Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) was once asked regarding Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah). Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) thus said the following:
Allah Ta‘ala favored us and blessed us with Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah). We would learn the verdicts of the various ‘Ulamaa and we would record the knowledge of their kitaabs until Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) came to us. When we heard Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) speak, we realized that he was blessed with more knowledge of Deen than others. We thus sat with him (to learn the knowledge of Deen) during the days and the nights, and we only saw every form of goodness from him.”
Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) was then asked, “O Abu ‘Abdillah! Yahya and Abu Ubaid were not satisfied with Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) (referring to the fact that they had attributed Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah) to the misguided sect of the Shi‘ah).” Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) replied, “We do not know why they were saying this. By Allah! He was not as they said, and we only saw goodness from Imaam Shaafi‘ee (rahimahullah).”
(Siyar A’laam min Nubalaa’ 8/401)