any of this available to him. Likewise, the statements of the Companions and Successors on this subject contain even more than those of Ahmad ibn Hanbal and others like him. Ahmad ibn Hanbal introduced nothing of his own. Rather, he was the most knowledgeable person of his time concerning what Allah had revealed to His Messenger and the way of the Companions and Successors, and he followed it more closely than anyone else. He was tried by opponents among the followers of whims and desires, having to debate them orally and in writing and refute them. Thus he brought to light the knowledge of the early generations, following their precedent just as the other imams before him had done. Every statement he made had already been expressed, in wording or meaning, by many imams before him and in his own time—as many as Allah willed—and was supported by abundant evidence, as Allah willed. For this reason, the Muslim community adopted him as an imam, for Allah Most High says:

“And We made from among them leaders guiding by Our command when they were patient and were certain of Our signs.” (24) [al-Sajdah 24]

Imam Ahmad—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—was among those whom Allah granted such patience and certainty in His signs that they merited leadership. This became well known among scholars and ordinary people alike, so that the title of imam became associated with his name more frequently and more widely than with anyone else’s.