“I heard my grandfather say, ‘Aḥmad was among the people most beloved and most generous in spirit, unsurpassed in companionship and good manners. He would often lower his gaze, avoiding anything ugly or frivolous; nothing was heard from him except discussion of hadith and remembrance of the righteous and the ascetics, all delivered with dignity, calmness, and pleasant speech. Whenever anyone met him, he greeted him with a smile and turned fully toward him. He showed profound humility to the senior scholars, and they in turn honored and revered him.
Al-Khallāl said: Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥusayn told me that Abū Bakr al-Marwadhī—who narrated to them—said: “Abū ʿAbd Allāh never acted ignorantly, and if others acted ignorantly toward him he bore it patiently and with forbearance, saying, ‘Allah is sufficient.’ He was neither rancorous nor hasty. A dispute once arose between his uncle and the neighbors; they used to come to Abū ʿAbd Allāh, yet he showed no partiality to his uncle nor became angry on his behalf, and he received them with the honor they knew from him.
He was exceedingly humble and loved the poor; I never saw a poor person in any gathering more honored than in his. He inclined toward them while distancing himself from the people of the world. Serenity and dignity rested upon him. When he sat after ʿAsr to give fatwas, he would not speak until a question was put to him. When he went to his mosque, he never sought the front but sat wherever the gathering ended. He never stretched out his legs in an assembly and always honored his companion.
He possessed noble character—ever cheerful, gentle, never harsh or coarse. He loved for the sake of Allah and hated for the sake of Allah. When he loved someone, he wished for him what he wished for himself and disliked for him what he disliked for himself; yet his love did not prevent him from restraining him and holding him back from any wrongdoing, sin, or disliked act. Whenever he heard of a person’s righteousness, asceticism, upholding of the truth, or adherence to the command, he inquired about him and wished to make his acquaintance, eager to know his circumstances.
He was a perceptive man: if something displeased him he would be perturbed, becoming angry for Allah’s sake and not for himself, never seeking vengeance for his own sake. But when the matter concerned religion his anger would intensify until it seemed as though he were another person; no blame from any critic would deter him in the cause of Allah. He was an excellent neighbor: he would be harmed yet remain patient, enduring the annoyance of those next door …’” End.