[Muḥammad ibn Mihrān al-Jammāl:] Aḥmad Ibn Ḥanbal muncul kepada saya dalam mimpi dengan memakai jubah bergaris, atau yang berbentuk belah ketupat. Dia kelihatan berada di Rey, cuba pergi ke solat Jumaat. Saya bertanya kepada seorang pentafsir mimpi apakah maksudnya. Dia berkata Aḥmad akan termasyhur kerana suatu perbuatan besar. Tidak lama selepas itu, kami mendengar tentang apa yang dia lakukan semasa Inkuisisi. 92.1

[Muḥammad ibn Mihrān al-Jammāl:] Aḥmad Ibn Ḥanbal appeared to me in a dream wearing a striped mantle, or one with lozenges. He seemed to be in Rey, trying to get to Friday prayer. I asked a dream interpreter what it meant. He said Aḥmad would become renowned for some great deed. It wasn’t long after that we heard about what he had done during the Inquisition. 92.1

ʿAbd al-Raḥmān menambah: Saya mendengar ayah saya berkata, "Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal muncul kepada saya dalam mimpi. Dia kelihatan lebih besar daripada biasa dan mempunyai rupa yang sangat indah. Saya mula bertanya kepadanya tentang Hadis dan membandingkan riwayat-riwayat." 92.2

ʿAbd al-Raḥmān added: I heard my father say, “Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal appeared to me in a dream. He looked larger than life and had very beautiful features. I began asking him about Hadith and comparing reports.” 92.2

[Ibn Khurrazādh:] Seorang jiran kami pernah bermimpi bahawa seorang malaikat turun dari langit membawa tujuh mahkota. Orang pertama di bumi yang menerima satu daripadanya ialah Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. 92.3

[Ibn Khurrazādh:] A neighbor of ours had a dream where an angel came down from the heavens carrying seven crowns. The first person on earth to receive one was Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. 92.3

[Zakariyyā ibn Yaḥyā l-Simsār:] Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal—semoga Tuhan merahmatinya—muncul kepadaku dalam mimpi dengan mahkota bertatahkan permata di kepalanya dan selipar di kakinya, berjalan dengan angkuh. Aku bertanya kepadanya bagaimana Tuhan telah menghakiminya.4

[Zakariyyā ibn Yaḥyā l-Simsār:] Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal—God have mercy on him— appeared to me in a dream with a jeweled crown on his head and sandals on his feet, strutting around. I asked him how God had judged him. 92.4

"Dia telah mengampuni aku," katanya, "mendekatkan aku kepada-Nya, dan meletakkan mahkota ini di atas kepalaku dengan tangan-Nya sendiri, sambil berfirman bahawa Dia sedang memberi ganjaran kepadaku kerana mengatakan bahawa al-Qur'an adalah kalam-Nya yang tidak diciptakan." Aku berkata bahawa aku tidak pernah melihat dia berlagak sombong di muka bumi.

“He forgave me,” he said, “brought me near Him, and placed this crown on my head with His own hands, saying that He was rewarding me for saying that the Qurʾan was His uncreated speech.” I remarked that I had never seen him strut on earth.

"Begitulah cara hamba-hamba berjalan di Syurga," sabdanya.

“This is how servants walk in Paradise,” he said.

[Al-Marrūdhi:] Saya bermimpi melihat Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal di sebuah taman. Dia memakai pakaian hijau dengan mahkota cahaya di kepalanya dan berjalan dengan cara yang belum pernah saya lihat sebelumnya. 92.7

[Al-Marrūdhi:] I dreamed I saw Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal in a garden. He was dressed in green with a crown of light on his head and walking in a way I had never seen him walking before. 92.7

"Aḥmad," kata saya, "apakah langkah baharu awak ini?" Dia berkata, "Begini cara hamba-hamba berjalan di Syurga."

“Aḥmad,” I said, “what’s this new stride of yours?” “This is how servants walk in Paradise,” he said.

"Mahkota apa yang aku lihat di atas kepala kamu?" "Tuhanku, yang Maha Perkasa lagi Maha Mulia, telah mendudukkan aku di hadapan-Nya, menghisab aku dengan ringan, memakaikan aku pakaian ini, memuliakan aku, mendekatkan aku kepada-Nya, membiarkan aku memandang-Nya, dan memakaikan aku mahkota ini seraya berfirman, 'Wahai Aḥmad, inilah mahkota kemuliaan yang engkau peroleh kerana engkau mengatakan bahawa al-Qurʾan ialah kalam-Ku yang tidak dicipta.'" [Ibn Khuzaymah:] Ketika Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal wafat, aku berduka cita. Pada malam itu dia menemuiku dalam mimpi. Dia berjalan dengan angkuh. Aku bertanya kepadanya mengapa dia berjalan begitu, lalu dia menjawab, "Begitulah cara hamba-hamba berjalan di Syurga." 92.9

“What’s the crown I see on your head?” “My Lord, mighty and glorious, stood me before Him, judged me lightly, dressed me in these clothes, honored me, drew me near, let me gaze upon Him, and crowned me with this crown, saying, ‘Aḥmad, this is the crown of glory that you earned by saying that the Qurʾan is My uncreated speech.’” [Ibn Khuzaymah:] When Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal died I was grief-stricken. That night he appeared to me in a dream. He was swaggering as he walked. I asked him why he was walking that way and he said, “This is how servants walk in Paradise.” 92.9

"Dan bagaimana keadaan kamu?" "Tuhan mengampuni saya, memahkotai saya, dan memberi saya kasut emas, sambil berfirman, 'Aḥmad, inilah ganjaran kamu kerana mengatakan bahawa al-Qur'an ialah firman-Ku.'" "Kemudian Dia berfirman, 'Aḥmad, serulah Aku dengan doa-doa yang kamu pelajari daripada Sufyān al-Thawrī dan488 biasa kamu baca di dunia.'" "Maka saya berkata, 'Tuhan segala sesuatu! Demi kuasa-Mu ke atas segala sesuatu, janganlah Engkau menghisab saya atas apa pun, dan ampunilah saya atas segala sesuatu.'" "'Aḥmad, inilah Syurga. Bangunlah, dan masuklah.'" "Saya masuk ke dalam Syurga, dan di sana ada Sufyān al-Thawrī. Dia bersayap dan terbang dari satu pokok kurma ke pokok kurma yang lain, sambil berkata, «Segala puji bagi Tuhan yang telah menunaikan janji-Nya kepada kami dan menjadikan kami pewaris bumi ini, membenarkan kami menetap di Syurga di mana sahaja kami mahu. Alangkah baiknya ganjaran bagi orang-orang yang beramal!»"489

