Question about Imam Ahmad (ra) in prison

[al-kulayni]

Assalamu Aleykum,

I have read in an article that Imam Ahmad (ra) when he was in prison didn't eat during 8 days and nights, do we know why he didn't ate or drunk ?

[Rationalist]

I think his whole opposition against the Mutazilla is all exaggerated. Its similar to how the 12ers use emotional stories to market their sect.

[Furkan]

I think his whole opposition against the Mutazilla is all exaggerated. Its similar to how the 12ers use emotional stories to market their sect.

You are kidding right?

[Muhammad Tazin]

As I have known, Ahmad ibn HAmbal(r) and many other early scholars were tortured,punished by Abbasid Mutazilla khalifas .

[Furkan]

Dude they even refused to exchange captured soldiers just bcuz the captured muslim soldiers (by Romans I think) were from ahlu sunnah and rejected the beliefs of the mutazillis.

[Rationalist]

You are kidding right?

I'm not. I think this part of history is emotionally exaggerated to win support for it.

[al-kulayni]

Please stay on topic or open another thread.

Here is the text from Siyar A'lamu Nubala about Imam Ahmad (ra) saying he didn't ate during eight days :

وكان يحيى بن خاقان  ، وابنه عبيد الله  ، وعلي بن الجهم  يختلفون إلى أبي عبد الله  برسالة المتوكل   . ودامت العلة بأبي عبد الله  ، وضعف شديدا .

وكان يواصل ، ومكث ثمانية أيام لا يأكل ولا يشرب ، ففي الثامن دخلت عليه ، وقد كاد أن يطفأ ، فقلت : يا أبا عبد الله  ، ابن الزبير  كان يواصل سبعة ، وهذا لك اليوم ثمانية أيام . قال : إني مطيق . قلت : بحقي عليك . قال : فإني أفعل . فأتيته بسويق فشرب .

Do we know why he didn't ate during these days ?