah encourages us to think about His Creation and His Signs, not about matters that are beyond our human ability. Matters that are related to Allah’s Attributes. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) آل عمران

50. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Matters of Division and Conflict –Faith (Iman) Belief, words, and deeds? Increases and decreases? –Capital Sin Does it lead to Kufr and eternity in Hell? –Destiny and Free Will Are we free to choose our actions or is it our fate? Is it our prerogative to ask this question? –Attributes of Allah What can a human being understand about the Creator?

51. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Attributes of Allah –Sunnah’s Principles: Affirm and believe in all Attributes of Allah as confirmed in Quran and Sunnah Respect the Names and Attributes without concluding any changes or modifications Avoid drawing similarities and common traits between Allah’s Attributes and any other by the same name in the language. Belief in the impossibility of knowing or understanding the full meaning of these Attributes Never ask “How?” about Attributes of Allah

52. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Matters of Division and Conflict Attributes of Allah –Principles: STOP at the Text of the Quran and Sunnah! السنة التوقيفية

53. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Attributes of Allah الشورى الأعراف

54. آل عمران Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Attributes of Allah Allah warned against unwarranted and pointless arguments that lead to deviation.

55. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H) Attributes of Allah الشورى الأعراف السنة التوقيفية Sunnah of Acceptance المعطلةDeniersInterpretersالمشبهةFigurative-Understanding Mu’tazilah

56. Principles of Al-Mu’tazilah Tawheed التوحيد –Denying and Interpreting Attributes of Allah. (Rejecting Speech and Seeing Allah in Hereafter) Justice العدل –Qadaryah: Humans “create” their own deeds and responsible for that creation. Promise and Warning الوعد و الوعيد –Committer of Enormity or Capital Sin is condemned to Eternity in Hellfire. The Station In-Between المنزلة بين المنزلتين –Committer of Enormities is not a Believer nor a Kafir. Ordering Good/Prohibiting Vice الأمر بالمعروف و النهي عن المنكر –Coercive methods: Torture, Jailing, and Executions.

57. Opinions of Imam Ahmad: –Avoidance of Philosophy –Accepting Attributes of Allah “as is” from Quran and Sunnah The Hearing, The Vision, The Hand, The Face, The Elevation, The Speech, and The Knowledge, The Will, The Anger, and The Pleasure of Allah. –Iman is Faith, Words, and Deeds. –Allah is seen in the Hereafter by the believers –Avoid discussions about conflicts among the Sahaba Imam Ahmad (164-241 H)

58. The Tribulation regarding Quran –Introduction and History –The Position of Imams and Predecessors. The Beginning: Al-Ma’mun المأمون Imam Ahmad (164-241 H)

59. The Tribulation regarding Quran (218-234 H) –Al-Ma’mun’s Phase (218 H) المأمون مرحلة The Inquisition: Coercion and Arrest. –Al-Mu’tasem’s Phase (218-227H) مرحلة المعتصم Prison and Torture. –Al-Watheq’s Phase (227-232 H) الواثق مرحلة House Arrest. –Al-Mutawakel’s Phase (232-234 H) المتوكل مرحلة End of Tribulation. Trial by wealth and position. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H)

60. Works of Imam Ahmad –Al-Musnad: المسند 30,000 Hadith Unique categorization: according to narrator of Hadith. A book of Hadith, not Fiqh, with emphasis on critical examination of narration (Isnad). –Articles of Fiqh and Aqeedah Imam Ahmad (164-241 H)

61. Students of Imam Ahmad –Saleh ibn Imam Ahmad صالح بن أحمد بن حنبل –Abdullah ibn Imam Ahmad عبد الله بن أحمد بن حنبل –Abdul-Malik Al-Maymuni عبد الملك الميموني –Abu Bakr Al-Maruzi أبو بكر المروزي –Harb Al-Karmani حرب الكرماني –Ibraheem Al-Harbi ابراهيم الحربي –Abu Bakr Al-Khalal أبو بكر الخلال Imam Ahmad (164-241 H)

62. Sources of Hanbali School الأدلة الفقهية في المذهب الحنبلي Sources of Hanbali School الأدلة الفقهية في المذهب الحنبلي Sahaba قول الصحابي Preserving Status Quo الاستصحاب Quran القرآن القرآن Sunnahالسنة Comparisonالقياس General Benefit المصالح المرسلة Prevention of Vice Vice سد الذرائع

