It is part of sure belief (yaqīn) [in Allāh] that you do not please the people by angering Allāh, and do not praise anyone [else] for what Allāh has provided you, and do not blame anyone for what Allāh has not given you. For verily, the provision of Allāh is not gained by the keenness of those who are keen [for you to have it], nor is it prevented by the hatred of those who hate [for you to have it]. And verily Allāh, in His justice, made happiness and joy in being certain and content [with Allāh], and made worry and sadness in doubt and anger.
Hannād b. Al-Sarī, Al-Zuhd, article 535.
It is reported that ʿAbdullāh b. Masʿūd – Allāh be pleased with him – said: There is no comfort or rest for the believer until he meets Allāh.
Wakīʿ b. Al-Jarrāḥ, Al-Zuhd #86
ʿAbd Al-Raḥmān b. Yazīd reports: Al-Rabīʿ b. Khuthaym used to come to ʿAlqamah on the day of Jumuʿah and they would talk. They would call for me and I would come and talk with them. One day, they sent for me and I came. ʿAlqamah said to me, Have you not heard what Al-Rabīʿ b. Khuthaym has come to us with? I replied, And what is that? He said, [Rabīʿ] said a man from the People of Scripture once said to us, Do you not see how much people supplicate but how seldom their prayers are answered? That is because Allāh does not accept except what is sincere and purely for Him. I said, Well ʿAbdullāh [b. Masʿūd] already said the same. He asked, What did he say? I replied, Haven’t you heard him say, By Him other than whom there is none worthy of worship, Allāh does not accept [the deed] of one who seeks to be heard of, or seen, and nor someone who is playing around, [He only accepts the supplication] of one who calls upon Him from the bottom of his heart. He replied, Indeed, [I have heard him say that].
Hunād b. Al-Sarī, Al-Zuhd #874.
The people will remain upon goodness as long as knowledge comes to them from the Companions of Allāh’s Messenger – Allāh’s praise and peace be upon him, and from their seniors. But when knowledge comes to them from their minors, that is when they will be destroyed. Ibn ‘Abd Al-Barr, Jāmi’ Bayān Al-‘Ilm wa Fadlihi article 1060. Note Being upon a good and right path is based on following the knowledge of the Companions and seniors: scholars and people who adhere to the Sunnah, whereas taking knowledge from minors like ignorants and heretics is a sign of destruction.
Note Being upon a good and right path is based on following the knowledge of the Companions and seniors: scholars and people who adhere to the Sunnah, whereas taking knowledge from minors like ignorants and heretics is a sign of destruction.
It is reported that Jundub b. ʿAbdillāh Al-Bajalī said: I once sought permission to see Ḥudhayfah three times without being given permission. So I left, but his messenger caught up with me. [When I spoke to Ḥudhayfah] he asked, “What made you leave?” I replied, “I thought you were sleeping (after Fajr).” He said, “I do not sleep until I see where the sun rises from.” [The narrator] said, “I related this to Muḥammad (another narrator), to which he said, ‘More than one of the Companions of Muḥammad – Allāh’s praise and peace be upon him – did this.’” Ibn Abī Shaybah, Kitāb Al-Adab articles 156 and 157.
Ibn Abī Shaybah, Kitāb Al-Adab articles 156 and 157.
This world (the dunyā) is [only taken as] a home by those who will have no real home [in Jannah], and it is the wealth of those who will have no real wealth, and it is gathered and collected for by those who have no real intelligence. Ibn Abī Al-Dunyā, Dhamm Al-Dunyā article 16.
Ibn Abī Al-Dunyā, Dhamm Al-Dunyā article 16.
By Allāh, he who gives people verdicts (fatwā) for every question they ask him is crazy (majnūn). Ibn Battah Al-‘Ukbarī, Ibṭāl Al-Ḥiyal article 81, et al. Imām Ibn Battah (d. 304H) laments: So here is Ibn Masʿūd, swearing by Allāh that a person who gives people verdicts for every question they ask him is mad. And [now] if a person swore, he would not be breaking his oath, and if a person said, he would be speaking the truth: that most of the muftis of our time are mad. For you will hardly find a man who is asked about an issue pausing to consider carefully before answering, nor fearing Allāh and bringing to mind that Allāh is watching him, and fearing that He will say to him: What is the basis of your answer? Rather, most of them worry that it will be said: so-and-so was asked a question and he had no answer…
So here is Ibn Masʿūd, swearing by Allāh that a person who gives people verdicts for every question they ask him is mad. And [now] if a person swore, he would not be breaking his oath, and if a person said, he would be speaking the truth: that most of the muftis of our time are mad. For you will hardly find a man who is asked about an issue pausing to consider carefully before answering, nor fearing Allāh and bringing to mind that Allāh is watching him, and fearing that He will say to him: What is the basis of your answer? Rather, most of them worry that it will be said: so-and-so was asked a question and he had no answer…
Allāh the Mighty and Sublime laughs at two men [being pleased with them]: a man who stands in the middle of the night while his family sleeps; he purifies himself and stands in prayer, so Allāh laughs at him. And a man who meets the enemy [in battle] and his comrades are defeated; but he stands his ground until Allāh the Mighty and Sublime gives him martyrdom. Abū Bakr Al-Ājurrī, Faḍl Qiyām Al-Layl, article 9. Note: A longer version of this narration is reported from Allāh’s Messenger himself – praise and peace be upon him – in the Musnad of Aḥmad and other collections. Shaykh Al-Albānī grades it good based on other corroboratory reports (hasan lighayrihi). See Ṣaḥīḥ Al-Targhīb wa Al-Tarhīb article 630.
Note: A longer version of this narration is reported from Allāh’s Messenger himself – praise and peace be upon him – in the Musnad of Aḥmad and other collections. Shaykh Al-Albānī grades it good based on other corroboratory reports (hasan lighayrihi). See Ṣaḥīḥ Al-Targhīb wa Al-Tarhīb article 630.
It is reported that ‘Abdullāh [Ibn Masʿūd] used to use perfume that had musk in it. It is reported that ‘Uthmān b. ‘Ubaydillāh – the freedman of Sa’d b. Abī Waqqās – said: I used to see Ibn ‘Umar, Abū Hurayrah, Abū Qatādah and Abū Usayd Al-Sā’idī – Allāh be pleased with them – passing by us when we were still in school, and we could smell the scent of amber from them. It is reported that ‘Abdullāh [Ibn Masʿūd] could be recognized by the smell of his perfume as he approached. It is reported from Nufay’ the freedman of ‘Abdullāh [Ibn Masʿūd] that he said: ‘Abdullāh was one of the most pleasant scented people and wore the cleanest whitest thowb (garment). It is reported that ‘Abdullāh b. Ja’far – Allāh have mercy on him – used to crush musk and apply it in his hair. It is reported that Umm Razīn said: I used to gift perfume to Ibn ‘Abbās – Allāh be pleased with him. He said: “There is nothing the Quraysh like more.” She added, “And he would give us Al-Wars (a plant whose leaves are used to dye fabric).” Ibn Abī Shaybah, Kitāb Al-Adab, articles 92 – 99.
Ibn Abī Shaybah, Kitāb Al-Adab, articles 92 – 99.
مُّذَبْذَبِينَ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ لَآ إِلَىٰ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ وَلَآ إِلَىٰ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ ۚ
Ibn Abī Ḥātim, Al-Tafsīr article 6144.