Nan da nan bayan an sanar da mutuwar al-Ma'mūn, aka mayar da Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal da Muḥammad ibn Nūḥ Iraƙi a daure da sarƙoƙi, kamar yadda muka gani. Muḥammad ibn Nūḥ ya rasu a hanya, Aḥmad kuwa, yana cikin sarƙoƙi, ya kammala tafiyar. 68.1

As soon as al-Maʾmūn’s death was announced, Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal and Muḥammad ibn Nūḥ were sent back to Iraq in irons, as we have seen. Muḥammad ibn Nūḥ died on the way and Aḥmad, still in chains, completed the journey. 68.1

[Al-Būshanjī:] A zamanin al-Ma'mūn, an kai Aḥmad zuwa kan iyakar Byzantine. Ya riga ya yi tafiya har zuwa al-Raqqah sai al-Ma'mūn ya rasu a al-Badhandūn, don haka su biyun ba su taɓa haduwa ba.347 Hakan ya faru ne a shekara ta 218 [833]. 68.2

[Al-Būshanjī:] During the reign of al-Maʾmūn, Aḥmad was taken away to the Byzantine frontier. He had traveled as far as al-Raqqah when al-Maʾmūn died at al- Badhandūn, so the two never met.347 That was in 218 [833]. 68.2

Abū l-ʿAbbās al-Raqqī, wani malamin Hadisi, ya gaya mini cewa shi da wasu mutane sun je ziyartar Ahmad a lokacin da yake tsare a Raqqah. A can suka tunkare shi da rahotannin da ke ba Musulmi damar ɓoye imaninsa idan rayuwarsa tana cikin haɗari.

Abū l-ʿAbbās al-Raqqī, a Hadith scholar, told me that he and some others went to visit Aḥmad during his imprisonment in al-Raqqah. There they confronted him with the reports that allow a Muslim to conceal his beliefs when his life is in danger.

"Amma me kake yi da hadisin Khabbāb wanda ya ce:" in ji Aḥmad.

“But what do you do,” responded Aḥmad, “with Khabbāb’s report that says:

"Kafin zamaninka akwai muminai da za a iya yanka su biyu ba tare da sun watsar da imaninsu ba?" Sa'ad da suka ji haka, sai suka daina fatan samun nasara.

‘Before your time there were believers who could be sawed in half without renouncing their faith’?” When they heard that they gave up hope.

"Ba ruwana ko sun ci gaba da ɗaure ni ba," ya ci gaba da cewa. "Gidana ya riga ya zama kurkuku. Ba ruwana ko sun kashe ni da takobi ma. Abin da kawai nake tsoro shi ne a yi mini bulala. Idan ban iya jurewa ba fa?" Wani daga cikin fursunonin ya ji abin da ya faɗa. "Kada ka damu, Aḥmad," ya ce. "Bayan bulala biyu ba ka jin sauran." Aḥmad ya huce, ya yi sauƙi.

“I don’t care if they keep me locked up,” he went on. “My house is already a prison. I don’t care if they kill me by the sword, either. The only thing I’m afraid of is being flogged. What if I can’t take it?” One of the prisoners had overheard him. “Don’t worry, Aḥmad,” he said. “After two lashes you don’t feel the rest.” Aḥmad looked relieved.

Bayan haka an dawo da shi daga al-Raqqah aka ɗaure shi a Baghdad.

After that he was brought back from al-Raqqah and jailed in Baghdad.

[Ṣāliḥ:] Lokacin da labari ya zo cewa al-Ma'mūn ya rasu, aka mayar da Muḥammad ɗan Nūḥ da mahaifina, suna cikin sarƙoƙi, zuwa al-Raqqah. Daga nan suka ci gaba da tafiyarsu a cikin jirgin kurkuku. Sa'ad da suka isa ʿĀnāt, Muḥammad ɗan Nūḥ ya rasu, suka binne shi a can. A ƙarshe mahaifina, yana cikin sarƙoƙi, ya isa Baghdad. 68.3

[Ṣāliḥ:] When the news came that al-Maʾmūn had died, Muḥammad ibn Nūḥ and my father, still in chains, were sent back to al-Raqqah. From there they continued their journey on a prison ship. When they reached ʿĀnāt, Muḥammad ibn Nūḥ died and they buried him there. Finally my father, still in chains, reached Baghdad. 68.3

Da farko ya zauna na 'yan kwanaki a Yāsirīyah.348 Sannan suka tsare shi a wani gida da aka yi hayarsa musamman don haka, kusa da Fadar ʿUmārah.349 Bayan haka aka mayar da shi Gidan Yarin Talakawa350 da ke Titin Mawṣilī—ko kuma, a cewar wani rahoto, wani titi da ake kira al-Mawṣiliyyah.351

First he stayed for a few days in Yāsirīyah.348 Then they held him in a house rented for that purpose near the Palace of ʿUmārah.349 After that he was transferred to the Commoners’ Prison350 in Mawṣilī Street—or, according to another report, a street called al-Mawṣiliyyah.351

[Ṣāliḥ:] Mahaifina ya ce, “Ina jagorantar sallar fursunonin, alhali har yanzu sarƙoƙi suna jikina.”352 68.4

[Ṣāliḥ:] My father said, “I used to lead the prisoners in prayer with the chains still on me.”352 68.4

[Abū Bakr al-Aʿyan:] Na gaya wa Ādam al-ʿAsqalānī cewa zan yi tafiya zuwa Baghdad, sai na tambaye shi ko yana bukatar wani abu. 68.5

