Ok, I'm starting a thread for general sayings of the Salaf and I want everyone to contribute inshallah.
Please provide the source for your posts. It is not enough to say "X" said such and such. It should be probably referenced so that we can all gain the full benefits!
Example:
Al-Hasan al-Basree (rahima-hullaah) said: Seeking knowledge when one is young, is like etching on a stone [In other words, the knowledge which one memorises when one is young will be so strong in one's memory, that it is as if it had been etched on a stone, wAllaahu A'lam!].
Source: Mabaahith fee Ahkaam al-Fatwa - Page 28
Last edited by 'Abd-al Latif; 05-27-2016 at 04:36 PM.
Reason: Corrected grammatical/punctuation mistakes.
And verily for everything that a slave loses there is a substitute, but the one who loses Allah will never find anything to replace Him.” [Related by Ibn al-Qayyim in ad-Dâ' wad-Dawâ Fasl 49]
The best thing after Iman and the worst thing after Kufr [women]
It is reported that ‘Umar b. Al-Khattâb – Allâh be pleased with him – once addressed the people and said:
No man can have anything better after faith (îmân) than a woman of righteous character, loving and child-bearing. And no man can have anything worse after unbelief (kufr) than a sharp-tongued woman of bad character.
Al-Hâfidh Abul-Qâsim Al-Asbahânî, Al-Targhîb wa Al-Tarhîb article 1528. Also recorded in other sources with a slight variation in wording.
“Allah gave you a gift of 86,000 seconds today, have you used one to say ‘Alhamdulilah"
Abdullâh b. Shaqîq Al-‘Uqaylî – Allâh have mercy on him – said:
The Companions of Allâh’s Messenger – Allah’s praise and peace be upon him – did not consider the leaving of any action to be kufr (unbelief), except the prayer (salâh).
Al-Tirmidhî,-Al-Sunan-hadîth 2622. Graded-sahîh-by Al-Albânî in his edition of-Sunan Al-Tirmidhî.
It is reported that ‘Alî b. Abî Tâlib wrote to Salmâm Al-Farsî – Allâh be pleased with them both – saying:
The likeness of this worldly life (dunyâ) is that of a snake: soft to the touch, it will kill you with its poison. So turn away from what impresses you of it, since what stays with you is so little. And do not be concerned about it, since you are certain about its parting. And be most happy in it when you are most heedful of it; for every time its companion takes solace in one of its delights, it gives way to one of its woes.
Was-Salâm.
Ibn Abî Al-Dunyâ, Kitâb Al-Zuhd article 164.
“Allah gave you a gift of 86,000 seconds today, have you used one to say ‘Alhamdulilah"
It is reported that Al-Hasan Al-Basrî – Allâh have mercy on him – said:
Four signs of wretchedness are: [having] a hard heart, dry eyes [that never cry], extended hopes [about this life], and greed and keenness to amass worldly things (the dunyâ).
Ibn Abî Al-Dunyâ, Kitâb Al-Zuhd article 36.
“Allah gave you a gift of 86,000 seconds today, have you used one to say ‘Alhamdulilah"
It is reported that some people asked ‘Alî b. Abî Tâlib – Allâh be pleased with him – to describe this worldly life (the dunyâ). He said:
Do you want a long description or a brief one? They replied, “a brief one.” He said, “Its permissible things (halâl) [lead to] accounts being taken from you, and its forbidden things (harâm) [lead to the] Fire.
Ibn Abî Al-Dunyâ, Dham Al-Dunyâ article 17.
“Allah gave you a gift of 86,000 seconds today, have you used one to say ‘Alhamdulilah"
Abdullâh b. ‘Abbâs – Allâh be pleased with them – said:
O Muslims, how can you ask the People of the Book [about their scripture] when the Book of Allâh that was revealed to your Prophet – Allâh’s peace and blessings be upon him – is the most recent news of Allâh; you recite it complete and unaltered? Allâh has informed you that they replaced what Allâh wrote and changed the Book with their hands and said ‘This is from Allâh,’ to purchase with it a measly price (Quran 2:79). Does not the knowledge that has come to you forbid you from asking them? By Allâh, we have not seen a single man among them asking you about what was revealed to you.
