203 - And Abu Bakr al-Marrudhi informed us, saying: Abu 'Abd Allah [Ahmad ibn Hanbal] said: The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: "There is not one of you but has a devil with him." They asked: "Even you, O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Even I, except that Allah aided me against him, so he submitted [or: so I was safe from him]." Abu 'Abd Allah said: "I do not know whether it means 'he submits' [aslamu - meaning he becomes a Muslim] or 'I am safe from him' [aslamu - meaning I am protected/safe]." I [al-Marrudhi] said: "Some people say that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is safe from him [yaslamu minhu]." He said: "I do not know."