Al-Hāfidh Ibn Kathīr – Allāh have mercy upon him – reports the following incident in his tafsīr of Sūrah Al-Jinn, verse 11: Ahmad b. Sulaymān al-Najjād said in his Amālī: … Abū Mu’āwiyah said, “I heard Al-A’mash say, ‘A jinni once came to us and I asked him: what is the favorite food amongst you?’ […]
Knowing a Man by his Moves
It is reported that Al-A’mash – Allāh have mercy on him – said: They (the Salaf) never used to ask about [the religious condition of ] a man after knowing three things about him: where and upon whom he entered, where and with whom he walked, and the close company he kept.
Meaning: Knowing these things about a man is more than sufficient for knowing whether he is following the right path on the Sunnah or not.
Ibn Battah, Al-Ibānah article 419.
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Related sayings.
In order to benefit from the knowledge of a scholar, one must be prepared to tolerate his anger.
Ma’n b. ‘Īsā reports Mālik b. Anas was once returning from the mosque, leaning on my arm, when a man called Abū Al-Juwayrīyah who was accused of Al-Irjā` caught up with him. He said. “O Abū ʿAbdullāh, listen to something I have to say and debate with me and let me tell you my opinion.” […]