Gems Pearls of Wisdom of the Salaf

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I approached the graves and called out to it
Where is the exalted one and where is the debased?

Where is the one who was arrogant in his reign?
And where is the strong one when he did gain power?

All have fleeted, so there is no informer
And all have died and so has the news

The daughters of riches come and go
So they wipe away the beauty of such a picture

So O' questioner of a people who've now passed away
Is there not a lesson for you, in what has gone by?

- Attributed to Malik ibn Dinar (d 130)
 
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Imam Ahmad said:

The adhan is made in the baby's ear at birth while the prayer is delayed till his death - A sign that his life is short just like the time between the adhan and the prayer.

[Manaqib al-Imam Ahmad by Ibn al-Jawzi]
 
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كتب حكيم الى حكيم: يا أخي قد أوتيت علما, فلا تدنس علمك بظلمة الذنوب, فتبقِى في الظلمة يوم يسعى أهل العلم بنور علمهم.
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“A wise man wrote to another wise man:
‘O my brother, you have indeed been given knowledge, so do not pollute your knowledge with the darkness of sins – such that you remain in darkness on the Day that the people of knowledge speed forth with the light of their knowledge.’”

​
From ‘Diwaan’ - Imam ash-Shaafi’i rahimahullah.
 
Abu Sayyad said:
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كتب حكيم الى حكيم: يا أخي قد أوتيت علما, فلا تدنس علمك بظلمة الذنوب, فتبقِى في الظلمة يوم يسعى أهل العلم بنور علمهم.
​

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“A wise man wrote to another wise man:
‘O my brother, you have indeed been given knowledge, so do not pollute your knowledge with the darkness of sins – such that you remain in darkness on the Day that the people of knowledge speed forth with the light of their knowledge.’”

​
From ‘Diwaan’ - Imam ash-Shaafi’i rahimahullah.
Click to expand...

:wasalamex

The first wise man is was actually Imam Maalik who is talking to to Imam Ash-Shafi`ee when he met Imam Maalik to study under him. Imam Ash-Shafi`ee also said in this meeting that he memorized Imam Maaliks hadeeth book (al Muwatta) in 9 days.
 
It is reported from Al-Hasan Al-Basrî – Allâh have mercy on him – that he said:

The life of this world is made up of three days: yesterday has gone with all that was done; tomorrow, you may never reach; but today is for you so do what you should do today.

Al-Bayhaqî, Al-Zuhd Al-Kabîr p197.
 
Ma’n b. ‘Îsâ reports

Mâlik b. Anas was once returning from the mosque, leaning on my arm, when a man called Abû Al-Juwayrîyah who was accused of Al-Irjâ` caught up with him. He said. “O Abû ‘Abdullâh, listen to something I have to say and debate with me and let me tell you my opinion.” [Imâm] Mâlik said, “And what if you overcome me?” The man replied, “If I defeat you, you follow me.” Mâlik asked, “And what if another man comes and defeats us?” He replied, “Then we follow him.” To this, Mâlik – Allâh’s mercy be upon him – said, “O servant of Allâh, Allâh sent Muhammad - Allâh’s peace and blessings be upon him – with a single religion, but I see you moving from religion to religion. ‘Umar b. ‘Abd Al-‘Azîz said, ‘Whoever makes his religion the object of argumentation will frequently change it.’”

Al-Âjurrî, Ktâb Al-Sharî’ah Vol.1 p128.
 
Imâm Mâlik – Allah have mercy on him – said:

Knowledge is not to be taken from four types of people: a foolish person who openly acts foolish, even if he reports the most narrations; an adherent of bid’ah who calls to his desires; a person who lies, even if I don’t accuse him of lying in hadîth; and a righteous pious worshipper who does not accurately retain what he narrates.

Al-Dhahabî , Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ` in his biography of Imâm Mâlik.
 
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:


Gratitude may be in the heart, in submission and humility; on the tongue, in praise and acknowledgement; and in the physical faculties, by means of obedience and submission.


Madaarij al-Saalikeen (2/246)
 
‘Abdullah b. ‘Umar – Allah be pleased with him – said:

Every bid’ah (religious innovation) is misguidance, even if people think it is good.

Al-Lâlakâ’î in Sharh Usûl I’tiqâd Ahl Al-Sunnah wa Al-Jamâ’ah Vol 1. P134, no.111; and Ibn Battah in Al-Ibânah Al-Kubraa Vol.1 p219, no. 213
 
Sincere and Correct

 Al-Fudayl b. ‘Ayyâd [187H] – Allah have mercy on him – said:
“Allah (‘azza wa jalla) accepts only those deeds which are both correct and sincere (pure). If the deed is done correctly but not sincerely, it will not be accepted. And if it is sincere but not correct, it will not be accepted.” He was asked, “Abû ‘Alî! What is the sincere and correct deed?” He replied, “The sincere deed is one that is done only for Allah ‘azza wa jall. And the correct deed is one done according to the Sunnah.”

