What is the biographical information regarding Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Introduction to the Book
Primary text
Imam Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal was born in the year 164 AH, as stated by his son Abdullah. He passed away in Rabi' al-Akhir in the year 241 AH at the age of seventy-seven years. His mother conceived him in Marw and he was born in Baghdad, where he grew up. He traveled extensively in pursuit of knowledge before returning to Baghdad, where he died after becoming the master of his age and the one through whom God aided His religion. Scholars affirmed his immense stature; Abu Ubayd al-Qasim ibn Sallam stated that no one in the East or West was like him in knowledge of the Sunnah. Imam al-Shafi'i affirmed he was an Imam in eight categories: Hadith, Fiqh, Quran, Language, Poverty, Asceticism (Zuhd), Piety (Wara'), and Sunnah.
Supporting text
It is reported that upon Ahmad being struck, Bishr ibn al-Harith refused to stand in support of him, stating that Ahmad had taken the position of the Prophets, implying that supporting him publicly would be too great a burden of imitation.