[Al-Būshanjī:] Miongoni mwa watu wote niliowaona katika zama za Aḥmad, sijawahi kukutana na mtu aliyekuwa mcha Mungu zaidi katika dini, mwenye tahadhari zaidi, aliyejizuia zaidi, au mwenye kujiepusha zaidi na dunia kama Aḥmad, wala mtu mwenye elimu zaidi au mwenye busara zaidi katika mambo ya dini, wala mtu mwenye moyo mkarimu zaidi, mwenye msimamo thabiti zaidi wa moyo, mwenye urafiki mzuri zaidi katika kampuni, au aliye wazi zaidi katika ukweli wa nia yake.196 38.1

[Al-Būshanjī:] Of all the people I saw in Aḥmad’s time, I never met anyone as mindful of religion, as careful, as self-controlled, or as abstinent as Aḥmad, nor anyone as learned or as discerning in matters of religion, nor anyone so generous in spirit, so firm of heart, so congenial in company, or so unmistakably sincere.196 38.1

[ʿAlī ibn al-Madīnī:] Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal aliniambia mara moja, "Ningependa kuambatana nawe hadi Makka, lakini ninaogopa kwamba nitakuchoka, au wewe utanichoka."38.2

[ʿAlī ibn al-Madīnī:] Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal once said to me, “I wish I could accompany you to Mecca, but I’m afraid I’ll get tired of your company, or you of mine.” 38.2

Nilipokuja kuaga, nilimuuliza kama alitaka chochote, naye akasema, "Nataka uendelee kumcha Mungu na kukumbuka Akhera." [Ḥanbal:] Nakumbuka kwamba kila alipotaka kuinuka, Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal alimwambia yeyote aliyekuwepo naye, "Kwa ruhusa yako." 38.3

When I came to say good-bye, I asked him if he wanted anything and he said, “I want you to remain fearful of God and mindful of the afterlife.” [Ḥanbal:] I remember that whenever Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal wanted to get up, he would say to whoever was with him, “By your leave.” 38.3

[Al-Sijistānī:] Kukaa pamoja na Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal kulimaanisha kuzungumzia Akhera; mambo ya dunia hayakuwahi kutajwa. Sikuwahi kumwona akizungumzia dunia hata kidogo. 38.4

[Al-Sijistānī:] Sitting with Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal meant talking about the next world; the things of this world were never mentioned. I never saw him talk about this world at all. 38.4

[Ibn al-Munādī:] Nilimsikia babu yangu akisema, "Aḥmad alikuwa mnyenyekevu sana, lakini mkarimu moyoni; alikuwa mmoja wa watu wenye fikra na wenye kujali zaidi ambao nimewahi kuwaona. Mara nyingi alikaa akiwa ameinamisha kichwa na kuepusha macho yake, na alijiepusha kuzungumza kuhusu jambo lolote lisilofaa au la upuuzi. Alipozungumza, ilikuwa ni kubadilishana Hadith au kukumbuka mfano uliowekwa na watu wema na wacha Mungu waliojitenga na dunia, jambo alilofanya kwa heshima tulivu na ufasaha. Alipokutana na watu, alikuwa akitabasamu na kuwapa umakini wake wote. Alionyesha heshima kubwa kwa wanazuoni wakubwa wa umri, nao walimheshimu sana. Alimwonyesha Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn heshima ya juu kabisa, ambaye alikuwa mkubwa kwake kwa takriban miaka saba." 38.5

[Ibn al-Munādī:] I heard my grandfather say, “Aḥmad was extremely modest, but generous in spirit; he was one of the most thoughtful and considerate people I’ve ever seen. He would sit with his head bowed and his eyes averted much of the time, and avoid talking about anything unseemly or frivolous. When he did talk, it was to exchange Hadith or recall the example set by righteous men and renunciants, which he did with quiet dignity and eloquence. When meeting people, he would smile and give them his full attention. He showed great deference to senior men of learning, who in turn respected him enormously. He displayed the greatest veneration for Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn, who was seven or so years older than he.” 38.5

