Some quotes of Hasan Al-Basri regarding death

Dear brothers and sisters, it is very important that we reflect and take admonitions from these statements made by Hasan al-Basri regarding death so as to prepare ourselves for the inevitable death ahead of us that we soon going to encounter.  One of the greatest figure of his time, the eminent scholar and the great Imam, Hasan al-Basri was a taabi’ee famous for his wisdom, eloquence, asceticism, and fear of Allah which signifies why his words appear like pearls and why Muslims still loves him.(May Allah have Mercy on him)

Some of his sayings regarding death 

“The soul of the son of Adam will depart this life with three sorrows: for not having his fill, for not reaching what he hoped for and for not preparing well for what he is going to face.”

 “I have never seen a certainty closer to being doubted than people versus death. (They are certain it will strike them)  yet, they ignore its immanence. I have never seen truth that is closer to falsehood than that demonstrated by their statement, “We seek Paradise”, yet, they ignore seeking its path.’”

“O son of Adam! Sell your current life for your latter life, and you will win both. Do not sell your latter life for this life, and you will lose them both. The period of stay is short, and the righteous ones went away before you, so what are you waiting for? Do you wait your turn? By Allah, it is about to come, and then the latter ones will join the former one among you.”

“If it were not for three son of Adam would not have lowered his head: death, illness and poverty. Other than that, however he is proud.”

“Death has exposed the reality of its life and did not leave delight to be felt by those who have sound minds. “

 “Those who were before you, used to often consider the nearness of death. One of them would often take water for purity, fulfill the call of nature and perform Ablution, fearing that Allah’s Command (death) might come to him while he is not in a state of purity.”

“If son of Adam knew death carries comfort and relief for him, it will still be hard for him to die, because of the agonies, hardships and afflictions that accompany death. So what about when he knows nothing about what death is carrying for him, whether eternal delight or everlasting torment”

 “He, who did not die all of a sudden, will get ill all of a sudden. Therefore, fear Allah and beware of His surprises for you.”

Hasan Al-Basri was asked: O Abu Said! How are you “Like he who awaits death when night falls, and in the morning, he does not know if he will live through the night or in which state (or condition) he will die”.

Hasan Al-Basri was asked, “O Abu Said! What should we do? We sit with people who make us afraid (from death) that makes our hearts fly away.”  He said, “By Allah! If you associate with someone who makes you afraid, so that you earn safety, is better than associating with someone who makes you feel safe, for in this case, un-safety might touch you.”

While Hasan Al-Basri was in the mosque, he took a deep breath and then said, “Had the hearts had life or righteousness in them, they would have made you weep of a night the day in its aftermath is the day of Resurrection, during which the creations will see more naked bodies and weeping eyes than before.”

Hasan Al-Basri asked his mother, “O my mother! Do you like to meet Allah the Exalted now?” She said, “No, for I have disobeyed Him.”

Once, Hasan Al-Basri passed by a man who was laughing and asked him, “O my nephew! Have you safely passed over the Sirat?” He said, “No.” Hasan Al-Basri asked, “Have you received news that you will end up in Paradise or Hell?” He said, “No Hasan Al-Basri asked him, “Why do you laugh then, May Allah save you, while the matter ahead is horrifying?” That man was never seen laughing until he died.

Also, Hasan Al-Basri wept very hard, and he was asked why he wept. He replied, “For fear that Allah might throw me in the Fire and care less about me.”

Hasan Al-Basri visited an ill person and found him suffering in the agonies of death. When Hasan Al-Basri witnessed the hardship and stupor of death that man was experiencing, he went back to his family with a different color or attitude than the one he left with. They said, come eat, May Allah grant you Mercy. He said O my family! Take away your food and drink. By Allah! I witnessed such a difficult death that I will keep preparing for until I meet”

When a funeral passed by Hasan Al-Basri, he said, “What an eloquent lesson that is soon forgotten! What an eloquent lesson if it is brought to a living heart. He then said” what an encompassing headlines that overcame people, as if they are seeing a dream: The dead of tomorrow is burying the dead of today”.

Hasan Al-Basri said to a man who attended a funeral, “if this dead man came back to life, do you think he would perform good deeds” he said “yes” Hasan Al-Basri said, “he won’t come back, but you can still perform good deeds.”

Hasan Al-Basri once participated in a funeral, sat next to the empty grave hole and said,” A matter (life) that ends like this deserves to feel disinterest about its beginning. A matter that starts life this (death) deserves that its end is feared (Hearafter)”

Hasan Al-Basri saw someone eating in the grave yard and commented” this is hypocrite, he sees death before his eyes, but his stomach craves for food!”

Hasan Al-Basri used to say” O son of Adam! You will die alone, be resurrected alone and be recompensed alone. O son of Adam! If all people obey Allah and you disobey Him, their obedience will not benefit you, if they disobey Allah and you obey Him, their disobedience will not harm you, O son of Adam, beware of your sins, for it is your flesh and blood at stake. If you are saved from the evil repercussions of your sins, your flesh and blood will be saved for you. If it is the other destination, then it is a fire that will never be extinguished, a body that will never perish (eternal in torment) and a soul that will never die.”

