with the very same compassion I feel for my own son Hārūn. So, what do you say?”

I answered, “Bring me something from the Book of Allah or from the Sunnah of His Messenger.”

When the session grew long he became restless and said, “Stand up!” He then kept me back—meaning, in his presence (1)—and ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Isḥāq spoke to me, saying, “Woe to you! Answer me (2). Woe to you! Were you not accustomed to visit us?”

ʿAbd al-Raḥmān said to him, “Commander of the Faithful, I have known him for thirty years; he believes that obedience to you, performing the ḥajj, and engaging in jihad with you are duties.”

He replied, “By Allah, he is indeed a scholar and a jurist, and it would not displease me in the least to have him with me, refuting the followers of other creeds on my behalf.

“Did you ever know Ṣāliḥ al-Rashīdī?”

I said, “I have heard of him (3).”

He said, “He was my tutor. He was sitting right there”—and he pointed to one side of the courtyard—“and he asked me (4) about the Qur’an and opposed me, so I ordered that he be trampled underfoot and dragged away! Ahmad, give me any answer that will secure you the slightest reprieve so that I may release you with my own hand.”

I said, “Produce for me something from the Book of Allah or from the Sunnah of His Messenger.”

The sitting dragged on; he rose, and I was returned to my place.

After sunset he sent two of Ibn Abi Duʿād’s associates to spend the night with me. They would stay, debate with me, and remain in my company; and when it was time to break the fast, food would be brought and they would urge me to eat, but I refused—it was the nights of Ramadan.

He went on to say: Al-Muʿtaṣim dispatched Ibn Abi Duʿād to me during the night. He came and said, “The Commander of the Faithful asks you: What do you say?”

I replied with something similar to what I had been saying before.

At that Ibn Abi Duʿād exclaimed, “By Allah…"