Tag Archives: Praise

Feb 13 2013

The Status of Imaam Ahmed According To The Muhadditheen (Part 4)

 
Bishr ibn al-Haarith said:

“(Ahmed) bin Hanbal was entered into a stove, and he came out gold”
[Taareekh Dimashq: 5/307, Chain Hasan]

Imaam Ibraaheem bin Ishaaq bin Ibraaheem bin Basheer al-Harbi rahimahullah (D. 285H) said:

“Sa’eed ibn al-Musayyab in his era (was an Imaam), Sufyaan ath-Thawree in his era (was an Imaam), and Ahmed bin Hanbal in his era (was an Imaam)”
[Hilyat al-Awliyaa: 9/167, Chain Saheeh; Taareekh Baghdaad: 4/417, Chain Saheeh]

Ibraaheem al-Harbi also said:

“I have seen men of the world, but I did not see anyone similar to three men. I have seen Ahmed bin Hanbal; the women are deprived of giving birth to someone similar to him”
[Taareekh Baghdaad: 7/73, Chain Saheeh; Abul Hasan bin Daleel is Ali bin al-Hasan bin Daleel]

Famous Imaam and Faqeeh, Abu Muhammad Ishaaq bin Ibraaheem bin Makhlad al-Handhali al-Marwazi, famous as: Ishaaq bin Rahwayh (D. 238H) said:

“If Ahmed bin Hanbal was not there, and had he not sacrificed his life then (I think) Islaam would have vanished”
[Hilyat al-Awliyaa: 9/171, Chain Hasan]

Abu Ali al-Hasan bin ar-Rabee’ al-Bajali al-Koofi al-Bawraani rahimahullah (D. 220H) said:

“I used to compare Ahmed bin Hanbal to (Imaam) Ibn alMubaarak in shape and character”
[Taareekh Dimashq by Ibn al-Asaakir: 5/299, Chain Hasan]

A narrator of Hadeeth, Muhanna bin Yahya ash-Shaami rahimahullah said:

“I have not seen anyone possessing good qualities altogether than Ahmed bin Hanbal; and I have seen Sufyaan ibn Uyaynah, Wakee’, Abdur Razzaaq, Baqiyyah bin al-Waleed, Damrah bin Rabee’ah, and many other Scholars; but I have not seen anyone similar to Ahmed bin Hanbal in his knowledge, his Fiqh, his Zuhd, and his piousness”
[Hilyat al-Awliyaa: 9/165, 174, Chain Saheeh; Taareekh Dimashq: 5/305, Chain Saheeh]

Note: Muhanna bin Yahya is a Thiqah narrator according to the Jamhoor; therefore he is Hasan ul-Hadeeth. The Jarh of Muhammad bin al-Husayn al-Azdi (who himself is Da’eef) on him is Mardood. For more details, see: Lisaan al-Meezaan (6/108, 109)

Taken from the works of Shaykh Zybayr Ali Zai, translated by Raza Hassan, the book can be downloaded from here

Feb 12 2013

The Status of Imaam Ahmed According To The Muhadditheen (Part 3)

A notable Imaam in the field of Asmaa ur-Rijaal, Imaam Yahya ibn Ma’een (D. 233H) said:

“The people say that I should become like Ahmed bin Hanbal, no by Allaah, I can never become like him”
[Al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 1/298, Chain Saheeh]

Abu al-Abbaas Muhammad bin al-Husayn bin Abdur Rahmaan alAnmaati rahimahullah (D. 293H) said:

“We were in a gathering in which Yahya ibn Ma’een, Abu Khaythamah Zuhayr bin Harb, and a group of Major Scholars were present. They were praising Ahmed bin Hanbal and mentioning his virtues, so a man said: Do not exceed in saying such things. Yahya ibn Ma’een said: Is too much praise of Ahmed bin Hanbal a denouncing act? Even if we started praising him in (all) our gatherings, we will still not be able to completely describe his virtues.”
[Hilyat al-Awliyaa: 9/169, 170, Chain Saheeh; Taareekh Baghdaad:4/421, Chain Saheeh]

Imaam Yahya ibn Ma’een said:

“I have not seen anyone similar to Ahmed bin Hanbal; we have adopted his companionship (Friendship) since 50 years. He never showed any proud to us for whatever righteousness and goodness he possessed”
[Hilyat al-Awliyaa: 9/181, Chain Saheeh]

Muhaddith Abu Ja’far Muhammad bin Haaroon al-Makhrami rahimahullah (D. 265H) said:

“When you see a man demeaning Ahmed bin Hanbal then know that he is a misguided innovator”
[Al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 1/309, Chain Saheeh]

Muhaddith Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Yoonus al-Yarboo’ee al-Koofi rahimahullah (D. 227H) said:

“There is a Palace in Jannah in which no one will enter except a Prophet, or a Siddeeque (Truthful person), or Muhakkam fi Nafsihi (a person firm in his self)”

It was asked: “Who is Muhakkam fi Nafsihi”

So he replied: “Ahmed bin Hanbal is Muhakkam fi Nafsih”
[Al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 1/310, Chain Saheeh]

This proves that Ahmed bin Yoonus rahimahullah considered Imaam Ahmed bin Hanbal to be a Jannati. This is a very huge Tawtheeq, because being a Jannati is a very big Tawtheeq.

Note: Considering someone a Jannati without Wahy (Revelation) is based on Dhann, Qiyaas, and Personal Tahqeeq; but it is not permissible to take evidence from it.

Taken from the works of Shaykh Zybayr Ali Zai, translated by Raza Hassan, the book can be downloaded from here

Feb 9 2013

The Status of Imaam Ahmed According To The Muhadditheen (Part 2)

Imaam Abdur Rahmaan bin Mahdi rahimahullah (D. 198 H) said:

“This (Ahmed bin Hanbal) was the most knowledgeable person among the people concerning the hadeeth of (my teacher) AthThawree”
[Al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 1/292; 2/68, Chain Saheeh]

Imaam Muhammad bin Muslim bin Waarah ar-Raazi rahimahullah
(D. 270H) said concerning Imaam Ahmed:

“He is a man of Fiqh, a man of (Strong) Memory, and a man of understanding”
[Al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 1/294, Chain Saheeh]

Imaam Abu Zur’ah Ubaydullah bin Abdul Kareem ar-Raazi
rahimahullah (D. 264 H) said:

“I do not know any one among our companions, whose hair color is black (i.e. he is young), to be more Faqeeh than Ahmed bin Hanbal”
[Al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 1/294, Chain Saheeh]

Imaam Abu Zur’ah said:

“I have not seen anyone more Jaami (all-encompassing) than Ahmed bin Hanbal, and neither a more complete person than him, (the qualities like) asceticism, excellence, Fiqh, and a lot more things have gathered in him”
[Al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 1/294, Chain Saheeh]

Imaam Ali ibn Abdullaah al-Madeeni rahimahullah (D. 234H) said:

“There is none, among our companions, a bigger a Haafidh than Abu Abdullah Ahmed bin Hanbal, and it has reached me that he does not narrate except through a Book, and in it is good example for us.”
[Al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 1/295; 2/69, Chain Saheeh]

Imaam Ibn al-Madeeni said:

“Ahmed bin Hanbal is our leader”
[Hilyat al-Awliyaa: 9/165, 171, Chain Saheeh; Taareekh Baghdaad: 4/417, Chain Saheeh; Manaaqib Ahmed P. 109, Chain Saheeh]

Amr bin Muhammad bin Bukayr al-Naaqid rahimahullah (D. 232H) said:

If Ahmed bin Hanbal accords me in (the narration of) a hadeeth, then I do not care who opposes me.
[Al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 1/296, Chain Hasan]

Muhaddith Kabeer Imaam Ahmed bin Sinaan al-Waasiti rahimahullah (D. 259H) said:

“I have never seen Yazeed bin Haaroon praising anyone more than Ahmed bin Hanbal. He used to make him (Ahmed) sit beside him when he would narrate a hadeeth to us; and when Ahmed got sick, Yazeed bin Haaroon rode to him to inquire his well-being.”
[Al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 1/297, Chain Saheeh]

Imaam Yazeed bin Haaroon used to respect Imaam Ahmed to a great extent. [See, Al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 1/297, Chain Saheeh; Manaaqib Ahmed: P. 68, Chain Saheeh]

Taken from the works of Shaykh Zybayr Ali Zai, translated by Raza Hassan, the book can be downloaded from here

Dec 22 2012

The status of Imaam Ahmed According To The Muhadditheen (Part 1)

Haafidh Ibn Hibbaan said:

“He (Imaam Ahmed bin Hanbal) was Haafidh, excellent, Pious, Faqeeh. He strictly abode by observing secret religiousness and Daaimi worship. Allaah helped the Ummah of Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) through him. This is (true) by (the fact) that he remained firm in times of trial, and devoted himself to Allaah, and got ready to be martyred. He was beaten by stones. Allaah saved him from Kufr, and made him a person worth following. He was such a shelter that people used to find shelter under him.” [Ath-Thiqaat of Ibn Hibbaan: Vol. 8 P. 18/ 19]