63. Sources of Hanbali School الأدلة الفقهية في المذهب الحنبلي Sources of Hanbali School الأدلة الفقهية في المذهب الحنبلي Sahaba قول الصحابي Preserving Status Quo الاستصحاب Quran القرآن القرآن Sunnahالسنة Comparisonالقياس General Benefit المصالح المرسلة Prevention of Vice Vice سد الذرائع Text النص Opinion الرأي

64. Sources of Hanbali School The Quran: –Interpretation of Quran is dependent on the Sunnah, not according to later understanding of apparent meanings. –Sahaba’s understanding of Quran is second to Sunnah. –No interpretation of Quran is acceptable without textual reference (Sunnah or Athar). Quranالقرآن

65. The Sunnah: Accepted solitary-narrated Hadith as source of Jurisprudence. Accepted interrupted (Mursal) Hadith, but only in the absence of Sahabi ruling. A “weak” Hadith to Imam Ahmad is considered “good”حسن in the later definition of Imam Termithi. (questionable link in the chain, but not a known liar. The Hadith does not have aberrancy شواذ or problem علة) Sunnahالسنة Sources of Hanbali School

66. Repeatedly Connected المتواتر رسول الله (ص) The Prophet PBUH راوي Narrator صحابي Companion راوي Narrator تابعي Follower راوي Narrator راوي Narrator صحابي Companion راوي Narrator تابعي Follower راوي Narrator راوي Narrator صحابي Companion راوي Narrator تابعي Follower راوي Narrator راوي Narrator صحابي Companion راوي Narrator تابعي Follower راوي Narrator راوي Narrator صحابي Companion راوي Narrator تابعي Follower راوي Narrator Sources of Hanbali School

67. Famous المشهور رسول الله (ص) The Prophet PBUH راوي Narrator صحابي Companion راوي Narrator تابعي Follower راوي Narrator راوي Narrator راوي Narrator تابعي Follower راوي Narrator راوي Narrator راوي Narrator تابعي Follower راوي Narrator راوي Narrator راوي Narrator تابعي Follower راوي Narrator راوي Narrator راوي Narrator تابعي Follower راوي Narrator Sources of Hanbali School

68. Single Narration الآحاد رسول الله (ص) The Prophet PBUH راوي Narrator صحابي Companion راوي Narrator راوي Narrator راوي Narrator راوي Narrator راوي Narrator تابعي Follower راوي Narrator راوي Narrator راوي Narrator راوي Narrator راوي Narrator Accepted by Imam Ahmad in matters of Jurisprudence and Creed Accepted by other Imams after examination in matters of Jurisprudence but not Creed. Sources of Hanbali School

69. Loose-end Chain المرسل رسول الله (ص) The Prophet PBUH راوي Narrator صحابي Companion راوي Narrator راوي Narrator راوي Narrator راوي Narrator راوي Narrator راوي Narrator راوي Narrator تابعي Follower راوي Narrator راوي Narrator راوي Narrator راوي Narrator راوي Narrator راوي Narrator راوي Narrator Accepted by Imam Ahmad in absence of Sahabi’s ruling. (considered it “weak”) Accepted by other Imams with strict conditions. Sources of Hanbali School

70. Accepted as a ruling based on textual evidence. أثر When there is disagreement among Sahaba: –Takes more than one opinion. –Chooses the opinion of the Guided Khulafa over others. Sahaba’sRulings قول الصحابي Sources of Hanbali School

71. Accepted the principle, but argued that it is a virtual impossibility to achieve true “Unanimity” after the age of Sahaba. Agreementالإجماع Sources of Hanbali School

72. Accepted in the absence of a clear text, only as a necessity. Limited to matters that pause an actual problem, not as an exercise or precaution. Sources of Hanbali School Comparisonالقياس

73. Preserving Status Quo : Keeping the ruling or the status on an issue as is, if not proven otherwise. Accepted widely in the Hanbali school. Preserving Status Quo الإستصحاب

74. Sources of Hanbali School General Benefit المصالح المرسلة Accepted with conditions: –True necessity. –Real needs related to goals of Shari’a. –No contradiction with textual evidence.

75. Sources of Hanbali School Prevention of Vice Vice سد الذرائع Preventing deeds, that are allowed otherwise, for fear of leading to forbidden or harmful results. Widely used in Hanbali school. Examples: –Prohibiting sales of arms in times of Civil war or internal conflicts. –Selling weapons to crimonals –Selling or renting property to be used in unlawful cause.

76. The Spread of Hanbali School –Arabian peninsula. –Levant and Egypt (limited) Reasons for limited spread of Hanbali School: –Last of the major schools in time order. Most schools already established by then. –Hanbalis generally distanced themselves from government and position of influence. Imam Ahmad (164-241 H)