Maimooni (rahimahullah) mentions that Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) said the following to him, “O Abul Hasan! Beware discussing any mas’alah of Deen in which you do not have any senior to follow.”

‘Abdur Rahmaan At-Tabeeb narrates the following:

On one occasion, Imaam Ahmed bin Hambal (rahimahullah) and Bishr bin Haarith (also known as Bishr Haafi (rahimahullah)) were sick. When I would go to Bishr (rahimahullah), I would ask him, “How do you find your condition?” When replying, he would first praise Allah Ta‘ala and thereafter inform me of his condition. Hence, he would reply, “I praise Allah Ta‘ala to you. I find my condition to be such-and-such.”