“And how did you fare?” “God forgave me, crowned me, and gave me sandals of gold, saying, ‘Aḥmad, this is your reward for saying that the Qurʾan is My speech.’ “Then He said, ‘Aḥmad, call upon Me with those prayers you learned from Sufyān al-Thawrī and488 used to recite on earth.’ “So I said, ‘Lord of all things! By your power over all things, hold me accountable for nothing, and forgive me for everything.’ “‘Aḥmad, this is the Garden. Rise, and enter.’ “I went into the Garden, and there was Sufyān al-Thawrī. He had wings and he was flying from one palm tree to another, saying, «Praise be to God who has fulfilled His promise to us and made us the inheritors of this land, letting us settle in the Garden wherever we want. How excellent is the reward of those who labor!»”489

Saya bertanya kepadanya bagaimana keadaan ʿAbd al-Wahhāb al-Warrāq.

I490 asked him how ʿAbd al-Wahhāb al-Warrāq had fared.

"Saya tinggalkan dia berenang dalam lautan cahaya, dalam air suci yang terbuat daripada cahaya, sambil menziarahi Tuhannya." "Bagaimana dengan Bishr?" "Bahagianya Bishr!" kata Sufyān. "Siapakah yang dapat menandinginya? Saya tinggalkan dia di hadapan Yang Maha Mulia, duduk di meja yang penuh dengan hidangan, dengan Yang Maha Mulia berbicara kepadanya secara langsung, berfirman, 'Makanlah, wahai engkau yang tidak pernah makan; minumlah, wahai engkau yang tidak pernah minum; bersukarialah, wahai engkau yang tidak pernah bersuka,' atau kata-kata yang seumpamanya." [Ibn Khuzaymah:] Apabila Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal meninggal dunia, saya diliputi kesedihan. Malam itu dia muncul kepada saya dalam mimpi. Dia berjalan dengan lagak yang angkuh. Saya bertanya kepadanya mengapa dia berjalan begitu, lalu dia menjawab, "Begitulah hamba-hamba berjalan di Syurga." 92.10

“I left him swimming in a sea of light, in pure water made of light, visiting his Lord.” “What about Bishr?” “Fortunate Bishr!” said Sufyān. “Who could match him? I left him in the presence of the Glorious One, sitting at a laden table, with the Glorious One addressing him directly, saying ‘Eat, you who never ate; drink, you who never drank; revel, you who never did,’ or words to that effect.” [Ibn Khuzaymah:] When Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal died I was grief-stricken. That night he appeared to me in a dream. He was swaggering as he walked. I asked him why he was walking that way and he said, “This is how servants walk in Paradise.” 92.10

“Dan bagaimana keadaanmu?” “Allah” — no: “Tuhan” mengampuniku, memahkotaiku, dan memberiku sandal emas, sambil berfirman, “Aḥmad, inilah ganjaranmu kerana mengatakan bahawa al-Qur’an adalah firman-Ku.” Kemudian Dia bertanya, “Aḥmad, mengapa engkau menulis riwayat melalui Jarīr ibn ʿUthmān?” Aku menjawab bahawa dia boleh dipercayai. “Benar,” firman Tuhan, “tetapi dia membenci ʿAlī, semoga Tuhan melaknatnya!”491

“And how did you fare?” “God forgave me, crowned me, and gave me sandals of gold, saying, ‘Aḥmad, this is your reward for saying that the Qurʾan is My speech.’ Then He asked, ‘Aḥmad, why did you write down reports via Jarīr ibn ʿUthmān?’ I said he was trustworthy. ‘True,’ said God, ‘but he hated ʿAlī, God curse him!’491

“Kemudian Dia berfirman, ‘Aḥmad, berdoalah kepada-Ku dengan doa-doa yang engkau pelajari dari Sufyān al-Thawrī dan biasa engkau baca ketika di dunia.’ “Maka aku berkata, ‘Wahai Tuhan segala sesuatu!’ “‘Teruskan.’ “‘Demi kuasa-Mu atas segala sesuatu.’ “‘Teruskan.’ “‘Jangan Engkau perhitungkan apa pun atasku, dan ampunilah aku atas segala sesuatu.’ “‘Aḥmad, inilah Syurga. Bangkitlah, dan masuklah.’ “Aku pun masuk ke dalam Syurga, dan di sana ada Sufyān al-Thawrī. Dia mempunyai sayap dan sedang terbang dari satu pokok kurma ke pokok kurma yang lain, sambil berkata, «Segala puji bagi Allah yang telah menepati janji-Nya kepada kami dan menjadikan kami pewaris bumi ini, membiarkan kami menetap di Syurga di mana sahaja yang kami mahu. Alangkah baiknya ganjaran bagi orang-orang yang beramal!»”492

“Then He said, ‘Aḥmad, pray to me using those prayers you learned from Sufyān al-Thawrī and used to recite on earth.’ “So I said, ‘Lord of all things!’ “‘Go on.’ “‘By Your power over all things.’ “‘Go on.’ “‘Hold me accountable for nothing, and forgive me for everything.’ “‘Aḥmad, this is the Garden. Rise, and enter.’ “I went into the Garden, and there was Sufyān al-Thawrī. He had wings and he was flying from one palm tree to another, saying, «Praise be to God who has fulfilled His promise to us and made us the inheritors of this land, letting us settle in the Garden wherever we want. How excellent is the reward of those who labor!»”492

Saya bertanya kepadanya bagaimana keadaan ʿAbd al-Wahhāb al-Warrāq.

I asked him how ʿAbd al-Wahhāb al-Warrāq had fared.

"Aku meninggalkannya berenang di lautan cahaya, di dalam air yang suci dan terbuat daripada cahaya, mengunjungi Raja dan Tuhannya yang Maha Penyayang." "Bagaimana dengan Bishr?" tanyaku, maksudku Bishr al-Hafi.

“I left him swimming in a sea of light, in pure water made of light, visiting his merciful King and Lord.” “What about Bishr?” I asked, meaning Bishr the Barefoot.

