992 - 'Abd al-Malik ibn 'Abd al-Hamid al-Maymuni informed me, saying: I heard Ahmad ibn Hanbal one day mention this hadith, meaning the hadith of the slave girl who was brought to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He said: "They use it as evidence—meaning the Murji'ah—yet it is an argument against them—meaning the Murji'ah. They say: 'Faith is [merely] speech.' The Prophet (peace and blessings of him) was not satisfied with her until he said: 'Do you believe in this? Do you believe in this?'"
٩٩٢ - وَأَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ الْمَيْمُونِيُّ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ أَحْمَدَ بْنَ حَنْبَلٍ، يَوْمًا، وَذَكَرَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ، يَعْنِي حَدِيثَ الْجَارِيَةِ الَّتِي أُتِيَ بِهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَالَ: " هُمْ يَحْتَجُّونَ بِهِ، يَعْنِي الْمُرْجِئَةَ، وَهُوَ حُجَّةٌ عَلَيْهِمْ، يَعْنِي الْمُرْجِئَةَ، يَقُولُونَ: الْإِيمَانُ قَوْلٌ، النَّبِيُّ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لَمْ يَرْضَ مِنْهَا حَتَّى قَالَ: تُؤْمِنِينَ بِكَذَا، تُؤْمِنِينَ بِكَذَا "
