Aslamualaikum shaykh,
Please can you tell me why Imam Ahmed bin Hamble went to prison.
Jazakallah.
Answer
Walikumussalam w w
In the earlier part of the second century, an ideology called Itizaal creeped into the Ummah. The people following this ideology were know as Mutazilah. This group were regarded as rationalists and philosophers. They would try and justify Islamic teachings and beliefs through ration and intellect. Their centre of focus were mainly issues like the attributes of Allah Ta’ala, seeing Allah in Jannah, predestination, free will, and the nature of the words of Allah, Ta’ala.
They gave preference to intellect, ration, and philosophy over the Divine revelation sent by Allah Ta’ala and over the words of his Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam.
This ideology gained popularity during the reign of Mamun Rashid, so much so that it turned into a state religion, and their views were imposed upon the people, and the masses were forced to accept them.
The issue of the nature of the words of Allah Ta’ala, the Quran, became a major tenet of this school of thought and it was considered a criteria for determining ones adherance to the Mutazili school of thought. The Mutazilis held that the Quran (The words of Allah) are a creation of Allah, whilst the Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jamaat maintained that the words of Allah are an attribute (sifat) of Allah and not a creation of Allah.
The Mutazilis would punish and torture those who wouldn’t accept their views. Mamun Rashid once summoned all the big Ulema of the time to question them with regard to their beleifs about the nature of the words of Allah Ta’ala. Some of those scholars accepted the views of the Mutazilis, out of fear, whilst other scholars stayed firm on the belief of the Ahlul Sunnah. Out of them, some such as Ishaq Ibn Ibrahim, Bishr ibnul Walid, and Ibrahim al-Mahdi were executed, and many were thrown into prison.
After some time, Imam Ahmad was brought before the governor in Baghdad. He was tied with four chains fastening his legs and was told to submit to the view of the Mutazilis. He was told that the Caliph had taken a vow that he would not execute him, but would have him severely tortured and confined in a dungeon, however he still did not submit. He was then brought in front of the Caliph. The Caliph ordered that Imam Ahmad should be given 34 lashes. After each whip, Imam Ahmad would say, “Give me some proof from the Quran or Sunnah, then I could accept your view.
Imam Ahmad was imprisoned and tortured for 28 months. People who felt for him, would visit him and narrated the Hadith to him, that in such a situation one is allowed to even utter words of Kufr to save ones life. Imam Ahmad would reply, “But what do you say of the Hadith of Khabbab which says that there were people who were slaughtered into two, but they did not give up their faith.” Subhan Allah.
This was the courage, boldness, and sacrifice of the great Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, to defend the Deen of Allah Ta’ala and to uphold the belief of the Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jamaah that is why he is known as Imamu Ahlis Sunnah.
May Allah Ta’ala shower his mercy upon Imam Ahmad and also grant us a taste of his Imaan and grant us the Tawfeeq to make sacrifices for our Deen. Ameen
(Taareekh Dawat wa Azeemat)
(Ismail K 1/13)