It is reported that Hammād b. Salamah – Allāh have mercy on him – said, “Being cursed (al-la’nah) is not some blackness that can be seen in the face, but it is when you do not leave a sin without falling into another.”
Abū Bakr Al-Daynūrī, Al-Mujālasah wa Jawāhir Al-‘Ilm article 765.
Zayd b. Thābit reports that ʿUmar b. Al-Khattāb came to him one day seeking permission to see him. He permitted him to enter, and at the time his head was in the hands of his slave-girl, who was combing his hair. [When ʿUmar entered] he moved his head away from her. ʿUmar said, “Let her continue combing your hair.” [Zayd] said, “O Leader of the Believers! If only you had sent for me, I would have come to you.” ʿUmar replied, “Rather, the need is mine.”
Al-Bukhārī, Al-Adab Al-Mufrad. Shaykh Al-Albānī grades its chain of narration hasan in Sahīh Al-Adab Al-Mufrad Vol. 2 p29.
It is reported that Imām Ayyūb [Al-Sakhtiyānī] – Allāh have mercy on him – said, “When I hear of the death of a man from Ahl Al-Sunnah, it is as if I have lost a part of my body.”
Al-Lālakā`ī, Sharh Usūl I’tiqād Ahl Al-Sunnah wa Al-Jamā’ah, Vol.1 p46.
It is reported that Hammād b. Zayd said, “When the news of the death of a young man from the followers of hadīth reached Ayyūb, [the sorrow] could be seen on him; and when the news of the death of a man who was mentioned as being a devout worshipper would reach him, [it’s effect] on him was not noticed.”
Al-Lālakā`ī, Sharh Usūl I’tiqād Ahl Al-Sunnah wa Al-Jamā’ah, Vol.1 p51.
It is also reported that Hammād b. Zayd said, “I was with Ayyūb Al-Sakhtiyānī while he was washing [the body] of Shu’ayb b. Al-Habhāb, saying, ‘Anyone who wishes for the death of a person from Ahl Al-Sunnah has wished for the light of Allāh to be extinguished; but Allāh will keep His light complete, even though the unbelievers may hate it.’ [Sūrah Al-Saff: 8]”
Al-Lālakā`ī, Sharh Usūl I’tiqād Ahl Al-Sunnah wa Al-Jamā’ah, Vol.1 p52.
It is reported that Asad b. Mūsā said, “We were with Sufyān b. ‘Uyainah when he was informed of the death of Al-Darāwardī, and he became visibly distressed. [Al-Darāwardī] hadn’t actually died, so we said, ‘We didn’t think you would reach such a state.’ He said, ‘[Al-Darāwardī] is from Ahl Al-Sunnah.’”
Al-Lālakā`ī, Sharh Usūl I’tiqād Ahl Al-Sunnah wa Al-Jamā’ah, Vol.1 p72.
It is reported that Abū Hurayrah – Allāh be pleased with him – said, “People say, ‘Abū Hurayrah reports so many [hadīth ],’ but if it were not for two verses in Allāh’s book, I would not narrate a single hadīth .” Then he recited, “Verily, those who hide what Allāh has sent down of the Book (Al-Baqarah: 174),” and “Verily, those who hide what We have sent down of clear explanation and guidance. (Al-Baqarah: 159)” He then said, “Our brothers, the Muhājirūn, used to be occupied with trading in the markets, and our brothers, the Ansār, would be occupied with dealing with their wealth and property, but Abū Hurayrah used to stay with Allāh’s Messenger – Allāh’s peace and blessings be upon him – for his fill, and would be present when they were not.”
This wording has been reported by Al-Hāfidh Ibn ʿAbd Al-Barr, Jāmi’ Bayān Al-‘Ilm Vol.1 p464.
Commenting on this narration, Ibn ʿAbd Al-Barr states, “In this narration there are a number of meanings to understand, including:
[1] The hadīth from Allāh’s Messenger – Allāh’s peace and blessings be upon him – has the same ruling as the revealed Book of Allāh ‘azza wa jall.
