Kamar yadda kai ma ka sani, halin mutum yana bayyana ko a lokacin ƙuruciya; yadda rayuwa ta fara yana ba da kyakkyawan ra'ayi game da yadda za ta ƙare. A game da Aḥmad, takawa da son ilimi sun bayyana a cikinsa tun farko. Saboda haka, malamansa suka yaba masa suka ba shi fifiko. 10.1

As you doubtless know, a person’s character is manifest even in youth; the way a life begins gives a good idea of how it is likely to end. In Aḥmad’s case, piety and love of learning were evident in him from the beginning. As a result, his teachers praised him and granted him precedence. 10.1

[Al-Nasāʾī:] Lokacin da Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal zai matso wurin wani mai ruwaya Hadith, yakan nemi izinin malamai da suke wurin domin tara Hadith, tun da za su ji rahotannin ne saboda shi. 10.2

[Al-Nasāʾī:] When Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal would approach a Hadith transmitter, he would ask the men of learning who were present for their permission to gather Hadith, since they would be hearing the reports because of him. 10.2

Daga cikin malaman da suka yabe shi akwai waɗannan.

Among the teachers who praised him are the following.

[Ibn Zanjuwayh:] Na tuna na ga Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal yana zuwa ziyartar Yazīd ibn Hārūn, wanda yake yin sallar nafila. Bayan ya gama sallarsa, Yazīd ya juyo wurin Aḥmad ya ce, “Menene matsayinka game da abubuwan da ake aro don amfani?” 10.3

[Ibn Zanjuwayh:] I remember seeing Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal come to visit Yazīd ibn Hārūn, who was performing the ritual prayer. After finishing his prayer, Yazīd turned to Aḥmad and asked, “What’s your position on things lent for use?” 10.3

"Wanda ya karɓi aro yana da alhakin abin da ya karɓa." "Mu muna ruwaito daga Ḥajjāj," in ji Yazīd, "yana ruwaito daga al-Ḥakam: 'Ba shi da alhaki.'" Aḥmad ya amsa ta hanyar karanta: "Annabi ﷺ ya karɓi aron wasu sulke daga Ṣafwān ibn Umayyah. Ṣafwan ya tambaya, 'Shin kana da alhakin su?' sai Annabi ﷺ ya ce, 'Wanda ya karɓi aro yana da alhakin abin da ya aro.'"63

“The borrower is liable for them.” “We cite Ḥajjāj,” said Yazīd, “citing al-Ḥakam: ‘Not liable.’” Aḥmad replied by reciting: “The Prophet, God bless and keep him, borrowed some suits of armor from Ṣafwān ibn Umayyah. Ṣafwan asked, ‘Are you liable for them?’ and the Prophet, God bless and keep him, said, ‘The borrower is liable for what he borrows.’”63

Yazīd bai da wata amsa ba, sai ya karɓi ra'ayin Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal.

Having nothing to say in reply, Yazīd adopted Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal’s view.

[Ibn Sālim:] Mun zauna a majalisin hadisi na Yazīd ibn Hārūn sai Yazīd ya yi wata magana ta wasa ga marubucinsa. Daga wajen Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal sai aka ji tsakin makogoro, sai Yazīd ya buga goshinsa ya ce, "Don me ba ka gaya mini cewa Aḥmad yana nan ba, don kada in yi wasa?" 10.4

[Ibn Sālim:] We were sitting in Yazīd ibn Hārūn’s Hadith-circle and Yazīd made a teasing remark to his amanuensis. From Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal came a clearing of the throat, and Yazīd, striking himself on the forehead, cried, “Why didn’t you tell me Aḥmad was here so I wouldn’t joke?” 10.4

[Ibn Sinān:] Ban taɓa ganin Yazīd ibn Hārūn yana girmama wani da irin girmamawar da yake yi wa Ibn Ḥanbal ba, kuma ban taɓa ganin yana nuna wa wani irin girmamawar da yake nuna wa Ibn Ḥanbal ba. Yakan zaunar da Aḥmad kusa da shi duk lokacin da muka taru don karatun Hadisi. Yakan nuna natsuwa da mutunci a gabansa, kuma ba ya yi masa barkwanci. Sau ɗaya da Aḥmad ya yi rashin lafiya, har Yazīd ya hau doki ya je gidansa don ya duba shi. 10.5

