Abu Dawud al-Sijistani reported: The circle of Ahmad ibn Hanbal, may Allah be pleased with him, was a circle of the Hereafter, as he would not mention the affairs of the world therein. I never once saw Ahmad ibn Hanbal mentioning the world.
Source: Tārīkh Dimashq 5/291
عَنْ أَبِي دَاوُدَ السِّجِسْتَانِيِّ قَالَ كَانَتْ مُجَالَسَةُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ حَنْبَلٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ مُجَالَسَةُ الْآخِرَةِ لَا يَذْكُرُ فِيهَا مِنْ أَمْرِ الدُّنْيَا مَا رَأَيْتُ أَحْمَدَ بْنَ حَنْبَلٍ ذَكَرَ الدُّنْيَا قَطُّ
5/291 تاريخ دمشق لابن عساكر
