Pearls of Wisdom of the Salaf

- Five pieces of advice -

'Akrama bin Khalid narrated that 'Ali bin Abi Talib(RA) once said: "Learn five things from me, although, even if you were to ride on the speediest racing camels to attain them, your camels will fall exhausted before you can ever arrive at fully accomplishing them;
1) Let a servant implore no one beside his Lord;
2) let a servant fear nothing greater than the consequences of his own sin;
3) let an unlearned person not shy to inquire about what he does not understand; and finally,
4) let no scholar, when asked about something he does not know, shy to say, 'I do not know the answer to that question, surely Allah knows best.'
5) You also must know that patience to one's faith is like the head in relationship to one's body."
(Hilyatul Awliyaa, Imam Al-Asafahaani (rh))

- The blessing of time -

Al-Hasan Al-Basri said, “Every day the sun rises it calls upon us, “Oh people! I am a new day; I am an observer of your actions. Take advantage of me for I will not return until the Day of Judgment.” “Oh, son of Adam you are nothing but a few breaths. Once one breath goes out, part of you goes with it. In the same way that part of you has gone, soon all of you will go.”

Ibn Al-Qayyim said, “Every gulp of air that goes out in a cause other than the cause of Allah (SWT) will turn to sorrow and regret on the Day of Judgment.” He also said, “A sign that Allah (SWT) despises you is when you find yourself wasting your time with trivial matters; in this way you miss your chance of going to heaven. And a sign that Allah (SWT) likes you is when you find yourself fulfilling more duties than you have time for.” A saying goes, ‘The devil makes work for idle thumbs.’ If you want to know whether Allah (SWT) is pleased with you, then think: Are you busy or idle?

Al-Muhasiby said, “I wish that time could be acquired with money. If so I would buy time from wasteful and ungrateful people so that I could spend it serving Allah (SWT).”

Ibn Masoud said, “I never regretted anything except a day that passed by without having increased my deeds.”

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Ibn Mas`ud used to say, "Doing a little of the Sunna is better than striving hard in innovation."

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Imaam ad-dahabee (d.748h) rahemahullah said: it is authentically reported from ad-daaraqutnee that nothing is more despised to me than ‘irnul-kalaam (innovated speech and rehetorics). I say: no one should ever go into ‘irnul-kalaam, nor argumentation. Rather he should be a salafee (follower of the salaf). [siyar 16/457]

- Unparalleled justice -

A man from the Copts came to Umar ibn al-Khattab(RA) in Al-Madinah, and said, "O Commander of the Faithful! I seek refuge in you from oppression." Omar replied, "You have sought refuge where it is to be sought." The Egyptian said, "I was racing the son of `Amr ibn al-`Aas(RA), and defeated him. Then he began to beat me with a whip saying: I am the Son of Nobles!"

So Umar wrote to `Amr commanding him to appear before him with his son. So they appeared before him. Umar inquired, "Where is the Egyptian? He is to take the whip and beat him!" Then the Egyptian began to beat the son of `Amr with the whip as `Umar said to him, "Beat the Son of Nobles!"

Anas said, "So he beat him. I swear by Allah, as he was beating him we pitied his wailing. He did not desist until we stopped him."

Then Umar said to the Egyptian, "Now beat the whip upon `Amr's bald head!" He replied, "O Commander of the Faithful! For it was his son who beat me, and I have evened the score with him."

Upon this Umar said to `Amr, "Since when do you enslave the people when their mothers bore them as free men?" He said, "O Commander of the Faithful! I was unaware of this, and he did not come to me (for justice)."

Reference: Seerah Omar ibn al-Khattab, Ibn Abdi-l Hakam; Kanzu-l `Ummaal, al-Hindi; Rabee`u-l Abraar, al-Zamakhshari

- The role of the mind -

A man came to Iyas Ibn Mu'awiyah, a Muslim judge famous for his wisdom, and the following conversation took place between them:

Man: What is the Islamic ruling regarding wine?
Judge: It is Haram (Forbidden).

Man: How about water?
Judge: It is Halal (Permissible).

Man: How about dates and grapes?
Judge: They are Halal.

Man: Why is it that all these ingredients are Halal, and yet when you combine them, they become Haram?
The Judge looked at the man and said: If I hit you with this handful of dirt, do you think it would hurt you?

Man:It would not.
Judge: How about if I hit you with this handful of straw?

Man: It would not hurt me.
Judge: How about a handful of water?

Man: It surely would not hurt me.
Judge: How about if I mix them, and let them dry to become a brick, and then hit you with it, would it hurt you?