[Abū Bakr al-Aʿyan:] I told Ādam al-ʿAsqalānī I was traveling to Baghdad and asked him if he wanted anything. 68.5

“Eh,” ya ce. “Idan ka isa can, ka je wurin Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, ka gaishe shi a madadina, ka faɗa masa wannan. ‘Kai! Ka ji tsoron Allah, ka nemi kusantarsa, ta hanyar tsayuwa a kan gaskiya. Kada kowa ya sa ka karaya: kana tsaye—in Allah ya so—a daidai ƙofar Aljanna.’ Kuma ka faɗa masa: ‘Mun ji al-Layth ibn Saʿd yana ruwaitawa, yana ambaton Muḥammad ibn ʿAjlān, yana ambaton Abū l-Zinād, yana ambaton al-Aʿraj, yana ambaton Abū Hurayrah, cewa Annabi ﷺ ya ce: “Idan wani ya roƙe ka ka saɓa wa Allah, kada ka saurare shi.”’” Sai na je wurin Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal a kurkuku. Da na same shi, na gaishe shi, na isar masa gaisuwar al-ʿAsqalānī, na kuma maimaita masa maganganunsa, tare da Hadisin.

“Yes,” he said. “When you get there, go to Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, greet him for me, and tell him this. ‘You there! Fear God, and seek closeness to Him, by staying the course. Let no one dismay you: you stand—God willing—at the very gate of the Garden.’ And tell him: ‘We heard al-Layth ibn Saʿd report, citing Muḥammad ibn ʿAjlān, citing Abū l-Zinād, citing al-Aʿraj, citing Abū Hurayrah, that the Prophet, God bless and keep him, said: “If any ask you to disobey God, heed him not.”’” So I went to see Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal in jail. When I found him, I greeted him, conveyed al-ʿAsqalānī’s greeting, and repeated his words, along with the Hadith.

Aḥmad ya sunkuyar da kansa na ɗan lokaci, sa'an nan ya ɗaga kai ya ce, "Allah ya yi masa rahama a rayuwarsa da mutuwarsa! Shawara tasa lallai ta kasance mai kyau." [Al-Aʿyān:] Na je wurin Ādam ibn Abī Iyās [al-ʿAsqalānī], na faɗa masa cewa ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ṣāliḥ ya aiko masa da gaisuwarsa. 68.6

Aḥmad lowered his gaze for a time, then raised his head and said, “God have mercy on him in life and death alike! His is good counsel indeed.” [Al-Aʿyān:] I went to Ādam ibn Abī Iyās [al-ʿAsqalānī] and told him that ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ṣāliḥ had sent him his regards. 68.6

"Kada ka isar min da gaisuwa daga gare shi," ya ce, "ko kuma ka isar masa da gaisuwa daga gare ni!" "Me ya sa?" na tambaya.

“Convey no greetings to me from him,” he said, “or to him from me!” “Why not?” I asked.

"Saboda ya ce Alkur'ani halitacce ne." "Ya riga ya bayyana cewa bai nufa haka ba," na ce, "kuma ya sanar wa kowa cewa ya janye abin da ya fada." "To idan haka ne, ka isar da gaisuwata gare shi." Yayin da nake tafiya, na gaya wa al-ʿAsqalānī cewa zan tafi Baghdad, sannan na tambaye shi ko yana da abin da yake so.

“Because he said that the Qurʾan is created.” “He’s just explained that he didn’t mean it,” I said, “and he’s announced to everyone that he takes back what he said.” “In that case, convey my greetings.” As I was leaving, I told al-ʿAsqalānī I was going to Baghdad and asked him if he wanted anything.

"Eh," ya ce. "Je wurin Ibn Ḥanbal ka isar masa da gaisuwata. Ka faɗa masa wannan: 'Kai! Ka ji tsoron Allah, ka nemi kusanci gare Shi, ta hanyar dagewa a kan tafarki. Kada wani ya sa ka karaya: kana tsaye—in Allah Ya yarda—a daidai ƙofar Aljanna.' Ka kuma faɗa masa: 'Mun ji al-Layth ibn Sa'd yana ruwaitowa daga Muḥammad ibn 'Ajlān, daga Abū l-Zinād, daga al-A'raj, daga Abū Hurayrah, cewa Annabi ﷺ ya ce:"

“Yes,” he said. “Go to Ibn Ḥanbal and give him my regards. Tell him this: ‘You there! Fear God, and seek closeness to Him, by staying the course. Let no one dismay you: you stand—God willing—at the very gate of the Garden.’ And tell him: ‘We heard al-Layth ibn Saʿd report, citing Muḥammad ibn ʿAjlān, citing Abū l-Zinād, citing al-Aʿraj, citing Abū Hurayrah, that the Prophet, God bless and keep him, said:

"Idan wani ya roƙe ka ka saɓa wa Allah, kada ka saurare shi." Sai na je wajen Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal a kurkuku. Da na same shi, na isar masa gaisuwar al-ʿAsqalānī da shawararsa, tare da hadisin. Aḥmad ya sunkuyar da kai na ɗan lokaci, sannan ya ce: "Allah ya yi masa rahama a rayuwarsa da bayan mutuwarsa! Shawara ce mai kyau ƙwarai."

“If any ask you to disobey God, heed him not.”’” So I went to see Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal in jail. When I found him, I conveyed al- ʿAsqalānī’s greeting and his advice, along with the Hadith. Aḥmad lowered his gaze for a moment, then said, “God have mercy on him in life and death alike! His is good counsel indeed.”