[ʿAbd Allāh:] Kila alipotoka msikitini kuingia nyumbani, baba yangu angepiga kiatu chake chini ili watu wasikie anakuja. Mara nyingi pia alikohoa ili kuwajulisha watu kwamba anaingia. 38.6

[ʿAbd Allāh:] Whenever my father left the mosque to come into the house, he would slap his sandal against the ground so people could hear him coming. He would often clear his throat, too, to let people know he was coming in. 38.6

[Muhannaʾ:] Nimemwona Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal zaidi ya mara moja au mbili—zaidi ya mara tatu au nne au tano, kwa kweli—akiwaruhusu watu wambusu uso wake, kichwa chake, au shavu lake. Hakusema neno, lakini pia hakuwazuia. Nilimwona Sulaymān ibn Dāwūd al-Hāshimī akimbusu kichwani na paji la uso. Hakumzuia wala hakuonekana kuwa na hasira. Pia nilimwona Yaʿqūb ibn Ibrāhīm akimbusu paji la uso na uso. 38.7

[Muhannaʾ:] I saw Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal more than once or twice—more than three or four or five times, really—letting people kiss his face, his head, or his cheek. He wouldn’t say anything, but he wouldn’t stop them, either. I saw Sulaymān ibn Dāwūd al-Hāshimī kiss him on the head and forehead. He didn’t stop him and he didn’t seem to disapprove. I also saw Yaʿqūb ibn Ibrāhīm kissing him on the forehead and the face. 38.7

[Al-Khallāl:] Niliuliza Zuhayr ibn Ṣāliḥ kama alishawahi kumwona babu yake, Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. 38.8

[Al-Khallāl:] I asked Zuhayr ibn Ṣāliḥ if he had ever seen his grandfather, Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. 38.8

"Ndiyo," alisema. "Nilikuwa na takriban miaka minane mara ya kwanza. Nilikuwa na miaka kumi alipofariki."197

“Yes,” he said. “I was about eight years old the first time. I was ten when he died.”197

"Je, unakumbuka alikuwaje?" "Dada zangu na mimi tulikuwa tukimtembelea kila Ijumaa. Mlango kati ya nyumba yetu na nyumba yake ulikuwa wazi. Alikuwa akimwandikia barua mtu ambaye alinunulia karanga na matunda makavu, akimwambia ampe kila mmoja wetu thamani ya senti mbili za fedha. Nasi tungeenda kuchukua karanga au matunda ya thamani ya senti mbili, na pia kuleta kitu kwa dada zetu."198

“Do you remember what he was like?” “My sisters and I used to visit him every Friday. The door between our house and his was left open. He used to write a note to a man he bought nuts and dried fruit from and tell him to give each of us two silver pennies’ worth, and we would go and take two pennies’ worth of nuts or fruit and bring something for our sisters too.198

Mara nyingi nilimwona akiwa ameketi kwenye jua na mgongo wake ukiwa wazi, na makovu yakionekana.

“Many times I saw him sitting in the sun with his back exposed and the scars showing.

Nilikuwa na mdogo wangu wa kiume aliyeitwa ʿAlī, kwa jina la utani Abū Ḥafs. Baba yangu alitaka kumtahiri. Aliandaa chakula kingi na kuwaalika watu waje nyumbani. Ilipofika wakati, alimtuma mtu amwalike pia babu yangu. Baadaye baba yangu aliniambia alichosema: ‘Nimesikia kuhusu jambo hili jipya unalofanya, na nimesikia kwamba umekuwa mpotevu kulihusu. Unapaswa kuanza na maskini na wagonjwa na kuwalisha kwanza.’ 38.9

“I had a younger brother named ʿAlī, with the nickname Abū Ḥafs. My father wanted to have him circumcised. He prepared a lot of food and invited people to come over. When the time came, he sent someone to invite my grandfather too. Later my father told me what he said: ‘I’ve heard about this new thing you’re doing, and I’ve heard that you’ve been wasteful about it. You should start with the poor and ill and feed them first.’ 38.9

"Siku iliyofuata, mtoa damu (cupper) na wanafamilia walipofika, baba yangu aliingia kumwambia babu yangu. Babu yangu alitoka pamoja naye, akaketi karibu na yule mvulana mdogo, na akabaki hapo wakati tohara ilipofanyika. Baadaye alitoa vipande viwili vya kitambaa vilivyofungwa mafundo, akampa mtoa damu kimoja na yule mvulana kingine."