[2] Knowledge should be shown, spread and taught.
[3] One should stick with the scholars.
[4] One should be satisfied with the little he can get of worldly provision in order to pursue his desire for knowledge.
[5] One should prefer knowledge over being occupied with worldly pursuits and income.
It is reported that Abū Al-Dardā` – Allāh be pleased with him – used to say, “Learn knowledge before it is taken way, and it is taken away by its people (scholars) being taken away. The scholar and the student are partners in good and there is no good in any other people. The richest of men is the knowledgeable man whose knowledge is needed: he benefits those who need him and if done without, he benefits himself with the knowledge Allāh ‘azza wa jalla has placed with him. So how is it I see your scholars dying yet the ignorant amongst you not learning? I fear that the predecessor will depart and the successor will not learn. If the scholar studies, he only increases in knowledge, and he does not take anything away from knowledge. And if the ignorant studies, he will find knowledge firm and established. So how is it that I see you full up with food, yet starved of knowledge?”
Ibn ʿAbd Al-Barr, Jāmi’ Bayān Al-‘Ilm wa Fadlihi Vol. 2 p233.
It is reported on the authority of Ibrāhīm b. Al-Ash’ath that he said, “I asked Al-Fudayl b. ʿAyyāḍ – Allāh have mercy on him – about patience (al-sabr) in the face of adversity and he said, ‘It is to not broadcast it.’ I asked him about asceticism (al-zuhd) and he said, ‘Al-zuhd is to be content with what you have, and that is what it means to be rich.’ I asked him about prudence (al-wara’) and he said, ‘It is to stay away from what is forbidden.’ And I asked him about humbleness (al-tawādu’) and he said, ‘It is when you submit to the truth and comply no matter who you hear it from; even if it was from the most ignorant of people, you would be required to accept it from him.’”
Ibn ʿAbd Al-Barr, Jāmi’ Bayān Al-‘Ilm wa Fadlihi Vol. 1 p498.
Abū Hurayrah – Allāh be pleased with him – once saw two men. He asked one of them, “How is this man related to you?” He replied, “He is my father.” Abū Hurayrah said, “Do not call him by his name, do not walk in front of him and do not sit before he does.”
Al-Bukhārī, Al-Adab Al-Mufrad. Shaykh Al-Albānī graded its chain of transmission sahīh in Sahīh Al-Adab Al-Mufrad Vol. 1 p19.
It is reported from Al-Hasan Al-Basrī that he said, “If a man from amongst the Salaf were to be sent forth today, he would not recognize anything from Islam.” He put his hand on his cheek and added, “Except this prayer (salāh).” Then he said, “But by Allāh, this does not apply to the person who lives in this unfamiliar time, never having seen the Righteous Predecessors, but who sees [instead] the innovator calling to his bid’ah, and the follower of worldly wealth calling to his materialism, but Allāh protects him from all this and makes his heart love and aspire to those Righteous Predecessors, asking about their way, searching and trying to follow in their footsteps, and adhering to their path. Such is a person who will be recompensed with an immense and great reward. So be you all like this, by Allāh’s permission”.
Ibn Waddāh, Al-Bida’ Vol. 1 p190.
It is reported from Hibbān b. Abī Jablah that he said, “The women of this world who enter Paradise will surpass Al-Hūr Al-‘Īn by the deeds they did in this world.”
Ibn Al-Mubārak, Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqā`iq Vol. 4 p463.
Hibbān b. Abī Jablah is from the Tābi’ūn. He died in 122 or 125H.
Allāh knows best.
It is reported that ‘Amr b. Qays – Al-Malā`ī said, “They used to dislike a man giving his child something with which the child would then go out and be seen by a poor person, causing him to cry over his family; or be seen by an orphan who would then cry over his family.”
Imām Ahmad, Al-Zuhd Vol. 3 p268.
‘Amr b. Qays Al-Malā`ī lived in the time of the younger Tābi’ūn. He died in 146H.