Al-Bukhârî, Al-Sahîh hadith 2685, Chapter on not asking the Polytheists for testimonies or anything else. He also records it in other chapters.
“Allah gave you a gift of 86,000 seconds today, have you used one to say ‘Alhamdulilah"
It is reported that Abû Hâzim Al-Ashja’î – Allâh have mercy on him – said:
If you find yourself in a time when speech is accepted as knowledge and knowledge is accepted as deeds [instead of putting it into practice], then you are in the worst time and with the worst people.
Abû Bakr Al-Daynûrî, Al-Mujâlasah wa Jawâhir Al-‘Ilm` 4:338.
Abû Hâzim Salmân Al-Ashja’î (died circa 100H) was one of the eminent Tâbi’în. He was a fully reliable transmitter of hadîth and a companion of Abû Hurayrah – Allâh be pleased with him.
“Allah gave you a gift of 86,000 seconds today, have you used one to say ‘Alhamdulilah"
Falsehood that leads to Falsehood [Al-Kalam, dialectical, speculative theology]
Abd Al-Rahmân b. Mahdî reports:
I entered upon Mâlik b. Anas when a man was asking him about the Qur`ân. [Imâm Mâlik] said, “Perhaps you are a companion of Amr b. ‘Ubayd. May Allâh curse ‘Amr, for he was the one who innovated this bid’ah of Kalâm . If Kalâm was knowledge, the Companions and their Followers would have spoken it, like they spoke about the regulations and laws [of Islam]. But [Kalâm] is falsehood that leads to falsehood.”
Abul-Fadl Al-Muqri`Al-Râzî, Ahâdîth fî Dham Al-Kalâm wa Ahlihî p96.
Al-Harawî, Dham Al-Kalâm wa Ahlihî no.874.
“Allah gave you a gift of 86,000 seconds today, have you used one to say ‘Alhamdulilah"
It is reported that Al-Hasan Al-Basrî – Allâh have mercy on him – said:
If people called on Allâh when put to trial because of their rulers, Allâh would relieve their suffering; but instead they resorted to the sword, so they were left to it. And not one day of good did they bring.
Then he recited (Quran 7: 137):
And the good word of your Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel, for the patience and perseverance they had, and We destroyed the works of Pharaoh and his people and what they had erected.
Ibn Abî Hâtim, Al-Tafsîr no. 8897.
“Allah gave you a gift of 86,000 seconds today, have you used one to say ‘Alhamdulilah"
The Provision of a Traveler [this world to the next]
Anas reports that when Salmân [Al-Fârsî] – Allâh be pleased with him – was ill, Sa’d visited him and found him crying, so he asked him:
O my brother, what makes you cry? Did you not accompany the Messenger of Allâh ﷺ ? Did you not do such-and-such [good deeds]? He replied, “I am not crying over any one of two things: I am not crying out of love and yearning for this world nor out of dislike for the hereafter, but I am crying because Allâh’s Messenger ﷺ took a covenant from me about something I think I have only transgressed. He made me promise that it is enough for anyone only to have enough [of this world] as would suffice as the provisions of a traveler, but I think I have only gone too far. As for you o Sa’d, fear Allâh when you judge, and when you distribute anything and when you think about doing anything.”
Thâbit (one of the reporters) said, “And it reached me that [when he died] he left only about twenty dirham of spending he had.”
Ibn Mâjah, Al-Sunan. Shaykh Al-Albânî graded this narration sahîh. See sahîh wa Daʿīf Sunan Ibn Mājah no. 4104.
“Allah gave you a gift of 86,000 seconds today, have you used one to say ‘Alhamdulilah"
It is reported that Abû Al-Dardâ – Allâh be pleased with him – said:
You will never be pious (a person of taqwâ) until you become knowledgeable, and you will never be beautiful with your knowledge until you act [by it].
