> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://hadiths-organization.gitbook.io/scholarly-endorsed-shirk-in-islam/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://hadiths-organization.gitbook.io/scholarly-endorsed-shirk-in-islam/the-4-imams/the-4-madahib/a-mad-b.-anbal.md).

# Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal

Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (780-855 AD) was born in Baghdad and was a renowned Islamic scholar and the founder of the Hanbali school of jurisprudence, one of the four major Sunni schools of law.

## `Supplicating to Other Than God`

He narrated to us: He said, I heard my father say: I performed five pilgrimages, two of them \[riding], and three on foot, or two on foot and three riding. I lost my way during one of the pilgrimages, and I was on foot, <mark style="color:red;">**so I began saying: O servants of Allah, guide us to the path. I kept saying this until I found the path, or as my father said.**</mark>

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://583342594-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FW4KTpQJZNiDIZLaqCIHQ%2Fuploads%2FTLrYGA1qJE2oxIM6FASJ%2FF0QFT1haIAIURvY%20(2).jpg?alt=media&amp;token=e7e73478-0ac2-406b-ae2e-c6874c519193" alt="" width="375"><figcaption><p>Questions of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, narrated by his son Abdullah ibn Ahmad</p></figcaption></figure></div>

**“**<mark style="color:red;">**Imaam Ahmad allowed tawassul by means of the Messenger alone**</mark>**,&#x20;**<mark style="color:yellow;">**and others such as Imam ash-Shawkaanee allowed tawassul by means of him and other Prophets and the Pious**</mark>**.”**\
*(Source: al-Albani, At-Tawassul, p. 38)*

“\`Abd Allah also asked Imam Ahmad about the man who touches the Prophet’s minbar and kisses it for blessing, and who does the same with the grave, or something to that effect, intending thereby to draw closer to Allah. \[Imam Ahmad] replied: **“**<mark style="color:red;">**There is nothing wrong with it**</mark>**.”** This was narrated by \`Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal in his book entitled *al-\`Ilal fi ma\`rifat al-rijal* (2:492).

"<mark style="color:red;">**it is permissible to intercede with a righteous man**</mark>, according to the correct view of the school of thought, and it was said that it is recommended. <mark style="color:red;">**Imam Ahmad said to al-Marwadhi: He intercedes with the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, in his supplication, and he stated this with certainty in al-Mustaw’ab and others.**</mark>" (al-Insaf (2/456) from the book of the Prayer for Rain)