Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-‘Ala reported: Al-Shafi’i, may Allah be pleased with him, said to me, “Pleasing people is a goal you can never achieve, and I know of no way to be safe from them, so you must be concerned with what benefits you and hold onto it.” Source: Ḥilyat al-Awliyā’ 9/122 عَنْ يُونُس بْن …
Shafi’i on Popularity: You cannot please everyone, benefit yourself instead Read More »
Abu Abdur Rahman reported: I said to Sa’id ibn Abdul Aziz, may Allah have mercy on him, “O Abu Muhammad, what is this weeping that confronts you in your prayer?” Sa’id said, “O nephew, why do you ask about it?” He said, “O uncle, perhaps Allah will benefit me.” Sa’id said, “I never stood for …
Sa’id on Salah: Visualizing the Day of Resurrection in prayer Read More »
Abu Bakr al-Marrudhi reported: I heard Ahmad ibn Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioning the Caliph al-Mutawakkil and he said, “Indeed, I pray for his righteousness and well-being.” Source: al-Sunnah li-Abī Bakr al-Khallāl 16 عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الْمَرُّوذِيُّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَحْمَدَ بْنَ حَنْبَلٍ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ وَذَكَرَ الْخَلِيفَةَ الْمُتَوَكِّلَ فَقَال إِنِّي لَأَدْعُو لَهُ بِالصَّلَاحِ …
Ahmad on Rulers: Supplication for guidance of Caliphs and Imams Read More »
Al-Ghazali reported: Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, said to Sahl ibn ‘Ali as he was in silent contemplation, “Where have you gone?” Sahl said, “The Bridge over the Hellfire.” Source: Iḥyā’ Ulūm al-Dīn 4/425 عن الغزالي قال قَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمًا لِسَهْلِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ وَرَآهُ سَاكِتًا مَتَفَكِّرًا …
Ghazali on Tafakkur: Visualizing the Judgment Day in quiet reflection Read More »
‘Amr ibn Maymun reported: Ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Verily, Satan went around a gathering that was remembering Allah to tempt them, but he was unable to cause separation between them. Then, he went towards a circle that was remembering the world and he provoked them until they killed each other.” …
Ibn Mas’ud on Shaytan: Devil incites worldly people until they kill Read More »
Al-Husayn ibn Abdur Rahman reported: Al-Fudayl ibn ‘Iyad, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Singing is the invocation of adulterers.” Source: Dhamm al-Malāhī li-Ibn Abī al-Dunyā 55 عَنِ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ قَالَ قَالَ فُضَيْلُ بْنُ عِيَاضٍ رضي الله عنه الْغِنَاءُ رُقْيَةُ الزِّنَا 55 ذم الملاهي لابن أبي الدنيا
Al-Zuhri reported: When ‘Urwah ibn al-Zubayr, may Allah have mercy on him, was afflicted with gangrene in his leg, it was said, “Shall we not call a doctor for you?” ‘Urawh said, “If you wish.” A doctor arrived and he said, “Drink this substance. It will ease your mind.” ‘Urwah said, “Go away with your …
Urwah on Patience: ‘Urwah’s leg is amputated, he praises Allah Read More »
Hisham reported: Al-Hasan al-Basri, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Love of the worldly life is the head of every sin.” Source: al-Zuhd li-Ibn Abī Dunyā 9 Grade: Hasan (fair) according to Al-Suyuti عَنْ هِشَامٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ البصري رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ حُبُّ الدُّنْيَا رَأْسُ كُلِّ خَطِيئَةٍ 9 الزهد لابن أبي الدنيا 63 المحدث …
Hasan on Dunya: Love of worldly life is root of all evil Read More »
Razin Abi al-Nu’man reported: Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “When you are asked about what you do not know, then flee.” It was said, “O leader of the faithful, how does one flee?” Ali said, “That you say: Allah knows best.” Source: Sunan al-Dārimī 183 عَنْ رَزِين أَبِي النُّعْمَانِ …
Abu Abdullah al-Khurasani reported: Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Whoever fears Allah does not vent his anger, and whoever is mindful of Allah does not do whatever he desires.” Source: al-Zuhd li-Abī Dāwūd 98 عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْخُراَسَانِيِّ قَالَ قَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ رضي الله عنه مَنْ خَافَ اللَّهَ …