“The next day, when the cupper and the family members had arrived, my father went in to tell my grandfather. My grandfather came out with him, sat down next to the little boy, and stayed there while the circumcision took place. Afterward he took out two knotted pieces of cloth and gave one to the cupper and the other to the boy.

Kisha akarudi ndani ya nyumba yake. Mtu wa kuweka vikombe alichunguza mfuko mdogo na kukuta dirham moja tu. Tukachunguza mfuko wa yule kijana na tukakuta vilevile dirham moja.

Then he went back into his house. The cupper looked into the little bag and found a single dirham. We looked into the boy’s bag and found the same.

Tulikuwa tumeondoa vitu vingi tulivyokuwa tumeenea sakafuni, kisha tukamweka mvulana juu ya jukwaa dogo lililokuwa likikaa juu ya nguo zilizotiwa rangi. Babu yangu hakuonekana kukasirishwa na jambo hilo.

“We had removed most of the things we had spread on the floor and put the boy on a little platform resting on some dyed garments. My grandfather didn’t seem to disapprove.

"Siku moja baada ya Sala ya Magharibi, binamu wa mama yake babu yangu, aliyekuwa na kunya Abū Aḥmad, alikuja kutoka Khurasan na akakaa kwa baba yangu. Siku moja baba yangu aliniambia nimshike Abū Aḥmad mkono na kumwingiza kwa babu yangu. Niliingia nyumbani kwa babu yangu nikamkuta bado anaswali Sala za ziada, basi nikaketi. Alipomaliza, aliniuliza kama Abū Aḥmad amewasili. 38."10

“Once my grandfather’s maternal cousin, who had the kunyah Abū Aḥmad, came from Khurasan and stayed with my father. One day after sunset prayers, my father told me to take Abū Aḥmad by the hand and show him in to my grandfather. I went into my grandfather’s house and found him doing more prayers so I sat down. When he finished, he asked me if Abū Aḥmad had arrived. 38.10

“‘Ndiyo.’ “‘Mwambie aingie ndani.’ “Nilitoka nje, nikamkuta Abū Aḥmad, nikamrudisha ndani. Akaketi. Babu yangu alimwita mwanamke mzee—mpangaji wake199—ambaye alikuwa akifanya kazi kwake, naye akatoka na mkate, mimea mibichi, siki na chumvi, vyote vikiwa kwenye sinia la mianzi.

“‘Yes.’ “‘Tell him to come in.’ “I went out, found Abū Aḥmad, and brought him back in. He sat down. My grandfather called out to an elderly woman—a tenant of his199—who used to work for him, and she brought out some bread, fresh herbs, vinegar, and salt on a wicker tray.

