Methodology of Scholars of Hadith Unit 1 Lesson 3

What was the primary aim of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal in compiling his book?

Which of the following conditions did Imam Ahmad NOT follow in his Hadith compilation?

What was the consequence Imam Ahmad faced for his beliefs regarding the Quran?

Who succeeded Al-Ma'mun as Caliph after his death?

What principle did Al-Ma'mun enforce regarding the Quran?

What motivated Imam Ahmad's son to act after his father’s imprisonment?

Methodology of the Scholars of Hadith

Abu Abdillah Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal al-Shaibaani, known as Imam Ahmad, authored this methodology.
Compilation focuses on the hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, organized by the Sahaba narrators rather than thematic content.
Imam Ahmad intended for this work to serve as a reference for scholars and the general public.
Conditions for hadith inclusion emphasize authenticity:
- Priority was given to well-known hadiths instead of merely authentic ones.
- He avoided narrations from individuals facing heavy criticism within the scholarly community.
- The author regularly reviewed and revised the collection, eliminating certain narrations as needed.

Stand Against Disbelief

Caliph Al-Ma'mun controversially claimed the Quran was influenced by Greek thought, insisting it was created rather than divine.
He threatened Imam Ahmad with death for opposing his views on the Quran's nature.
Al-Ma'mun passed away just before carrying out his threat; his brother subsequently took over as Caliph.
The new Caliph upheld the punishment against Imam Ahmad initially.
Imam Ahmad’s son, who valued knowledge highly, later intervened and facilitated his father's release.

This quiz covers Unit 1, Lesson 3 of Al-Masaaneed, authored by Abu Abdillah Ahmad ibn Hanbal al-Shaibaani. It focuses on the methodology used to collect and organize the ahadith of the Prophet ﷺ as per the narrators, providing insights into the conditions for inclusion in the compilation. Test your understanding of the structure and significance of this pivotal work in Hadith scholarship.