There has been a consensus among all the Muhadditheen and Scholars of this Ummah concerning the Famous Imaam of Ahl us-Sunnah, Abu Abdullah Ahmed bin Muhammad bin Hanbal bin Hilaal bin Asad ash- Shaybaani al-Marwazi al-Baghdaadi (rahimahullah) (D. 241H) that he was an Aadil, Dhaabit, Thiqah, and extremely reliable Imaam.
In this short and succinct article, we will mention the sayings of the Scholars of this Ummah with references and Tahqeeq, concerning Imaam Ahmed bin Hanbal:
1- Imaam Abu Abdullaah Muhammad bin Ismaa’eel al-Bukhaari (rahimahullah) (D. 256 H), in his famous book “Saheeh al-Bukhaari” has taken narrations from Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) at the following places:
[H. 377, 2108, 4473, 5105, 5879]
This proves that Imaam Ahmed was Thiqah and Sudooq according to Imaam Bukhaari. This is also accorded by the fact that Imaam Bukhaari has taken evidence from the sayings of Imaam Ahmed in the field of Asmaa ur-Rijaal. For example, see: Kitaab ad-Du’afa of Bukhaari (80, 110, 240, 260, and 355); and Al-Taareekh al-Kabeer (7/291….)
