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Sayings of the Salafأقوال السلف
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Sayings of the Salaf

Timeless wisdom. Thoughtfully preserved.

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Abū ʾUmāmah Al-Bāhilī

How Much Shaytan Tries to Cause Marital Strife

Abū ʾUmāmah – Allāh be pleased with him – said:

Verily Shayṭān comes to your bed after your wife has made it and prepared it and throws a stick, a stone, or something [similar] on it to make the husband angry with his wife. So if someone finds this, let him not be angry with his wife, for it is the work of Shayṭān.

Al-Bukhārī, Al-Adab Al-Mufrad #1191. The chain of transmission is graded ḥasan by Shaykh Al-Albānī; he also regards it as being authentic from the Prophet ﷺ . See Ṣaḥīḥ Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 1:463

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EntryHow Much Shaytan Tries to Cause Marital Strife

Verily Shayṭān comes to your bed after your wife has made it and prepared it and throws a stick, a stone, or something [similar] on it to make the husband angry with his wife. So if someone finds this, let him not be angry with his wife, for it is the work of Shayṭān.

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Maymūn b. Mihrān

Three Things that Must be Given to the Righteous and the Sinful

It is reported that Maymūn b. Mihrān – Allāh have mercy on him – said:

There are three things that must be given to both the righteous and the sinful: the ties of the womb (relatives) must be kept connected, whether they are righteous or sinful; trust must be fulfilled, for the righteous and the sinful; and promises must be kept, to the righteous as well as the sinful.

Ibn Abī Shaybah, Al-Muṣannaf 12:298.

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EntryThree Things that Must be Given to the Righteous and the Sinful

There are three things that must be given to both the righteous and the sinful: the ties of the womb (relatives) must be kept connected, whether they are righteous or sinful; trust must be fulfilled, for the righteous and the sinful; and promises must be kept, to the righteous as well as the sinful.

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Abū Idrīs Al-Khawlānī

Having the Gatherings of Knowledge in the Mosque

It is reported that ʿAlī [b. Abī Ṭālib] – Allāh be pleased with him – said:

The masājid are the sittings of the Prophets, and a protection from Shayṭān.

Al-Ḵaṭīb, Al-Jāmiʿ li-ʾAḵlāq Al-Rāwī #1200.

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EntryHaving the Gatherings of Knowledge in the Mosque

The masājid are the sittings of the Prophets, and a protection from Shayṭān.

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Rabīʿ b. Khuthaym

Nine Things to Say Often

It is reported that Muḥammad [Ibn Sīrīn] – Allāh have mercy him – said:

We were once in the house of ʿAlqamah b. Qays. Rabīʿ b. Ḵuthaym entered upon us and sat in a corner of the house. Then he said, “Speak only a little except for nine things: subḥānallāh, al-ḥamdulillāh, lā ilāha illallāh, Allāhu ʾakbar, reciting the Qurān, enjoining good, forbidding wrong, asking Allāh for what is good and seeking His protection from harm (evil).”

Hannād b. Al-Sarīy, Al-Zuhd #1108.

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EntryNine Things to Say Often

We were once in the house of ʿAlqamah b. Qays. Rabīʿ b. Ḵuthaym entered upon us and sat in a corner of the house. Then he said, “Speak only a little except for nine things: subḥānallāh, al-ḥamdulillāh, lā ilāha illallāh, Allāhu ʾakbar, reciting the Qurān, enjoining good, forbidding wrong, asking Allāh for what is good and seeking His protection from harm (evil).”

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Bilāl b. Saʿd

Broadcasted Sins

Bilāl b. Saʿd – Allāh have mercy him – said:

When a sin is hidden it harms only the perpetrator, but if it is made apparent and not rectified, it harms all the people.

Ibn Waḍḍāḥ, Al-Bidʿah #287.

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EntryBroadcasted Sins

When a sin is hidden it harms only the perpetrator, but if it is made apparent and not rectified, it harms all the people.