Umar on Taqwa: Fear Allah, control anger and desires Read More »
Khaythamah reported: Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “By the One besides whom there is no God, a believing servant is not given anything better than good thoughts about Allah Almighty. By the One besides whom there is no God, a servant does not improve his opinion of Allah Almighty except …
Ibn Mas’ud on Optimism: Best virtue to have good assumptions about Allah Read More »
Muhammad al-Kattani reported: Abu Sa’id al-Khazzaz, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Ruminating on a past moment is to lose a second moment.” Source: al-Zuhd al-Kabīr lil-Bayhaqī 480 عن حَمَّد بْن عَلِيٍّ الْكَتَّانِي قال قال أبو سَعِيدٍ الْخَزَّاز رحمه الله الِاشْتِغَالُ بِوَقْتٍ مَاضٍ تَضْيِيعُ وَقْتٍ ثَانٍ 480 الزهد الكبير للبيهقي فصل آخر في قصر …
Khazzaz on Waqt: Ruminating on the past wastes precious time Read More »
Abu al-Husayn reported: It was said to ‘Amir ibn Abdul Qays, may Allah have mercy on him, “Do you talk to yourself in prayer?” ‘Amir said, “Yes. I tell myself to stand in front of the Lord Almighty and to turn away from what is in front of Him.” Source: al-Zuhd wal-Raqā’iq 1561 عَنْ أَبِي …
‘Amir on Salat: Do you talk to your Nafs in prayer? Read More »
Sufyan reported: Wahb ibn Munabbih, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Verily, in the wisdom of the household of David it is written that it is a duty upon a wise person to not neglect four moments: a time in which to privately converse with one’s Lord Almighty, a time to hold oneself accountable, …
Wahb on Time: Four moments of the day to not neglect Read More »
Ibrahim ibn al-Utrush reported: Ma’ruf al-Karkhi, may Allah have mercy on him, was upon the Tigris river and we were with him as we passed by some people in a boat misbehaving, singing and beating the drum. We said to Ma’ruf, “O Abu Mahfuz, do you not see these people on the water disobeying Allah …
Ma’ruf on Mercy: O Allah, bring joy to the sinners who repent Read More »
Mundhir reported: Wahb ibn Munabbih, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Satan, upon whom is the curse of Allah, said: Verily, we lie in wait among the people of impatience and fury, then we play with them as children play with a ball.” Source: al-Zuhd li-Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal 522 عَنْ مُنْذِر عَنْ وَهْبِ بْنِ …
Wahb on Iblees: Satan plays with anger like a child with a ball Read More »
Rabah ibn ‘Amr reported: Malik ibn Dinar, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “There are nothing of righteous deeds but that before them is an obstacle. If one is patient, he will break through it to comfort, but if he is afraid of it, he will turn away from it.” Source: Ḥilyat al-Awliyā’ 2/371 …
Malik on Patience: A good deed accomplished brings relief and comfort Read More »
Muhammad ibn Yahya reported: Dawud al-Ta’i, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “A servant does not leave the disgrace of disobedience to the honor of righteousness except that he will be enriched without wealth, he will be strengthened without a tribe, and he will be entertained without company.” Source: al-Zuhd al-Kabīr lil-Bayhaqī 904 عَنْ …
Dawud on Taqwa: Faith is richness in your heart without wealth Read More »
Al-Awza’i reported: Hassan ibn ‘Atiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “No people fabricate an innovation in their religion but that Allah will remove a Sunnah from like it, then it will never come back to them until the Day of Resurrection.” Source: Sunan al-Dārimī 99 Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Darani عَنْ الْأَوْزَاعِي …
Hassan on Bid’ah: Every religious innovation replaces a Sunnah like it Read More »
Ahmad ibn Hanbal reported: Al-Hasan al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, heard some people arguing and he said, “By Allah! These are not but people who are bored with worship and they found speaking easier upon them than acting. Their piety diminished and thus they speak.” Source: al-Zuhd li-Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal 1546 عن أحمد …
Hasan on Arguing: They were bored with worship, so they argued Read More »