"Beruntungnya Bishr!" jawabnya. "Siapa yang dapat menandinginya? Aku meninggalkannya di hadapan Yang Maha Mulia, duduk di sebuah meja yang penuh dengan hidangan, dengan Yang Maha Mulia berbicara langsung kepadanya, berfirman, 'Makanlah, wahai engkau yang tidak pernah makan; minumlah, wahai engkau yang tidak pernah minum; bersukarialah, wahai engkau yang tidak pernah bersukaria.'" Kemudian aku terjaga dan bersedekah sebanyak sepuluh ribu dirham—atau jumlah yang kurang lebih seperti itu.

“Fortunate Bishr!’ he replied. “Who could match him? I left him in the presence of the Glorious One, sitting at a laden table, with the Glorious One addressing him directly, saying ‘Eat, you who never ate; drink, you who never drank; revel, you who never did.’” Then I woke up and gave away ten thousand dirhams—or some such amount—in charity.

[Al-Anṣārī:] Seorang lelaki dari Bākharz, yang terletak di wilayah Nishapur, pernah memberitahu saya, "Saya bermimpi bahawa hari itu adalah Hari Kebangkitan. Saya melihat seorang lelaki menunggang kuda yang gagah, dan saya mendengar seorang penyeru memanggil: 'Janganlah sesiapa mendahuluinya pada hari ini!' 92.13

[Al-Anṣārī:] A man from Bākharz, which is in the region of Nishapur, told me, “I dreamed that it was Resurrection Day. I saw a man on a splendid horse and heard a crier calling out: ‘Let no one precede him this day!’ 92.13

"Saya bertanya siapa penunggang itu, lalu mereka memberitahu saya bahawa ia ialah Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal." [ʿAbd Allāh:] Saya bermimpi melihat ayah saya. Saya bertanya kepadanya bagaimana Allah telah menghakiminya. 92.14

“I asked who the rider was and they told me it was Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal.” [ʿAbd Allāh:] I dreamed I saw my father. I asked him how God had judged him. 92.14

“Dia menempatkanku di hadapan-Nya dan berfirman, ‘Aḥmad, kerana-Ku engkau diuji dan dicambuk. Ini: lihatlah wajah-Ku, yang Aku izinkan engkau melihatnya.’” [ʿAlī ibn al-Muwaffaq:] Aku bermimpi aku memasuki Syurga dan di sana aku melihat tiga orang lelaki.

“He stood me before Him and said, ‘Aḥmad, for My sake were you tried and flogged. Here: behold My countenance, which I grant you leave to see.’” [ʿAlī ibn al-Muwaffaq:] I dreamed I entered the Garden and there saw three men.

Yang pertama sedang duduk di sebuah meja, di mana Tuhan telah menugaskan seorang malaikat untuk menghidangkan makanan kepadanya dan seorang malaikat lain untuk menuangkan minuman kepadanya. Yang kedua sedang berdiri di pintu Syurga bersama beberapa orang lain, memandang wajah mereka satu per satu dan membenarkan mereka masuk ke dalamnya. Dan yang ketiga sedang berdiri di tengah-tengah Syurga, menatap Arasy dan memandang Tuhan. 92.17

The first was sitting at a table where God had assigned one angel to serve him food and another to pour him drink. The second was standing at the gate of the Garden with some other people, looking into their faces and letting them inside. And the third was standing in the middle of the Garden gazing at the Throne and looking at the Lord. 92.17

Saya pergi ke Riḍwān dan bertanya, "Siapakah ketiga-tiga orang itu?" "Yang pertama," katanya, "ialah Bishr si Kaki Ayam, yang datang ke sini dalam keadaan dahaga dan kelaparan. Yang berdiri di tengah-tengah Taman itu ialah Maʿrūf al-Karkhī, yang menyembah Tuhan kerana ingin melihat-Nya, dan kini dia dapat melihat-Nya. Dan yang berdiri di pintu gerbang ialah Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. Tuhan telah memerintahkannya untuk memandang wajah-wajah golongan Sunni, memegang tangan mereka, dan membawa mereka masuk ke dalam." [Al-Ramlī:] Saya mengembara ke Iraq dan menyalin apa yang ditulis oleh orang Iraq dan orang Hijaz, tetapi mendapati pandangan mereka begitu berbeza sehingga saya tidak dapat memilih mazhab mana yang hendak diikuti. Pada suatu malam, saya bangun, berwuduk, solat dua rakaat, dan memohon kepada Tuhan supaya membimbing saya sebagaimana yang Dia kehendaki. Kemudian saya pergi tidur dan bermimpikan Nabi ﷺ. Saya melihat baginda berjalan melalui Pintu Banū Shaybah dan duduk dengan belakangnya bersandar pada Kaʿbah. Baginda tersenyum kepada al-Shāfiʿī dan Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, yang berada di sebelah kanannya. Di sebelah yang satu lagi ialah al-Marīsī. 92.18

I went to Riḍwān and asked, “Who are those three?” “The first one,” he said, “is Bishr the Barefoot, who came here parched and starving. The one standing in the middle of the Garden is Maʿrūf al-Karkhī, who worshipped God because he desired to see Him, and now he can. And the one standing at the gate is Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. God has commanded him to look into the faces of the Sunnis, take them by the hand, and bring them inside.” [Al-Ramlī:] I traveled to Iraq and copied what the Iraqis and the Hijazis had written, but found their views so different that I couldn’t choose which school to follow. Late one night, I got up, performed my ablutions, prayed two cycles, and asked God to guide me as He wished. Then I went to bed and dreamed of the Prophet. I saw him march through the Gate of the Banū Shaybah and sit down with his back resting on the Kaʿbah. He was smiling at al-Shāfiʿī and Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, who were on his right. Off to the other side was al-Marīsī. 92.18

Saya berkata, "Utusan Tuhan! Mereka begitu berbeza pendapat sehingga saya tidak tahu siapa yang harus saya ikuti." Sambil menunjuk kepada al-Shāfiʿī dan Aḥmad, baginda membacakan «Mereka itulah orang-orang yang Kami berikan kepada mereka Kitab, hikmah, dan kenabian.»493 Kemudian, sambil memberi isyarat kepada al-Marīsī, baginda membacakan «Jika orang-orang ini menolaknya, Kami akan mempercayakannya kepada suatu kaum yang tidak akan pernah mengingkarinya. Mereka itulah kaum yang telah diberi petunjuk oleh Tuhan, maka ikutilah petunjuk mereka.»494

