Segera setelah kematian al-Ma'mūn diumumkan, Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal dan Muḥammad ibn Nūḥ dikirim kembali ke Irak dalam keadaan dirantai, sebagaimana telah kita lihat. Muḥammad ibn Nūḥ wafat di tengah perjalanan, sedangkan Aḥmad, yang masih dalam keadaan terbelenggu, menyelesaikan perjalanan itu. 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:] Pada masa pemerintahan al-Ma'mūn, Aḥmad dibawa ke perbatasan Bizantium. Ia telah sampai sejauh al-Raqqah ketika al-Ma'mūn wafat di al-Badhandūn, sehingga keduanya tidak pernah bertemu.347 Peristiwa itu terjadi pada tahun 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, seorang ahli hadis, menceritakan kepadaku bahwa dia dan beberapa orang lainnya pergi mengunjungi Aḥmad ketika ia dipenjara di al-Raqqah. Di sana mereka menghadapinya dengan riwayat-riwayat yang membolehkan seorang Muslim menyembunyikan keyakinannya ketika jiwanya berada dalam bahaya.

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.

"Lalu apa yang kamu lakukan," jawab Aḥmad, "dengan riwayat Khabbāb yang berbunyi:

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

"Sebelum masamu, sudah ada orang-orang beriman yang digergaji menjadi dua tanpa meninggalkan agama mereka"? Ketika mendengar hal itu, mereka pun putus asa.

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

“Aku tidak peduli kalau mereka mengurungku,” lanjutnya. “Rumahku sudah seperti penjara. Aku juga tidak peduli kalau mereka membunuhku dengan pedang. Satu-satunya yang aku takutkan adalah dicambuk. Bagaimana jika aku tidak sanggup menahannya?” Salah seorang tahanan mendengar ucapannya. “Jangan khawatir, Aḥmad,” katanya. “Setelah dua kali cambukan, kamu tidak lagi merasakan sisanya.” Aḥmad tampak lega.

“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.

Setelah itu dia dibawa kembali dari al-Raqqah dan dipenjara di Baghdad.

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

[Ṣāliḥ:] Ketika kabar sampai bahwa al-Ma'mūn telah wafat, Muḥammad bin Nūḥ dan ayahku, yang masih dalam belenggu, dikembalikan ke ar-Raqqah. Dari sana mereka melanjutkan perjalanan dengan kapal penjara. Ketika mereka sampai di 'Ānāt, Muḥammad bin Nūḥ wafat dan mereka menguburkannya di sana. Akhirnya ayahku, yang masih dalam belenggu, tiba di 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

Pertama-tama ia tinggal selama beberapa hari di Yāsirīyah.348 Kemudian mereka menahannya di sebuah rumah yang disewa untuk keperluan itu, di dekat Istana ʿUmārah.349 Setelah itu ia dipindahkan ke Penjara Rakyat Jelata350 di Jalan Mawṣilī—atau, menurut riwayat lain, sebuah jalan bernama 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:] Ayah saya berkata, "Dulu saya memimpin para tahanan dalam shalat dengan rantai masih terpasang di tubuh saya."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:] Saya memberitahu Ādam al-ʿAsqalānī bahwa saya akan pergi ke Baghdad dan bertanya kepadanya apakah ia menginginkan sesuatu. 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

"Ya," katanya. "Ketika kau sampai di sana, temui Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, sampaikan salamku padanya, dan katakan ini. 'Wahai engkau! Takutlah kepada Tuhan, dan carilah kedekatan dengan-Nya, dengan tetap teguh di jalan-Nya. Jangan biarkan siapa pun membuatmu putus asa: engkau berdiri, insya Allah, tepat di gerbang Surga.' Dan katakan padanya: 'Kami mendengar al-Layth ibn Saʿd meriwayatkan, dari Muḥammad ibn ʿAjlān, dari Abū l-Zinād, dari al-Aʿraj, dari Abū Hurayrah, bahwa Nabi ﷺ bersabda: "Jika ada yang memintamu untuk mendurhakai Tuhan, jangan dengarkan dia."'" Maka aku pergi menemui Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal di penjara. Ketika aku menemukannya, aku mengucapkan salam kepadanya, menyampaikan salam al-ʿAsqalānī, dan mengulangi kata-katanya, beserta hadis tersebut.

“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 menundukkan pandangannya sejenak, lalu mengangkat kepalanya dan berkata, "Semoga Allah merahmatinya, baik ketika hidup maupun setelah mati! Nasihatnya memang sungguh baik." [Al-Aʿyān:] Aku pergi menemui Ādam ibn Abī Iyās [al-ʿAsqalānī] dan menyampaikan kepadanya salam dari ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ṣāliḥ. 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

"Jangan sampaikan salam dariku kepadanya, dan jangan pula sampaikan salamnya kepadaku!" katanya. "Mengapa?" tanyaku.

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

"Karena dia mengatakan bahwa Al-Qur'an itu makhluk." "Dia baru saja menjelaskan bahwa dia tidak bermaksud demikian," kataku, "dan dia telah mengumumkan kepada semua orang bahwa dia menarik kembali apa yang dia katakan." "Kalau begitu, sampaikan salamku." Ketika aku hendak pergi, aku memberitahu al-ʿAsqalānī bahwa aku akan pergi ke Baghdad dan bertanya apakah dia menginginkan sesuatu.

“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.

"Ya," katanya. "Pergilah menemui Ibnu Hanbal dan sampaikan salamku kepadanya. Katakan ini: 'Wahai engkau! Takutlah kepada Tuhan, dan carilah kedekatan dengan-Nya, dengan tetap teguh di jalan ini. Jangan biarkan siapa pun membuatmu gentar: engkau berdiri—insya Allah—tepat di gerbang Surga.' Dan katakan: 'Kami mendengar al-Layth bin Sa'd meriwayatkan, dari Muhammad bin 'Ajlan, dari Abu l-Zinad, dari al-A'raj, dari Abu Hurairah, bahwa Nabi ﷺ bersabda:"

“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:

“Jika ada yang memintamu untuk mendurhakai Tuhan, jangan dengarkan dia.”’” Lalu aku pergi menemui Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal di penjara. Ketika aku menemukannya, aku menyampaikan salam dan nasihat al-ʿAsqalānī, beserta hadis tersebut. Aḥmad menundukkan pandangannya sejenak, lalu berkata, “Semoga Tuhan merahmatinya, baik ketika hidup maupun setelah mati! Sungguh, itu adalah nasihat yang baik.”

“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.”