And for this, the Imam was struck with their whip *** The truthful one of the people of the Sunnah, al-Shaybani (The Trial of Imam Ahmad in the Qur'an and Clarifying the Difference Between the Scholar and Others Regarding Compulsion)

The Shaykh :"And for this, the Imam was struck with their whip *** The truthful one of the people of the Sunnah, al-Shaybani"
Who? Imam Ahmad was struck with the whip because he persisted in stating the truth that the Qur'an is the speech of Allah, revealed and not created. They were striking him with whips until he would faint, dragging him on a mule through the market, and beating him until he lost consciousness, to make him say that the Qur'an is created. But he persisted. He said: "The Qur'an is revealed and not created. Do what you wish." Yes, and this is like what the magicians said to Pharaoh. What did they say? And so is the position of the people of truth, especially in this straitened position. If Imam Ahmad had said that the Qur'an is created, even by way of figurative interpretation, the entire Ummah would have become Mu'tazilah and Jahmiyyah. So his position here is not a matter of the position of compulsion. If someone were to say, "Why didn't he use figurative interpretation?" or "The one who is compelled is not sinful," we would say, "No, this is a position of jihad." There is a difference between a person who is compelled to prostrate to an idol, but people do not follow him in that. He is permitted to do what he is compelled to do if his heart is reassured with faith. And between a person who is an Imam. It is not permissible for him to do what he is compelled to do. Pay attention to this difference, because if this Imam did what he was compelled to do from disbelief, what would happen? People would follow him and become disbelievers. So his position is a position of jihad. But an ordinary person is told to prostrate to an idol, so he prostrates, and no one cares about him; in fact, people disapprove of him for prostrating. We say that if he prostrated to ward off compulsion, there is no blame on him, and he is excused as long as his heart is reassured with faith. Good.