Abu Nu’aym reported: Sufyan al-Thawri, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Behave well in your private life and Allah will make your public life excellent. Take care of what is between you and Allah, and he will take care of what is between you and the people. Work for your Hereafter and Allah will suffice your affairs in this world. Sell your worldly life for your Hereafter and you will profit in them both together, and do not sell your Hereafter for your worldly life or you will lose them both together.”
Source: Ḥilyat al-Awliyā’ 7/35
عن أبي نعيم قال سفيان الثوري رحمه الله وَأَحْسِنْ سَرِيرَتَكَ يُحْسِنِ اللَّهُ عَلَانِيَتَكَ وَأَصْلِحْ فِيمَا بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ اللَّهِ يَصْلُحِ اللَّهُ فِيمَا بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ النَّاسِ وَاعْمَلْ لِآخِرَتِكَ يَكْفِكَ اللَّهُ أَمْرَ دُنْيَاكَ بِعْ دُنْيَاكَ بِآخِرَتِكَ تَرْبَحْهُمَا جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَبِعْ آخِرَتَكَ بِدُنْيَاكَ فَتَخْسَرَهُمَا جَمِيعًا
7/35 حلية الأولياء وطبقات الأصفياء ذكر طوائف من جماهير النساك والعباد أبو عبد الله سفيان بن سعيد الثوري