Baadaye alileta moja ya sahani hizo kubwa na kuiweka mbele yetu. Ilikuwa mchuzi wa kitoweo cha whey kavu,200 wenye nyama nyingi na chard. Tukaanza kula, naye akajiunga nasi. Tukiwa tunakula, aliuliza Abū Aḥmad kuhusu wanafamilia waliokuwa bado Khurasan. Mara kadhaa, Abū Aḥmad alikuwa na shida kuelewa mambo kwa Kiarabu, hivyo babu yangu alikuwa akizungumza naye kwa Kiajemi. Muda wote huo, alikuwa akichagua vipande vya nyama na kumpa Abū Aḥmad, pia na mimi. Baadaye alichukua sahani mwenyewe na kuiweka pembeni, kisha akaleta bakuli la kuhudumia lililokuwa na tende bora za Barnī na walnuts zilizomenywa, akaziweka mbele yetu juu ya tray. Yeye alikula, nasi pia tukala, naye akimhudumia Abū Aḥmad. Kisha tukanawa mikono, kila mmoja akijitunza mwenyewe.” [Al-ʿAṭṭār:] Nilimtuma mwanangu mdogo, pamoja na mjakazi, kwenda kumsalimia Aḥmad. Alimkaribisha mvulana, akamweka kwenye mapaja yake, na kumuuliza maswali. Pia alituma kuletewa pudding,201 ambayo aliileta, akaiweka mbele ya mvulana, na kumshawishi ale, akimwalika mjakazi pia ale. Kisha alitoka kwenda kwa muuzaji wa matunda, karanga na pipi, akarudi na mlozi na sukari vilivyofungwa ndani ya joho lake. Alitoa vyote, akavifunga kwenye kitambaa, kisha akampa mtumishi. Kisha akamwambia mvulana, “Mwambie Abū Muḥammad nimemsalimia.” 38.11

Later she brought out one of those big platters and put it in front of us. It was a driedwhey stew200 with lots of meat and chard. We started eating and he joined us. As we ate, he asked Abū Aḥmad about the members of the family who were still in Khurasan. Several times, Abū Aḥmad had trouble understanding things in Arabic and so my grandfather would speak to him in Persian. All the while, he would choose pieces of meat and serve them to Abū Aḥmad and me too. Afterward he picked up the platter himself and put it aside, then brought over a serving dish containing premium Barnī dates and shelled walnuts and put it in front of us on the tray. He ate and we did too, with him serving Abū Aḥmad. Then we washed our hands, with each of us taking care of himself.” [Al-ʿAṭṭār:] I sent my young son, along with a slave woman, to give my regards to Aḥmad. He welcomed the boy, held him in his lap, and asked him questions. He also sent out for a pudding,201 which he brought in, put in front of the boy, and coaxed him to eat, inviting the woman to eat as well. Then he went out to a vendor of fruits, nuts, and sweets, and came back with some almonds and sugar wrapped up in his gown. He took everything out, wrapped it up in a handkerchief, and gave it to the servant. Then he said to the boy, “Tell Abū Muḥammad I said hello.” 38.11

Al-Marrūdhī: Nilimwona mara moja Aḥmad akitupa dirham mbili kwenye bakuli la mtahiri. 38.12

[Al-Marrūdhī:] I once saw Aḥmad toss two dirhams into a circumciser’s basin. 38.12

[Al-Maymūnī:] Mara nyingi nilikuwa nikimwuliza Aḥmad kuhusu jambo fulani, naye alikuwa akisema, "Nakusikiliza!" 38.13

[Al-Maymūnī:] I would often ask Aḥmad about something and he would say, “At your service!” 38.13

[Al-Marrūdhī:] Aḥmad hakuwahi kuwa mtukanaji kamwe. Mtu yeyote alipomtukana, alikuwa akivumilia kwa subira. Badala ya kukasirika, alikuwa akisema, "Mwenyezi Mungu anatosha!" 202 38.14

[Al-Marrūdhī:] Aḥmad was never abusive. If anyone was abusive to him, he would bear it patiently. Instead of getting angry, he would say, “May God suffice!”202 38.14

Hakuwa na chuki wala hakusema kwa haraka. Mjomba wake mara moja aligombana na majirani. Walipokuja kumtembelea Aḥmad, alikuwapokea kwa adabu kama alivyokuwa akifanya siku zote, bila kuegemea upande wowote wala kubishana kwa niaba ya mjomba wake.

He didn’t bear grudges or speak rashly. His uncle once quarreled with the neighbors. When they would come to see Aḥmad, he would receive them as courteously as he always had, without taking sides or arguing his uncle’s part.

