Ahmad bin Hanbal : his sufi doctrines with special reference to Kitab Al-Zuhd

Abstract

Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal is a well-known scholar whose main contribution is in the field of Hadith (Prophetic tradition). Besides, he is an absolute mujtahid in the field of Fiqh (Jurisprudence), an imam in Aqidah (articles of faith) and Tasawwuf (Sufism). His personality and Kitab al-Zuhd (Book of Asceticism) represent his contributions in the field of Sufism. This research attempts to examine his sufi personality and explain the Sufi doctrines rendered by him in this text. These sufi doctrines as identified by the researcher are: (1) The Doctrine of Repentance (al-Tawbah), (2) The Doctrine of Patience (al-Sabr), (3) The Doctrine of Gratitude (al-Shukr), (4) The Doctrine of Hope (al-Raja'), (5) The Doctrine of Fear (al-Khawf), (6) The Doctrine of Poverty (alFaqr), (7) The Doctrine of Asceticism (al-Zuhd), (8) The Doctrine of Divine Unity (al-Tawhid), (9) The Doctrine of Trust (al-Tawakkul), (10) The Doctrine of Love (alMahabbah), (11) The Doctrine of Piety (al-Taqwa), and (12) The Doctrine of Recollection (al-Dhikr). Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal has thus made a great work constituting a collection of materials on the principle of zuhd from the Prophets going down up to the generation of the Tabi'un (Successors). Explanations about Zuhd and Tasawwuf also form a part of the thesis. Other themes discussed in the thesis comprise the lifetime of Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, and his Sufi teachers and companions.