Sayings of the Salaf » fear

The Mad Mufti

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:36:49 +0000

It is reported that ‘Abdullāh b. Mas’ūd – Allāh be pleased with him – said:

By Allāh, he who gives people verdicts (fatwā) for every question they ask him is crazy (majnūn).

Ibn Battah Al-’Ukbarī, Ibtāl Al-Hiyal article 81, et al.

Imām Ibn Battah (d. 304H) laments:

So here is Ibn Mas’ūd, swearing by Allāh that a person who gives people verdicts for every question they ask him is mad. And [now] if a person swore, he would not be breaking his oath, and if a person said, he would be speaking the truth: that most of the muftis of our time are mad. For you will hardly find a man who is asked about an issue pausing to consider carefully before answering, nor fearing Allāh and bringing to mind that Allāh is watching him, and fearing that He will say to him: What is the basis of your answer? Rather, most of them worry that it will be said: so-and-so was asked a question and he had no answer…

This is from Sayings of the Salaf - English translations of narrations from the Salaf - the earliest believers, our righteous predecessors, and true scholars of Islam. Selected and translated by Owais Al-Hashimi

Righteous Fear vs. Sinful Delusion

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 09:19:00 +0000

It is reported that Al-Hasan Al-Basrî – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

The believer does the best deeds yet is most fearful [that his deeds will not be accepted]. If he were to spend a mountain of wealth [in charity], he would not feel sure [of the reward] until he sees it. The more righteous and pious he becomes, the more he fears. But the hypocrite (munâfiq) says, ‘There are so many people, I will be forgiven, no problem.’ So he does wrong and evil deeds, yet holds foolish wishes about Allâh.

Al-Dhahabî, Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ` 4:586.

Four Signs of the Wretched

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Mon, 17 May 2010 19:57:18 +0000

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. More: Children of the Hereafter [...]

Afraid of the Dark

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:18:37 +0000

It is reported that if Hishâm Al-Dustawâ`î – Allâh have mercy on him – didn’t have a torch on at home, he would toss and turn in bed until his wife would come with a torch. She asked him about this once, to which he replied, “If I don’t have a torch, I think about the darkness of the grave.”

Al-Dhahabî, Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ`, in his biography of Hishâm Al-Dustawâ`î.

Three Laughs and Three Tears

Abû ‘Abdillâh Owais Al-Hâshimi — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:30:00 +0000

It is reported form Abû Al-Dardâ – Allâh be pleased with him – that he said, “Three make me laugh, and three make me cry.

Those that make me laugh are a person who puts his hopes in this worldly life while death pursues him, a person who is heedless [of his Lord] while [his Lord] is not heedless of him, and a person who always laughs while he does not know whether he has pleased Allâh or angered Him.

What makes me cry is being separated from my beloved: Muhammad and his party (the Companions), the horrors of the time of death, and standing in front of Allâh ‘azza wa jall on the Day when the secrets will be revealed and I do not know will I then go to Paradise or Hell?”

Ibn Al-Mubârak, Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqâ`iq article 250.