Re: Statements of salaf ra
قال سعد بن أبي وقاص لابنه يا بني! إذا طلبت الغنى فاطلبه بالقناعة فإنه من لم يكن له قناعة لم يغنه مال
Imams Abu Bakr Ad Dinawri and Ibn ‘Asakir (rahimahumallah) have recorded this advice of Sayyiduna Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (radiyallahu ‘anhu).
(Al Mujalasah Wa Jawahirul ‘Ilm, 1843, Tarikh Dimashq, vol. 20 pg. 363)
Translation
Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (radiyallahu ‘anhu) advised his son, ‘O My beloved son! If you are seeking wealth, then seek it with contentment, for whoever does not have contentment, no [amount of] money will suffice him”
Re: Statements of salaf ra
لا تعترض فيما لا يعنيك، واعتزل عدوك، واحذر خليلك إلا الأمين، ولا أمين إلا من خشي الله، ولا تصحب فاجرا كي تتعلم من فجوره، ولا تفش إليه سرك، واستشر في أمرك الذين يخشون الله عز وجل
This has been recorded as the advice of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhuma). Some versions suggest that this was the statement of Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu).
(Refer: Muwatta Imam Muhammad, Hadith: 922, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 35617 and Shu’abul Iman, Hadith: 8995)
Translation
Do not interfere/become occupied with things that do not concern you, remain away from your enemy. Beware of your friends, except for the trustworthy one, and only those who fear Allah can be trustworthy. Do not associate a sinner lest you learn his evil ways and do not disclose your secrets to him. Consult and make mashwarah with those who Fear Allah ‘Azza wa Jalla
Re: Statements of salaf ra
Sayyiduna ‘Umar Ibn Khattab (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said: “I fear most for this Ummah such a person who is a scholar with his tongue, but an ignorant person at heart.”
(Ta’zimu Qadris Salah, 683, Al Ahadithul Mukhtarah: 236. Also see: Musnadul Faruq of Hafiz Ibn Kathir, vol. 3 pg. 75)
Re: Statements of salaf ra
Fudayl ibn ‘Iyad (rahimahullah) said: “By Allah! It is not permissible for you to harm a dog or swine without reason, then how is it that you harm a believer?”
Imams Kharaiti and Ibn ‘Asakir (rahimahumallah) have recorded this statement of Fudayl ibn ‘Iyad (rahimahullah).
(Makarimul Akhlaq, Maktabatur Rushd edition: 472, Tarikh Dimashq, vol. 48, pg. 421. Also see: Siyaru A’alamin Nubala, vol. 8 pg. 427)
Arabic text:
والله ما يحل لك أن تؤذي كلبا ولا خنزيرا بغير حق، فكيف تؤذي مسلما
Re: Statements of salaf ra
قال الحسن البصري: يا ابن آدم إن من ضعف يقينك أن تكون بما في يدك أوثق منك بما في يد الله عز وجل
(Kitabul Yaqin, 34)
Translation
Hasan Al Basri (rahimahullah) said:
“O Son of Adam! It is due you your weak conviction [yaqin] that you have more trust in what you own over what is in the control of Allah ‘Azza wa Jalla.”
Re: Statements of salaf ra
Hz Malik b Dinar rh said,
“A believer in the Masjid is like a fish in the water and a hypocrite in the Masjid is like a bird in the cage”
(Kashful Khafa, Hadith: 2689)
Re: Statements of salaf ra
Hz Umar b Abdulaziz rh said :
لا يعذب الله بمسألة اختلف فيها
Allah will not punish anyone for laws on which a [legitimate] difference of opinion exists
(Al Maqasidul Hasanah, Hadith: 1325, Al Masnu’, Hadith: 404)
Re: Statements of salaf ra
عجبت ممن يحزن على نقصان ماله، ولا يحزن على فناء عمره، وعجبت ممن الدنيا مولية عنه، والآخرة مقبلة إليه يشتغل بالمدبرة، ويعرض عن المقبلة
Imam Abu Bakr ibn Abid Dunya and Imam Bayhaqi (rahimahumallah) have recorded this as the statement of [an unnamed] wise person.
