Account of the death of Imām Aḥmad (may Allah have mercy on him)

His son Ṣāliḥ said: His illness began at the outset of the month of Rabīʿ al-Awwal in the year 241 AH. I visited him on Wednesday, the second of Rabīʿ al-Awwal, and found him feverish, breathing with difficulty and very weak. I asked, “Father, what have you had for lunch?” He replied, “Broad-bean water.” He then spoke of the many dignitaries and ordinary folk who were coming to see him, and of how greatly ⦗1⦘ the people were distressed for his sake. He had with him a khurayqa (small purse) containing a few coins from which he met his own expenses. He had instructed his son ʿAbd Allah to collect the rent from the tenants of his property and to give expiation on his behalf for an oath he had broken. So ʿAbd Allah took some of the rent, bought dates, offered the expiation, and three ⦗2⦘ dirhams were left over.

Imām Aḥmad then wrote his testament:

Bism Allah al-Raḥmān al-Raḥīm (In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful). This is what Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad ibn Ḥanbal bequeaths⦗3⦘. He testifies that there is no deity but Allah alone with no partner, and that Muḥammad is His servant and Messenger, whom He sent with guidance and the religion of truth so that He might make it prevail over every other religion, even though the idolaters may dislike it. He counsels whoever among his family and relatives obeys him to worship Allah among the worshippers, to praise Him among those who praise, and to give sincere counsel to the Muslim community. He further enjoins: I am content with Allah as Lord, with Islam as religion, and with Muḥammad as Prophet. He also declares that ʿAbd Allah ibn Muḥammad, known as Fawran⦗4⦘, has a claim upon me of about fifty dinars; he is to be believed⦗5⦘ in what he says, and his debt is to be paid from the revenue of the house, if Allah wills. When he has received his due, the children⦗6⦘ of Ṣāliḥ—each male and female—are to be given ten dirhams apiece.

He then summoned the young children among his heirs⦗7⦘ and prayed for them. Fifty days before his death a son had been born to him, whom he named Saʿīd. He also had another son, Muḥammad, who had only just begun to walk when Imām Aḥmad fell ill. He called the boy, embraced him and kissed him, and said, “What will I do with children at such an advanced age?” Someone replied, “They will be descendants after you who will pray for you.” He said, “Indeed, so it is,” and continued to praise Allah—glorified and exalted is He.