I said, “Emissary of God! They’re so divergent I don’t know which to follow.” Pointing to al-Shāfiʿī and Aḥmad, he recited «Those are the ones to whom We gave the Scripture, wisdom, and prophethood.»493 Then, gesturing at al-Marīsī, he recited «If these people reject it, We shall entrust it to a people who will never refuse to acknowledge it. Those were the people whom God guided, so follow their guidance.»494

[Yaḥyā l-Jallāʾ atau ʿAlī ibn al-Muwaffaq:] Pada satu ketika semasa Inkuisisi, saya berdebat dengan sekumpulan Stoppers, dan mereka mengalahkan saya dengan teruk. Saya pulang ke rumah dengan hati yang remuk. Isteri saya menghidangkan makan malam, tetapi saya memberitahunya bahawa saya tidak mahu makan, lalu dia mengangkatnya. Kemudian saya pergi tidur dan bermimpi melihat Nabi ﷺ memasuki masjid. Di sana terdapat dua bulatan: dalam satu, Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal dan sahabat-sahabatnya telah berkumpul, dan dalam satu lagi Ibn Abī Duʾād dan konco-konconya. Berdiri di antara kedua-duanya, Nabi ﷺ memberi isyarat ke arah Ibn Abī Duʿād dan kumpulannya lalu membaca «Jika mereka ini menolaknya …» dan kemudian, sambil menunjuk ke arah bulatan Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, baginda membaca «… Kami akan menyerahkannya kepada suatu kaum yang tidak akan sekali-kali mengingkarinya.»495 92.19

[Yaḥyā l-Jallāʾ or ʿAlī ibn al-Muwaffaq:] At one point during the Inquisition, I debated a group of Stoppers, who trounced me. I went home heartsick. My wife put out some dinner, but I told her I wasn’t eating, and she took it away. Then I went to bed and dreamed I saw the Prophet coming into the mosque. There were two circles there: in one, Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal and his associates had gathered, and in the other Ibn Abī Duʾād and his cronies. Standing between the two, the Prophet gestured toward Ibn Abī Duʿād and his circle and recited «If these people reject it …» and then, pointing to the circle of Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, recited «… We shall entrust it to a people who will never refuse to acknowledge it.»495 92.19

[Isḥāq ibn Ḥakīm:] Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal muncul kepada saya dalam mimpi. Tertulis di belakangnya, dengan cahaya dan bukan dengan tinta, kata-kata «{Maka Allah akan memelihara kamu daripada kejahatan mereka, kerana Dialah Yang Maha Mendengar, Maha Mengetahui.}»496 92.21

[Isḥāq ibn Ḥakīm:] Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal appeared to me in a dream. Written on his back, in light instead of ink, were the words «God will surely suffice to defend you against them, for He is All Hearing, All Knowing.»496 92.21

[Al-Anṭākī:] Kami pernah dikunjungi seorang lelaki dari Iraq yang terkenal sebagai salah seorang yang paling berilmu di wilayah itu. Pada suatu hari dia meminta saya menunjukkan kepadanya seorang penafsir mimpi yang baik yang boleh menerangkan sebuah mimpi yang pernah dialaminya. 92.22

[Al-Anṭākī:] We had a visit from an Iraqi who was reputed to be one of the most learned in that region. One day he asked me to direct him to a good interpreter who could explain a dream he had had. 92.22

“Saya melihat Nabi,” katanya menjelaskan, “sedang berdiri di sebuah dataran bersama beberapa orang lain. Saya bertanya kepada salah seorang daripada mereka siapakah dia, lalu dia berkata, ‘Itu Muḥammad ﷺ.’ “‘Apa yang dia lakukan di sini?’ “‘Menunggu umatnya tiba.’ “Dalam mimpi itu saya berfikir sendiri, ‘Saya akan tinggal di sini dan melihat apa yang akan berlaku.’ “Selepas orang ramai berkumpul mengelilinginya, saya perasan bahawa salah seorang daripada mereka membawa sebatang tombak, seolah-olah berhasrat untuk memberangkatkan satu ekspedisi. Nabi ﷺ memandang ke arah itu dan ternampak sebatang tombak yang lebih tinggi daripada yang lain, lalu baginda bertanya siapakah pemiliknya.”497

“I saw the Prophet,” he explained, “standing on a plain with some other people. I asked one of them who he was and he said, ‘That’s Muḥammad.’ “‘What’s he doing here?’ “‘Waiting for his community to arrive.’ “In the dream I thought to myself, ‘I’ll stay here and see what happens.’ “After the people had gathered around, I noticed that one of them was carrying a spear, as if intending to dispatch an expedition. The Prophet looked out and saw a spear taller than any of the others and asked whose it was.497

“‘Ia milik Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal.’ “‘Bawa dia kepadaku!’ “Aḥmad maju ke depan dengan tombak di tangannya. Nabi ﷺ mengambil tombak itu, mengayunkannya, lalu mengembalikannya seraya bersabda, ‘Maju dan pimpinlah kaum ini!’ Kemudian beliau ﷺ menyeru kepada orang ramai, ‘Inilah pemimpin kamu. Ikutilah dia, dengarlah kata-katanya, dan taatilah dia!’” “Mimpi kamu,” kataku kepada lelaki itu, “tidak memerlukan tafsiran.” [Al-Sijistānī:] Aku bermimpi hari itu adalah Hari Kebangkitan. Orang ramai berbaris di sebuah jambatan yang tiada seorang pun dapat melintasinya kecuali dia memiliki cop. Di satu sisi, ada seorang lelaki yang membuat cop dengan cincin meterainya dan membahagikannya. Sesiapa yang memperoleh cop itu dapat melintasi jambatan tersebut. Aku bertanya siapa yang membuat cop-cop itu, lalu mereka memberitahuku bahawa ia adalah Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. 92.23

“‘It belongs to Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal.’ “‘Bring him to me!’ “Aḥmad came forward, spear in hand. The Prophet took the spear, brandished it, and gave it back, saying, ‘Go forth and lead these people!’ Then he called out to the people, ‘This is your leader. Follow him, heed him, and obey him!’” “Your dream,” I said to the man, “needs no explanation.” [Al-Sijistānī:] I dreamed it was Resurrection Day. The people were lined up at a bridge that no one could cross unless he had a stamp. Off to one side was a man making stamps with his seal-ring and handing them out. Whoever got one could cross the bridge. I asked who was making the stamps and they told me it was Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. 92.23