Imaam Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Saalih al-Ijlee rahimahullah (D. 261 H) said:

He (Imaam Ahmed) is (Thiqah) Thabat in Hadeeth; He is the possessor of a clean soul, and a Faqeeh in Hadeeth. He is an adherer, who adheres to the Athaar (Traditions). He was a man of Sunnah (Sunni) and pious.
[Ath-Thiqaat of Al-Ijlee: 9; Al-Taareekh al-Baghdaad: 4/415, Chain Saheeh; and the addition of Thiqah in brackets is from that]

Imaam Abu Haatim Muhammad bin Idrees ar-Raazi rahimahullah (D. 277 H) said:

“When you see a man loving Ahmed bin Hanbal, then know that this man is a man of Sunnah”
[Al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 1/308, Chain Saheeh]

“He is an Imaam, and he is a Hujjah (evidence – in Deen)”
[Al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 2/70]

“Ahmed bin Hanbal had a very good understanding of the Authentic and Weak narrations”
[Al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 1/302, Chain Saheeh]

Imaam Abu Haatim has declared Ahmed bin Hanbal to be a bigger Faqeeh than Ali ibn al-Madeeni
[Al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 1/294, Chain Saheeh]

Imaam Abu Raja Qutaybah bin Sa’eed ath-Thaqafi rahimahullah (D. 240H) said:

“Ahmed bin Hanbal is the Imaam of whole world.”
[AL-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 1/295; 2/69, Chain Saheeh]

“Ahmed bin Hanbal and Ishaaq bin Rahwayh are Imaams of the whole world”
[Taareekh Baghdaad: 4/417, Chain Saheeh]

“If Ahmed bin Hanbal had witnessed the era of Ath-Thawree, Maalik, Al-Awzaa’ee, and Layth bin Sa’d then he would have been a superior (over them).”
(Abdullah bin Ahmed bin Shabwayh said) I asked Qutaybah: Is Ahmed bin Hanbal compared to the Taabi’een? He replied: “(Yes, he is compared) to the Major Taabi’een”.
[Al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 1/293; 2/69, Chain Saheeh]

Imaam Qutaybah has preferred Imaam Ahmed over Imaam Yahya bin Yahya and Imaam Ishaaq bin Rahwayh.
[Al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 1/293; 2/69, Chain Saheeh]

“When you see a man loving Ahmed bin Hanbal, then know that he is a man of Sunnah and Jamaa’ah”
[Al-Jarh wat Ta’deel: 1/308, Chain Saheeh]

“Had there been no Ahmed bin Hanbal, religious zeal would have died”
[Hilyat al-Awliyaa: 9/168, Chain Saheeh]

“Had Ath-Thawree not been there, righteousness would have died; and had Ahmed not been there, people would have inserted Bid’aat (Innovations) in the religion”
[Taareekh Baghdaad: 4/417, Chain Saheeh]

Taken from the works of Shaykh Zybayr Ali Zai, translated by Raza Hassan, the book can be downloaded from here

Oct 2 2012

The Scholars Praise for Shaykh al-Albani

The former Muftee of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Shaikh Muhammad bin Ibraheem Aali Shaikh (rahimahullaah) said:

And he is the upholder of the Sunnah, a supporter of the truth and an opposition to the people of falsehood.

During his lifetime, the father, the Shaikh, ‘Abdul-Azeez bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) said:

I have not seen anyone under the surface of the sky with more knowledge of the Hadeeth in our current time than the likes of the great scholar, Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee.

And he (rahimahullaah) was asked about the hadeeth of the Prophet, sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam:
“Indeed Allaah raises up from this ummah at the beginning of every century someone who will revive it for them (i.e. a mujaddid).” So he was asked who is the mujaddid of this century? He replied: “Shaikh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee. He is the mujaddid in my opinion and Allaah knows best.

Shaikh Muhammad bin Saalih Al-‘Uthaimeen (rahimahullaah) said:

From what I came to know of the Shaikh through my gatherings with him – and they were few – was that he was very serious about acting upon the Sunnah and fighting against the innovations, whether in matters of Belief or in matters of actions. As for through my readings of his written works, then I have come to know that about him, and also that he possesses a vast amount of knowledge of Hadeeth, in terms of reporting them and investigating them. And Allaah has benefited many people through what he has written such as about knowledge, aspects of the Manhaj, and concern for the science of Hadeeth. And this is an enormous result for the Muslims, all praise be to Allaah.

