❖ Did Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal Believe in the Hearing of the Dead? Fact or Misrepresentation? ❖
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 1, Kitāb al-ʿAqāʾid, p. 115
Is there authentic evidence that Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal رحمه الله and the senior scholars of the Ḥanbalī school believed in Samaʿ al-Mawtā (the hearing of the dead) and ʿArḍ al-Aʿmāl (presentation of deeds to the dead)? Or is this a misrepresentation by Dr. Masʿūd Aḥmad ʿUthmānī?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, and peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Dr. Masʿūd Aḥmad ʿUthmānī was known to be a fabricator (kadhdhāb), deceiver (dajjāl), and a proponent of Takfīrī and Khārijite ideologies. He once explicitly declared Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal رحمه الله to be a disbeliever in my presence.
Therefore, any attribution or narration coming from Dr. Masʿūd must be rejected unless the original source material is examined. For proper verification, one must return to the original classical sources or at the very least, provide specific references used by Dr. Masʿūd so that they may be properly scrutinized.
(Reference: Shahādat magazine, February 2004)
The propaganda spread by ʿUthmānī group claiming that Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal رحمه الله affirmed the belief that the dead hear continuously in their graves is completely baseless.
Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal رحمه الله is titled Imām Ahl al-Sunnah, and his beliefs are well-preserved through his own books and verified statements. There is no room for distortion or misattribution regarding his creed.
✔ There is no evidence that Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal رحمه الله held the belief in continuous hearing of the dead in the graves (Samaʿ al-Mawtā) as alleged.
✔ Claims made by Dr. Masʿūd Aḥmad ʿUthmānī are not trustworthy, especially without reference to original sources.
✔ The correct understanding of Imām Aḥmad’s creed must be taken directly from his verified works, not through unreliable intermediaries.
ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I hold to be correct, and Allah knows best.
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 1, Kitāb al-ʿAqāʾid, p. 115
Question:
Is there authentic evidence that Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal رحمه الله and the senior scholars of the Ḥanbalī school believed in Samaʿ al-Mawtā (the hearing of the dead) and ʿArḍ al-Aʿmāl (presentation of deeds to the dead)? Or is this a misrepresentation by Dr. Masʿūd Aḥmad ʿUthmānī?
Response:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, and peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Dr. Masʿūd Aḥmad ʿUthmānī was known to be a fabricator (kadhdhāb), deceiver (dajjāl), and a proponent of Takfīrī and Khārijite ideologies. He once explicitly declared Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal رحمه الله to be a disbeliever in my presence.
Therefore, any attribution or narration coming from Dr. Masʿūd must be rejected unless the original source material is examined. For proper verification, one must return to the original classical sources or at the very least, provide specific references used by Dr. Masʿūd so that they may be properly scrutinized. (Reference: Shahādat magazine, February 2004)
Important Clarification
The propaganda spread by ʿUthmānī group claiming that Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal رحمه الله affirmed the belief that the dead hear continuously in their graves is completely baseless.
Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal رحمه الله is titled Imām Ahl al-Sunnah, and his beliefs are well-preserved through his own books and verified statements. There is no room for distortion or misattribution regarding his creed.
Conclusion:
✔ There is no evidence that Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal رحمه الله held the belief in continuous hearing of the dead in the graves (Samaʿ al-Mawtā) as alleged.
✔ Claims made by Dr. Masʿūd Aḥmad ʿUthmānī are not trustworthy, especially without reference to original sources.
✔ The correct understanding of Imām Aḥmad’s creed must be taken directly from his verified works, not through unreliable intermediaries.
ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I hold to be correct, and Allah knows best.
