The Biography of the Eminent Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal

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 Ibn Kathīr said: “Al-Bayhaqī narrated from ar-Rabī’ saying: ‘Ash-Shāfi’ī sent me with a letter from Egypt to Aḥmad bin Ḥanbal. I came to him while he was returning from the Fajr prayer, so I presented the letter to him; he said, “Have you read it?” I said, “No.” So he took it and read it, and his eyes welled up with tears. I said, “Abū ‘Abdillāh, what does it contain?” He said, “It mentions that he saw the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ in a dream and he said, ‘Write to Aḥmad bin Ḥanbal and convey to him, from me, thesalām, and say to him: Indeed, you will be tried and called to a statement that the Qur’ān is created, but do not respond to them. Allāh will elevate you as a sign until the Day of Judgment.’”’”