[Ibn Yūnus:] Selepas Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal meninggal dunia, saya bermimpi bahawa saya berada di Syurga. Satu suara berkata, "Engkau berada di Syurga 'Adn." Kemudian saya melihat tiga penunggang kuda di hadapan saya, dengan seorang penunggang keempat menunggang di hadapan mereka sambil membawa sepanduk. Saya bertanya siapakah mereka. 92.24

[Ibn Yūnus:] After Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal died, I dreamed I was in the Garden. A voice said, “You’re in the Garden of Eden.” Then I saw three horsemen in front of me, with a fourth horsemen riding ahead with a banner. I asked who they were. 92.24

"Yang di sebelah kanan ialah Gabriel dan yang di sebelah kiri ialah Michael. Yang di tengah ialah Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. Yang memegang panji ialah Isrāfīl. Tuhan telah memberinya panji itu dan memerintahkannya untuk hanya membenarkan orang-orang yang mencintai Ibn Ḥanbal masuk ke Syurga Firdaus."498

“The one on the right is Gabriel and the one on the left is Michael. The one in the middle is Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. The one with the banner is Isrāfīl. God has given him that banner and ordered him to admit to Eden only those who love Ibn Ḥanbal.”498

[Al-Maqdisī:] Dalam mimpi saya melihat Nabi ﷺ sedang tidur di bawah sehelai kain, dengan Aḥmad dan Yaḥyā499 mengusir lalat dari baginda. 92.25

[Al-Maqdisī:] In a dream I saw the Prophet lying asleep under a garment with Aḥmad and Yaḥyā499 whisking the flies away from him. 92.25

[Sahl ibn Abī Ḥalīmah:] Kami sedang berkemah di pintu gerbang Ismāʿīl ibn ʿUlayyah ketika Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal muncul kepadaku dalam mimpi, sambil menyeret jubahnya. Aku menafsirkan jubah itu sebagai ilmu. 92.26

[Sahl ibn Abī Ḥalīmah:] We were camped out at Ismāʿīl ibn ʿUlayyah’s gate when Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal appeared to me in a dream, dragging his robe. I took the robe to mean knowledge. 92.26

[Al-Shaybānī:] Di Ascalon saya bermimpi bahawa saya berada di Tarsus. Saya masuk ke dalam masjid Jumaat. Saya melihat ke sebelah kanan mihrab dan ternampak Nabi ﷺ duduk di sana, dengan Abū Bakr di sebelah kanannya, ʿUmar di sebelah kirinya, dan Bilāl di hadapannya, semuanya memakai pakaian hijau, dengan kain-kain yang cantik menutupi kepala mereka. 92.27

[Al-Shaybānī:] In Ascalon I dreamed I was in Tarsus. I went into the Friday mosque. I looked to the right of the niche and saw the Prophet sitting there with Abū Bakr on his right, ʿUmar on his left, and Bilāl in front, all in green, with beautiful cloths covering their heads. 92.27

"Salam sejahtera ke atas kamu, wahai Utusan Tuhan!" kataku.

“Peace be upon you, Emissary of God!” I said.

"Dan atas kamu sejahtera, wahai anakku." "Utusan Allah, dalam Hadis Abū l-Zubayr yang diriwayatkan daripada ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAmr, engkau bersabda ‘Umatku akan dilempari dan dicacatkan.’"500

“And upon you be peace, my son.” “Emissary of God, in the Hadith of Abū l-Zubayr citing ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAmr, you said ‘My community will be pelted and disfigured.’”500

"Ya. Itu merujuk kepada para penganjur kebebasan kehendak." "Utusan Tuhan, kepada siapa kami boleh menyerahkan agama ini?" "Kepada lelaki ini," jawabnya.

“Yes. That refers to the proponents of free will.” “Emissary of God, to whom can we entrust this religion?” “To this man here,” he replied.

Saya melihat ke sebelah kanan Abū Bakr dan ternampak seorang lelaki terbaring telentang, diselimuti kain putih. Saya menyingkapkannya dari wajahnya dan ternampak seorang lelaki yang tegap, berjanggut lebat dan berpipi kemerah-merahan. Oleh kerana tidak mengenalinya, saya bertanya, "Utusan God, siapakah dia?" "Adakah engkau tidak mengenalinya?" "Tidak." "Itulah Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal." [Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq:] Saya bermimpi bahawa Hari Kebangkitan telah tiba. Saya melihat Tuhan Yang Maha Mulia dan saya dapat mendengar Dia berbicara serta melihat cahaya-Nya. Dia bertanya kepada saya, "Apakah yang kamu percayai tentang al-Qur'an?" 92.28

I looked to the right of Abū Bakr and saw a man lying on his back covered in a white garment. I lifted it away from his face and saw a well-built man with a wide beard and rosy cheeks. Not recognizing him, I asked, “Emissary of God, who is he?” “Don’t you recognize him?” “No.” “That’s Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal.” [Muḥammad ibn Isḥāq:] I dreamed that Resurrection Day had come. I saw the Lord of Glory and I could hear Him speak and see His light. He asked me, “What do you believe about the Qurʾan?” 92.28

"Ini adalah firman-Mu, wahai Tuhan semesta alam." "Siapa yang memberitahumu demikian?" "Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal." Tuhan memuji diri-Nya sendiri dan memanggil Aḥmad.

“It is Your speech, o Lord of the Universe.” “Who told you so?” “Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal.” God praised Himself and summoned Aḥmad.

"Apa yang kamu percayai tentang al-Qur'an?" "Ia adalah firman-Mu, wahai Tuhan semesta alam." "Bagaimana kamu tahu?" Aḥmad membalikkan dua helai kertas. Pada satu tertulis "Shuʿbah memetik al-Mughīrah," dan pada yang satu lagi tertulis "ʿAṭāʾ memetik Ibn ʿAbbās." Kemudian Tuhan memanggil Shuʿbah dan bertanya, "Apa yang kamu percayai tentang al-Qur'an?" "Ia adalah firman-Mu, wahai Tuhan semesta alam." "Bagaimana kamu tahu?" "Kami memetik ʿAṭāʾ yang memetik Ibn ʿAbbās." ʿAṭāʾ tidak dipanggil, tetapi Ibn ʿAbbās dipanggil.

