Gems Pearls of Wisdom of the Salaf

Abdullah Ibn al-Mubarak:

"One doesn't become noble with any type of knowledge if he doesn't beautify his knowledge with good conduct."

(Adab Shar'iyyah 4/208)
 
Abu Qulamah Al-Jirmi was an eminent Tabi'i and a distinguished Imam and jurist. He once said in a sermon:

"If you hear something that you do not like about your brother, then try your best to seek out an excuse for him. And if you do not find any excuse for him, then say: perhaps my brother has an excuse that I do not know about."

(Gems and Jewels, pg. 113)
 
It is reported that ʿAlī b. ʾAbī Ṭālib – Allāh be pleased with him – said:Do not be with the sinner (fājir), for he will beautify to you the things he does, and he will want you to be like him; and he will beautify to you the worst of his practices; and his entrance upon you and leaving from your company will cause ignominy and discredit [of you].And do not accompany the fool (aḥmaq), for he will exhaust himself [to help you] but will not benefit you, and he may want to benefit you but end up harming you; his silence is better than his speaking, his distance is better than his closeness, and him dying is better than him living.And do not accompany the liar, for life will not benefit you with him, he will tell others what you say, and tell you what others say; and if you speak the truth, it will not be believed.Abū Bakr Al-Daynūrī, Al-Mujālasah wa Jawāhir AlʿIlm no. 1379.
 
Three qualities are from patience: Not speaking about your misfortune, your pain, and not praising yourself.~ Imam Sufyan Ath Thawree (may Allah have mercy on him)
 
I am surprised at three things:1. [A] man runs from death while death is inevitable. 2. One sees minor faults in others, yet overlooks his own major faults. 3. When there is any defect to one's cattle, he tries to cure it, but does not cure his own defects.~ Umar Ibn Al Khattab (radiyAllahu anhu)
 
Maymun b. Mihran Describes The Salaf He MetIt is reported that Maymūn b. Mihrān – Allāh have mercy on him – said:I have met men in front of whom I would be ashamed to speak, and I have met men who used to say nothing but the truth, or be silent. And I have met men who had never seen the sky properly, out of fear of their Lord.Abū Bakr Al-Daynūrī, Al-Mujālasah wa Jawāhir Al-ʿIlm article 2039.
 
It is reported that Yaḥyā b. Abī Kathīr – Allāh have mercy on him – said:It used to be said, “People have never honoured themselves with anything [better] than the obedience of Allāh, and they have never dishonoured themselves with anything [worse] than disobedience to Allāh.”Ibn Abī Al-Dunyā, Muḥāsabatu Al-Nafs article 98.
 
It is reported that Abū Ḥāzim Salamah b. Dīnār – Allāh have mercy on him – was once asked:“O Abū Ḥāzim, do you not see how prices have risen?” He replied, “And what is the worry? Verily, he (Allāh) who provides for us during deflation is the one who will provide for us during inflation.”Abū Nuʿaym, Ḥilyatu Al-ʾAwliyāʾ 3:239.
 
Worrying about the dunya (this world) is a darkness in the heart, while worrying about the akhirah (hereafter) is a light in the heart.~ Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him)
 
It is reported that ‘Abdullāh b. Mas’ūd – Allāh be pleased with him – said:

"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]
 
It was narrated from Thabit that Anas said:

"We were with Abu Moosa on a journey, and the people were talking and mentioning worldly matters. Abu Moosa said:

'0 Anas, these people are talking too much. Come, let us remember our Lord for a while.' Then he said: 'What slowed the people down (in pursuing matters of the hereafter)?' I said: 'Worldly matters, Satan and whims and desires.' He said:

'No, it is the fact that this world is close, and they can see it, while the hereafter is hidden from them. By Allah, if they could see it with their own eyes, they would not drift or turn away from it."'

- Tafseer al Qurtubi under the tafseer of verse 16 of Surat Al-'A'la
 
It is reported that Abū Ḥāzim Salamah b. Dīnār – Allāh have mercy on him – was once asked:

“O Abū Ḥāzim, do you not see how prices have risen?” He replied, “And what is the worry? Verily, he (Allāh) who provides for us during deflation is the one who will provide for us during inflation.”

Abū Nuʿaym, Ḥilyatu Al-ʾAwliyāʾ 3:239.
 
“The believer in this world is like a stranger: he does not become upset when it puts him down, and he does not compete for it to make him honorable. The people are in a certain state, and he is in another state: the people are relieved of him, and he is exhausted of himself.” - al-Hasan al-Basri
 
Maymun b. Mihran Describes The Salaf He MetIt is reported that Maymūn b. Mihrān – Allāh have mercy on him – said:I have met men in front of whom I would be ashamed to speak, and I have met men who used to say nothing but the truth, or be silent. And I have met men who had never seen the sky properly, out of fear of their Lord.Abū Bakr Al-Daynūrī, Al-Mujālasah wa Jawāhir Al-ʿIlm article 2039.
 
It is reported that Yaḥyā b. Abī Kathīr – Allāh have mercy on him – said:It used to be said, “People have never honoured themselves with anything [better] than the obedience of Allāh, and they have never dishonoured themselves with anything [worse] than disobedience to Allāh.”Ibn Abī Al-Dunyā, Muḥāsabatu Al-Nafs article 98.
 
Fudayl ibn `Iyad (rahimahullah) said, "A believer plants a palm tree and fears that thorns will grow. The hypocrites plant thorns expecting ripe dates to grow!"
 
Al Awza'i: Whoever remembers death often will find a small amount enough for him and whoever includes his speech in his deeds will speak little.
 
"The Dunya is worthless to its Lord, and yet it belongs to Him. So it's not right that you value it so much, and it's not even yours!" (Yahya b. Mu'adh, Hilyat'l-Awliya', 14549)
 
It is reported that Yaḥyā b. Abī Kathīr – Allāh have mercy on him – said:It used to be said, “People have never honoured themselves with anything [better] than the obedience of Allāh, and they have never dishonoured themselves with anything [worse] than disobedience to Allāh.”Ibn Abī Al-Dunyā, Muḥāsabatu Al-Nafs article 98.
 

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