Biography of Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal

Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal is remembered for many things. He was an Imam in Fiqh, Hadith, and many other sciences. In fact, his madh-hab is one of the four established madh-habs of Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah. Yet, the one matter he is most remembered for… one of the most defining moments in the History of Ahlus Sunnah wal-Jama’ah… is his stance in the time of the Mihnah (the Inquisition). Imam ‘Ali ibn al-Madini, the great teacher of Imam al-Bukhari said, “Truly, Allah supported this religion with Abu Bakr as-Siddiq the day of the apostasy (ar-Riddah), and He supported it with Ahmad ibn Hanbal the day of the Inquisition ( al-Mihnah).”