The work of Ibn Hanbal is still important and seen here in a modern edition 

Back to Table of Contents 6
To next page
Ibn Rajab: Al Zayl Ala Tabaqat Al Hanabila
(Generations of Hanbalis) (d1393) Damascus
--------------------------------------------

Zain ad-Din, Abu al-Faraj, 'Abd ar-Rahman ibn Ahmad ibn 'Abd ar-Rahman ibn al-Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn Abi al-Barakat Mas'ud as-Sulami, al-Baghdadi, al-Hanbali, also known as Ibn Rajab (1335 Baghdad-1393 Damascus) His Adh-Dhayl 'alaa Tabaqat al-Hanabilah is a biographical and historical account. He has Little to say about east Africa.

Taken from: groups.googel.com
          Nimrod Hurvitz : The formation of Hanbalism
.
He reported a saying attributed to the Prophet which in effect states that God created the white race (dhurriyyah bayda) from the right shoulder of Adam and created the black race (dhurriyyah sawda) from Adam's left shoulder. Those of Adam's right shoulder would enter Paradise and those of the left, Perdition.

Then he (Ibn Hanbal)(1) said : An Arab (married to) an Arab (is) suitable (kaf), and Quraysh (2) (married to) Quraysh (2) (is) suitable (kaf).
Then he asked: What would you think if a Zangi married one of the offspring (walad) of Fatima (3)? He (Ibn Hanbal)(1) disapproved of it, and said: that is the doctrine of the shu'ubiyya (4).
 

Taken from: alwaraq

 

Ibn Khashab said to ibn Kassar (Atapi cloth manufacturer) when he came from Egypt, said ibn Khashab: What I saw of the wonders of Egypt. He said: I saw the things mentioned. Then he said: I saw a donkey Atapia, ibn Khashab said: wonder why we have the zebra donkey in Baghdad.

(this got repeated by Suyuti) 


Note : Ahmad ibn Hannibal, d. 855 was the founder of one of the five legal schools in Sunni Islam.

(1) Ibn Hanbal: see my webpage on Ibn Hanbal (855).

(2) Quraysh: tribe of the Prophet Mohamed.

(3) Fatima: Daughter of the prophet Mohammed.

(4) shu'ubiyya: group of Persian intellectuals who would put the Persians at equal footing as the Arabs.