[Ibn Sinān:] I never saw Yazīd ibn Hārūn regard anyone with as much reverence or show anyone as much honor as he did Ibn Ḥanbal. He used to seat Aḥmad beside him when we gathered for Hadith. He maintained a dignified bearing in his presence and wouldn’t tease him. Once when Aḥmad fell ill Yazīd even rode to his house to visit him. 10.5

[Ibn Abī ʿAwn da Ibn Hishām:] Wata rana, a lokacin da sallah ta fara, mun ji Ibn ʿUlayyah yana cewa, "Akwai Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal a nan ko ina? A ce masa ya fito gaba!" 10.7

[Ibn Abī ʿAwn and Ibn Hishām:] Once when the ritual prayer was starting we heard Ibn ʿUlayyah saying, “Is Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal here anywhere? Tell him to come forward!” 10.7

[Ibn al-Mubārak:] Wata rana da nake wurin Ismāʿīl ibn ʿUlayyah, sai wani ya yi wata magana da ta sa wasu daga cikinmu dariya. Ibn Ḥanbal ma yana wurin. Daga baya muka je wurin Ismāʿīl, sai muka same shi yana cikin fushi. 10.8

[Ibn al-Mubārak:] Once when I was at Ismāʿīl ibn ʿUlayyah’s someone made a remark that made some of us laugh. Ibn Ḥanbal was there too. Later we went to Ismāʿīl and found him looking angry. 10.8

"Ta yaya za ka yi dariya," ya tambaya, "alhali Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal yana nan?"

“How could you laugh,” he asked, “with Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal there?”

[ʿAbd al-Razzāq:] Ban taɓa ganin wanda ya fi Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal hankali ko kuma ya fi taka-tsantsan wajen addini ba.9

[ʿAbd al-Razzāq:] I never saw anyone more astute or more scrupulous66 than Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. 10.9

[Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī:] Abū Bakr Muḥammad ibn Abān ya ce, "Aḥmad, Isḥāq, da ni mun yi karatu a wurin ʿAbd al-Razzāq. Idan wani ya tambaye shi wata tambaya, sai ya ce, 'Ba ina karanta Hadisi a gare ku ba. Ina karantawa ne kawai saboda waɗannan mutum uku.'" 10.10

[Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī:] Abū Bakr Muḥammad ibn Abān said, “Aḥmad, Isḥāq, and I studied with ʿAbd al-Razzāq. If anyone else asked him a question, he would say, ‘I’m not reciting Hadith for you. I’m reciting only for the sake of these three.’” 10.10

Ta wurin "waɗannan uku" yana nufin Aḥmad, Isḥāq, da Ibn Abān.

By “these three” he meant Aḥmad, Isḥāq, and Ibn Abān.

Ban taɓa koyar da kowa kamar Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal ba. 10.11

[ʿAbd al-Razzāq:] I have never taught anyone like Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. 10.11

[ʿAbd al-Razzāq:] Ban taɓa koyar da wani irin Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal ba. 10.12

[ʿAbd al-Razzāq:] I never taught anyone the like of Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. 10.12

[ʿAbd al-Razzāq:] Malamai huɗu masu girma na ilimin Hadisi sun zo mana daga Iraƙi. Akwai al-Shādhakūnī, wanda yake da mafi ƙarfin ƙwaƙwalwa wajen riƙe Hadisi. Akwai Ibn al-Madīnī, wanda ya ƙware sosai wajen sanin bambance-bambancen rahotanni. Akwai Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn, wanda yake da cikakken ilimin masu ruwaito Hadisi. Sannan akwai Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, wanda ya fi kowa iya haɗa ilimin nau'o'i uku gaba ɗaya. 10.13

[ʿAbd al-Razzāq:] Four of the great scholars of Hadith came to us from Iraq. There was al-Shādhakūnī, who had the most tenacious memory for Hadith. There was Ibn al- Madīnī, who had mastered the differences between reports. There was Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn, who had the most thorough knowledge of the transmitters. And then there was Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, who was the best at putting all three kinds of learning together. 10.13

Abū Yaʿqūb ya ƙara da cewa: “Bayan Manzon Allah ﷺ, babu wanda mutane suka yi tafiya da yawa zuwa wurinsa don koyo kamar yadda suka yi zuwa ʿAbd al-Razzāq.” [ʿAbd al-Razzāq ya ce:] “Na koyar da Hadisi ga maza uku da suka cancanta har ba na damuwa ko ban sake koyar da kowa ba. Akwai Ibn al-Shādhakūnī, wanda yana da ƙwaƙwalwa mai riƙe abubuwa sosai; Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn, wanda ya san masu ruwaitawa sosai; da Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, wanda ya ƙaurace wa abubuwa da yawa.” 10.14

[Wakīʿ:] Daga cikin duk wadanda suka taba zuwa Kufa, wannan saurayi—wato Ahmad ibn Hanbal—shi ne mafi kyau. 10.19

[Wakīʿ:] Of all those who ever came to Kufa, that young man—meaning Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal—was the best. 10.19

[Ibn Shammās:] Na nemi Wakīʿ ya koya mana Hadîth da ya koya daga Khārijah ibn Muṣʿab. 10.20

[Ibn Shammās:] I asked Wakīʿ to teach us the Hadith he had learned from Khārijah ibn Muṣʿab. 10.20

"Ba zan yi ba," ya ce. "Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal ya ce mini kada in yi." ḤAFṢ IBN GHIYĀTH AL-NAKHAʿĪ [Ibn Ghiyāth:] Daga cikin duk wadanda suka taba zuwa Kufa, wannan matashi—wato Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal—shi ne mafi alheri. 10.21

“I won’t,” he said. “Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal told me not to.” ḤAFṢ IBN GHIYĀTH AL-NAKHAʿĪ [Ibn Ghiyāth:] Of all those who ever came to Kufa, that young man—meaning Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal—was the best. 10.21

[Al-Bukhārī:] Ina Basra lokacin da labarin ya zo cewa an yi wa Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal bulala. Abū l-Walīd ya ce, "Da mutumin nan ya rayu a zamanin Banu Isra'ila, da sun mai da shi abin almara." 10.22

[Al-Bukhārī:] I was in Basra when the news came that Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal had been flogged. Abū l-Walīd exclaimed, “If that man had lived in the days of the Children of Israel, they would have made him a legend.” 10.22

[Ibn Makhlad:] Ina wurin Abū l-Walīd al-Ṭayālisī sai wata wasiƙa ta zo daga Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. "Babu wanda ya fi so a gare ni a cikin garuruwan biyu" — wato Basra da Kufa — "ko wanda na fi sha'awa daga cikinsu fiye da Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal," na ji shi yana cewa. 10.23

[Ibn Makhlad:] I was at Abū l-Walīd al-Ṭayālisī’s when a letter came from Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. “There’s no one in the two towns”—meaning Basra and Kufa—“dearer to me than Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal,” I heard him say, “or anyone I admire more.” 10.23

[Ḥamdān ibn ʿAlī:] Abū l-ʿAwāmm al-Bazzāz (mai sayar da yadi) ya gaya mini, "Wata rana muna a wajen Abū l-Walīd, sai muka ji mutane suna cewa, 'Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal yana nan!' 10.24

[Ḥamdān ibn ʿAlī:] Abū l-ʿAwāmm al-Bazzāz (the draper) told me, “Once we were at Abū l-Walīd’s when we heard them saying, ‘Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal’s here!’ 10.24

"Abū l-Walīd, wanda yake zaune cikin natsuwa, ya tashi da sauri, sa'an nan bai ce komai ba har sai da Aḥmad ya zauna. Aḥmad ya roƙe shi ya karanta wasu Hadisai, sai ya yi haka. Ina tsammani [al-Bazzāz] ya ƙara da cewa Abū l-Walīd ya juya ya fuskanci Aḥmad."

“Abū l-Walīd, who had been sitting at ease, sprang up and then said nothing at all until Aḥmad had sat down. Aḥmad asked him to recite some Hadith, and he did.” I think [al-Bazzāz] added that Abū l-Walīd turned to face Aḥmad.

"Ina tuna," ci gaba al-Bazzāz, "na ce"—a zuciyarsa, watau—"dukanmu manyan malamai ne, amma shi kaɗai da Abū l-Walīd ke girmamawa shi ne Aḥmad!"

“I remember,” continued al-Bazzāz, “saying”—to himself, that is—“that all of us are senior men of learning, but the only one that Abū l-Walīd treats with deference is Aḥmad!”

[Ibn Samāʿah:] Mun kasance a gidan Ibn Abī ʿUmar al-ʿAdanī a Makka. Dukkanmu sai shi muna magana game da Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. Bayan mun ɗan daɗe muna magana, sai ya karya shiru ya ce, “Waɗanda za su iya ba Aḥmad hakkinsa ba sa tare da mu yanzu.

[Ibn Samāʿah:] We were at Ibn Abī ʿUmar al-ʿAdanī’s in Mecca. All of us except for him were talking about Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. After we had gone on for a while he broke his silence and said, “Those who could give Aḥmad his due are no longer with us.

Lokacin da ya tafi karatun Hadisi wurin Ḥusayn al-Juʿfī, ya kawo wata wasiƙa”—wato wasiƙar shawara. “Amma al-Juʿfī ya ce, ‘Aḥmad, babu buƙatar sanya wani mai kāriya tsakaninmu. Za ka iya neman taimako na wurina da sunan duk wanda kake so, amma kai ka fi kowa da ka ambata kyau.’” 10.25

When he went to study Hadith with Ḥusayn al-Juʿfī, he brought a letter”—that is, a letter of recommendation. “But al-Juʿfī said, ‘Aḥmad, there’s no need to put a patron between us. You can appeal to me using whatever name you want, but you’re a better man than anyone you name.’” 10.25

[Ibn Abī Ḥātim:] Na ji Aḥmad ibn Sinān al-Qaṭṭān (ɗan kasuwar auduga) yana ruwaito cewa ya ga Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal yana kusantar ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Mahdī—ko kuma watakila lokacin da Aḥmad ya tashi ya bar zaurensu—sai ya ji Ibn Mahdī yana cewa, “Babu wanda ya fi sanin Hadisin da Sufyān al-Thawrī ya ruwaito kamar wannan mutumin can.” 10.26

[Ibn Abī Ḥātim:] I heard Aḥmad ibn Sinān al-Qaṭṭān (the cotton merchant) report that he saw Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal approaching ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Mahdī—or perhaps it was when Aḥmad had gotten up and left the circle—and heard Ibn Mahdī say, “No one knows the Hadith transmitted by Sufyān al-Thawrī better than that man there.” 10.26

Duk lokacin da na duba Ibn Ḥanbal, ba zan iya daina tunanin Sufyān al-Thawrī ba. 10.27

[Ibn Mahdī:] Every time I look at Ibn Ḥanbal I can’t help thinking of Sufyān al- Thawrī. 10.27

[Ibn Shammās:] Muna wurin ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Mahdī sa'ad da Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal ya tashi ko kuma yana gab da shiga, sai ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ya ce: "Duk wanda yake so ya san abin da al-Thawrī ya ɗauka a zuciyarsa, to ya tambayi wannan mutumin can." 10.28

[Ibn Shammās:] We were at ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Mahdī’s when Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal had just left—or was approaching—and ʿAbd al-Raḥmān said, “Anyone who wants to know what al-Thawrī carried in his head should ask that man there.” 10.28

[Ibn Mahdī:] "Wannan yaron" — yana nufin Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal — "ya kusa zama abin koyi tun yana cikin mahaifiyarsa." 10.29

[Ibn Mahdī:] “That boy”—meaning Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal—“was almost an exemplar while still in his mother’s womb.” 10.29

[Al-Qaṭṭān:] "Ban taɓa samun wani ɗalibi mai kyau kamar Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal ba." 10.30

[Al-Qaṭṭān:] “I never had another student as good as Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal.” 10.30

Al-Qaṭṭān: Manyan almajirai biyu na sun kasance Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal da Yaḥyā ibn Ma'īn. 10.31

[Al-Qaṭṭān:] My two best students were Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal and Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn. 10.31

[Al-Qaṭṭān:] "Ban taba samun wani almajiri kamar Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal da Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn ba." 10.32

[Al-Qaṭṭān:] “I never had another student as good as Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal and Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn.” 10.32

