Virtues of the Imam Ahmad ibn Ḥanbal: Volume One (Library of Arabic Literature (50))

Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal (d. 241/855), renowned for his profound knowledge of hadith―the reports of the Prophet’s sayings and deeds―is a major figure in the history of Islam. Ibn Ḥanbal’s piety and austerity made him a folk hero, especially after his principled resistance to the attempts of two Abbasid caliphs to force him to accept rationalist doctrine. His subsequent imprisonment and flogging became one of the most dramatic episodes of medieval Islamic history. Ibn Ḥanbal’s resistance influenced the course of Islamic law, the rise of Sunnism, and the legislative authority of the caliphate. __Virtues of the Imam Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal__ is a translation of the biography of Ibn Ḥanbal penned by the Baghdad preacher, scholar, and storyteller, Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597/1201). It includes insights into Ibn Ḥanbal’s childhood, travels, and teachings, as well as descriptions of his way of life. Volume One presents the first half of the text, offering insights into Ibn Ḥanbal’s childhood, education, and adult life, including his religious doctrines, his dealings with other scholars, and his personal habits. Set against the background of fierce debates over the role of reason and the basis of legitimate government, __Virtues of the Imam Ahmad ibn Ḥanbal__ tells the formidable life tale of one of the most influential Muslims in history. A bilingual Arabic-English edition. Cover Table of Contents Letter from the General Editor Introduction Note on the Text Notes to the Frontmatter VIRTUES OF THE IMAM AHMAD IBN HANBAL Chapter 1: Ibn Hanbal's Birth and Family Background Chapter 2: His Lineage Chapter 3: His Childhood Chapter 4: The Beginning of His Search for Knowledge and the Journey He Undertook for That Purpose Chapter 5: The Major Men of Learning Whom He Met and on Whose Authority He Recited Hadith Chapter 6: His Deference to His Teachers and His Respect for Learning Chapter 7: His Eagerness to Learn and His Single-Minded Pursuit of Knowledge Chapter 8: His Powers of Retention and the Number of Reports He Knew by Heart Chapter 9: His Learning, His Intelligence, and His Religious Understanding Chapter 10: Praise of Him by His Teachers Chapter 11: Teachers and Senior Men of Learning Who Cite Him Chapter 12: All the Men of Learning Who Cite Him Chapter 13: Praise of Him by His Peers, His Contemporaries, and Those Close to Him in Age Chapter 14: Praise of Him by Prominent Successors Who Knew Him Well Chapter 15: A Report That the Prophet Elijah Sent Him Greetings Chapter 16: Reports That al-Khadir Spoke in His Praise Chapter 17: Praise of Him by Pious Strangers and Allies of God Chapter 18: Allies of God Who Visited Him to Seek His Blessing Chapter 19: His Fame Chapter 20: His Creed Chapter 21: His Insistence on Maintaining the Practices of the Early Muslims Chapter 22: His Reverence for Hadith Transmitters and Adherents of the Sunnah Chapter 23: His Shunning and Reviling of Innovators and His Forbidding Others to Listen to Them Chapter 24: His Seeking of Blessings and Cures Using the Qur'an and Water from the Well of Zamzam, as Well as Some Hair and a Bowl That Belonged to the Prophet Chapter 25: His Age When He Began Teaching Hadith and Giving Legal Opinions Chapter 26: His Devotion to Learning and the Attitudes That Informed His Teaching Chapter 27: His Works Chapter 28: His Aversion to Writing Books Containing Opinions Reached through the Exercise of Independent Judgment at the Expense of Transmitted Knowledge Chapter 29: His Forbidding Others to Write Down or Transmit His Words Chapter 30: His Remarks on Sincerity, on Acting for the Sake of Appearances, and on Concealing One’s Pious Austerities Chapter 31: His Statements about Renunciation and Spiritual Weakness Chapter 32: His Remarks on Different Subjects Chapter 33: Poems He Recited or Had Attributed to Him Chapter 34: His Correspondence Chapter 35: His Appearance and Bearing Chapter 36: His Imposing Presence Chapter 37: His Cleanliness and Ritual Purity Chapter 38: His Kindness and His Consideration for Others Chapter 39: His Forbearance and His Readiness to Forgive Chapter 40: His Property and Means of Subsistence Chapter 41: His Refusal to Accept Help Even in Distress Chapter 42: His Generosity Chapter 43: His Accepting Gifts and Giving Gifts in Return Chapter 44: His Renunciation Chapter 45: His House and Furniture Chapter 46: His Diet Chapter 47: His Indulgences Chapter 48: His Clothing Chapter 49: His Scrupulosity Chapter 50: His Shunning Appointment to Positions of Authority Notes Glossary of Names and Terms A B C D E F G H I J K M N P Q R S T U W Z Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N P Q R S T U W Y Z About the NYU Abu Dhabi Institute About the Typefaces About the Editor–Translator "Ahmad ibn Hanbal (d. 241 H/855 AD), renowned for his profound knowledge of hadith -- the reports of the Prophet's sayings and deeds -- is a major figure in the history of Islam. Ibn Hanbal was famous for living according to his own strict interpretation of the Prophetic model and for denying himself even the most basic comforts in a city then one of the wealthiest in the word, and despite belonging to a prominent family. His piety and austerity made him a folk hero, especially after his principled resistance to the attempts of two Abbasid caliphs to force him to accept rationalist doctrine. His subsequent imprisonment and flogging became one of the most dramatic episodes of medieval Islamic history. Ibn Hanbal's resistance influenced the course of Islamic law, the rise of Sunnism, and the legislative authority of the caliphate. tells the formidable life tale of one of the most influential Muslims in history. 'Virtues of the Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal' is a translation of the biography of Ibn Hanbal penned by the Baghdad preacher, scholar, and storyteller Ibn al-Jawzi (d. 597 H/1200 AD)."--Publisher description NYU Press and NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) announce the establishment of the Library of Arabic Literature (LAL), a new publishing series offering Arabic editions and English translations of the great works of classical Arabic literature. The translations, rendered in parallel-text format with Arabic and English on facing pages, will be undertaken by renowned scholars of Arabic literature and Islamic studies, and will include a full range of works, including poetry, poetics, fiction, religion, philosophy, law, science, history and historiography. Unprecedented in its scope, LAL will produce authoritative and fiable editions of the Arabic and modern, lucid English translations, introducing the treasures of the Arabic literary heritage to scholars and students, as well as to a general audience of readers.