Ibn Ábd Al-Barr, Jâmi’ Bayân Al-‘Ilm wa Fadlihî article 1239.
It is reported that ‘Umar b. Al-Khattâb – Allâh be pleased with him – said:
We were once in a time when we did not think anyone learned the Quran seeking anything but Allâh the Exalted, but now I fear there are men who learn it and intend the people and what they can get from them. So seek Allâh with your recitation and deeds. For verily, we used to know you when Allâh’s Messenger – Allâh’s peace and blessings be upon him – was amongst us, when revelation would descend and Allâh would tell us about you. As for today, Allâh’s Messenger – peace and blessings be upon him – has passed on, and the revelation has stopped; and I only know you as I say: whoever shows what is good, we love him for it and think good of him, and whoever shows what is evil, we hate him for it and suspect him. Your secret and private matters are between you and your Lord the Mighty and Majestic.
It is reported that Al-Fudayl b. ‘Ayyâd – Allâh have mercy on him – said:
How will you be if you reach a time when you will see people who do not distinguish truth from falsehood, believer from unbeliever, trustworthy from treacherous, nor ignorant from knowledgeable, and neither recognize what is right nor censure what is wrong?
Ibn Battah, Al-Ibânah Al-Kubrâ 1:188.
After reporting this narration, Imâm Ibn Battah (d. 387H) said:
To Allâh we belong and to Him we will return! We have reached that time, we have heard this and have come to know most of it and witnessed it. If a man to whom Allâh has bestowed sound reasoning looks and thinks carefully and ponders the matter of Islâm and its people and treads the rightly guided path as regards to them, it will become clear to him that most people have turned back on their heals, deviated from the correct path, and turned away from correct proof. Many people have started to like what they used to hate, allow what they used to forbid and recognize what they used to reject. And for sure – Allâh have mercy on you – this is not the [right] character of the Muslims, nor the behaviour of those who have insight into this religion, and neither of those who believe in it and are certain about it.
“Allah gave you a gift of 86,000 seconds today, have you used one to say ‘Alhamdulilah"
Abdullâh b. Mas’ûd – Allâh be pleased with him – said:
When a man amongst us learned ten verses [of the Quran], he would not move on [to the next verses] until he had understood their meanings and how to act by them.
Al-Tabarî, Al-Tafsîr 1:80. Shaykh Ahmad Shâkir graded its chain of transmission sahîh.
Abû ‘Abd Al-Rahmân Al-Sulamî said:
Those who used to teach us the Quran (the Companions) told us that they used to learn the Quran from the Prophet – Allâh’s peace and blessings be upon him; when they had learnt ten verses they would not move on until they put into practice what was in them. So we learnt knowledge and deeds (implementation) together.
Ibid. Shaykh Ahmad Shâkir graded its chain of transmission sahîh also
Khâlid b. ‘Umayr Al-‘Adawî reports, ‘Utbah b. Ghazwân – Allâh be pleased with him – once gave us a sermon. He praised Allâh, then said:
The life of this world has announced its departure and is quickly turning away, and nothing remains of it save the likes of the last drop of water in a vessel as its possessor tries to catch it. You are moving on to an abode that has no end, so move on with the best [deeds] that you have. For it has been said to us that a rock can be dropped from the edge of Hell and fall for seventy years without reaching the bottom. Yet, by Allâh, it will be filled. Do you not then wonder? And it has been said to us that a single entrance to Paradise is as wide as a journey of forty years, yet there will come a day when it will be crowded.
I have seen myself as the seventh of seven [followers of] Allâh’s Messenger – Allâh’s peace and blessings be upon him; we had no food save the leaves of trees which put sores round our mouths. I once got a cloak which I tore in half to share with Sa’d b. Mâlik: I used half as my waist-wrap and he used the other. And yet today, there is not one of us except he has become a governor over some city – and I seek refuge with Allâh that I consider myself great and important when I am small in front of Allâh. Verily there was never prophet-hood except that it gradually changed until it ended up being a kingship, and verily you will see what the governors after us are like.
