and I asked Him that I might never see al-Mutawakkil. I never did set eyes on al-Maʾmūn; he died at al-Badhan-dūn⦗1⦘—that is the Romans’ river.

Aḥmad remained in detention at ar-Raqqah until the people pledged allegiance to al-Muʿtaṣim after the death of his brother, whereupon Aḥmad was sent back to Baghdad.

As for al-Mutawakkil, he publicized Imam Aḥmad’s merit and sought to meet him. When Aḥmad came to the caliphal palace in Sāmarrāʾ to recite hadith for al-Mutawakkil’s son and invoke blessings upon him, the caliph seated himself in an upper alcove so that he and his mother could look down on Aḥmad while Aḥmad could not see him.

Ṣāliḥ said: When my father and Muḥammad ibn Nūḥ set out for Ṭarsūs they were returned in their shackles. When they reached ar-Raqqah they were placed aboard a boat, and when they arrived at ʿĀnah⦗2⦘ Muḥammad died; his fetters were removed and my father led the funeral prayer over him.

Hanbal reported that Abū ʿAbd Allāh said, “I have never seen anyone—despite his youth and limited learning—who stood more firmly for Allah’s cause than Muḥammad ibn Nūḥ. I hope that his life was sealed with goodness.”

One day he said to me, “Abū ʿAbd Allāh, fear Allah, fear Allah. You are not like me; you are a man whom others follow. The people have craned their necks toward you, waiting to see what you will do. So fear Allah and stand fast for His sake,” or words to that effect.

He passed away, and I offered the funeral prayer over him and buried him—I think he said: at ʿĀnah.

Ṣāliḥ also said: My father was taken back to Baghdad in chains and stayed for several days in al-Yāsiriyyah⦗3⦘.