Zuhd

Son of Ādam, you will never find the reality of īmān as long as you fault people for doing what you yourself are guilty of, until you clear yourself of that fault and correct it. Then, you will not correct a fault in yourself except that you will notice another, so your occupation will become correcting yourself, and this is the most beloved thing to Allāh, when you are like this.

Al-Khaṭīb Al-Baġdādī, Al-Muntakhab min Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqāʾiq, article 41.

We only used to own a single ram’s skin (leather mat), we used to sleep on one end of it and Fāṭimah used to knead dough on the other end.

Wakīʿ b. Al-Jarrāḥ, Al-Zuhd article 114.

You cannot be a scholar unless you have three traits: you do not transgress against those above you, you do not look down on those lesser than you, and you do not take any dunyā in return for your knowledge.

Al-Bayhaqī, Shuʿab Al-Īmān 3:282, article 1655.

I have not seen less zuhd (abstinence) in anything than leadership; you can see a man renouncing food, drink, wealth and clothing, but if his leadership is contested, he vehemently defends and has enmity over it.

Al-Dhahabī, Siyar ʾAʿlām Al-Nubalāʾ 7:262.

A man does not become noble until he has two qualities: he is undesirous of what other people possess, and he pardons and overlooks them.

Ibn Ḥibbān, Rawḍatu Al-ʿUqalāʾ p167

A man amongst the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ would go three days without finding anything to eat, so he would take some animal skin, roast it and eat that. If he found nothing at all, he would tie a rock to himself to straighten his back.

Al-Mundhirī, Al-Tarġīb wa Al-Tarhīb. Graded ḥasan by Al-Albānī. See Ṣaḥīḥ Al-Tarġīb wa Al-Tarhīb article 3310.

When ʿUmar b. Al-Khaṭṭāb arrived in Al-Shām, he said to Abū ʿUbaydah – Allāh be pleased with them: “Take us to your home.” Abū ʿUbaydah said, “And what will you do with my home?” ʿUmar replied, “Just take us there.” Abū ʿUbaydah said, “You only want to cry your eyes out over me.” So he entered his house and saw nothing [by way of furnishings] in it. ʿUmar asked, “Where are your things? I see nothing but rags, a water-skin and a dish (tray), and you are a governor! Do you have food?” So Abū ʿUbaydah went over to an old pail (bucket) and took out some scraps, and ʿUmar began to weep. Abu ʿUbaydah said to him, “I told you you would cry your eyes out over me. O Commander of the Believers, sufficient for you from the dunyā is what delivers you to your place of rest.” ʿUmar said, “The dunyā changed us all except you Abū ʿUbaydah.”

Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb Al-Zuhd article 123, and others.

“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

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

Ayyūb [Al-Sakhtiyānī] used to have a red shawl which he wore in ihrām, and which he had kept for his shroud. I used to walk with him sometimes; he would take different paths and I would be amazed at how he knew of them. He would do this fleeing from people in case they recognized him and said, “There’s Ayyūb.”

Al-Dhahabī, Siyar A’lām Al-Nubalā` 6:22

Zuhd (abstinence from materialism, asceticism) is of three types: (i) obligatory zuhd, (ii) virtuous zuhd and (iii) zuhd for safety. Obligatory zuhd is to abstain from what is forbidden (harām); virtuous zuhd is to be disinterested in what is allowed (of this world); and zuhd for safety is to stay away from doubtful matters. Abū Bakr Al-Daynūrī, Al-Mujālasah wa Jawāhir Al-‘Ilm article 905.

Abū Bakr Al-Daynūrī, Al-Mujālasah wa Jawāhir Al-‘Ilm article 905.

Ibn Al-Jawzī, Sifatu Al-Safwah 2:77.

What a great difference there is between you and those people [of the past, the Salaf]! Worldly wealth came to them but they fled from it, whereas the world turns its back on you and you go after it. Ibn Al-Mubārak, Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqā`iq article 538. It is reported that Al-Hasan Al-Basrī – Allāh have mercy on him – said: By Allāh, never was a person given an abundance of worldy wealth and then not feared this might be a plot against him [for his wrongdoing] except a person lacking intelligence and sound opinion. And never has Allāh held back worldy wealth from a person and that person has not thought that a good choice has been made for him except a person who [also] lacks intelligence and sound opinion. Ibn Abī Al-Dunyā, Dham Al-Dunyā article 42.

Ibn Abī Al-Dunyā, Dham Al-Dunyā article 42.

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.

Abū Bakr Al-Daynūrī, Al-Mujālasah wa Jawāhir Al-‘Ilm 2:181.

Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal never used to involve himself in the things of this world that people involved themselves in; but when knowledge was mentioned, he would speak. Ibn Al-Jawzī Ṣifatu Al-Ṣafwah 2:519. It is reported that Al-Ḥusayn b. Muḥammad said: Muḥammad b. Ismā`īl Al-Bukhārī was distinguished with three qualities – in addition to the rest of his praseworthy traits: He never spoke much, he never yearned for what people had. He would never occupy himself with other people’s affairs; all his attention was towards knowledge. Al-Dhahabī, Siyar A’lām Al-Nubalā` 12:449

Al-Dhahabī, Siyar A’lām Al-Nubalā` 12:449

Can we offer you some Jawārish? He inquired, “And what is Jawārish?” The man replied, “It is something that will help you digest your food if you get too full up.” Ibn ‘Umar said, “I have not eaten my fill for four months – not because I cannot find food, but because I have lived with people who used to eat their fill at times and go hungry at others. Abū Dāwūd, Al-Zuhd article 325. It is reported that Al-Hasan Al-Basrī – Allāh have mercy on him – said: By He in whose Hand is my soul, I have lived amongst people who never ordered food to be prepared for themselves If [food] was presented to one of them, he would eat, otherwise, he would be silent; and he would not care if it was hot or cold. Abū Nu’aym, Hilyatu Al-Awliyā` 6:270. It is also reported that he said: By Allāh, I have lived amongst people who when taking lunch, if they were about to be full, would stop eating. Ibid. It is reported that Al-Fudayl b. ‘Ayyād – Allāh have mercy on him – said: Two things harden the heart, too much talking and too much food. Ibn Hibbān Al-Bustī, Rawdatu Al-‘Uqalā` p45, Matba’ah Al-Sunnah Al-Muhammadīyah 1949. It is reported that Mālik b. Dīnār – Allāh have mercy on him – said: It is unfitting for a believer that his belly becomes his greatest concern, or that his desires dominate him. Ibn Abī Al-Dunyā, Al-Jū’ (The Book of Hunger) article 105. It is also reported that he said: Whoever controls his belly controls all good deeds. Ibid. article 99. It is reported that the Tābi’ī (Successor) ‘Uqbah b. Wassāj – Allāh have mercy on him – was once at a wedding reception where many kinds of dishes were offered and people started trying one dish after another. He started to cry, and said: “I found the first part of this Ummah fearing all this upon themselves.” And he ate only from one dish. Ibid. article 261. It is reported that Muhammad b. Sīrīn – Allāh have mercy on him – said: A man from the Companions of the Prophet – praise and peace of Allāh be upon him – would sometimes go three days without finding anything to eat, so he would grill some animal skin and eat that. If he couldn’t find anything at all, he would [tie] a rock to himself to straighten his back. Ibid. article 61.

Ibid. article 61.

A scholar once asked another greater than him in knowledge, “How much should I build?” He replied, “As much as shelters you from the sun and the rain.” He asked, “How much food should I eat?” He replied, “More than what keeps you hungry and less than what makes you full.” He asked, “How much should I wear?” He replied, “As the Messiah (Jesus) did.” He asked, “How much should I laugh?” He replied, “As much as appears on your face but does not make audible your voice.” He asked, “How much should I cry?” He replied, “Never tire from crying out of the fear of Allāh.” He asked, “How much should I hide my deeds?” He replied, “Until people think you had not done a good deed.” He asked, “How much should I make public my deeds?” He replied, “As much as will let the keen follow your example but not have the people talk about you.” Wahb said. “Everything has two ends and a middle. If you grab one end, the other will slant, but if you take the middle, both ends will balance. Stick to the balanced middle in all affairs.” Abū Nu’aym, Ḥilyatu Al-Awliyā` 4:45.

Abū Nu’aym, Ḥilyatu Al-Awliyā` 4:45.

Those before you used to give to their worldly affairs what was left over from their pursuit of the hereafter. But today, you give to the matters of the hereafter the left-overs from your pursuit of worldly affairs. Abū Nu’aym, Ḥilyat Al-Awliyā` 10:242.

Abū Nu’aym, Ḥilyat Al-Awliyā` 10:242.

Allāh has increased the provisions; if only you would eat better food than the food you eat now and wear softer clothes then those you wear now?! He said, “I will argue [against] you with your own self: Was not the condition of Allāh’s Messenger – praise and peace be upon him – such-and-such [when you were his wife]!?” He kept reminding her until she cried. He continued, “I have told you, by Allāh, I will share in their hard living (in this world, referring to The Prophet and Abū Bakr) so that I may partake in their good life (in Paradise).” Hunād b. Al-Sarī, Al-Zuhd article 687; Imām Aḥmad, Al-Zuhd article 201, et al. (1) (1) Shaykh Abd Al-Raḥmān Al-Farīwā`ī explains in his edition of Hunād’s Al-Zuhd that this narration is ṣaḥīḥ if it is confirmed that Muṣ’ab b. Sa’d heard it from Ḥafṣah; otherwise its chain of transmission is mursal ṣaḥīḥ (i.e. it is authentic except there is a missing link between Mus’ab and Ḥafṣah)

