Ahmad ibn al-Husayn added, from Bakr, from his father, from Abu 'Abd Allah, who said: Yazid ibn Harun narrated to us, from al-'Awwam, from al-Shaybani, from al-Qasim ibn 'Abd al-Rahman, from his father, from 'Abd Allah, from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), who said: 'The millstone of Islam will cease after thirty-five.'

650 - Abu Bakr al-Khallal said: If people were to reflect upon the words of Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding all matters, and grasp the meanings of what he speaks about, and accept them with understanding and humility, they would know that there was no one in the world like him in his time who followed the Hadith more than he, nor anyone more knowledgeable than him regarding its meanings and all things—and praise be to Allah. I have discussed this in more than one place, and I have clarified from him the meanings of what he spoke about in many sciences. So, look at what he also spoke about regarding testifying that the ten are in Paradise, and how he refuted the statement of 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Mahdi, and how he rejected the statement of al-Awza'i and others using the Hadiths from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). See how he exerted his efforts with the scholars of his time until he clarified to them the matter of affirming the testimony of Paradise for them, based on the meanings of the Hadith, the statement of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), and the proof therein. See also what he clarified regarding the establishment of the Caliphate of 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), how he argued using Hadiths to establish it, and how he disapproved of those who spoke about it. He strove against them, struggling regarding what they said concerning the affair of Talhah and al-Zubayr and others, and his responses to them were based on the meanings of sincerity and compassion for the Muslims, his call to the path of truth, and his acceptance of their statements, opinions, and what they adhered to, so that they might not be contradicted in any word they said or any deed they performed. They are the Imams who point to the path of the laws of the religion. We ask Allah, the Kind, the Merciful, to bless Muhammad, His servant and Messenger (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), and to reward him on our behalf better than any prophet, and to reward his companions—may the blessings of Allah be upon them—with goodness, for they have clarified the way and acted sincerely for the Muslims. Then, after them, may Allah the Great reward Ahmad ibn Hanbal on our behalf with the best reward; the compassionate teacher, who guides to that which brings one closer to Allah—Blessed and Exalted be He—through following them and mentioning them with goodness. We ask Allah for success.