[Al-Muzanī:] Al-Shāfiʿī alisema kwamba alimwendea Hārūn al-Rashīd na, baada ya kumsalimu, akasema kwamba alikuwa ametoka Yemen, ambako kulikuwa na uhitaji mkubwa wa mkono imara. Al-Rashīd akasema, "Chagua mmoja wa wanafunzi wako, nasi tutamteua kuwa qadhi huko." 50.1

[Al-Muzanī:] Al-Shafiʿī said that he went to see Hārūn al-Rashīd and, after greeting him, said that he had just come from Yemen, which badly needed a strong hand. Al- Rashīd said, “Choose one of your students and we’ll appoint him judge there.” 50.1

Rudi kwenye kikao chake cha masomo, na alipoona kwamba Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal alikuwa miongoni mwa bora wa waliokuwepo, al-Shāfiʿī alimkaribia na kusema, "Nilikuwa nikizungumza na Amiri wa Waumini kuhusu kumteua hakimu huko Yemen, naye aliniomba nichague mtu anayesoma pamoja nami. Nimekuchagua wewe, kwa hiyo jiandae: nitakupeleka umwone, naye atakuteua kuwa hakimu." Ibn Ḥanbal alimgeukia na kusema, "Sababu pekee iliyonileta kwako ni kujifunza jambo fulani, sasa unataka mimi nijiunge nao kama hakimu?" Al-Shāfiʿī aliaibishwa na jibu hili la kumkemea.281