THE MUSNAD OF AHMAD IBN HANBAL: A HUJJAH OR NOT?

Abstract

The Musnad OF Ahmad ibn Hanbal (164/780-241/855) is one of the largest complilations of hadith in  SunnÄ« IslÄm. Scholars of Hadith have differed regardingwhether all of its contents may be regarded as probative evidence in issues of law (fiqh) as its compiler’s claims suggest. This paper seeks to explore the authoritative status (hujjÄ«yyah) of the Musnad in Fiqh. In doing so, this paper will analyse the opinions of certain classical as well as contemporary Hadith scholars such as Jonathan Brown, G.H.A Juynboll and Christopher Melchert. The primary focus of the paper, in this respect, will be an enquiry into the authenticity of the narrations contained in the Musnad as well as Ibn Hanbal’s use of these narrations for legal reasoning or support.