[Al-Muzanī:] Al-Shafiʿī said that he went to see Hārūn al-Rashīd and, after greeting him, said that he had just come from Yemen, which badly needed a strong hand. Al- Rashīd said, “Choose one of your students and we’ll appoint him judge there.” 50.1

Returning to his study session, and seeing that Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal was among the best of those present, al-Shāfiʿī approached him and said, “I was talking with the Commander of Believers about appointing a judge in Yemen and he asked me to choose someone who studies with me. I’ve chosen you, so get ready: I’ll take you in to meet him and he’ll appoint you judge.” Ibn Ḥanbal turned on him and said, “The only reason I came to you was to learn something, and you want me to join them as a judge?” Al-Shāfiʿī was shamed by this rebuke.281

[The author:] It is also reported that this incident took place during the reign of al- Amīn.

[Al-Athram:] I was told that al-Shāfiʿī said to Aḥmad, “The Commander of the Faithful”—meaning al-Amīn—“asked me to look for someone to serve him as judge in Yemen. I know you want to go see ʿAbd al-Razzāq, and now you can. Rule fairly, and get all the learning you want from him.” 50.2

“If you ever mention this again,” said Aḥmad, “that’s the last you’ll see of me.” At the time, I think Aḥmad was thirty—or maybe twenty-seven—years old.282

[Al-Balkhī:] Al-Shāfiʿī, God have mercy on him, had a lot of pull with Muḥammad ibn Zubaydah.283 One day Muḥammad mentioned that he was very concerned about not finding a good, trustworthy man who was an exemplar of the sunnah to serve as a judge. Al-Shāfiʿī told him that he had found just such a man: an exemplar of the sunnah who was gifted with religious understanding and well learned in Hadith. 50.3

“Who’s that?” asked Muḥammad.

He told him it was Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal.

Some time later, al-Shāfiʿī ran into Aḥmad and told him what he had said.

“Put that right out of your mind, and leave me out of it,” he replied. “Otherwise I’ll leave this place and go.” [Ṣāliḥ:] Isḥāq ibn Rāhawayh wrote to me saying: 50.4

Emir ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ṭāhir sent for me and, when I went in, I was carrying a letter from your father in my hand. When the emir saw it, he asked what it was, and I told him. He took it and read it and said, “I have a lot of regard for him and for Ḥamzah ibn al-Hayḍam al-Būshanjī because neither of them ever got mixed up with people in power.” When he learned that Isḥāq ibn Rāhawayh had brought his letter to the attention of ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ṭāhir, my father stopped corresponding with him.

[Al-Ribāṭī:] I went to see Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, but he wouldn’t look at me. I told him that I dictated Hadith in Khurasan and that if people there knew how he was treating me they would toss away the reports I had taught them. 50.5

“On the Day of Resurrection,” he replied, “when they call forth ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ṭāhir and his entourage, do you think you’ll have anywhere to run? Make sure you won’t be standing there with him when that happens.”284