Shaykh al-Islām also transmitted—through a lengthy chain—from Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā al-Ramlī, the judge of Damascus, who said:
“I travelled through Iraq and the Ḥijāz, collecting hadith. Because of the sheer number of conflicting opinions I no longer knew which view to adopt, so I prayed, ‘O Allah, guide me.’
“I then fell asleep and saw the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—resting his back against the Kaʿbah, with al-Shāfiʿī and Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal standing to his right while he smiled at them both.
“I asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, which path should I follow?’
“He pointed to al-Shāfiʿī and Aḥmad and recited, ‘Those are the ones to whom We gave the Book, wisdom, and prophethood’ (Q 6:89), and he went on to recount the full story.”
Abū Bakr ibn Abī Dāwūd said: “ʿAlī ibn Ismāʿīl al-Sijistānī narrated to us:
“I saw in a dream that the Resurrection had begun. People were coming to a bridge, and a man was sealing something and handing it to them; whoever received a seal was allowed to cross. I asked, ‘Who is this man giving out the seals?’
“They replied, ‘Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal.’ ”
Al-Khallāl said: “ʿAbd al-Raḥīm ibn Muḥammad al-Mukharrimī narrated to us; I heard Isḥāq ibn Ibrāhīm Luʾluʾ say:
“I saw Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal in a dream and asked, ‘O Abū ʿAbd Allāh, have you not died?’
“He answered, ‘Indeed.’
“I said, ‘What has Allah done with you?’
“He replied, ‘He forgave me and everyone who invoked blessings upon me.’
“I objected, ‘But among them were people of innovation.’
“He said, ‘Those have been held back.’ ”
Abū Bakr ibn Shādhān said: “Yaḥyā ibn ʿAbd al-Wahhāb ibn Abī ʿIṣmah narrated to us; ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥusayn narrated to us; Bundār narrated to us:
“I saw Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal in a dream looking angry. I asked, ‘Why do I see you angry?’
“He replied, ‘How could I not be angry? Munkar and Nakīr came to me asking, “Who is your Lord?” I said, “Is such a question put to someone like me?” They said, “You have spoken the truth, O Abū ʿAbd Allāh, but we have been commanded to ask.” ’ ”
Al-Ṭabarānī said: “Muḥammad ibn ʿAbdūs ibn Kāmil narrated to us; Abū Jaʿfar Muḥammad…”