[Al-Karābīsī:] Lokacin da Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal ya tafi Basra, Ibn al-Shādhakūnī ya fara ƙin shi, sai ya faɗi wani abu game da shi ga Yaḥyā ibn Saʿīd al-Qaṭṭān, wanda ya ce, "Bari in duba shi." 10.33

[Al-Karābīsī:] When Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal went to Basra, Ibn al-Shādhakūnī came to resent him, and made some remark about him to Yaḥyā ibn Saʿīd al-Qaṭṭān, who said, “Let me have a look at him.” 10.33

Bayan ya gan shi, sai al-Qaṭṭān ya ce wa Ibn al-Shādhakūnī, "Kaico, Sulaimān! Ba ka jin tsoron Allah ba? Wannan malamin mu ne kake magana a kansa." [Al-Qaṭṭān:] Daga cikin waɗanda suka zo daga Baghdad, babu wanda ya fi so a wurina kamar Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. 10.34

After he had seen him, al-Qaṭṭān said to Ibn al-Shādhakūnī, “Shame on you, Sulaymān! Have you no fear of God? That’s one of our sages you’re talking about.” [Al-Qaṭṭān:] Of the ones who came from Baghdad, no one was dearer to me than Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. 10.34

[Ibn al-Madīnī:] Yaḥyā, Aḥmad, da Khalaf sun zo don karatu wurin Ibn Sa'īd al-Qaṭṭān. Ya tambaye ni, wane ne Yaḥyā?35

[Ibn al-Madīnī:] Yaḥyā, Aḥmad, and Khalaf came to study with Ibn Saʿīd al- Qaṭṭān. He asked me who Yaḥyā was. 10.35

"Wannan Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn ne," na ce masa.

“That’s Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn,” I told him.

“Me ne ne kuma?” “Wannan Khalaf ne.” “Me ne ne kuma?” “Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal.” “In akwai wanda yake shi ne, to shi ne,” ya ce. [Aḥmad:] Ban taɓa haɗuwa da wani kamar Yaḥyā ibn Saʿīd ba. 10.36

“What about that one?” “That’s Khalaf.” “What about that one?” “Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal.” “If any of them is the one,” he said, “it’s him.” [Aḥmad:] I never met anyone else like Yaḥyā ibn Saʿīd. 10.36

[ʿAbd Allāh:] Wani rukuni na masu ilimin Hadisi sun taru a majalisar Abū ʿĀṣim al-Daḥḥāk ibn Makhlad. 10.37

[ʿAbd Allāh:] A group of Hadith-men once gathered at the circle of Abū ʿĀṣim al- Daḥḥāk ibn Makhlad. 10.37

"Dukkanku kuna da'awar kuna da fahimtar addini," ya ce, "amma ko akwai wani daga cikinku da yake da ita?" Sai ya fara tsawata musu.

“All of you claim to have religious understanding,” he said, “but do any of you have it?” With that he began to rebuke them.

"Ɗayanmu yana yi," suka ce.

“One of us does,” they said.

"Wa?" "Yana kan hanya." Lokacin da mahaifina ya iso, suka ce, "Ga shi nan!" Abū ʿĀṣim ya kalle shi ya ce, "Ka zo gaba." "Ba na son in tako kan mutane," ya ce.

“Who?” “He’s on his way.” When my father arrived, they said, “That’s him!” Abū ʿĀṣim looked at him and said, “Come up front.” “I don’t like to step over people,” he said.

"Yanzu ga wani mutum mai fahimta!" in ji Abū ʿĀṣim. "Ku ba shi wuri!" Sai suka ba shi hanya, ya shigo. Abū ʿĀṣim ya roƙe shi ya zauna a gabansa.

“Now there’s a man who understands!” said Abū ʿĀṣim. “Make room for him!” They moved aside and he came in. Abū ʿĀṣim asked him to sit in front of him.

Sai ya yi masa wata tambaya, shi kuma ya amsa ta. Ya sake yi masa wata tambaya, shi ma ya amsa ta, sannan ta uku, sannan kuma tambayoyi da yawa, ya amsa su duka.

Then he asked him a question, which he answered. He asked him another question, and he answered that one too, and then a third, and then many, and he answered them all.