(1) Shaykh Abd Al-Raḥmān Al-Farīwā`ī explains in his edition of Hunād’s Al-Zuhd that this narration is ṣaḥīḥ if it is confirmed that Muṣ’ab b. Sa’d heard it from Ḥafṣah; otherwise its chain of transmission is mursal ṣaḥīḥ (i.e. it is authentic except there is a missing link between Mus’ab and Ḥafṣah)

The likeness of this worldly life (dunyā) is that of a snake: soft to the touch, it will kill you with its poison. So turn away from what impresses you of it, since what stays with you is so little. And do not be concerned about it, since you are certain about its parting. And be most happy in it when you are most heedful of it; for every time its companion takes solace in one of its delights, it gives way to one of its woes. Was-Salām. Ibn Abī Al-Dunyā, Kitāb Al-Zuhd article 164.

Ibn Abī Al-Dunyā, Kitāb Al-Zuhd article 164.

O my brother, what makes you cry? Did you not accompany the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ ? Did you not do such-and-such [good deeds]? He replied, “I am not crying over any one of two things: I am not crying out of love and yearning for this world nor out of dislike for the hereafter, but I am crying because Allāh’s Messenger ﷺ took a covenant from me about something I think I have only transgressed. He made me promise that it is enough for anyone only to have enough [of this world] as would suffice as the provisions of a traveler, but I think I have only gone too far. As for you o Sa’d, fear Allāh when you judge, and when you distribute anything and when you think about doing anything.” Thābit (one of the reporters) said, “And it reached me that [when he died] he left only about twenty dirham of spending he had.”

Ibn Mājah, Al-Sunan. Shaykh Al-Albānī graded this narration ṣaḥīḥ. See ṣaḥīḥ wa Ḍaʿīf Sunan Ibn Mājah no. 4104.

Nothing is permitted for ʿUmar from the wealth of Allāh except two garments: one for winter and one for summer [heat], and what I need to carry me to Hajj and ‘Umrah. And the provisions for my family are that of an [average] man of the Quraysh: neither the richest nor the poorest amongst them. After that, I am just a man from amongst the Muslims. Abū Bakr Al-Daynūrī, Al-Mujālasah wa Jawāhir Al-‘Ilm 6:78.

Abū Bakr Al-Daynūrī, Al-Mujālasah wa Jawāhir Al-‘Ilm 6:78.

Al-Mu’āfā b. ‘Imrān, Kitāb Al-Zuhd article 215.

Al-Dhahabī, Siyar A’lām Al-Nubalā`, Vol. 7 p243.

Ibn Al-Mubārak, Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqā`iq article 555. Shaykh Al-Albānī graded this narration’s chain of transmission ṣaḥīḥ is Al-Ḍa’īfah Vol. 8 p117.

This wording has been reported by Al-Hāfidh Ibn ʿAbd Al-Barr, Jāmi’ Bayān Al-‘Ilm Vol.1 p464. Commenting on this narration, Ibn ʿAbd Al-Barr states, “In this narration there are a number of meanings to understand, including: [1] The hadīth from Allāh’s Messenger – Allāh’s peace and blessings be upon him – has the same ruling as the revealed Book of Allāh ‘azza wa jall. [2] Knowledge should be shown, spread and taught. [3] One should stick with the scholars. [4] One should be satisfied with the little he can get of worldly provision in order to pursue his desire for knowledge. [5] One should prefer knowledge over being occupied with worldly pursuits and income.

[1] The hadīth from Allāh’s Messenger – Allāh’s peace and blessings be upon him – has the same ruling as the revealed Book of Allāh ‘azza wa jall. [2] Knowledge should be shown, spread and taught. [3] One should stick with the scholars. [4] One should be satisfied with the little he can get of worldly provision in order to pursue his desire for knowledge. [5] One should prefer knowledge over being occupied with worldly pursuits and income.

Ibn ʿAbd Al-Barr, Jāmi’ Bayān Al-‘Ilm wa Fadlihi Vol. 1 p498.

Ibn Abī Ya’lā, Tabaqāt Al-Hanābilah Vol. 1 p182.

Al-Bayhaqī, Al-Zuhd Al-Kabīr, article 26.

If you can be unknown, be so; it doesn’t matter if you are not known and it doesn’t matter if you are not praised. It doesn’t matter if you are blameworthy according to people if you are praiseworthy with Allāh the Mighty and Majestic. Al-Bayhaqī, Al-Zuhd Al-Kabīr p100.

Al-Bayhaqī, Al-Zuhd Al-Kabīr p100.

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.

Al-Dhahabī , Siyar A’lām Al-Nubalā` in his biography of Muhammad b. Wāsi’.

‘Ā’ishah – Allah be pleased with her – gave seventy thousand (dirham) in charity, while her own skirt used to be patched. ‘Abdullah b. Mubārak in Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqā’iq Vol. 1 p588, no.705.

‘Abdullah b. Mubārak in Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqā’iq Vol. 1 p588, no.705.