But if you were to give your life for Allah Ta'ala, what reward will you receive? Look at the lofty status which Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal rahimahullâh received. Mullâ ‘Alî Qârî rahimahullâh writes in volume one of Mirqât that his actual name was Imam Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hambal. His father’s name was Muhammad and his grandfather’s name was Hambal. However, he became popularly known as Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal and his father’s name became concealed. He was a great Hadîth scholar (muhaddith) and jurist of his time. He was also a student of Imam Shâfi‘î rahimahullâh. He differed with the khalifah (caliph) on a particular issue but he remained steadfast on the truth. The khalîfah issued many threats to him that he should abandon his standpoint or else he will be tortured severely. But Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal rahimahullâh remained firm on his view and did not bother about any punishment. Eventually, the khalîfah decided to lash him and this caused uproar in Baghdad. The people began talking that Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal rahimahullâh is going to be put through a tribulation today. When he received the first lash, he said: “Sub-hânallâh.” When he received the second lash, he said: “Lâ haula wa lâ qûwwata illâ billâh.” When he received the third lash, he said: “No calamity will afflict us except that which Allah Ta’alahas destined for us. He is our Master.” He was lashed so much that his trouser belt which was made of fabric became open. He immediately looked towards the heavens and his lips were still moving but no one knew what he was saying. The trouser belt became tight on its own and Allah Ta’alasaved him from becoming exposed.

A Hadîth scholar went to visit Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal rahimahullâh one week later and asked: “O Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal! What did you read at that time?” He replied: “Because my trouser belt became loose, I said to Allah Ta'ala:

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“O Allâh! If You know that I am on the truth, do not allow my private parts to become exposed. Allah Ta’alathen raised my trouser.”

His son says that Imam Shâfi‘î rahimahullâh who was his teacher and was in Egypt at the time sent a messenger to Imam Ahmad rahimahullâh instructing him thus: “Go to my student Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal and bring back the shirt which he was wearing when he was being lashed.” Because Imam Shâfi‘î rahimahullâh was his Hadîth teacher, he obeyed his order and sent the shirt to him. Imam Shâfi‘î rahimahullâh soaked that shirt in water and drank that water:

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“He washed his shirt and drank its water.”

Mullâ ‘Alî Qârî rahimahullâh writes:

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“This is an indication of Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal’s lofty status.”

The reason for this is that we see the teacher soaking his student’s shirt in water and drinking that water. He then says that an honourable person of Baghdad was buried 230 years later next to Imam Ahmad’s rahimahullâh grave. This person had made a bequest that he should be buried next to his grave.

Mullâ ‘Alî Qârî rahimahullâh writes:

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When an honourable person was being buried next to his grave...

The grave digger mistakenly struck the hoe on the grave of Imam Ahmad ibn Hambal rahimahullâh and this caused his grave to get open.

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His shroud (kafan) was intact, and did not even get torn after 230 years.

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The body of this true lover of Allah Ta’aladid not change.

It was just as fresh as when it was buried. This was a supernatural feat in his favour.When a person dies for the sake of Allah Ta'ala, He blesses him with honour.

Mullâ ‘Alî Qârî rahimahullâh writes that when his funeral bier was being carried, 20 000 people embraced Islam merely by looking at his funeral bier. This was because he was prepared to sacrifice his life but was not prepared to give up the truth. This is what is known as true îmân.

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Twenty thousand people embraced Islam on the day of his demise.

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“This is the funeral of a true lover of Allah Ta'ala. Come out and attend it with some clamour.”

The Jews and Christians embraced Islam by saying that there has to be Allâh for a person to sacrifice his life in such a manner.

“Take my funeral bier through the narrow streets for whose pleasure I gave my life. You need to be selfless in order to attain servitude.”