"Wannan halittar teku ce," in ji Abū ʿĀṣim, "ba dabbar ƙasa ba!" Ko kuma ya ce, "Wannan halittar teku ce da take tafiya a ƙasa!"68

“This is a sea creature,” said Abū ʿĀṣim, “not a land animal!” Or he may have said, “This is a sea creature that walks on land!”68

[Abū ʿĀṣim:] Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal ya zo wurina. Na ji mutane suna cewa "Ibn Ḥanbal ya zo! Ibn Ḥanbal ya zo!" 10.38

[Abū ʿĀṣim:] Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal came to see me. I heard people saying “Ibn Ḥanbal’s here! Ibn Ḥanbal’s here!” 10.38

"Ka nuna mini wannan Ibn Ḥanbal," na ce, sai suka nuna shi.

“Show me this Ibn Ḥanbal,” I said, and they pointed him out.

Abū l-Yamān: Ina da ra'ayin cewa Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal yana kama da Arṭaʾah ibn al-Mundhir.41

[Abū l-Yamān:] I used to think Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal resembled Arṭaʾah ibn al- Mundhir.69 10.41

Yaḥyā ibn Ādam: Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal shi ne abin koyi a gare mu. 10.42

[Yaḥyā ibn Ādam:] Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal is our exemplar. 10.42

Sulaymān ibn Ḥarb ya taɓa faɗa mini, "Ka tambayi Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal abin da yake faɗa game da wannan matsalar, domin shi ne abin koyi a gare mu." 10.43

[A man:] Sulaymān ibn Ḥarb once said to me, “Ask Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal what he says about this problem, because he’s our exemplar.” 10.43

[Al-Mukharrimī:] Na ji ʿĪsā ibn ʿAffān yana cewa: "Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn da Abū Khaythamah" — da wasu waɗanda ya ambata — "dukansu suna zuwa su ji Hadisi daga wurin mahaifina. Sai Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal ya zo ya ji Hadisi daga wurinsa. Bayan ya tafi, mahaifina ya ce mini, ‘Ya fi darajar su duka,’ yana nufin yawan ilimin da Aḥmad yake da shi." 10.44

[Al-Mukharrimī:] I heard ʿĪsā ibn ʿAffān say: “Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn and Abū Khaythamah”—and others he mentioned—“all used to come and hear Hadith from my father. Then Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal came and heard Hadith from him. After he left, my father said to me, ‘He was worth the lot of them,’ referring to how much Aḥmad knew.” 10.44

[Abū ʿUthmān:] Na ji al-Haytham ibn Jamīl yana cewa: "Idan wannan matashi" — yana nufin Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal — "ya rayu tsawon lokaci, zai zama hujjar Allah ta Musulunci ga dukkan zamani." 10.45

[Abū ʿUthmān:] I heard al-Haytham ibn Jamīl say: “If that young man”—meaning Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal—“lives long enough, he’ll be God’s proof of Islam for a whole generation.” 10.45

[Ibn Abī l-Ḥawārī:] Na ji al-Haytham ibn Jamīl yana cewa, "Kowane zamani yana da wani mutum da yake zama hujja ga Musulunci a zamaninsa. Fudail ibn Iyad hujja ce ga zamaninsa, kuma ina ganin idan wannan saurayin" — yana nufin Ahmad ibn Hanbal — "ya rayu tsawon lokaci, zai zama hujja ga nasa zamanin." 10.46

[Ibn Abī l-Ḥawārī:] I heard al-Haytham ibn Jamīl say, “Every age has a man who serves as a proof of Islam to his generation. Fuḍayl ibn ʿIyāḍ is the proof for his time, and I think that if that young man”—meaning Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal—“lives long enough, he’ll be the proof for his.” 10.46

[Yūsuf ibn Muslim:] Haytham ibn Jamīl ya taɓa yin kuskure yayin karanta wani Hadisi yana ambaton Hushaym. 10.47

[Yūsuf ibn Muslim:] Haytham ibn Jamīl once made an error while reciting a Hadith citing Hushaym. 10.47

"Wasu mutane suna karanta wannan riwayar daban," aka gaya masa.

“Some people recite that report differently,” he was told.

