[Al-Rabīʿ:] Al-Shāfiʿī aliniagiza nichukue barua aliyoiandika, nimpelekee Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, kisha nilete jibu lake. Nilipofika Baghdad, nilimkuta Ibn Ḥanbal akiswali Sala ya alfajiri, nami nikajiunga naye. Mara tu alipomaliza, nilimkabidhi barua, nikisema: “Hii ni kutoka kwa ndugu yako al-Shāfiʿī huko Misri.” 93.1

[Al-Rabīʿ:] Al-Shāfiʿī told me to take a letter he had written, deliver it to Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, and bring back his reply. When I reached Baghdad, I found Ibn Ḥanbal praying the dawn prayer and I joined him. As soon as he finished I handed him the letter, saying, “This is from your brother al-Shāfiʿī in Egypt.” 93.1

"Je, umeisoma?" "Hapana." Alivunja muhuri na kusoma barua, machozi yakajaa machoni pake.

“Have you read it?” “No.” He broke the seal and read the letter, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Ni nini?" "Anasema Nabii alimjia katika ndoto na kumwambia amwandikie mimi na kunifikishia salamu zake. Nitajaribiwa na kuulizwa niseme kwamba Qur'ani imeumbwa, lakini nisipokubali, Mungu atainua bendera kwa heshima yangu ambayo itapepea hadi Siku ya Kiyama." "Hiyo ni habari njema basi," nilisema. "Thawabu yangu ni ipi?" Aḥmad aliivua shati aliyokuwa amevaa karibu na ngozi yake na kunikabidhi. Nilipokea, pamoja na jibu lake, nikarudi Misri. Nilipomkabidhi al-Shāfiʿī barua, alitaka kujua Aḥmad alikuwa amenipa nini.