368 - Abu Bakr al-Marrudhi informed us, saying: I heard Harun ibn Abd Allah say to Abu Abd Allah (Ahmad ibn Hanbal): A letter came to me from al-Raqqah stating that some people said: 'Do not say that Abu Bakr was the Caliph of the Messenger of Allah, that he appointed him as successor.' He (Ahmad) became angry and said: 'What is their objection to this? They should be shunned until they repent.' Abu Musa said to him: 'Does Abu Barzah not say to Abu Bakr: "O Caliph of the Messenger of Allah"?' He (Ahmad) replied: 'Yes, this and other than this (support it).'