“Wane irin mutum?” “Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal.” “Ina fatan rayuwata ta kasance gajarta,” in ji al-Haytham, “ta shi kuma ta kasance tsawonta.” [Asad al-Khashshāb:] Na ji al-Haytham ibn Jamīl yana cewa, “Ina fatan Allah ya sa rayuwar Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal ta yi tsawo, ta kuma sa tawa ta yi gajere.” 10.48

“Like who?” “Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal.” “I wish my life could be shorter,” said al-Haytham, “and his longer.” [Asad al-Khashshāb:] I heard al-Haytham ibn Jamīl say, “I wish God would make Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal’s life longer and mine shorter.” 10.48

Sai ya juya zuwa ga wani mutumin da yake wurin ya ce, "Faɗa mini: Me ya sa ka ce ina da wani abu mai amfani da zan koyar da Musulmai?"

Then he turned to a man who was present and said, “Tell me: Why did you say that I had anything useful to impart to Muslims?”

[Al-Ramādī:] Na tuna wani lokaci da muke a wajen Abū Nuʿaym muna karatu tare da Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal da Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn. A waɗancan kwanaki, idan Abū Nuʿaym yana gudanar da zaman hadisai, Aḥmad yakan zauna a hannun damansa, Yaḥyā kuma a hannun hagunsa. Wata rana Yaḥyā ya zo wurina da wata takarda wadda a kanta ya rubuta wasu daga cikin ruwayoyin Abū Nuʿaym, sa'an nan a cikin giɓin da ke tsakanin su ya kwafi ruwayoyin da wasu suka riƙa watsawa.

[Al-Ramādī:] I remember one occasion when we were at Abū Nuʿaym’s studying with Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal and Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn. In those days, when Abū Nuʿaym held Hadith sessions, Aḥmad used to sit on his right and Yaḥyā on his left. One day Yaḥyā came to me with a piece of paper on which he had written some of Abū Nuʿaym’s reports and then, in the spaces between them, copied out reports transmitted by others.

"Idan mu ne a can," ya ce, "Ka ba Abū Nuʿaym takardar ya karanta ta." 10.49

“When it’s us there,” he said, “Give Abū Nuʿaym the paper and have him read it.” 10.49

Lokacin da zaman ya ƙare kuma mutane suna tashi, ya miƙa masa takardar.70 Abū Nu'aym ya karanta dukan abin da ke cikinta, sa'an nan ya kalle ni na ɗan lokaci, a ƙarshe ya kalli Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal da Yaḥyā ibn Ma'īn.

When the session ended and people were leaving, he handed him the paper.70 Abū Nuʿaym read the whole thing, then stared at me for a while, and finally looked at Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal and Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn.

"Wannan mutumin da ke nan," in ji shi, yana nuna Aḥmad, "yana riƙon addininsa da tsanani har ba zai aikata irin wannan abu ba. Amma kai," in ji shi, yana kallon ni, "ba ka yin irin wannan abu. Wanda ya aikata shi," ya ci gaba, "dole ne ya zama wannan," sannan ya kai wa Yaḥyā harbi wanda ya fizge shi daga kan matakalar. "Wa kake yaudara?" ya yi ihu.

“This fellow here,” he said, gesturing toward Aḥmad, “takes his religion too seriously to do something like this. As for you,” he said, looking at me, “you don’t do this sort of thing. The one who did it,” he continued, “must be this one,” and gave Yaḥyā a kick that knocked him off the stoop. “Who are you trying to fool?” he cried.

Yaḥyā ya tashi ya sumbaci Abū Nuʿaym. "Allah ya saka maka da alheri a madadin Musulunci!" in ji shi. "Kai ne irin mutumin da ya kamata ya koyar da Hadisi. Ina dai gwada ka ne kawai." [Ibn Manṣūr:] Lokacin da Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal da Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn suka tafi karatu wurin ʿAbd al-Razzāq, ni ma na bi su a matsayin bawansu. Bayan mun dawo Kufa, Yaḥyā ya ce wa Aḥmad, "Ina so in gwada Abū Nuʿaym." 10.50

Yaḥyā picked himself up and kissed Abū Nuʿaym. “May God reward you on behalf of Islam!” he said. “You are just the sort of man who should teach Hadith. I was only testing you.” [Ibn Manṣūr:] When Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal and Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn went to study with ʿAbd al-Razzāq, I went along with them as their servant. After we returned to Kufa, Yaḥyā said to Aḥmad, “I want to test Abū Nuʿaym.” 10.50

[Al-Marwazī:] Na ji Qutaybah ibn Sa'īd yana cewa, "A zamaninmu mafi kyawun mutane su ne Ibn al-Mubārak da wancan saurayin." 10.51

[Al-Marwazī:] I heard Qutaybah ibn Saʿīd say, “In our generation the best men are Ibn al-Mubārak and that young fellow.” 10.51

"Wane saurayi?" Abū Bakr al-Rāzī ya tambaya.

