Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal
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Last updated
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (780–855 CE) was born in Baghdad. He was a renowned Islamic scholar and the founder of the Hanbali school of jurisprudence, one of the four major Sunni schools of law.
Seeking Guidance Through Servants of Allah Imam Ahmad narrated: "I performed five pilgrimages—two on foot and three riding, or three on foot and two riding. During one of the pilgrimages, I lost my way while traveling on foot. I began saying: ‘O servants of Allah, guide us to the path.’ I kept repeating this until I found the way." Source: Imām al-Bayhaqī in Shuʿab al-Īmān, Vol. 6, Page 128, Hadith No. 7697.
Tawassul (Intercession) Imām Ahmad allowed tawassul (intercession) through the Prophet ﷺ alone, as well as other Prophets and pious individuals. For example:
Imām Ahmad replied when asked about touching the Prophet’s minbar or grave for blessings:
“There is nothing wrong with it.”
Source: al-Ilalfīmarifat al-rijāl (2:492) by `Abdullāh ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal.
Al-Marwadi narrated from Imām Ahmad: “Let him use the Prophet as a means in his supplication to Allah.” Source: Al-Mardawi in al-Insaf (3:456).
Using Imam ash-Shafiʿi as Intermediary Imām Ahmad was known to supplicate using Imam ash-Shafiʿi as an intermediary. When his son ʿAbdullāh expressed astonishment, Imām Ahmad replied: "Al-Shafiʿi is like the sun for humanity and like well-being to the body." Source: Imām Yūsuf al-Nabhānī, Shawāhid al-Ḥaqq fī al-Istighātha bi Sayyid al-Khalq, Page 166.
Hanbali Scholars on Tawassul and Istighātha
ʿAbd al-Bāqī al-Mawāhibī (d. 1071): Performed tawassul and istighātha in poetry, saying: “I seek your urgent help in removing our distress... And that our mistake be erased, O leader of Messengers!”
Ibn Badrān (d. 1346): Affirmed that seeking aid with the Prophet ﷺ leads to apparent victory.
Al-Sāmirī (d. 616): Recommends saying: “O Allāh, I turn to You through Your Prophet, the Prophet of Mercy. O Messenger, I turn to my Lord through you, seeking His forgiveness for my sins. O Allāh, I ask You by his right to forgive me.”
Al-Khalwatī (d. 1088): Encouraged visitors to say: “I have come to you, repenting from my sins, seeking your intercession with my Lord. Intercede for me, O interceder of the Ummah, and save me from Hellfire.”
Ibn al-Najjār (d. 972): Permitted tawassul with righteous individuals, as mentioned in Muntahā al-Irādāt.
Al-Buhūtī (d. 1051): Mentioned the narration of al-ʿUtbī about seeking intercession with the Prophet ﷺ as a “benefit” in the book of Ḥajj in his work Kashshāf al-Qināʿ.
Al-Saffārīnī (d. 1188): Allowed tawassul.
Al-Yūnīnī (d. 726): Praised the book about Istighāthah, Miṣbāḥ al-Ẓalām.