“What do you believe about the Qurʾan?” “It is Your speech, o Lord of the Universe.” “How do you know?” Aḥmad turned over two sheets of paper. On one it said “Shuʿbah citing al- Mughīrah,” and on the other “ʿAṭāʾ citing Ibn ʿAbbās.” God then summoned Shuʿbah and asked, “What do you believe about the Qurʾan?” “It is Your speech, o Lord of the Universe.” “How do you know?” “We cite ʿAṭāʾ citing Ibn ʿAbbās.” ʿAṭāʾ was not summoned but Ibn ʿAbbās was.

"Apa yang anda percayai tentang al-Qur'an?" "Ia adalah firman-Mu, wahai Tuhan semesta alam." "Bagaimana anda mengetahuinya?" "Kami memetik daripada Muhammad ﷺ, Utusan Tuhan." Maka Nabi ﷺ pun dipanggil.

“What do you believe about the Qurʾan?” “It is Your speech, o Lord of the Universe.” “How do you know?” “We cite Muḥammad, the Emissary of God.” So the Prophet was summoned.

“Apakah yang kamu percayai tentang al-Qur’an?” “Ia adalah firman-Mu, wahai Tuhan semesta alam.” “Siapakah yang memberitahumu?” “Jibril, atas perintah-Mu.” “Engkau benar,” firman Allah, “dan begitu juga mereka semua.” [Abū ʿAbd Allāh al-Zubayrī:] Seorang lelaki dari Basra bernama Abū Muḥammad al-Qurashī, seorang yang berilmu, bernama baik, dan berakhlak lurus, datang kepadaku dan berkata, “Aku bermimpi sesuatu yang engkau pasti akan suka mendengarnya; biarlah aku ceritakan. Aku melihat Nabi ﷺ.

“What do you believe about the Qurʾan?” “It is Your speech, o Lord of the Universe.” “Who told you?” “Gabriel, on Your authority.” “You have spoken the truth,” said God, “and so have all of them.” [Abū ʿAbd Allāh al-Zubayrī:] A man from Basra named Abū Muḥammad al- Qurashī, who was a man of learning, untarnished reputation, and rectitude, came to me and said, “I had a dream you’ll enjoy hearing about; let me tell you. I saw the Prophet.

Bersama beliau ada Abū Bakr, ʿUmar, ʿUthmān, dan ʿAlī. Kemudian empat orang lagi datang menghampiri beliau, lalu beliau menjemput mereka untuk datang lebih dekat. Saya merasa hairan, lalu saya bertanya kepada seseorang yang berada di situ siapakah mereka. 92.29

With him were Abū Bakr, ʿUmar, ʿUthmān, and ʿAlī. Then four more people came up to him and he invited them to come closer. I was surprised, and so I asked someone who was there who they were. 92.29

“‘Mālik, Aḥmad, Isḥāq,501 dan al-Shāfiʿī.’ “Kemudian saya melihat Nabi ﷺ memegang tangan Mālik dan mendudukkannya di sebelah Abū Bakr, memegang tangan Aḥmad dan mendudukkannya di sebelah ʿUmar, memegang tangan Isḥāq dan mendudukkannya di sebelah ʿUthmān, dan memegang tangan al-Shāfiʿī dan mendudukkannya di sebelah ʿAlī.” Saya bertanya kepada seorang penafsir mimpi tentang hal ini, lalu beliau berkata: “Mālik mempunyai kedudukan yang sama di kalangan ulama sebagaimana Abū Bakr di kalangan para Sahabat: tiada seorang pun yang mempertikaikan kedudukannya.

“‘Mālik, Aḥmad, Isḥāq,501 and al-Shāfiʿī.’ “Then I saw the Prophet take Mālik’s hand and seat him next to Abū Bakr, take Aḥmad’s hand and seat him next to ʿUmar, take Isḥāq’s hand and seat him next to ʿUthmān, and take al-Shāfiʿī’s hand and seat him next to ʿAlī.” I asked a dream interpreter about this and he told me: “Mālik has the same standing among men of learning that Abū Bakr does among the Companions: no one disputes his rank.

"Aḥmad mempunyai kedudukan yang sama dengan ʿUmar: beliau terkenal kerana sifatnya yang tegas dan tidak berganjak, serta tidak menerima sebarang bantahan ketika menunaikan kerja Tuhan. Ini kerana Aḥmad tidak pernah goyah daripada kebenaran tentang al-Qurʾan dan tidak pernah tunduk kepada Inkuisisi walaupun kekejaman yang terpaksa beliau tanggung."

“Aḥmad has the same standing as ʿUmar: he’s famous for being tough and unflinching and brooking no opposition when doing God’s work. That’s because Aḥmad never wavered from the truth about the Qurʾan and never succumbed to the Inquisition despite the brutality he had to endure.

Isḥāq itu seperti ʿUthmān: para Penangguh menimbulkan begitu banyak penderitaan baginya sehingga dia terpaksa meninggalkan kampung halamannya.

“Isḥāq is like ʿUthmān: the Postponers caused him so much suffering that he had to leave his home town.

“Dan al-Shāfiʿī adalah seperti ʿAlī. Dari kalangan mereka semua, ʿAlī adalah hakim yang terbaik; dan al-Shāfiʿī adalah yang paling berilmu dalam penggalian hukum dan dalam memutuskan persoalan-persoalan fiqh.” [Ṣadaqah:] Dahulu aku sentiasa menyimpan rasa tidak senang terhadap Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. Kemudian aku bermimpi melihat Nabi ﷺ berjalan di sebuah jalan sambil memegang tangannya dengan penuh keakraban. Aku cuba mengejar mereka berdua tetapi tidak berjaya. Apabila aku terjaga, rasa tidak senang itu telah hilang. Kemudian aku bermimpi berada di tengah-tengah orang ramai pada musim haji. Solat diumumkan dan semua orang berbaris. “Biarlah Aḥmad mengimami solat!” kata satu suara. Lalu Aḥmad muncul dan mengimami solat. Selepas itu, setiap kali aku ditanya tentang apa-apa perkara, aku akan berkata, “Tanyalah kepada teladanku, Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal.” 92.30

“And al-Shāfiʿī is like ʿAlī. Of them all, ʿAlī was the best judge; and al-Shāfiʿī was the most learned in the derivation of law and the judging of legal matters.” [Ṣadaqah:] I had always resented Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. Then I had a dream where I saw the Prophet walking down a road holding his hand in perfect amity. I tried to catch up to them but couldn’t. When I woke up the resentment was gone. Then I dreamed I was among crowds of people at pilgrimage time. Prayer was announced and everyone lined up. “Let Aḥmad lead the prayer!” said a voice. Then Aḥmad appeared and led the prayer. After that, whenever I was asked about anything, I would say, “Ask my exemplar Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal.” 92.30

[Muḥammad ibn ʿUbayd:] Ṣadaqah berkata, "Saya bermimpi kami berada di ʿArafah.