“Which young fellow?” asked Abū Bakr al-Rāzī.

"Ibn Ḥanbal." "Shi ne babban malami a Iraƙi, kuma kana kiransa saurayi?" "Yana da ƙarancin shekaru a lokacin da na haɗu da shi," in ji Qutaybah.

“Ibn Ḥanbal.” “He’s the senior man of learning in Iraq, and you’re calling him a young fellow?” “He was young when I met him,” said Qutaybah.

[Qutaybah:] Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal da Isḥāq ibn Rāhawayh su ne kaɗai misalai biyu a duniya. 10.52

[Qutaybah:] Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal and Isḥāq ibn Rāhawayh are the only two exemplars in the world. 10.52

53

53

[Qutaybah:] Idan ka ga wani yana girmama Ibn Ḥanbal, to ka tabbata cewa yana riko da sunnah. 10.53

[Qutaybah:] If you find that someone admires Ibn Ḥanbal, you can be sure that he upholds the sunnah. 10.53

[Qutaybah:] Idan ka ga wani yana girmama Ibn Hanbal, to ka tabbata cewa yana riko da sunnah kuma yana tare da al'umma.72 10.54

[Qutaybah:] If you find that someone admires Ibn Ḥanbal, you can be sure that he upholds the sunnah and stands with the community.72 10.54

[Qutaybah:] Idan ka ga wani yana sha'awar Ibn Ḥanbal, to ka tabbata yana kan tafarki madaidaici. 10.55

[Qutaybah:] If you find that someone admires Ibn Ḥanbal, you can be sure that he’s on the path. 10.55

[Qutaybah:] Idan Aḥmad ya rayu a zamanin al-Thawrī, Mālik, al-Awzāʿī, da al-Layth ibn Saʿd, da shi ne zai kasance a gaba a cikinsu. 10.56

[Qutaybah:] If Aḥmad had lived in the time of al-Thawrī, Mālik, al-Awzāʿī, and al-Layth ibn Saʿd, he would have been the foremost among them. 10.56

[Ibn Shabbuwayh:] Na ji Qutaybah yana cewa, "Idan Aḥmad ya rayu a zamanin al-Thawrī, Mālik, al-Awzāʿī, da al-Layth ibn Saʿd, da shi ne zai zama na gaba a cikinsu." 10.57

[Ibn Shabbuwayh:] I heard Qutaybah say, “If Aḥmad had lived in the time of al- Thawrī, Mālik, al-Awzāʿī, and al-Layth ibn Saʿd, he would have been the foremost among them.” 10.57

Ahmad ibn Hanbal ma wasu malamai da yawa ma sun yabe shi, malaman da matsayinsu ya yi daidai da malamansa, waɗanda bai yi karatu a wurinsu ba. Daga cikinsu akwai Abu Mushir al-Dimashqi. 10.62

Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal was also praised by many men of learning, equal in rank to his teachers, with whom he did not study. One was Abū Mushir al-Dimashqī. 10.62

Ibn al-ʿAbbās ya ce: Na tambayi Abū Mushir ko ya san wanda zai iya kiyaye addinin al'ummarmu.

[Ibn al-ʿAbbās:] I asked Abū Mushir if he knew anyone who could keep our community’s religion safe.

"Ba zan iya tunanin kowa ba," ya amsa, "sai wani saurayi a gabas," yana nufin Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal.

“I can’t think of anyone,” he replied, “except one young man out east,” meaning Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal.

Da yawa irin waɗannan rahotanni za su bayyana—in Allah ya yarda—a cikin wannan littafi.

[The author:] A good many more reports like this will appear—God willing—in the course of this book.