6      There are gardens of bliss for the pious ones with their Lord. (Al-Qalam, Ayah no. 34)

7      Allah is the helper of the pious people. (Al-Jaasiyah, Ayah no. 19)

8      The pious people will be friends of one another on the Day of Judgement. (Az-Zukhruf, Ayah no. 67)

9      The pious people will be in an abode of peace. (Ad-Dukhan, Ayah no. 51)

10   The good outcome in the hereafter is for the pious. (Hood, Ayah no. 51)

11   Piety is a means of achieving superiority. (Mu’jam-e-Awsat, vol. 3, pp. 329, Hadees 4749)

12   Piety is the best provision to carry. (Kanz-ul-‘Ummal, vol. 2, pp. 41, Hadees 5632)

13   Whoever has been granted piety, he has been given the best religious and worldly thing. (Kanz-ul-‘Ummal, vol. 2, pp. 41, Hadees 5638)

14   Piety is the nobility of the Hereafter. (Firdaus-ul-Akhbar, vol. 2, pp. 5, Hadees 3418)

15   Pious people are the leaders. (Kanz-ul-‘Ummal, vol. 2, pp. 41, Hadees 5650) (Siraat-ul-Jinaan, vol. 8, pp. 496)

اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه Piety and righteousness was instilled within the nature of Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه in abundance. The state of his piety was such that let alone Haraam and impermissible things, if he even had slightest of doubts regarding something being Haraam or Halal or permissible or impermissible, then he would remain far away from it. In this relation, let’s listen to 2 faith-refreshing events of his blessed life:

1      The great leader of millions of Hanbalis, Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal’s         رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه son, Sayyiduna Saalih رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه was the Qadi of Isfahan. Once, the servant of Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه made roti from some kneaded flour he found in the kitchen of Sayyiduna Saalih رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه and presented it in the court of Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه.

He asked him: ‘Why is this so soft?’

The servant described the situation in which he brought the kneaded flour.

Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه said: ‘My son is the Qadi of Isfahan. Why did you use his leavened dough? Now, I’m not going to eat this Roti.