[Thaʿlab:] Ina so in gana Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, sai na nemi shi. Da na same shi, sai ya tambaye ni menene fannina. "Nahawu da Larabci," na ce masa. Sai ya karanta: 33.1

[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

Kana iya tunanin cewa ba a lura da kai ba.

You may think yourself unnoticed.

Amma Wanda ke bisa, yana kallon ka.

But One on high is watching you.

Ba ya barci ko mantuwa.

Never sleeping or forgetting.

Kowane aiki da ake yi a nan duniya.

Every deed done here below.

Muna barin kwanaki suna wucewa ba tare da mun lura ba.

Heedless do we let the days pass.

Ƙara zunubi a kan babban zunubi.

Adding sin to grievous sin.

Ina roƙon Allah ya gafarta mana dukan laifuffukanmu.

Pray God pardon all our evil.

Idan muka tuba zuwa gare Shi.186

When we turn contrite to Him.186

[Thaʿlab:] Abin da fara lura da shi game da Ibn Ḥanbal shi ne kallonsa: yana kallo kamar yana ganin Wuta tana ci a gabansa.187 Na gai da shi, sai ya tambaye ni ko ni wane ne. 33.2

[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." "Wane irin ilimi kake nema?" "Waƙoƙi da baitoci," na ce, nan take na yi fatan da na faɗi wani abu daban.

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

"Rubuta wannan!" ya ce. Sannan ya karanta:

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

Kana iya tunanin cewa ba a lura da kai ba.

You may think yourself unnoticed.

Amma Wanda ke bisa, yana kallon ka.

But One on high is watching you.

Ba ya barci ko mantuwa.

Never sleeping or forgetting.

Kowane aiki da ake yi a nan duniya.

Every deed done here below.

Muna barin kwanaki suna wucewa ba tare da mun lura ba.

Heedless do we let the days pass.

Ƙara zunubi a kan babban zunubi.

Adding sin to grievous sin.

Ina roƙon Allah ya gafarta mana dukan laifuffukanmu.

Pray God pardon all our evil.

Idan muka tuba zuwa gare Shi.

When we turn contrite to Him.

Bayan ƙarni naku ya shuɗe.

Once your generation passes.

Duk waɗanda ka sani sun tafi.

All those you knew are gone.

Barin ku a tsakanin sabbin fuskoki.

Leaving you amid new faces.

An yar da shi, babu aboki, kuma shi kaɗai.188

Abandoned, friendless, and alone.188

An kuma ruwaito mini cewa ʿAlī ibn Khashram ya ji Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal yana karatu: 33.3

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

Yadda farin cikin zunubi ke tashi da sauri.

How swiftly fly the joys of sin.

Yaya dawwamar kunya take da tsawo?

How long-abiding is the shame.

Yaya daɗin jin daɗin zunubi yake!

How dear the thrill of sinful pleasures.

Wallahi, Allah ya sa ku cikin wutar har abada!189

That damn you to eternal flame!189

[Al-Khayyāṭ:] Na karanta wani ɓangare na abin da Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal ya faɗa game da ʿAlī ibn al-Madīnī: 33.4

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

Ina fa'ida ka rungumi akidar da ka taba kira la'ananniya?

Why embrace a creed you once called damned?

Dalilin da ya sa mutum zai musayar imani da riba ta duniya?

Why barter faith for worldly gain?

Shin akidar ƙarya ta taɓa bayyana gaskiya nan take?

Did a lying creed at once seem true.

Ko kuma Mammon ne ya ɓatar da abokina?

Or did Mammon lead my friend astray?

Na san ka a lokacin, lokacin da babu wanda zai iya karkatar da kai.

I knew you once, when none could sway you.

Daga yin shelarwa, ba tare da tsoro ba, a inda kuka tsaya.

From proclaiming, fearless, where you stood.

Ka bar dukiya, ba za ka rasa komai ba,190

Let riches go, and you lose nothing,190

Amma imani, da zarar an sayar da shi, ya tafi har abada.191

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