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Homeless & Senseless
It is reported that ‘Abdullāh b. Mas’ūd – Allāh be pleased with him – said:
This world (the dunyā) is [only taken as] a home by those who will have no real home [in Jannah], and it is the wealth of those who will have no real wealth, and it is gathered and collected for by those who have no real intelligence.
Ibn Abī Al-Dunyā, Dhamm Al-Dunyā article 16.
Knowledge on the Mind
It is reported that Imâm Abû Dâwûd Al-Sijistânî – Allah have mercy on him – said:
Ahmad b. Hanbal never used to involve himself in the things of this world that people involved themselves in; but when knowledge was mentioned, he would speak.
Ibn Al-Jawzî Sifatu Al-Safwah 2:519.
It is reported that Al-Husayn b. Muhammad said:
Muhammad b. Ismâ`îl Al-Bukhârî was distinguished with three qualities – in addition to the rest of his praseworthy traits: He never spoke much, he never yearned for what people had. He would never occupy himself with other people’s affairs; all his attention was towards knowledge.
Al-Dhahabî, Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ` 12:449
The Hunger of the Salaf and its Merits
It is reported from Ibn Sîrîn – Allâh have mercy on him – that a man once said to Ibn ‘Umar – Allâh be pleased with him:
Can we offer you some Jawârish? He inquired, “And what is Jawârish?” The man replied, “It is something that will help you digest your food if you get too full up.” Ibn ‘Umar said, “I have not eaten my fill for four months – not because I cannot find food, but because I have lived with people who used to eat their fill at times and go hungry at others.
Abû Dâwûd, Al-Zuhd article 325.
It is reported that Al-Hasan Al-Basrî – Allâh have mercy on him – said:
By He in whose Hand is my soul, I have lived amongst people who never ordered food to be prepared for themselves If [food] was presented to one of them, he would eat, otherwise, he would be silent; and he would not care if it was hot or cold.
Abû Nu’aym, Hilyatu Al-Awliyâ` 6:270.
It is also reported that he said:
By Allâh, I have lived amongst people who when taking lunch, if they were about to be full, would stop eating.
Ibid.
It is reported that Al-Fudayl b. ‘Ayyâd – Allâh have mercy on him – said:
Two things harden the heart, too much talking and too much food.
Ibn Hibbân Al-Bustî, Rawdatu Al-’Uqalâ` p45, Matba’ah Al-Sunnah Al-Muhammadîyah 1949.
It is reported that Mâlik b. Dînâr – Allâh have mercy on him – said:
It is unfitting for a believer that his belly becomes his greatest concern, or that his desires dominate him.
Ibn Abî Al-Dunyâ, Al-Jû’ (The Book of Hunger) article 105.
It is also reported that he said:
Whoever controls his belly controls all good deeds.
Ibid. article 99.
It is reported that the Tâbi’î (Successor) ‘Uqbah b. Wassâj – Allâh have mercy on him – was once at a wedding reception where many kinds of dishes were offered and people started trying one dish after another. He started to cry, and said:
“I found the first part of this Ummah fearing all this upon themselves.” And he ate only from one dish.
Ibid. article 261.
It is reported that Muhammad b. Sîrîn – Allâh have mercy on him – said:
A man from the Companions of the Prophet – praise and peace of Allâh be upon him – would sometimes go three days without finding anything to eat, so he would grill some animal skin and eat that. If he couldn’t find anything at all, he would [tie] a rock to himself to straighten his back.
Ibid. article 61.
How much should I..?
It is reported that Wahb b. Munabbih – Allâh have mercy on him – said:
A scholar once asked another greater than him in knowledge, “How much should I build?” He replied, “As much as shelters you from the sun and the rain.” He asked, “How much food should I eat?” He replied, “More than what keeps you hungry and less than what makes you full.” He asked, “How much should I wear?” He replied, “As the Messiah (Jesus) did.” He asked, “How much should I laugh?” He replied, “As much as appears on your face but does not make audible your voice.” He asked, “How much should I cry?” He replied, “Never tire from crying out of the fear of Allâh.” He asked, “How much should I hide my deeds?” He replied, “Until people think you had not done a good deed.” He asked, “How much should I make public my deeds?” He replied, “As much as will let the keen follow your example but not have the people talk about you.”
Wahb said. “Everything has two ends and a middle. If you grab one end, the other will slant, but if you take the middle, both ends will balance. Stick to the balanced middle in all affairs.”
Abû Nu’aym, Hilyatu Al-Awliyâ` 4:45.
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