Shaikh Muqbil bin Haadee Al-Waadi’ee (rahimahullaah) said:

Indeed, there cannot be found an equal in terms of the knowledge of hadeeth like that of Shaikh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee. Allaah has given benefit through his knowledge and his books several times more than what has been accomplished by those zealots for Islaam upon the
ignorance of those who organize reformation and revolutionary movements. And that which I sincerely believe in and which I owe my thanks to Allaah for is that the Shaikh Muhammad Naasir-udDeen Al-Albaanee is from the mujaddideen (reformers/revivers) whom the Prophet, sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, spoke the truth of when he said: “Indeed Allaah raises up from this ummah at the beginning of every century someone who will revive it for them (i.e. a mujaddid).” Reported by Abu Dawood and authenticated by Al-‘Iraaqee and others.”

Jan 8 2011

The Scholars Praise For Imaam Al-Albaanee

Shaikh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Al-Hada said:
“The Shaikh, the great scholar, the ocean (of knowledge), Muhammad Al-Ameen Ash-Shanqeetee (rahimahullaah) – the one whom no knowledge of the Science of Tafseer and the Arabic Language was comparable to during his lifetime – used to respect Shaikh Al-Albaanee so remarkably to the point that when he would see him passing by, and he was giving his class in the masjid of Madeenah, he would stop his class to stand and give Salaam to him out of respect for him.”

The great scholar, the teacher, Muhibb-ud-Deen Al-Khateeb said:
“And from the callers to the Sunnah who devoted their lives to reviving it was our brother Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Nooh Najaatee Al-Albaanee “

The great scholar Muhammad Haamid Al-Fiqee (rahimahullaah) said:
“…the brother, the Salafee, the Scholar, Shaikh Naasir-ud-Deen.”

The former Muftee of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Ibraheem Aali Shaikh (rahimahullaah) said: “And he is the upholder of the Sunnah, a supporter of the truth and an opposition to the people of falsehood.”

During his lifetime, the father, the Shaikh, ‘Abd-ul-‘Azeez Ibn Baaz (rahimahullaah) said:
“I have not seen anyone under the surface of the sky with more knowledge of the Hadeeth in our current time than the likes of the great scholar, Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee.”

And he ( rahimahullaah) was asked about the hadeeth of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) :
“Indeed Allaah raises up from this ummah at the beginning of every century someone who will revive it for them (i.e. a mujaddid).” So he was asked who is the mujaddid of this century? He replied: “Shaikh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee. He is the mujaddid in my opinion and Allaah knows best.”

Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-‘Uthaimeen (rahimahullaah) said:
“From what I came to know of the Shaikh through my gatherings with him – and they were few – was that he was very serious about acting upon the Sunnah and fighting against the innovations, whether in matters of Belief or in matters of actions. As for through my readings of his written works, then I have come to know that about him, and also that he possesses a vast amount of knowledge of Hadeeth, in terms of reporting them and investigating them. And Allaah has benefited many people through what he has written such as about knowledge, aspects of the Manhaj, and concern for the science of Hadeeth. And this is an enormous result for the Muslims, all praise be to Allaah.”

The great scholar, Shaikh Zaid Ibn Fayaad (rahimahullaah) said about him:
“Indeed, Shaikh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee is from the most prominent and distinguished personalities of this era. He had great concern for the Hadeeth – its paths of transmission, its reporters and its level of authenticity or weakness. This is an honorable task from the best things on which hours can be spent and efforts can be made. And he was like any other of the scholars – those who are correct in some matters and err in other matters. However, his devotion to this great science (i.e. of Hadeeth) is from that which requires that his prestige be acknowledged and his endeavors in it be appreciated.”

Shaikh Muqbil Ibn Haadee Al-Waadi’ee (rahimahullaah) said:
“Indeed, there cannot be found an equal in terms of the knowledge of hadeeth like that of Shaikh Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee. Allaah has given benefit through his knowledge and his books several times more than what has been accomplished by those zealots for Islaam upon the ignorance of those who organize reformation and revolutionary movements. And that which I sincerely believe in and which I owe my thanks to Allaah for is that the Shaikh Muhammad Naasir-ud- Deen Al-Albaanee is from the mujaddideen (reformers/revivers) whom the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) spoke the truth of when he said: ’Indeed Allaah raises up from this ummah at the beginning of every century someone who will revive it for them (i.e. a mujaddid).’ Reported by Abu Dawood and authenticated by Al-‘Iraaqee and others.”

(Al-Asaalah Magazine Issue #23, pg. 76-77)