[Thaʿlab:] I wanted to meet Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, so I went looking for him. When I found him he asked me what my field was. “Grammar and Arabic,” I told him. He then recited: 33.1

You may think yourself unnoticed.

But One on high is watching you.

Never sleeping or forgetting.

Every deed done here below.

Heedless do we let the days pass.

Adding sin to grievous sin.

Pray God pardon all our evil.

When we turn contrite to Him.186

[Thaʿlab:] The first thing I noticed about Ibn Ḥanbal was his gaze: he looked as if he could see Hell blazing before him.187 I greeted him and he asked me who I was. 33.2

“Thaʿlab.” “What kind of learning are you after?” “Rhymes and poems,” I said, and immediately wished I had said something else.

“Write this down!” he said. Then he recited:

You may think yourself unnoticed.

But One on high is watching you.

Never sleeping or forgetting.

Every deed done here below.

Heedless do we let the days pass.

Adding sin to grievous sin.

Pray God pardon all our evil.

When we turn contrite to Him.

Once your generation passes.

All those you knew are gone.

Leaving you amid new faces.

Abandoned, friendless, and alone.188

It was also reported to me that ʿAlī ibn Khashram heard Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal recite: 33.3

How swiftly fly the joys of sin.

How long-abiding is the shame.

How dear the thrill of sinful pleasures.

That damn you to eternal flame!189

[Al-Khayyāṭ:] I recited part of what Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal said about ʿAlī ibn al- Madīnī: 33.4

Why embrace a creed you once called damned?

Why barter faith for worldly gain?

Did a lying creed at once seem true.

Or did Mammon lead my friend astray?

I knew you once, when none could sway you.

From proclaiming, fearless, where you stood.

Let riches go, and you lose nothing,190

But faith, once sold, is gone for good.191