Sebaik sahaja kematian al-Ma'mun diumumkan, Ahmad bin Hanbal dan Muhammad bin Nuh dihantar pulang ke Iraq dengan dirantai, sebagaimana yang telah kita lihat. Muhammad bin Nuh meninggal dunia dalam perjalanan, manakala Ahmad, masih dalam belenggu, menamatkan 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:] Semasa pemerintahan al-Ma'mūn, Aḥmad telah dibawa ke sempadan Byzantine. Beliau telah pun sampai ke al-Raqqah apabila al-Ma'mūn wafat di al-Badhandūn, maka kedua-duanya tidak sempat bertemu.347 Itu berlaku 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, memberitahu saya bahawa dia bersama beberapa orang lain pergi menziarahi Aḥmad ketika beliau dipenjarakan di al-Raqqah. Di sana mereka mengemukakan kepadanya riwayat-riwayat yang membenarkan seorang Muslim menyembunyikan kepercayaannya apabila nyawanya 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.

"Tetapi apa yang anda lakukan," balas Aḥmad, "dengan riwayat Khabbāb yang menyatakan:"

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

“Sebelum zamanmu, ada orang-orang beriman yang boleh digergaji dua tanpa meninggalkan agama mereka?” Apabila mereka mendengarnya, mereka pun berputus 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.

“Saya tidak peduli jika mereka mengurung saya,” katanya. “Rumah saya sudah seperti penjara. Saya juga tidak peduli jika mereka membunuh saya dengan pedang. Satu-satunya yang saya takuti ialah disebat. Bagaimana jika saya tidak sanggup menanggungnya?” Salah seorang tahanan telah mendengar kata-katanya. “Jangan risau, Aḥmad,” katanya. “Selepas dua libasan, kamu tidak lagi merasakan yang selebihnya.” Aḥmad kelihatan 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.

Selepas itu, beliau dibawa pulang dari al-Raqqah dan dipenjarakan di Baghdad.

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

[Ṣāliḥ:] Ketika berita sampai bahawa al-Ma'mūn telah meninggal dunia, Muḥammad bin Nūḥ dan ayah saya, yang masih dalam belenggu, dikembalikan ke al-Raqqah. Dari sana mereka meneruskan perjalanan dengan kapal penjara. Apabila mereka sampai di ʿĀnāt, Muḥammad bin Nūḥ meninggal dunia dan mereka mengebumikannya di sana. Akhirnya ayah saya, yang masih dalam belenggu, sampai 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, beliau tinggal selama beberapa hari di Yāsirīyah.348 Kemudian mereka menahannya di sebuah rumah yang disewa khusus untuk tujuan itu, berhampiran Istana ʿUmārah.349 Selepas itu beliau dipindahkan ke Penjara Rakyat Biasa350 di Jalan Mawṣilī—atau, menurut riwayat lain, di 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:] Bapa saya berkata, "Saya pernah mengimami solat para tawanan dengan rantai masih terpasang di badan 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 bahawa saya hendak pergi ke Baghdad, lalu saya bertanya kepadanya sama ada dia mahukan apa-apa. 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. “Apabila kamu sampai di sana, pergilah kepada Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, sampaikan salamku kepadanya, dan katakan ini. ‘Wahai engkau! Takutlah kepada Tuhan, dan carilah kedekatan dengan-Nya, dengan tetap berada di jalan itu. Jangan biarkan siapa pun membuatmu putus asa: engkau berdiri—insya Allah—tepat di pintu Syurga.’ Dan katakan kepadanya: ‘Kami mendengar al-Layth ibn Saʿd meriwayatkan, dengan menyebut Muḥammad ibn ʿAjlān, dengan menyebut Abū l-Zinād, dengan menyebut al-Aʿraj, dengan menyebut Abū Hurayrah, bahawa Nabi ﷺ bersabda: “Jika ada yang menyuruhmu melakukan maksiat kepada Tuhan, jangan dengarkan dia.”’” Maka saya pergi menemui Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal di penjara. Apabila saya menemuinya, saya memberi salam, menyampaikan salam al-ʿAsqalānī, dan mengulangi kata-katanya, bersama-sama dengan 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 seketika, kemudian mengangkat kepalanya dan berkata, "Semoga Allah merahmatinya, baik ketika hidup mahupun setelah mati! Sesungguhnya itu adalah nasihat yang baik." [Al-Aʿyān:] Saya pergi menemui Ādam ibn Abī Iyās [al-ʿAsqalānī] dan menyampaikan kepadanya salam daripada 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 daripadanya kepadaku," katanya, "dan jangan sampaikan salam daripadaku kepadanya!" "Kenapa tidak?" tanyaku.

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

"Kerana dia berkata bahawa al-Qur'an itu makhluk." "Dia baru sahaja menjelaskan bahawa dia tidak bermaksud begitu," kata saya, "dan dia telah mengumumkan kepada semua orang bahawa dia menarik balik apa yang dia katakan." "Kalau begitu, sampaikan salam saya kepadanya." Ketika saya hendak beredar, saya memberitahu al-ʿAsqalānī bahawa saya akan pergi ke Baghdad dan bertanya kepadanya sama ada dia mahukan apa-apa.

“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 kepada Ibn Ḥanbal dan sampaikan salamku kepadanya. Katakan ini: 'Wahai engkau! Takutlah kepada Allah, dan dekatkan dirimu kepada-Nya dengan tetap teguh di jalan ini. Janganlah sesiapa pun membuatmu gentar: engkau berdiri, insya-Allah, tepat di pintu Syurga.' Dan katakan: 'Kami mendengar al-Layth ibn Saʿd meriwayatkan, dengan menukil daripada Muḥammad ibn ʿAjlān, daripada Abū l-Zinād, daripada al-Aʿraj, daripada Abū Hurayrah, bahawa 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 menyuruh kamu mendurhakai Tuhan, jangan dengarkan dia."' Maka saya pergi menemui Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal di penjara. Apabila saya menemuinya, saya menyampaikan salam dan nasihat al-ʿAsqalānī, beserta hadis tersebut. Aḥmad menundukkan pandangannya seketika, lalu berkata, "Semoga Tuhan merahmatinya, baik ketika hidup mahupun setelah mati! Nasihatnya memang 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.”