[Muḥammad ibn ʿUbayd:] Ṣadaqah said, “I dreamed we were at ʿArafah.

Semua orang sedang menunggu solat wajib dimulai. Saya bertanya apa yang mereka tunggu, lalu seseorang berkata, "Mereka sedang menunggu imam solat." Kemudian Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal tiba dan mengimami solat itu." 92.31

Everyone was waiting for the ritual prayer to start. I asked what they were waiting for and someone said, ‘They’re waiting for the prayer leader.’ Then Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal arrived and led the prayer.” 92.31

Ṣadaqah ini cenderung kepada pendapat golongan Kufah,502 tetapi selepas mimpi itu, setiap kali ditanya sesuatu soalan, dia akan berkata, "Tanyalah kepada teladan itu." [Al-Daʿʿāʾ:] Ibn Ḥanbal meninggal dunia pada hari Jumaat. Malam itu, saya memohon kepada Tuhan agar menunjukkan dia kepada saya dalam mimpi. Kemudian saya tidur dan bermimpi melihat dia bertenggek di atas seekor kenderaan cahaya yang tergantung di antara langit dan bumi. Dia memegangnya dengan tali kekang yang juga diperbuat daripada cahaya. Saya cuba mencapai tali kekang itu tetapi dia menariknya menjauh, sambil berkata, "Mendengar itu satu perkara, manakala melihat itu perkara lain." Dia mengucapkannya dua kali. Kemudian saya terjaga. 92.32

This Ṣadaqah was inclined to the opinion of the Kufans,502 but after the dream, whenever he was asked a question, he would say, “Ask the exemplar.” [Al-Daʿʿāʾ:] Ibn Ḥanbal died on a Friday. That night, I asked God to show him to me in a dream. Then I slept and dreamed of seeing him perched on a steed of light that hung between the heavens and the earth. He was holding it by a halter that was also made of light. I reached for the halter but he pulled it away, saying, “Hearing is one thing but seeing is another.” He said it twice. Then I woke up. 92.32

[ʿAbd Allāh:] Saya sedang dalam perjalanan ke Samarra dan singgah di penginapan tempat ayah saya pernah singgah dalam perjalanannya ke Samarra. Saya menghabiskan sedikit masa mencari jejak kehadirannya.

[ʿAbd Allāh:] I was on my way to Samarra and stayed at the inn where my father had stayed on his way to Samarra. I spent some time looking for traces of his presence.

Malam itu, dia datang kepadaku dalam mimpi. Aku memberitahunya bahawa aku akan pergi ke Samarra untuk menyelesaikan sesuatu, dan aku bertanya sama ada aku akan berjaya. Apabila dia diam sahaja, aku bertanya sekali lagi, dan dia berkata, "Tidak." Akhirnya aku menghabiskan dua bulan di Samarra, tetapi aku pulang dengan tangan kosong. 92.33

That night, he came to me in a dream. I told him that I was going to Samarra to accomplish something and asked if I would succeed. When he said nothing, I asked again, and he said “No.” I ended up spending two months in Samarra but came home empty-handed. 92.33

Setahun kemudian, saya pergi lagi dan menginap di penginapan yang sama. Sekali lagi saya bermimpikan ayah saya, dan saya mengajukan pertanyaan yang sama kepadanya. Selepas seketika dia berkata, "Ya," atau membuat isyarat yang bermaksud ya. Kali ini, saya mendapat apa yang saya mahukan.

A year later, I went again, and stayed at the same inn. Again I saw my father in a dream, and I asked him the same question. After a moment he said, “Yes,” or made a gesture that meant yes. This time I got what I wanted.

[Al-Ṭabarī:] Saya bermimpi melihat Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal dan berkata kepadanya, "Adakah engkau melihat bagaimana tiada lagi seorang pun yang bersetuju dengan sesiapa?" 92.34

[Al-Ṭabarī:] I dreamed of seeing Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal and telling him, “Have you seen how no one agrees with anyone any more?” 92.34

“Selagi Tuhan berada di pihakmu,” katanya, “tiada apa pun yang boleh memudaratkanmu.” [Al-ʿUkbarī:] Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal menemui saya dalam mimpi dengan orang ramai di sekelilingnya, seolah-olah ia sebuah halaqah pengajian. 92.35

“So long as God is on your side,” he said, “nothing can harm you.” [Al-ʿUkbarī:] Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal appeared to me in a dream with people around him as if it were a study circle. 92.35

"Saya baru sahaja berbekam," kata saya kepadanya. "Apa yang sepatutnya saya makan?" "Delima," jawabnya.

“I just had a cupping,” I told him. “What should I eat?” “Pomegranates,” he said.

[Al-Ḥarbī:] Aḥmad muncul kepadaku dalam mimpi, berdiri di sana dengan memakai jubah berlapis tetapi tanpa apa-apa di kepalanya. 92.36

[Al-Ḥarbī:] Aḥmad appeared to me in a dream standing there wearing a lined outer garment but nothing on his head. 92.36

"Saya dengar awak telah menyunting sebuah karya tentang keutamaan Nabi ﷺ," katanya.

“I hear you’ve edited a work on the virtues of the Prophet,” he said.

"Saya dah." "Syabas!" katanya.

“I have.” “Well done!” he said.

"Bagaimana saya boleh buat lain? Kalau bukan kerana dia, kita tentu sudah menjadi kaum Majusi. Lagipun, kita dilahirkan di kalangan bukan Arab, bukan orang Arab." "Majusi!" teriaknya. "Majusi! Majusi!" Kemudian dia rebah ke dinding dan pengsan.

