Encyclopedia of Islam

Ibn Battuta, Abu Abd Allah Muhammad al-Lawati

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ties such as a

isha

 and Hafsa (two of Muhammad’s 

wives). Ibn Hanbal has also been credited for 

having written on theological, legal, and ethical 

topics.

In 833, the Abbasid caliph al-Mamun (r. 

813–833) attempted to impose the theological 

doctrines of the rationalist m

Utazili

 s

chool

 and 

ran into the staunch opposition of Muslim tradi-

tionalists, the foremost of whom was Ibn Hanbal. 

The hadith scholar objected to the Mutazili view 

that the Quran was created, holding instead to 

the more popular view that it was uncreated and 

eternal, thereby affirming its sacred character. 

Al-Mamun died, but the Abbasid “inquisition” 

(mihna) was continued by his successors, al-

Mutasim (r. 833–842) and al-Wathiq (r. 842–

847). Ibn Hanbal was imprisoned for two years, 

and, after being beaten, he was allowed to go 

home, where he remained in retirement until 

847. At the end of the Abbasid persecutions, he 

resumed his teaching and was even entertained 

as a guest of the new caliph, al-Mutawakkil (r. 

847–861). When he died of an illness in 855, it 

was reported that thousands attended his funeral. 

His tomb in Baghdad’s Martyr’s Cemetery became 

one of the city’s most popular shrines. His teach-

ings were preserved and transmitted by his circle 

of disciples, including his sons, Salih (d. ca. 880) 

and Abd Allah (d. 828).

Ibn Hanbal had a profound effect on the his-

tory of Islam. His legacy is embodied not only in 

the  Musnad and the legal school that bears his 

name, but also by the generations of Sunni 

Ulama

who have shaped Islamic tradition through the 

centuries. He helped make hadith the centerpiece 

of Islamic law and 

theology

 and strengthened 

the religious 

aUthority

 of the ulama against state 

interference.

See also  a

llah

;  i

bn

  t

aymiyya

,  t

aqi

 

al

-d

in

a

hmad

; s

Unnism

; W

ahhabism

.