Worship

I do not like it that a day or night comes upon me without me looking at the speech of Allāh, meaning reading from the muṣḥaf.

Imām Aḥmad, Al-Zuhd #675.

It once reached us in Kūfā that Masrūq used to flee from the plague. Muḥammad denied this and said, “Let us go to his wife and ask her.” So we entered upon her and asked her about this, and she replied, “No, by Allāh, he never used to flee, but he would say, ‘These are days of preoccupation, so I like to be alone during them to worship.’ So he used to go aside and be alone to do worship. Sometimes, I would sit behind him and cry because of what I saw him doing to himself; he would pray so much that his feet would swell. I heard him say, ‘the plague, abdominal disease, postpartum bleeding and drowning: whoever dies during any of them will have it in his credit as martyrdom.'”

Ibn Saʿd, Al-Ṭabaqāt Al-Kubrā 8:202 (Al-Khānji)

Ibrāhīm b. Maysurah reports that Ṭāwūs said to him, “You better get married or I will say to you what ʿUmar b. Al-Khattāb said to Abū Al-Zawā`id: ‘Nothing but incapability or sinfulness is preventing you from getting married!’” Al-Dhahabī, Siyar A’lām Al-Nubalā`, in his biography of Ṭāwūs. Ṭāwūs b. Kaysān was a great scholar and ascetic. He was the most renowned scholar of Yemen during his time. He is regarded as one of the senior companions and students of Ibn ‘Abbās, and reports narrations from a number of other Companions.

Ṭāwūs b. Kaysān was a great scholar and ascetic. He was the most renowned scholar of Yemen during his time. He is regarded as one of the senior companions and students of Ibn ‘Abbās, and reports narrations from a number of other Companions.

When Allāh chooses good for a person He opens the door to action for him, and closes the door to argumentation; and when Allāh chooses evil for a person he opens the door of argumentation and closes the door to action. Al-Khaṭīb Al-Baghdādī, Iqtḍā Al-‘Ilm Al-‘Amal, article 123.

Al-Khaṭīb Al-Baghdādī, Iqtḍā Al-‘Ilm Al-‘Amal, article 123.

I have been told that it used to be said, “Woe to those who study [their religion] for a purpose other than worship, and those who seek to permit what is forbidden through doubts and specious arguments.” Al-Khattîb Al-Baghdâdî, Iqtdâ Al-‘Ilm Al-‘Amal, p77.

Al-Khattîb Al-Baghdâdî, Iqtdâ Al-‘Ilm Al-‘Amal, p77.

Allāh is Greatest, Allāh is Greatest, none deserves worship but Allāh. Allāh is Greatest, Allāh is Greatest, and to Him is all praise. Ibn Abī Shaybah, Al-Muṣannaf Vol.2 p74. Shaykh Al-Albānī said its chain of narration is Ṣaḥīḥ. ‘Alī – Allāh be pleased with him – used to say the takbīr following the Fajr prayer on the Day of ‘Arafah until the ‘Aṣr prayer of the last day of Tashrīq – he used to say it after ‘Aṣr prayer (then stop). Ibn Abī Shaybah, Al-Muṣannaf Vol.2 p72. Shaykh Al-Albānī said its chain of narration is good.

See Irwā Al-Ghalīl Vol.3 p125.

In my time the people were not impressed by speech, they were impressed by actions. Anyone can say whatever he wants. Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb Al-Zuhd p354.

Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb Al-Zuhd p354.

When a man sought knowledge, it would not be long before it could be seen in his humbleness, his sight, upon his tongue and his hands, in his prayer, in his speech and in his disinterest (zuhd) in worldly allurements. And a man would acquire a portion of knowledge and put it into practice, and it would be better for him than the world and all it contains – if he owned it he would give it in exchange for the hereafter. Ibn Al-Mubārak, Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqā`iq Vol.1 p.156.

Ibn Al-Mubārak, Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqā`iq Vol.1 p.156.

Everyone speaks of good things. It is those whose words and deeds match who have acquired their share. Those whose words and deeds do not match have only reproached themselves. Ibn Al-Mubārak, Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqā`iq Vol.1 p.153.

Ibn Al-Mubārak, Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqā`iq Vol.1 p.153.

Al-Dhahabī , Siyar A’lām Al-Nubalā` in his biography of Abū Mūsā Al-Ash’arī.

Shall I not tell you who the real faqīh is? He is one who does not make people despair of Allah’s mercy, yet he does not give them concessions to disobey Allah. He does not make them feel safe from Allah’s plan and he does not leave the Quran. There is no good in worship that involves no efforts to gain fiqh, and there is no good in seeking fiqh without seeking a thorough understanding. And there is no good in reading without contemplating.

Al-Ājurrī in Akhlāq Al-‘Ulamā’ no. 45, Al-Khaṭīb in Al-Faqīh wa Al-Mutafaqqih Vol. 2 pp338-339.