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Khālid b. Maʿdān

Final Blame and Praise

It is reported that Khālid b. Maʿdān – Allāh have mercy him – said:

Whoever seeks praise by [saying or doing] what goes against Allāh, Allāh will turn those praises back on him to blame; and whoever is bold enough to [say or do] what brings blame [from people but] is in conformity to the truth, Allāh will turn that blame into praise.

Abū Dāwūd, Al-Zuhd #494.

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EntryFinal Blame and Praise

Whoever seeks praise by [saying or doing] what goes against Allāh, Allāh will turn those praises back on him to blame; and whoever is bold enough to [say or do] what brings blame [from people but] is in conformity to the truth, Allāh will turn that blame into praise.

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Al-Aḥnaf b. Qays

Lofty Manners & Conduct of the Salaf [Examples]

It is reported that Jābir b. ʿAbdillāh – Allāh be pleased with him – said:

Have taqwā of Allāh and behave modestly (with a sense of shame), and cover yourselves; let not any of you bathe except behind a covering.

Al-Bayhaqī, Shuʿab Al-Īmān #7398.

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EntryLofty Manners & Conduct of the Salaf [Examples]

Have taqwā of Allāh and behave modestly (with a sense of shame), and cover yourselves; let not any of you bathe except behind a covering.

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Imām Al-Shāfiʿī

Lands of Scholars and Doctors

It is reported that Imām Al-Shāfiʿī – Allāh have mercy on him – said:

Do not live in a land in which there is neither a scholar to inform you about your religion, nor a doctor to tell you about your body.

Al-Bayhaqī, Manāqib Al-Shāfiʿī 2:115

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EntryLands of Scholars and Doctors

Do not live in a land in which there is neither a scholar to inform you about your religion, nor a doctor to tell you about your body.

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Ḥafṣah

Hafsah on Two Reasons to Marry

ʿAmr b. Dīnār reports that ʿAbdullāh b. ʿUmar – Allāh be pleased with them – intended not to marry after the [passing of the] Prophet – ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa salam, so Ḥafṣah (his sister) – Allāh be pleased with her – advised him:

My brother, marry, for if you have a child and it dies, it will precede you into Al-Jannah (and be a cause for you to be admitted), and if it lives, the child will supplicate for good for you.

ʿAbd Al-Razzāq Al-Ṣanʿānī, Al-Muṣannaf #10388

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EntryHafsah on Two Reasons to Marry

My brother, marry, for if you have a child and it dies, it will precede you into Al-Jannah (and be a cause for you to be admitted), and if it lives, the child will supplicate for good for you.

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ʿAbdullāh b. ʿAmr

Who is Rich?

A man once asked ʿAbdullāh b. ʿAmr b. Al-ʿĀṣ – Allāh be pleased with them:

“Are we not from the poor of the Muhājirīn?” He replied, “Do you have a wife to go back to?” The man replied, “Yes.” ʿAbdullāh asked, “Do you have a home to live in?” The man said, “Yes.” ʿAbdullāh said, “Then you are one of the rich.” The man said, “And I have a servant.” ʿAbdullāh said, “In that case, you are a king!”

Muslim, Al-Ṣaḥīḥ #5290

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EntryWho is Rich?

“Are we not from the poor of the Muhājirīn?” He replied, “Do you have a wife to go back to?” The man replied, “Yes.” ʿAbdullāh asked, “Do you have a home to live in?” The man said, “Yes.” ʿAbdullāh said, “Then you are one of the rich.” The man said, “And I have a servant.” ʿAbdullāh said, “In that case, you are a king!”

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A Preserved State of Knowledge

You will remain upon good as long as you do not start approving of what you used to repudiate and as long as you do not repudiate what you used to know (to be right), and as long as your scholar (the knowledgeable) can speak amongst you without fear.
ʿAdī b. Ḥātim

Ibn Baṭṭah, Al-Ibānah Al-Kubrā ḥadīth 26.

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Knowledge143Character111Sins78Bidʿah66Dunyā66
ʿUmar b. Al-Khaṭṭāb39Al-Ḥasan Al-Baṣrī37ʿAbdullāh b. Masʿūd37Al-Fuḍayl b. ʿAyyāḍ22ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib22