1.       The great leader of millions of Hanbalis, Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal’s رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه son, Sayyiduna Saalih رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه was the Qadi of Isfahan. Once, the servant of Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه made roti from some kneaded flour he found in the kitchen of Sayyiduna Saalih رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه and presented it in the court of Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه.

He asked him: ‘Why is this so soft?’

The servant described the situation in which he brought the kneaded flour.

Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه said: ‘My son is the Qadi of Isfahan. Why did you use his leavened dough? Now, I’m not going to eat this Roti. Give it to some poor person, but do let him know that this Roti has Qadi’s kneaded flour mixed in it.’

Coincidently, no poor person came for 40 days and by then, the Roti began to give off a foul-smell. The servant put the Roti in the river Tigris. What can be said about the piety of Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه! After that day, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه never ate the fish of the river Tigris. (Tazkira-tul-Awliya, pp. 197)

Sayyiduna Idrees Haddaad رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه states: Once, Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه travelled to Makkah to perform Hajj. Over there, he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه ran out of money. He رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه had a bucket with him. He pawned the bucket for something with a greengrocer.

When Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ removed his poverty, he went back to the greengrocer and asked for his bucket back while paying him the money. The green-grocer stood up, presenting 2 look-alike buckets and said: ‘I am not sure as to which one from these two is yours. You may take whichever you want.’

Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه replied: ‘This situation has become doubtful to me as to which one is mine. By Allah Almighty! I will not take it at all.’

The greengrocer then said: ‘By Allah Almighty! I will not leave it either without giving it away.’ Eventually, both of them agreed to sell both buckets and give the money in charity. (Al-Raud-ul-Faaiq, pp. 221)

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه! You heard how pious and righteous Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه was that he did not take the bucket back simply out of the fear that the