Man: It would hurt me and might even kill me!
Judge: The same reasoning applies to what you asked me!!





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- Four types of Oceans -

There are four types of oceans: The ocean of sins, the self (nafs) is the ocean of lust, death is the ocean of life and the grave is the ocean of distress.
[Umar (RA)]

"You who commit a sin, do not feel secure about the results, for what goes along with the sin is more serious than the sin itself.

Your lack of shame before the angels, who witness you when you commit the sin, is more serious than the sin itself.

Your laughter when you sin, as you forget the punishment of Allah is more serious than the sin itself.

Your delight if you get a chance to sin, is more serious than the sin itself.
Even your disappointment, if you miss a chance to sin is more serious than the sin itself."

Our Righteous Predecessors were as fearful of their good deeds being squandered, or not being accepted, as the present generation is
certain that their neglect would be forgiven.
[Hasan al Basri (rh)]

O people who take pleasure in a life that will vanish, falling in love with a fading shadow is sheer stupidity

[Ibn al-Qayyim]

- Three Solid Truths -

Once, a person was verbally abusing Abu Bakr (RA) while the Prophet (SAW) was curiously watching with a smile. After taking much abuse quietly, Abu Bakr responded to a few of his comments. At this, the Prophet exhibited his disapproval, got up and left. Abu Bakr caught up with the Prophet and wondered, 'O Messenger of Allaah, he was abusing me and you remained sitting. When I responded to him, you disapproved and got up.' The Messenger of Allaah responded,

'There was an angel with you responding to him. When you responded to him, Shaytaan took his place.'

He then said, 'O Abu Bakr, there are three solid truths: If a person is wronged and he forbears it (without seeking revenge) just for the sake of Allaah (SWT), Allaah will honour him and give him the upper hand with His help; if a person opens a door of giving gifts for cementing relationships with relatives, Allaah will give him abundance; and, if a person opens a door of seeking charity for himself to increase his wealth, Allaah will further reduce his wealth.' ( Mishkaat & Musnad Ahmad)

- The collective punishment -

Adas Ibn Umayra (RA) said : 'I heard the Prophet (SAW) say : "Allah will not punish the public (with His torment) because of the bad deeds of a particular people, till the public sees the Munkar (Evil) amongst themselves and they are able to change it but they don't change it. If they do this, then Allah (SWT) will punish the particular people who have been doing the wrong and the public as well."'
(Collected by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal)



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jazaikhair sis, all the above collections were gr8 source of knowledge indeed

- Truth is radiant -

Ibn Shahab narrated, that Muath bin Jabal, God be pleased with him, said: "Beware of innovations, for innovations lead to erring. I also warn you about the potential aberration of the scholars, or the possible blunder of the teachers, for it is possible that even a wise man's own satan utters a misleading statement through him, as well as it is possible that a hypocrite speaks a word of truth. Therefore, accept only the truth, for truth is radiant."

Someone asked: "How are we to know whether a wise man is right or wrong in what he says?"
Muath replied: "A wise man may utter a word lightly, and you feel uncomfortable with it and question it in your heart. Do not feel awkward, nor impel yourselves to agree without questioning such statement should your heart not agree with what the wise man may have said, for perhaps, and should his words be unquestionable wrong, he will retract his expression when he hears the truth from you, and therefore he will correct his own statement, for indeed, truth is a radiant light, and it is assertive of itself."
(Hilyatul Awliyaa, Imam Al-Asafahaani (rh))




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Imaam ash-Shaafi'ee, rahimahullaah, said:

"It is not permissible for anyone to ever say about anything that it is lawful or prohibited, except upon knowledge. This knowledge is what is related in the Book, or the Sunnah, or a consensus (ijmaa'), or an analogy (qiyaas)."



http://www.islaam.net/main/display.p...15&category=13

- Race to catch up -

Ubaidullah bin Umar Qawariri said," I never missed the evening congregational prayer (prayer with Jamath). But once a guest came to my house and I remained in his company until late. I went out, looking for any mosque in Basra at which I could catch the evening prayer, but to no avail. The people had all prayed and gone home. I returned to my house,saying to myself,'It is reported in tradition that congregational prayer is twenty-seven times more excellent than individual prayer.' So I prayed the evening prayer twenty-seven times over and slept. I saw in a dream that I was with a group of people who were racing on horses, and I was also racing with them on my horse but my horse was falling behind. I kicked my horse to catch up with them but I could not. One of the riders turned to me and said,"Do not urge your horse, for you will not be able to catch up with us." I said,"Why not?" He replied,"We prayed evening in congregation and you prayed it alone!" Therefore, I learned a lesson and was deeply grieved."
[Imam Dhahabis Al-Kabaair - The major sins]