 Abû Nu’aym, Hilyah Al-Awliyâ` Vol.8 p95.
 
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Sufyaan Ibn ’Uyaynah (d.198H) – Rahimahullaah – said:

“He whose sin is due to desire, then have hope for him; and he whose sin is due to pride, then fear for him. Because Adam (alayhis-salaam) sinned due to desire, and he was forgiven; and Iblis sinned due to pride, and he was cursed.”

Related by Imaam adh-Dhahabee in Siyar A’laamun-Nubalaa (8/471)
 
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

''Come and be with Allah, and draw close to Him in an abode of peace, with no exhaustion or tiredness or suffering via the closest and easiest routes. You are in a time between two times, which in fact is your life, your current time, between the past and the future. What has passed can be set right by repentance and regret and prayers for forgiveness, and that is something which will not exhaust you or tire you out and is not difficult. Rather it is an action of the heart. As for the future, you should refrain from committing sin, and refraining from sin will give you a great deal of peace of mind. It is not a physical action that is too hard to do, rather it is resolve and firm intention, which will bring physical and mental peace. But what matters is your life, which is your time between two times. If you waste it you will lose happiness and salvation. But if you take care of the present as well as correcting the past and the future as described above, then you will be saved and will have peace of mind, pleasure and tranquility. Taking care of it is more difficult than setting right that which comes before and after it, for taking care of it requires you to do that which is best and most beneficial for you, and which is most likely to bring happiness, and people differ greatly with regard to that.''

Al-Fawaa’id (p117).​
 
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

''Looking is the origin of most of the problems that befall man, because looking generates thoughts, then thoughts generate ideas, and ideas generate desires, and desires generate will, which then becomes stronger and becomes firm resolve, in which case the deed will inevitably be done unless there is something to prevent it. Hence it was said that patience in lowering the gaze is easier than patience in bearing the pain that comes afterwards.''

Al-Jawaab al-Kaafi, p. 106 ​
 
'Abd-al Latif said:
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

''Looking is the origin of most of the problems that befall man, because looking generates thoughts, then thoughts generate ideas, and ideas generate desires, and desires generate will, which then becomes stronger and becomes firm resolve, in which case the deed will inevitably be done unless there is something to prevent it. Hence it was said that patience in lowering the gaze is easier than patience in bearing the pain that comes afterwards.''

Al-Jawaab al-Kaafi, p. 106 ​
Click to expand...

Subhanallah, Ibn-Qayyim (rahimahullah) was an absolute genius. I wish I could meet him and see him. Inshallah, in Jannah.
 
Shaykh al-Shanqeeti (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

''How many people criticize something sound when their problem is their own misunderstanding''

Adwa’ al-Bayaan (3/389)​
 
It is reported that ‘Abdullâh bin ‘Abbâs – may Allâh be pleased with him – said,

“Love for Allâh and hate for Allâh, make your enmity because of Allâh and your allegiance because of Allâh; for indeed, the love and support of Allâh is not achieved save through this. And a man will never taste true faith (îmân) – though he may pray and fast much – except when he is like that. Today, the people’s brotherhood is based upon worldly considerations (dunyâ), but this will not do anything for them on the Day of Resurrection.”

Ibn Al-Mubârak, Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqâ`iq article 353​
 
It is reported that Shurayh – may Allâh have mercy on him – said,

“If I am afflicted with a calamity, I praise Allâh for it four times: I praise Him because it wasn’t worse than it was, I praise Him when He gives me the patience to bear it, I praise Him for enabling me to say al-istirjâ’ (‘To Allâh we belong and to him we will return’; see Al-Baqarah: 154-156 ) in hope of a great reward, and I praise Him for not making it a calamity in my religion.”

Al-Dhahabî, Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ`, in his biography of Shurayh Al-Qâdî.​
 
Ibn Abi Mulaykah narrated:
"'Ikrimah bin Abi Jahl used to press the Mushaf to his face and cry, saying: "The Book of my Lord! The Words of my Lord!""

[Reported by 'Abdullah bin al-Mubarak in 'al-Jihad'; # 56]
 
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Hurmulah said: I heard ash-shaafi'ee say: "I hoped to be rewarded for all the knowledge that I possessed and that the people had learnt from me, but (i desired) that they would not praise me."

Source: As-Siyar 10/55
 

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