When Imam Ahmad was taken to al-Mu’tasim, the Caliph, to receive the torment, it was said to him: “Pray against the one oppressing you!”
Imam Ahmad replied: “He is not patient (saabir), the one who prays against one oppressing him”
Imam Ahmad was taken in the month of Ramadan and lashed whilst he was fasting until he fainted.
When he gained consciousness a man said to him: “We threw you on your face, laid a mat
over you and walked all over you”
Imam Ahmad said: “I didn’t feel anything”
They then brought Imam Ahmad something to drink and said: “Drink this and vomit”
He said: “I wouldn’t break my fast”
They then took him the officer’s house and time for Dhuhr came. After they had prayed, a person turned to Imam Ahmad and said: “You prayed while blood is dripping from your clothes!”
Imam Ahmd replied: “Umar prayed whilst his wound poured out blood”
Furan, the student of Imam Ahmad b. Hanbal once informed him of Fadl al-Anmati:
Fadl said to me: “I would not forgive the one who ordered my lashing until I, say that the Quran is created; nor would I forgive the one who lashed me, nor those who were happy over this from those who attended the lashing and those who were absent from the Jahmis!”
Imam Ahmad said in reply: “But I have forgiven al-Mu’tasim (the Caliph), the one who lashed me, and all those who were present or absent. I thought that none should be punished (in the hereafter) on my account”
Talibatul `ilm 