“How could I do otherwise? If not for him we’d be Magians. After all, we were born among non-Arabs, not Arabs.” “Magians!” he cried. “Magians! Magians!” Then he fell against the wall in a faint.

[Pengarang:] Saya pernah menemui kisah ini dalam sumber lain, walaupun ia mungkin sebenarnya sebuah kisah yang berbeza, bermakna terdapat dua mimpi yang berlainan.

[The author:] I have encountered this story in another source, though it may actually be a different story, meaning that there were two different dreams.

[Al-Ḥarbī:] Saya melihat Aḥmad dalam mimpi dan dia bertanya kepada saya apa yang sedang saya tulis. 92.37

[Al-Ḥarbī:] I saw Aḥmad in a dream and he asked me what I was writing. 92.37

"Bukti-bukti Kenabian," kataku kepadanya.

“Proofs of Prophethood,” I told him.

"Jika bukan kerana Nabi itu," katanya, "kita pasti sudah menjadi kaum Majusi." [Lūlū:] Aḥmad menemui saya dalam mimpi, lalu saya bertanya kepadanya, "Bukankah engkau sudah mati?" 92.38

“If not for that Prophet,” he said, “we’d be Magians.” [Lūlū:] Aḥmad appeared to me in a dream and I asked him, “Aren’t you dead?” 92.38

“Saya ada.” “Bagaimana Tuhan memperlakukan kamu?” “Dia telah mengampuni saya dan semua orang yang mendoakan saya.” “Tetapi sebahagian daripada mereka adalah golongan pembuat bidaah!” “Mereka dibiarkan hingga akhir.” [Bundār:] Aḥmad muncul kepada saya dalam mimpi dengan wajah marah. Saya bertanya kepadanya mengapa. 92.39

“I am.” “How did God deal with you?” “He’s forgiven me and everyone who prayed over me.” “But some of them were innovators!” “They were left till the end.” [Bundār:] Aḥmad appeared to me in a dream looking angry. I asked him why. 92.39

"Bagaimana saya tidak akan marah," jawabnya, "apabila Munkar dan Nakir datang dan menyuruh saya menyebut Tuhan saya. 'Adakah kamu tahu dengan siapa kamu sedang bercakap?' tanya saya kepada mereka."

“How could I not be angry,” he replied, “when Munkar and Nakīr came and asked me to name my Lord. ‘Do you know who you’re talking to?’ I asked them.

"'Kami tahu,' kata mereka. 'Tetapi sudah menjadi kewajipan kami untuk bertanya, maka maafkanlah kami!'" [Al-Ṭalmakhūrī:] Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal muncul kepadaku dalam mimpi. 92.41

“‘We know,’ they said. ‘But it’s our duty to ask, so forgive us!’” [Al-Ṭalmakhūrī:] Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal appeared to me in a dream. 92.41

"Bolehkah saya beritahu awak sesuatu yang berguna?" tanyanya.

“May I tell you something useful?” he asked.

"Ya!" Katanya: "Dari ceruk ke kubur."503

“Yes!” He said: “From the niche to the grave.”503

[Al-Zāghūnī:] Saya bermimpi pergi ke kubur Aḥmad dan melihat dia duduk di atasnya. Dia kelihatan seperti seorang lelaki tua yang sangat uzur. 92.42

[Al-Zāghūnī:] I dreamed of going to Aḥmad’s tomb and seeing him sitting there on top of it. He looked like a very old man. 92.42

"Kawan-kawan kita sudah mati," katanya, "dan sekutu kita sedikit." Kemudian dia berkata, "Setiap kali kamu memerlukan pertolongan, katakanlah, 'Wahai Yang Maha Besar! Wahai Yang Maha Besar, lebih besar daripada semua yang menganggap diri mereka besar!' Lakukanlah itu, dan doa-doamu akan dimakbulkan." [Abū Bakr:] Pada suatu tahun, beberapa hari sebelum Ramadan, kami dilanda hujan lebat. Kemudian, semasa Ramadan, saya tidur pada suatu malam dan bermimpi bahawa saya pergi seperti biasa untuk menziarahi kubur Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. Tetapi kubur itu telah tenggelam begitu dalam ke dalam tanah sehingga hanya sāq504

“Our friends are dead,” he said, “and our allies few.” Then he said, “Whenever you need help, say, ‘Great One! Great One, greater than all who think themselves great!’ Do that, and your prayers will be answered.” [Abū Bakr:] One year, a few days before Ramadan, we had heavy rains. Later, during Ramadan, I went to sleep one night and dreamed I had gone as usual to visit Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal’s tomb. But it had sunk so deep into the ground that only a sāq504

atau dua orang yang masih tinggal di atas tanah. 92.43

or two was left above ground. 92.43

"Mesti hujan yang menyebabkan ini," fikirku.

“It must be the rain that did this,” I thought.

“Tidak,” kata Aḥmad dari dalam kubur. “Yang datang melawat aku ialah kehadiran Tuhan Yang Maha Esa yang sebenar, Maha Agung dan Maha Mulia, yang menakutkan. Aku bertanya kepada-Nya mengapa Dia datang setiap tahun, lalu Dia berfirman, ‘Kerana engkau membela firman-Ku, yang dibacakan dengan lantang dari setiap ceruk.’” Aku membongkok ke arah lubang kubusnya untuk mengucupnya, kemudian aku bertanya kepadanya, “Mengapa hanya kuburmu sahaja yang boleh dikucup?” “Anakku,” katanya, “ia bukan kerana menghormati aku, tetapi kerana utusan Tuhan ﷺ. Aku ada beberapa helai rambutnya bersamaku. Mengapa mereka yang mengambil berat tentangku tidak datang melawatku pada bulan Ramadan?” Dia mengajukan soalan itu dua kali.

“No,” said Aḥmad from inside the tomb. “It was the terrifying presence of the One True God, mighty and glorious, who came to visit me. I asked Him why He came every year, and He said, ‘Because you stood up for My speech, which is read aloud from every niche.’” I bent toward his grave-shaft to kiss it, then asked him, “Why is yours the only grave that one can kiss?” “Son,” he said, “it’s not out of respect for me, but for the Emissary of God. I have some of his hairs with me. Why don’t those who care for me come visit me in Ramadan?” He asked the question twice.