- Asking Relevant Questions -

In the book Tarteeb al-Madaarik by Qadi Iyaadh(rh) he mentions a story amidst his biography of the great scholar and Faqeeh Ziyaad bin Abdur Rahmaan al Qurtubee, a student of Imam Malik(rh). Here is the exact quote:

Habeeb said: We were sitting with Ziyaad one day when a herald of the King came with a parchment. Ziyaad read it and then dipped his pen in ink and wrote a reply. He then rolled up the parchment gently and returned it to the herald to be given to the King.

When the herald had left, Ziyaad turned to us and asked, "Do you know what the author of this parchment asked? He asked about the bowls of the scale (Meezaan) on the day of Qiyaamah- are they made of Dhahab (gold) or Waraq (silver)?

So I wrote back to him: I heard from Malik from Ibn Shihaab who said: The Messenger of Allah(SAW) said, "It is from the beauty of ones Islam that he leaves that which does not concern him." Then I wrote: Don't worry, when you are resurrected you'll find out.

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- The Essential Questions -

Verily a dead man is taken to the grave, and then the (believer) man (or person) sits in his grave without fear and perturbation.

Afterwards it is said to him: Wherein were you? He will reply: I was in Islam.

He will then he asked: Who is this man? He will reply: Muhammad, The Messenger of Allah. He came to us with clear proof from Allah and so we did believe in him.

It will be questioned to him: Have you seen Allah? He will reply: It is not in power of anybody to see Allah.

Then an opening will be made out for him towards the Fire, and he will see towards it, some hurling down over others. It will be said to him: Look what Allah has saved you from. Then an opening for him will be made towards Paradise and he will cast his glance towards it and what is therein. It will be said to him: This is your place; upon the sure (belief) you lived and on it you will be raised up if the Almighty Allah so wills.

(But) an impious man (or person) will sit in his grave fearful and perturbed.

It will be questioned to him: Wherein were you? He will say: I don't know.

It will then be asked to him: Who is this man? He will reply: I heard the people say a word which I say (too).

Then an opening will be made for him towards Paradise and then he will look to its fineries and what is therein. He will be asked: Look to what Allah has deprived you from. Then an opening will be made for him towards the Fire. He will look at it that some of them were hurling others down. It will be said to him: This is your place, upon doubt you live, upon it you died, and upon it you will be raised up again if the Almighty Allah so wills.

[Narrated by Abu Hurairah and transmitted by Ibne Majah. Mishkat Al-Masabih; Hadith Vol 1 No.131. ]

- How do I stop sinning? -

Ibraheem ibn Adham was approached by a man who wanted to stop his sins. He asked for advice that will help him realize the consequences of his actions. He was told:

If you want to disobey Allah, you can, in 5 cases:

1- If you want to disobey Allah, then don't eat from His rizq (provision.)
The man said: Then where am I to eat when every provision is from Allah?

Ibraheem said: O such a person! Is it honorable and good to disobey Allah, and eat from His provision?
The man said: give me the second one.

2- If you want to disobey Allah, then do not live on Allah's property.
The man said: Then where am I to live if not on Allah's property?

Ibraheem said: Is it good then, to eat from His provision, live on His property, and disobey Him?
The man said: Give me the third one.

3- If you want to disobey Allah, then disobey Him in a place where He will not see you.
The man said: How am I to do this when He not only sees what others see, but what is in the hearts?

Ibraheem said: o you such a person, how do you eat from His provision, live on His property, and disobey Him openly?
The man said: Give me the fourth one.

4- If you want to disobey Allah, when the Angel of Death comes to you, tell him to come back later, after you repent.
The man said: He will not accept this from me!

Ibraheem said: O you such a person, when you cannot delay death, how do you expect a savior?
The man said: Give me the fifth.

5- If you want to disobey Allah, then after death comes to you, on the Day of Judgement, when the Angels of Hell come to drag you into Hell, refuse to go with them.
The man said: They will not accept that from me!

Ibraheem said: Then how do you expect to be saved?
The man said: Enough! Enough! I seek forgiveness in Allah and make tawbaah! AstaghfirAllah wa i'tubuu ilayk!

He made sincere tawbaah, and left all his acts of disobedience, and he died in such a state.

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mashallah sis - jazaikhair

Abu Ad-darda’ said:
He who feels that he is in need of this life, then he has no life.‘hilyatul-Auliya’, vol 1 page 210.