A Refutation of Those Who Made the Trial of Imam Ahmad and Shaykh al-Islam a Political Matter

Question:
The Honorable Shaykh says: One of the preachers claims that Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal’s steadfastness in affirming that the Qur’an is created was due to a political matter, and a political conflict orchestrated by al-Ma’mun when he saw the large number of Imam Ahmad’s followers and feared for his authority, so he plotted this scheme. Likewise, what happened to Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah was due to a political matter, not because of his fatwa forbidding tying a rope to the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), nor because of the issue of divorce; rather, the matter was political.

Answer:
This is false speech. This contradicts what is found and recorded in the books of the trustworthy scholars, which firmly establish that he did this for his creed. How so? He refused to affirm that the Qur’an is created, and as a result, what happened to him occurred before he was ordered to engage in politics. Imam Ahmad did not engage in politics and did not speak about the rulers. Even when they were making them affirm the createdness of the Qur’an, imprisoning them, and beating them, there was no resentment in them, nor did they curse him. It is reported that he said, “If I had a supplication that would be answered, I would direct it to you, O Sultan.” Shaykh al-Islam in the Tiniyyah prison did not engage in politics and did not deal with the rulers; rather, he defended the truth.
For someone to say this, he is either a Jahmi or a Mu’tazili who wants to vindicate the position of the Mu’tazilah and the Jahmiyyah, or he is a compound ignoramus who does not know and interprets history with an incorrect interpretation. This is the way of people today: either they are from the misguided sects and want to cover up for the people of falsehood, or they are compound ignoramuses who distort history in their simplicity and their attached ideas.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you