Al-Khallāl transmitted: Ḥāmid ibn Aḥmad related to me; I heard al-Ḥasan ibn Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥārith say:
“I entered Aḥmad’s house and, in the vestibule, I saw a worn-out rush mat and a single cushion, with his books strewn round about, and a clay water-jar.
It is also reported that a coarse hair-cloth mat hung at his doorway.
Al-Khallāl further transmitted: al-Marwazī narrated from Isḥāq ibn Ibrāhīm al-Naysābūrī, who said: ‘The governor said to me, “When Abū ʿAbd Allāh breaks his fast, show me what he eats.” So they came with two loaves—one of ordinary bread and another of khubāzah (1). When I showed them to the governor, he said, “A man who contents himself with this will never accept our invitation.”’
Al-Marwazī added: ‘On the days of ʿĪd, Abū ʿAbd Allāh remarked, “Yesterday they bought us some bāqillā (broad beans); how excellent they were!”
I also heard him say, “I feel the cold in my extremities; I can only attribute it to the fact that my relish is nothing but salt and vinegar.”’
Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad ibn Masrūq reported: ʿAbd Allāh ibn Aḥmad told me, ‘My father came to visit me while I was ill. I said, “Father, we still possess some of what al-Mutawakkil used to bestow upon us; may I perform the ḥajj with it?” He said, “Yes.” I said, “If that is your view, why do you yourself not take from it?” He replied, “It is not unlawful in my sight, but I have chosen to abstain from it.”’ This was narrated by al-Khuldī from him.
Ibn ʿAllān informed us; Abū al-Yaman informed us; al-Qazzāz (2) informed us; the Khatīb informed us; Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn Yaʿqūb told me; al-Ḍabbī informed us; I heard Aḥmad ibn Isḥāq al-Ḍuʿabī; I heard Ibrāhīm ibn Isḥāq al-Sarrāj say:
‘One day Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal said, “I am told that this Ḥārith—meaning al-Muḥāsibī—spends a great deal of time with you. If only you would bring him, seat me where he cannot see me, and let me listen to his discourse.” I said, “Very well.”’
(1) khubāzah: a simple, coarse loaf, traditionally baked from barley or mallow leaves.
(2) al-Qazzāz: lit. “the silk merchant,” a common nisbah among ḥadīth transmitters.