Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on Him said: al-Bayhiqi narrated from al-Rabae that he said: al-Shafae' sent me from Egypt with a message to Ahmed ibn Hanbal. I came to him after he finished praying Fajr. I gave him the message. He said: Did you read it? I said: No! He took it and read it, and he wept. I said to him: O Abu Abdullah, what is in the message? He said: He tells me that He saw Allah's Messenger, Peace Be upon Him, in a dream and he said to him: Write to Abi Abdullah Ahmad ibn Hanbal and greet him for me, and tell him 'You will be tested and pushed to say that al-Quran was created, but do not obey them. Allah shall raise your mention till the Day of Judgment.' Al-Bedayah wal Nahaya (365/10)