[ The twelfth and final part of a series of inspiring articles from a recorded lecture entitled, “Min Ma’een al-Imaam Ahmad” (“Benefits from the Life and Works of Imam Ahmad”) by Shaykh Saalih Aal ash-Shaykh (may Allaah preserve him) ]
Humbling Oneself and Rejecting Popularity
The last point of guidance that we will take from the fountains of Imam Ahmad that do not dry up, is the statement of Muhammad ibn Hasan ibn Haaroon, “I saw that when Aboo ‘Abdillaah walked the streets, he hated that someone would walk behind him.”
Furthermore, ‘Abdullaah, the son of Imam Ahmad, said, “When he went out to Jumu’ah Prayer, my father would not allow anyone to follow behind him, and he used to stop until the people following him would pass him up.”
Why was that? Because this is a trial for the one being followed, and a form of humiliation to the follower. Imam Ahmad knew that, if someone followed him, he would benefit, either from his supplications, or perhaps he would ask a question, but, from his keenness to remedy his own soul, he disliked to be tested by having a group of people following behind him.
A simple affair from something everyone does – He would not be pleased with anyone following him, rather he loved to walk by himself. He was so keen on keeping himself pure, by going out to the prayer and returning to his house alone.
These manners will help everyone who has been tested by Allaah with a following of people, whether the people look up to him because of knowledge, status, or even worldly things. He must humble himself and not assist the Devil in destroying his own self.
He must shun all avenues leading to this. If he sees within himself any amazement or pride about himself, or that he sees himself as being great, then he must lower himself and be humble so that he can set himself straight. This is because pride is a huge thing, one of the major sins.
The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) said:
“The one who has even the smallest particle of pride in his heart will not enter Paradise.” [1]
This is what is binding on all those that the people follow, that they know this is a test from Allaah and they dedicate themselves to lowering themselves and having humility. And those who follow them should be careful as well, they should not go against someone trying to work by this advice.
So if a person finds a scholar trying to be humble like this, then let him be easy on him. Let him benefit from him in any environment he finds him in, at study circles, in classrooms, etc., however, he must not follow him to every place as he may detest that. Every sincere scholar dedicated to the education of the people hates to have the people follow him, and he hates that they say great things about him, since praise is something that he fears will affect his heart.
Ibn Mas’ood said, advising his students, prohibiting them from following him, “This is a belittlement of the followers and a trial for the one being followed.”
Conclusion
I ask Allaah, the Mighty and Exalted, to make me and all of you from those who strive for piety, those who push themselves against what their desires crave. I ask Allaah, the Glorified One, to reward the imam of Ahlus-Sunnah, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, the best reward for how much we have gained from him. For verily he was to the people of his time as Aboo Bakr (may Allaah be pleased with him) was to the people of his time. As the people faced the apostates in the time of Aboo Bakr, they faced the evil trial of those who tried to introduce the idea of the Quran being something created, as well as other trials that led many astray, in the time of Imam Ahmad. As the first group had Aboo Bakr, the latter had Imam Ahmad to make them firm, by Allaah’s Bounty and His Blessing.
O Allaah! Reward the imams of Islaam and the scholars of the Religion with the best reward for the great amount of knowledge and beneficial guidance we have inherited from them! O Allaah! Make us from those guided by your Prophet, those who are made firm by his Sunnah, those who tread the path of the Companions of your Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam)!
O Allaah! Grant us firmness upon the Sunnah and good closing deeds! O Allaah! Make us firm upon what you are pleased with until we meet you while you are pleased with us!
O Allaah! Give us good closing actions! O Allaah! Give us shelter from the lowliness of this life, and from the punishment of the Hereafter! O Allaah! I seek refuge in you from slipping into disobedience or from being made to slip into disobedience, from going astray or being led astray by others, from oppressing or being oppressed, from behaving ignorantly or having others behave ignorantly to us!
O Allaah! Correct those who are in charge of our affairs, and grant them success doing what you love and are pleased with, and make us and them from those who cooperate upon righteousness and piety.
And may Allaah raise the rank of our Prophet Muhammad and grant him peace.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] an authentic hadeeth collected by Imam Muslim, on the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him)
Return to to the Index of articles in this inspiring series.
Translation, Titles, and Footnotes by: Moosaa Richardson
Originally published on Bakkah.net: 1423-05-16
May Allaah reward the Shaykh for his beneficial lecture, wa jazaakAllaahu khayran for sharing it with us. There appears to be a typing error, 7th line from the bottom ‘being ignorantly’ should perhaps read ‘behaving ignorantly’. There also appears to be a typing error in the second line of the 6th paragraph of the article. Wallaahu a`lam.
May Allaah bless you for the corrections. We have updated the article.
Salaam alaikum,
If someone quotes a story about Imaam Ahmed from Ibn al-Jawzi ‘s Manaaqib Imaam Ahmed that such and such happened with Imaam Ahmed, what level of consideration should we give to it? Should we consider that the story is authentic or should we ask some person of knowledge about its authenticity? or should we simply take something positive from it and leave it at that? Should we spread such stories? Jazaakallaahu khairan for any advice you can offer.
Wa ‘alaykas-salaamu wa rahmatullaah. The scholars are generally relaxed about these kinds of reports, especially when there is no weird meanings or concepts that seem difficult to understand or contradictory to that imam’s positions. In such cases (when there is a reason to investigate), they may investigate the chains of narration and may judge it to be unauthentic. There are hundreds of years between Ibn al-Jowzee and Imaam Ahmad, so stories attributed to him could be unauthentic, and they could even be fabricated. I believe I recall ath-Thahabee in Siyar A’laam criticizing and rejecting stories about some of the scholars found in Ibn al-Jowzee’s books. And Allaah knows best.
Assalamu’alaykum..
I have seen shaykh ****** (one of the scholars) being followed similarly in the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) mosque after the ‘ishaa’ prayer up until he reaches his car. Does the description of the people who followed imaam Ahmad in this blameworthy way fit the description of these people who follow our shaykh in these times and so is it to be abandoned.
Wa ‘alayk as-salaamu wa rahmatullaah. People following a scholar may have a question or concern they are hoping they could have addressed. Others may just be “fans” following along, who are unaware of the appropriate manners. In either case, our scholars will often turn around and tell the people to stop following them, out of humility. Al-hamdulillaah, the scholars of today remain upon the path of the early Salaf, the path of humility in knowledge. May Allah preserve them and bless them and their students and families.