Alikuwa mnyenyekevu sana na aliwapenda maskini. Sikuwahi kuona watu maskini wakitendewa vizuri kama walivyotendewa walipokuwa wameketi mbele yake. Angewapa heshima ya pekee huku akiwapuuza watu wenye mali. Alijaliwa heshima tulivu. Kila alipoketi mahali pake pa kawaida alasiri za marehemu na kutoa fatwa, hakuzungumza hadi mtu amuulize swali. Alipotoka kwenda msikitini kwake, hakwenda kukaa katikati ya kundi; badala yake alikaa mahali popote palipokuwa na nafasi. Alipoketi, hakuwahi kunyoosha mguu wake, kwa kuogopa kuonekana kutowaheshimu wengine.

He was very humble and loved the poor. I never saw poor men treated as well as they were when sitting in his company. He would treat them with special consideration while disregarding the affluent. He was graced with a quiet dignity. Whenever, in the late afternoon, he would sit in his usual place and give legal opinions, he would not speak until someone asked him a question. If he went out to his mosque, he didn’t go sit in the center of the gathering; instead, he sat wherever there was room. When he sat, he would never extend his leg, for fear of seeming disrespectful of others.

Alikuwa mpole, mchangamfu, na mwenye kukubali kuwasiliana na watu, na hakuwahi kuwa mchafu wa maneno wala mkorofi. Alichokipenda, alikipenda kwa ajili ya Mwenyezi Mungu, na vivyo hivyo kwa mambo aliyoyachukia. Alipompenda mtu, alionyesha kumjali ustawi wake kama alivyojijali mwenyewe, bila kutofautisha kati ya matakwa na chuki zake mwenyewe na zile za rafiki yake. Hata hivyo, urafiki haukuwahi kumzuia kuingilia kati pale mtu aliyempenda alipotenda vibaya au kumdhulumu mtu mwingine. Kila alipopata habari kwamba fulani ni mcha Mungu, au mwenye kujinyima, au amesimama kidete kwa ajili ya haki, au ametoa mchango kwa kueneza haki, alimuuliza kumhusu, alizungumzia hamu yake ya kukutana naye, na alionyesha shauku ya kujua hali yake.

He was kind, cheerful, and accommodating, and never vulgar or coarse. What he loved, he loved for the sake of God, and likewise for the things he hated. When he liked someone, he would show as much regard for his well-being as he would for his own, making no distinction between his own wishes and aversions and those of his friend. Even so, friendship never prevented him from intervening when someone he cared for behaved badly or wronged anyone else. Whenever he learned that someone was righteous, or self-denying, or had stood up for justice, or furthered the cause, he would inquire about him, talk about wanting to meet him, and express curiosity about his circumstances.

Alikuwa mtu mwenye hisia kali: kama hakupendezwa na jambo fulani, alilionyesha waziwazi. Alikasirika, lakini kwa ajili ya Mungu tu; hakuwahi kukasirika kwa ajili ya nafsi yake wala kufanya lolote kwa lengo la kulinda maslahi yake binafsi. Popote ambapo jambo la dini lilikuwa hatarini, alikasirika sana hadi alionekana kuwa mtu mwingine kabisa:

He was a sensitive man: if he didn’t like something, he showed it. He would become indignant, though only on behalf of God; he would never get angry on his own behalf or do anything to promote his own interests. Wherever a matter of religion was at stake, he would become so incensed that he seemed a different person altogether:

Mtu asiyejali lawama wala kukemewa. Hata hivyo, alikuwa rahisi kuishi naye kwa sababu angeweza kuvumilia bila kulalamika. Mmoja wa majirani zake—mtu aliyeshiriki ukuta mmoja naye—ndiye aliyeniambia hadithi hii.

one heedless of blame or reproach. All the same he was easy to live with because he would suffer without complaint. One of his neighbors—a man who shared a wall with him—told me this story.

Tulikuwa na banda la njiwa, lenye njiwa ndani yake, linaloangalia nyumba ya Aḥmad. Nilipokuwa mvulana, nilikuwa napanda juu huko na kumtazama chini. Yeye alikuwa akivumilia na hakuwahi kuniambia niache. Kisha siku moja mjomba wangu alipanda huko na kuona kwamba banda la njiwa linaangalia nyumba ya Aḥmad.

