Sharh Usul al-Sunnah lil-Imam Ahmad
- Author died
- 1430 AH
- Editions
- Sharh Usul al-Sunnah lil-Imam Ahmad
Sharh Usul al-Sunnah lil-Imam Ahmad (Explanation of the Foundations of the Sunnah by Imam Ahmad) is an Islamic theological commentary by the Saudi scholar Ibn Jibrin (d. 1430 AH / 2009 CE) on the classical creedal epistle Usul al-Sunnah by Ahmad ibn Hanbal (d. 241 AH / 855 CE) .
Subject and Foundations
The commentary elucidates the doctrinal tenets of the Sunni tradition as compiled by Ahmad ibn Hanbal. Ibn Jibrin begins by defining the core principle (asl) as that upon which other matters are constructed or branched, identifying the primary foundations of the religion as the Quran, the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and the transmitted practice of the Prophet's Companions (Sahabah) .
The work emphasizes that the Sunnah serves as the authoritative explanation and clarification of the Quran, encompassing the Prophet's sayings, actions, and tacit approvals . It highlights that theological matters must be derived directly from textual transmission rather than speculative analogy (qiyas) or personal inclinations, rejecting religious innovation (bid'ah) and theological argumentation and disputes (khusumat fi al-din) .
Theological and Eschatological Doctrines
The text covers major tenets of Sunni theology:
- The Speech of God and the Quran: Affirming that the Quran is the uncreated speech of God (kalam Allah ghayr makhluq), which God spoke in reality, rejecting the positions of the Mu'tazila and the Ibadis who regard it as created, as well as those who withhold judgment (al-waqifah) .
- Divine Decree (al-Qadr): Affirming that God is the Creator of all entities and actions, and that all events are decreed in advance .
- The Beatific Vision (Ru'yat Allah): Affirming that believers will physically see God in the Hereafter and in Paradise . Ibn Jibrin discusses the disagreement regarding whether the Prophet ﷺ saw his Lord in this world, clarifying that the affirmed vision reported from Ibn Abbas was a spiritual discernment of the heart rather than physical sight with the eyes .
- Eschatological Realities: Affirming the reality of the Scale (al-Mizan) on the Day of Resurrection, the Prophet's Basin (al-Hawd), the punishment and questioning in the grave by the angels Munkar and Nakir, and the Prophet's intercession (shafa'ah) for sinners among the people of monotheism (tawhid) to be extracted from the Fire .
- Signs of the Hour: Affirming the emergence of the False Messiah (al-Masih al-Dajjal) and the descent of Isa ibn Maryam (Jesus) to slay him at the gate of Ludd in the Levant .
- Definition of Faith (Iman): Describing faith as comprising speech and action (of the heart, tongue, and limbs), which increases through acts of obedience and decreases through sins, and addressing the gravity of abandoning prayer (tark al-salah) .
Companions and Political Authority
Ibn Jibrin dedicates substantial portions of the commentary to the status of the Prophet's Companions and the Sunni stance on governance:
- Virtues and Ranking of the Sahabah: Affirming the excellence of the Sahabah as the best generation of the Muslim community, followed by the Successors (Tabi'un) and their followers . The text establishes their ranking in virtue according to the historical succession of the four Rightly Guided Caliphs: Abu Bakr, then Umar ibn al-Khattab, then Uthman ibn Affan, and then Ali ibn Abi Talib, while refuting Shi'i (Rafida) criticisms and delegitimizations against them .
- Obedience to Rulers and Rejection of Rebellion: Affirming the obligation of hearing and obeying Muslim rulers—whether righteous or sinful—so long as they do not command sin . The commentary upholds the validity of performing Friday and Eid prayers behind them, participating in military campaigns and pilgrimage under their leadership, and remitting mandatory alms to them, while strictly prohibiting armed revolt (khuruj) against established rulers due to the bloodshed and civil strife it produces, in refutation of the Kharijites and Mu'tazilites .
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