“…Tell me about this doctrine to which you have summoned the people: did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ know of it and yet not call the people to it, or was it something he did not know?”

Aḥmad replied, “Rather, he knew it.”

The shaykh said, “Then it was permissible for him to leave the people unbidden, but impermissible for you?! ” They were struck dumb; al-Wāthiq burst out laughing, rose with his hand over his mouth, withdrew to another chamber, stretched out his legs and kept repeating,

“A matter it was lawful for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to keep silent about, yet it is not lawful for us!”

He then ordered that the shaykh be given three hundred dinars and returned to his homeland. (1)

Ṭāhir ibn Khalaf relates: I heard al-Muhtadī bi-Allah, the son of al-Wāthiq, say: “Whenever my father intended to execute a man, he would summon us.”

He continued: “A shaykh with a dyed beard was brought in, shackled. My father said, ‘Admit Aḥmad ibn Abī Duʾād and his companions.’

“The shaykh was ushered in and greeted, ‘Peace be upon you, Commander of the Believers.’

“My father replied, ‘May Allah not grant you peace!’

“The shaykh retorted, ‘What a poor education your tutor gave you! Allah — Exalted is He — says: ‘When you are greeted with a greeting, respond with one better or at least return it.’ (al-Nisāʾ 4:86)

“Aḥmad remarked, ‘The man is eloquent.’

“My father said, ‘Speak to him.’

“Aḥmad asked, ‘Shaykh, what do you say about the Quran?’

“The shaykh replied, ‘You have not treated me justly; I am entitled to ask first.’

“‘Ask,’ Aḥmad said.

“‘What do you say?’ the shaykh asked.

“‘It is created,’ Aḥmad answered.

“The shaykh said, ‘Is this something the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, Abu Bakr, ʿUmar, and the succeeding caliphs knew, or did they not know it?’

“‘They did not know it,’ Aḥmad replied.

“The shaykh exclaimed, ‘Glory be to Allah! Something they did not know, and yet you claim to know it?!’ Aḥmad felt ashamed and said, ‘Excuse me.’

“The shaykh insisted, ‘The question stands: what do you say about the Quran?’

“‘It is created,’ Aḥmad repeated.

“The shaykh asked, ‘Did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ know that?’

“‘He knew it,’ Aḥmad said.

“‘He knew it and yet never called the people to it?’ the shaykh pressed.

“‘Yes,’ Aḥmad answered.

“‘Was that acceptable for him?’

“‘Yes.’

“‘Then will you not be content with what sufficed him and the caliphs after him?’

“At that, al-Wāthiq rose and withdrew into a private chamber.”