485 - Muhammad ibn 'Ali informed us, saying: Abu Bakr al-Athram narrated to us, saying: I heard Abu 'Abd Allah [Ahmad ibn Hanbal] while we were at the door of 'Affan, and they mentioned the testimony [of faith] for those about whom it has come from the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, that they are in Paradise. Abu 'Abd Allah said: 'Yes, we testify,' and he spoke sternly against anyone who does not testify. He cited many things as evidence, and things were cited against him as evidence, so he became angry until he said: 'Are we children? Do we not know these hadiths?' And it was argued against him using the statement of 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Mahdi, and he said: 'Who is 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Mahdi [to override] these hadiths?'