Sahîh Muslim no. 7624
“Allah gave you a gift of 86,000 seconds today, have you used one to say ‘Alhamdulilah"
It is reported that ‘Alî b. Abî Tâlib – Allâh be pleased with him – said:
Goodness is not in your wealth and offspring being plentiful; true goodness is when your [good] deeds are plenty and you have great understanding and forbearance, and when you compete to worship your Lord. If you do good you praise Allâh and thank Him, and if you sin you beg Allâh’s forgiveness. There is no good in this life except with two types of men: A man who sins but then corrects himself through repentance, and a man who strives and hastens to get [the good] of the hereafter.
In this statement, Caliph ‘Umar b. ‘Abd Al-Azîz affirms a number of important points related to the creed and methodology of Ahl Al-Sunnah wa Al-Jamâ’ah – orthodox Islam:
The path of guidance, the Sunnah, is what was laid down by the Prophet, as understood and implemented by the Rightly Guided Caliphs and Companions.
For a person to truly believe in the Quran, and to be guided, he must adhere to this Sunnah and to it alone.
A Muslim is not allowed to innovate in the religion or exchange any part of it for foreign beliefs and ideologies.
True enlightenment and insight lies in adhering to this way.
A Muslim is not supposed to be interested in and expose himself to the views and opinions of people who go against the Sunnah and way of the Salaf.
Going against this way is to follow ‘a way other than the way of the Believers’ and take a path to Hell; a reference to Al-Quran 4:115 where this principle is evidenced.
This narration is recorded with variant wordings in numerous other sources. In a version recorded on the authority of Muttarrif b. ‘Abdillâh by Al-Qâdî Abû Ya’lâ (d458H) in Ibtâl Al-Ta’wîl 1:52, it is stated that when those who ‘deflected the narrations speaking of the Sifât’ (divine attributes of Allâh) were mentioned in the presence of Imâm Mâlik, he would quote this saying of Caliph ‘Umar b. ‘Abd Al-‘Azîz. In yet another report of this statement, the heretics being referred to are described as ‘the deviants in the religion.’
It is reported that Abû Al-Dardâ` – Allâh be pleased with him – said:
Be a scholar or a learner, or a person who loves [the scholars] or a follower [of the scholars], but do not be the fifth.
Humayd (one of the reporters) asked Al-Hasan (Al-Basri, who reported this from Abû Al-Dardâ`), “And who is the fifth?” He replied, “A heretic (mubtadi’, religious innovator}.”
Ibn ‘Abd Al-Barr, Jâmi’ Bayân Al-‘Ilm 1:142.
“Allah gave you a gift of 86,000 seconds today, have you used one to say ‘Alhamdulilah"
Asalamu alaikum rahmatulah wa barakatu
Dead Hearts and Empty Supplications
It is reported that Ibrâhîm b. Adham (d162H) – Allâh have mercy on him – once passed through the market of Basrah. People gathered around him and asked:
O Abû Ishâq, Allâh the Exalted says in his Book. ‘Call on me, I will answer your prayers’, but we have been calling on Him for a long time and He does not answer our prayers. [Ibrâhîm] replied, “O people of Basrah, your hearts have died in respect to ten things: First, you know Allâh but you do not give Him His rights; second, you have read Allâh’s Book but you do not act by it; third, you claim to love Allâh’s Messenger – Allâh’s peace and blessings be upon him – yet you abandon his Sunnah; fourth, you claim to be enemies to Shaytân but you conform to [his ways]; fifth, you say you love Paradise yet you do not work for it; sixth, you say you fear The Fire yet you put yourselves closer to it [by sinning]; seventh, you say death is true but you do not prepare for it; eighth, you busy yourselves with the faults of others and disregard your own; ninth, you consume the favors of your Lord but are not grateful for them; and tenth, you bury your dead but take no lesson from them.”
Abû Nu’aym, Hilyah Al-Awliyâ’ 8: 15, 16.
“Allah gave you a gift of 86,000 seconds today, have you used one to say ‘Alhamdulilah"
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