external reality two distinct things, even though the intellect distinguishes essence in the abstract from existence in the abstract.

Once this is understood, the present question rests upon “the question of Allah’s speech and other such attributes of His”: are they eternal attributes inseparable from His essence, none of which relates to His action, will, or power? Or should it be said that He speaks when He wills and remains silent when He wills, and that these are also attributes of action? Our companions and other adherents of Ahl al-Sunnah hold two positions on this.

I said: This supplication offered by Shaykh Abū Zakariyyā is transmitted from Imam Ahmad, and that is where the shaykh learned it—Allah knows best. He had great love for Ahmad and the reports transmitted from him, and devoted much attention to accounts of his virtues and life. They have included this supplication in accounts of his virtues, and the hadith master al-Bayhaqī narrated it in Manāqib Ahmad (The Virtues of Ahmad). Shaykh Abū Zakariyyā was authorized to transmit this work by the hadith master ‘Abd al-Qādir al-Ruhāwī. They heard it read before him, with his transmission from al-Ruhāwī being by authorization.

Al-Bayhaqī said: Among the reports Abū ‘Abd Allāh, the hadith master, conveyed to me by authorization was the following: Abū Bakr Muhammad ibn Ismā‘īl ibn al-‘Abbās related to me: Abū Muhammad ‘Abd Allāh ibn Ishāq ibn Ibrāhīm al-Baghawī related to me: Abū Ja‘far Muhammad ibn Ya‘qūb al-Saffār related to us, saying:

We were with Ahmad ibn Hanbal and said, “Pray to Allah for us.” He said:

“O Allah, You know that we know that, in most respects, You are toward us as we would wish. So make us toward You as You love.”

He said: Then I sat for a while, and someone said to him, “Abū ‘Abd Allāh, give us more.” He said:

“O Allah, we ask You by the power with which You said to the heavens and the earth, ‘Come, willingly or unwillingly,’ and they said, ‘We come willingly.’ O Allah, guide us to what pleases You. O Allah, we seek refuge in You from being in need of anyone but You, and we seek refuge in You from being humbled before anyone but You. O Allah, do not give us so much that we transgress, nor give us so little that we forget