A complete translation of Ibn Badran’s masterpiece, al-Madkhal ila Madhhab al-Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.
Ibn Taymiyyah said about al-Imam Ahmad, “He was the virtuous imam, and the complete leader with whom Allah clarified the truth, rejected falsehoods, clarified the correct methodology and repudiated the innovations of innovators, the heresies of heretics, and the doubts of the doubtful.” [Bayan Talbis al-Jahmiyyah (3/312)]
Al-Subki said, “He was the virtuous imam and the leader of a way of thought. He was patient during the midst of his inquisition. He was the teacher and exemplar of Ahl al-Sunnah.” [Tabagāt al-Shafi’iyyah al-Kubra (2/27)]
Al-Shafi’i said of him, “Aḥmad is an imam in eight characteristics: He is an imam in ḥadīth, an imam in jurisprudence, an imam in language, an imam in Qur’an, an imam in poverty, an imam in asceticism, an imam in abstinence, and an imam in Sunnah.” [Tabagāt al-Ḥanabilah of Ibn Abi Ya’la (1/5)]