(Dhammud Dunya, 241 and Az Zuhdul Kabir, 512)
Translation
I am amazed at the person who grieves the loss of wealth, but does not grieve the fact that his life is coming to an end. I am at the person who occupies himself with the [world] which is retreating, but turns away from the Hereafter
Re: Statements of salaf ra
Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) said
“Verily, when a woman has garments in abundance [more than she requires and more than what is the norm] and she loves adornment, then she will love khuruj [emergence from the home to prowl around in the public domain to show off her clothing].”
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 18007, Musnadul Faruq, Hadith: 536)
Re: Statements of salaf ra
Ibn Al-Jawzee rh said:
“This worldly life only impresses those with no intellect. Similar to how vain dreams please the sleeper, imaginary games are perceived by a child, whereas a sensible person cannot be deceived by such delusion.”
[Kitaab Al-Lataa’if Fil-Waa’iz, pg. 61]
Re: Statements of salaf ra
Ibn ul-Qayyim rh said:
“…The best thing to do when someone needs help physically or financially is to busy yourself with helping that person, relieving his distress, and to place this as a priority over your private worship that you would usually be engaged in.”
[Madarij as-Salikin’ (1/188)
Re: Statements of salaf ra
Ibn-ul-Qayyim rahameehullah said:
“To wish the Kaafir a happy holiday, is like congratulating him because he is worshiping the cross.”
(ahkam ahl-idh-dhimmah 1/441)
Re: Statements of salaf ra
Ja’far Ibn Muhammad رحمه الله said:
“If something that you dislike reaches you about your brother then search for one excuse for him up to seventy excuses. If it hits the mark, (then good). If not, then say, ‘Perhaps he has an excuse that I am not aware of.‘ ”
[Al-Jaami’ Li Shu’ab Al-Eemaan, 14/442]
Re: Statements of salaf ra
Al-Hasan al-Basrī rh said :
4 signs of wretchedness: 1. Hard heart2. Dry eyes 3. Excessive hope for this life 4. Greed
[Az-Zuhd, no. 36]
Re: Statements of salaf ra
Al-Hasan Al-Basrī – Allāh have mercy on him – said:
By Allāh :swt1: , 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 :swt1: 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]
Re: Statements of salaf ra
Ibn Sama`ah rh said,
“For forty years, I only missed Takbir Tahrimah when my mother died.”
[As Siyar 10/646]
Re: Statements of salaf ra
Hadhrat Ka'ab Ahbaar :ra: said:
"A person's good reputation is not established in the people's hearts unless it is first established amongst the dwellers of the heavens".
-Kitab al Zuhd of Imam Abdullah bin Mubarak P.153
Re: Statements of salaf ra
Yazid bin Abdullah rh was asked,
“Should we make a roof for our mosque?” He said,
“Purify your hearts and your mosque will be sufficient for you.”
[Hilyat al Awliya 2/312]
Re: Statements of salaf ra
إذا رأيت الشاب يتكلم عند المشايخ وإن كان قد بلغ من العلم مبلغا فآيس من خيره فإنه قليل الحياء
Imam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah) has recorded this as the statement of the great Muhaddith, Sufyan Thawri (rahimahullah).
(Al Madkhal: 1777, vol. 2 pg. 813)
Translation
When you see a youngster who may have reached a [high] level in knowledge, speaking in the presence of seniors, then have no hope for his goodness for he has little or no shame.
Re: Statements of salaf ra
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
''Alas! How can a person spend his time and live his life deprived of smelling this fragrance, and leave this world as he entered it without having tasted the best that it has to offer, and having lived in it like a dumb animal, departing from it like one who is bankrupt. He lived a life of helplessness, he died a death of sadness and his resurrection will be loss and regret. O Allaah, to You be praise, to You we complain, You are the One Whose help we seek, You we ask for aid, in You we put our trust, and there is no power and no strength except with You.''
[Tareeq al-Hijratayn (p. 327)]