Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingEntry for encyclopedia/dictionarypeer-review

Abstract

Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal (780--855) of Baghdad, the eponymous founder of the Ḥanbalite School of law and theology was a prolific scholar of the Ḥadth (muḥaddith), a jurisprudent (faqh), and an influential public figure. Ibn Ḥanbal's theological teachings reflected an ultra-traditionalistic worldview and relied mainly on a meticulous study of the Qurʾn and the Ḥadth. Ibn Ḥanbal was in conflict with speculative theology (kalm) which in his lifetime was practiced by several theological trends, the most prominent of which was the Muʿtazila. An epitome of Islamic traditionalism, Ibn Ḥanbal refused to accept the Muʿtazilite dogma of the createdness of the Qurʾn. For this refusal, he was interrogated and tortured during the miḥna, the inquisition which the ʿAbbsid caliph al-Maʾmn adopted in 833.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEncyclopedia of Medieval Philosophy
Subtitle of host publicationPhilosophy Between 500 and 1500
EditorsHenrik Lagerlund
Place of PublicationDordrecht
PublisherSpringer Netherlands
Pages72-79
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)978-94-024-1665-7
ISBN (Print) 978-94-024-1663-3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this