The first form of corruption arises from speculative doubts, while the second arises from sensual desires.
For this reason the early generations would say: “Beware of two kinds of people: the follower of caprice whom his own whims have seduced, and the seeker of worldly gain whom the world has blinded.”
They also said: “Beware the trial posed by a wicked scholar and by an ignorant devotee, for the temptation they cause is a temptation for every person already susceptible.”
The former is akin to those who have incurred wrath—people who know the truth yet refuse to follow it; the latter resembles those who are astray—people who act without knowledge.
Someone once described Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, saying: “How steadfast he was in renouncing worldly life, and how closely he mirrored the righteous predecessors! The innovations descended upon him …”
(1) This wording is also reported from Sufyan ibn Uyaynah; see al-Baghawi, Sharh al-Sunnah, 1:318, where he says: “Seek refuge with Allah from tribulation …,” and so forth.
(2) That is, the corrupt scholar.
(3) That is, the ignorant devotee.
(4) Ahmad ibn Hanbal ibn Hilal ibn Asad al-Shaybani (Abu Abd Allah) was born in Baghdad in 164 AH/780 CE. He began studying at an early age, travelled throughout the Muslim world to learn from its scholars, and became celebrated for his prodigious memory and precision. Renowned for piety and steadfast adherence to the sunnah, he took his famous stand against the innovation that claimed the Quran was created, a stance that checked the Muʿtazilah and other sects of his day. Imam Ahmad founded the Hanbali school of law and authored many works on hadith, exegesis, theology, and more, the best known being the Musnad. He died in 241 AH/855 CE. See Ibn Kathir, al-Bidaya wa-l-Nihaya, 10:325–43.