“We had a dovecote, with pigeons in it, overlooking Aḥmad’s house. As a boy, I would climb up there and look down at him. He put up with it and never told me to stop. Then one day my uncle went up there and saw that the dovecote overlooked Aḥmad’s house.

"'Aibu juu yako!' alisema kwangu. 'Je, huoni kwamba unamsumbua Aḥmad?' "'Lakini yeye hajawahi kuniambia chochote!' "'Ni bora unipe hayo ndege, la sivyo!' "Aliendelea kunifuatilia mpaka nikampa ndege hao. Kisha akawachinja na kubomoa banda la njiwa." [Hārūn ibn Sufyān:] Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal alipoamua kutoa fedha alizopewa na al-Mutawakkil, nilikwenda kumwona naye akanipa dirhamu mia mbili. 38.15

“‘Shame on you!’ he said to me. ‘Can’t you see that you’re disturbing Aḥmad?’ “‘But he never said anything to me!’ “‘You’d better give me those birds, or else!’ “He kept after me until I gave him the birds. Then he slaughtered them and tore down the dovecote.” [Hārūn ibn Sufyān:] When Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal decided to give away the money that al-Mutawakkil had given him, I went to see him and he gave me two hundred dirhams. 38.15

"Ninahitaji zaidi," nilimwambia.

“I need more,” I told him.

“Hivyo ndivyo tu vilivyopo,” alisema, “lakini nitakufanyia hivi. Nitakupa dirham mia tatu, nawe uzitoe sadaka.” Baada ya kuchukua pesa hizo nilisema, “Aḥmad, mimi sitatoa hata dirham moja kwa mtu yeyote.” Alichofanya ni kutabasamu tu.

“That’s all there is,” he said, “but I tell you what I’ll do. I’ll give you three hundred and you can give it away.” After I took the money I said, “Aḥmad, I’m not giving a single dirham away to anyone.” All he did was smile.

[Al-Anmāṭī:] Mara moja nilikuwa kwa Aḥmad, naye akataja hadithi niliyotaka kuiandika. Alikuwa na chupa yake ya wino mbele yake, nikamwuliza kama ninaweza kuitumia. 38.16

[Al-Anmāṭī:] Once I was at Aḥmad’s and he mentioned a Hadith I wanted to write down. He had his inkwell in front of him, and I asked if I could use it. 38.16

"Bila shaka," alisema kwa sauti ya ukali. "Hakuna haja ya kujishurutisha!"203

“Of course,” he said gruffly. “No need to stand on ceremony!”203

[ʿAbd Allāh:] Mtu mmoja alimuuliza baba yangu kwa nini hakutumia muda mwingi pamoja na watu. 38.17

[ʿAbd Allāh:] Someone asked my father why he didn’t spend more time with people. 38.17

"Kwa sababu nachukia kuaga," alisema.

“Because I hate saying good-bye,” he said.

Ibrāhīm al-Ḥarbī: Aḥmad alikuwa akihudhuria ndoa, harusi, na tohara akialikwa, na kula kile alichopewa huko. 38.18

[Ibrāhīm al-Ḥarbī:] Aḥmad would attend marriages, weddings, and circumcisions if invited, and eat what he was served there. 38.18

Mara moja nilimsikia akimwambia Aḥmad ibn Ḥafṣ al-Wakīʿī, "Ninakupenda sana, Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān." Kisha akasoma, "Tulimsikia Yaḥyā akipokea kutoka kwa Thawr, akinukuu kutoka kwa Ḥabīb ibn ʿUbayd, akinukuu kutoka kwa al-Miqdām, kwamba Mtume ﷺ alisema, 'Mmoja wenu anapomhisi mwenzake mapenzi, amwambie.'" [Hārūn:] Usiku mmoja Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal alikuja kugonga mlango wangu. 38.19

I once heard him say to Aḥmad ibn Ḥafṣ al-Wakīʿī, “I’m very fond of you, Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān.” Then he recited, “We heard Yaḥyā report, cit ing Thawr, citing Ḥabīb ibn ʿUbayd, citing al-Miqdām, that the Prophet—God bless and keep him— said, ‘When one of you feels affection for another, he should tell him.’” [Hārūn:] One night Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal came knocking on my door. 38.19

"Ni nani?" niliuliza.

