٭    People would deem him, rather the things that he gave them, as a means of blessing for themselves.

٭    He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه would make special Du’as for those who came to his court before allowing them to depart.

٭    He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه would always remember those people who gained his company even for a short while and those who loved him.

In short, his personality was a combination of innumerable good qualities. May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ also grant us the true devotion and love for the noble Awliya رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـه, especially Sayyiduna Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه, the ability to follow in his footsteps and enrich us with the wealth of having pain for the Ummah, reliance and contentment.

اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

O devotees of the Prophet! We just heard a faith-enlightening parable from the life of Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه and listened to his blessed attributes. We will listen to more events and points regarding the life of Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه, but let’s first listen to his introduction:

Introduction to Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه

His Kunyah [patronymic name] is Abu Abdullah and name is Ahmad Bin Hanbal. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه was born in Rabi’-ul-Awwal, 164 AH in Baghdad. He was purely an Arab. His father passed away in his childhood. His mother raised and brought him up. He gained his initial education in Baghdad. At the age of 15, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه became inclined towards the knowledge of Hadees. He stayed in the company and service of the Muhaddis of Baghdad, Imam Hushaym       رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه for 4 years.

After his demise, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه travelled to other cities, such as Kufa, Basra, Yemen, Syria, Makkah and Madinah. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه had such passion to gain the knowledge of Islam that he himself said: ‘When I would leave to gain the knowledge of Hadees at the break of dawn, my mother would stop me grabbing my clothes and say: ‘Leave when Azan is called out or leave when it is morning.’

He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه had such passion for gaining the knowledge of Islam that besides the affairs of marriage and gaining sustenance, he especially concentrated on gaining the knowledge of Islam, to the extent that he married after the age of 40. (Tahzeeb Manaqib-ul-Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal, pp. 33; summarised)