“Who is it?” I asked.

"Ni Aḥmad," alisema.

“It’s Aḥmad,” he said.

Nilikimbilia mlangoni. Alinitakia jioni njema, nami nikamjibu vivyo hivyo. Kisha nikamuuliza kama kuna jambo baya.

I rushed to the door. He wished me a good evening and I did likewise. Then I asked him if something was wrong.

“Ndiyo,” alisema. “Nimekuwa nikikuhusu.” “Kwa nini?” “Leo, nilipopita karibu yako, ulikuwa ukisoma Hadith ukiwa umekaa kivulini huku watu walioshika kalamu na madaftari wakiwa wamekaa juani. Usifanye hivyo tena! Unapofundisha, hakikisha unakaa pamoja na watu wanaokusikiliza.” [Al-Maṣṣīṣī:] Siku moja nilikuwa kwa Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal walipokuwa wakisoma Hadith.

“Yes,” he said. “I’ve been worried about you.” “Why?” “Today, when I walked by you, you were reciting Hadith sitting in the shade while the people holding the pens and notebooks were sitting in the sun. Don’t do that again! When you teach, make sure to sit with the people who are listening to you.” [Al-Maṣṣīṣī:] I was once at Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal’s when they were reciting Hadith.

Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā l-Naysābūrī alisimulia hadith dhaifu, na Aḥmad akasema, "Usinukuu hadith za aina hiyo." 38.20

Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā l-Naysābūrī recited a weak report, and Aḥmad said, “Don’t cite reports like that.” 38.20

Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā alionekana kuona aibu, lakini kisha Aḥmad akasema, “Nilisema hivyo tu kwa heshima yako.” [Aḥmad ibn al-Ḥakam:] Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal alikuja Kufa kujifunza Hadith. Alikuja mara kwa mara kumsikiliza Wakīʿ ibn al-Jarrāḥ na alisikia hadithi nyingi kutoka kwake. 38.21

Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā looked abashed, but then Aḥmad said, “I said that only out of respect for you.” [Aḥmad ibn al-Ḥakam:] Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal came to Kufa to study Hadith. He came regularly to hear Wakīʿ ibn al-Jarrāḥ and heard a great many reports from him. 38.21

[Isḥāq ibn Hāniʾ:] Siku moja tulikuwa nyumbani kwa Aḥmad pamoja na al-Marrūdhī na Muhannaʾ ibn Yaḥyā l-Shāmī. Mlango ulibishwa, kisha mtu akaita, "Je, al-Marrūdhī yuko hapa?" 38.22

[Isḥāq ibn Hāniʾ:] We were once at Aḥmad’s house with al-Marrūdhī and Muhannaʾ ibn Yaḥyā l-Shāmī. There was a knock on the door and someone called out, “Is al-Marrūdhī here?” 38.22

Kwa kuwa al-Marrūdhī hakutaka mtu yeyote ajue alipo, Muhannaʾ ibn Yaḥyā aliweka kidole chake juu ya kiganja cha mkono wake na akaita kwa sauti, "Al-Marrūdhī hayupo hapa."

Since al-Marrūdhī didn’t want anyone to know where he was, Muhannaʾ ibn Yaḥyā put his finger on the palm of his hand204 and called back, “Al-Marrūdhī’s not here.

"Angekuwa anafanya nini hapa hata hivyo?" Aḥmad alicheka na haonekani kutokubaliana nalo.

What would he be doing here anyway?” Aḥmad laughed and did not seem to disapprove.