The sayings are taken from the book "Silent moments" by Abdul-Malik Al-Qasim , translated by Jalal Abualrulb

From the wisdom of Luqman

"Luqman was an Ethiopian slave who worked as a carpenter. One day, his master ordered him to slaughter a goat and bring him the most pleasant and delicious two parts thereof. Luqman did so and brought him the tongue and heart. The master asked: Did not you find anything more pleasant than these? Luqman said: No! After a while, the master ordered him to slaughter a goat and to throw the most malignant two parts thereof. Luqman slaughtered the goat and threw the tongue and heart. The master exclaimed and said: I ordered you to bring me the most delicious parts thereof and you brought me the tongue and heart, and I ordered you to throwaway the most malignant parts thereof and you threw the tongue and heart, how can this be? Luqman said: Nothing can be more pleasing than these if they were good, and nothing can be more malicious than these if they were malignant." (1)

Luqman said to his son, “Wisdom is in doing ten things – enlivening the dead heart, sitting with the needy, staying away from the gathering of kings, honoring the humble, freeing the slave, being hospitable to the stranger, enriching the poor, and venerating the people of honor. These things are better than wealth, are a protection from fear, a weapon in war, a merchandise at the time of commerce, an intercessor when afflicted with terror, an indication that conviction has entered the heart, and a covering when no clothes can cover one [on the Day of Judgment].” (2)

Luqman al-Hakim, peace be upon him, said to his son, “O my son! Man is composed of three thirds – a third for Allah, a third for himself and a third for the worms. The third that is for Allah is his soul; the third that is for himself is his actions, and the third that is for the worms is his body.” (3)

I was told by my father after ‘Amr Ibn ‘Uthman after Damurah Ibn Hafs Ibn ‘Umar as saying: “Luqman placed a bag of mustards beside him and started to advise his son, giving him with every piece of advice a mustard till it all ran out. He said: O my son! I gave you advice that if a mountain was given, it would split” (4)

A man went to Luqman, the wise and asked: Are you Luqman? Are you the slave of Bani Nuhas? He said: “Yes!” The man said: You are the black shepherd! He said: As for my skin being black, it is apparent, so what is it about me that amaze you? The man said: “That people come to visit you in throngs! That people crowd at your door, and they are pleased with your speech”.  Luqman said: “0h my cousin! If you do as I say , then you will be the same, He said “And what is that” Luqman said “ Lowering my gaze, holding my tongue, honoring my guests, preserving the rights of my neighbor, and refraining from which that does not concern me, that has made me become as you see me now”.(5)

Narrated Al-A'mash after Mujahid: Luqman was a black huge slave, thicklipped, and crackedfooted. 'Umar Ibn Qais said: "Luqman was a black slave, thick-lipped and cracked-footed. It happened while he was preaching some people, a man came to him and said: aren't you the one who used to look after the sheep with me at such and such place? Luqman said: yes, I am! The man said: then, what made you of that position? Luqman said: telling the truth and keeping silent regarding what does not concern me." (6)

Luqman said to his son: "0 my son! Set apart with evil and it will set apart with you, for evil begets nothing but evil."(7)

Luqman said to his son: "0 my son! I have never regretted because of keeping silent. If words are silver, silence is golden”(8)

Luqman said to his son: "0 my son! Do not wish for befriending a fool that he may think you approve his foolishness. And, do not take the wise man's rage easily that he may abstain from you."(9)

Luqman said to his son: "0 my son! Take Allah's Obedience as your trade, and you will gain profits without having any merchandises."(10)

1-      Stories Of The Quran by Ibn Katheer

2-      Preparing for the day of judgment by Imaam Ibn Hajar Al-‘Asqalani

3-      Preparing for the day of judgment by Imaam Ibn Hajar Al-‘Asqalani

4-      Stories Of The Quran by Ibn Katheer

5-      Gems and jewels  by Abdul Malik Mujahid

6-      Stories Of The Quran by Ibn Katheer

7-      Stories Of The Quran by Ibn Katheer

8-      Stories Of The Quran by Ibn Katheer

9-      Stories Of The Quran by Ibn Katheer

10-   Stories Of The Quran by Ibn Katheer

International Patents for Quranic eye drops

For the first time, an Egyptian scientist manufactures drops for treating cataracts inspired by Yoosuf's shirt.

This is an interview with Prof. Dr. ‘Abdul Basit Muhammad sayyid a researcher in the National Research Center in Egypt who acquired two international patents after manufacturing eye drops to treat cataracts, inspired by the text of Soorah Yoosuf.

Q. Every idea has a beginning. What was it and how did this research begin?

A. It began with the Holy Quran. One day at Fajr I was reading the Book of Allah, in the story of Yoosuf (Joseph) peace be upon him. That amazing story made me pause and I began to think of the verses which tells the story of the conspiracy of Yoosuf’s brothers against him, and how his father ended up after he lost him, how he lost his eye sight and was affected by cataracts, and then how the Mercy of Allah reached him in the shirt of healing which the bringer of glad tidings threw on his face and he regained his sight.

 I began to wonder what could have been in Yoosuf’s shirt so that this healing could take place and his eyesight could be restored. Although I believe that the story tells of a miracle which Allah, Most High, caused to happen at the hands of one of His Prophets, namely Yoosuf, peace be upon him, I realized that in addition to the spiritual aspect that may be understood from the story, there was also a material aspect which we may understand through research and which would confirm the truthfulness of the Quran which tells us this story as it happened. So I began to research until Allah guided me to this matter.

Q. Can you explain scientifically the meaning of the whiteness that effects the eye or what is called cataracts?

A. The whiteness that affects the eye or cataracts is a kind of opacity which happens in the lens of the eye and prevents light from entering either partially or completely, according to the degree of opacity. When this opacity reaches the ultimate limit, the vision is weakened to such an extent that the patient cannot see the movement of a hand close to the eye and he cannot distinguish anything that he sees.

To explain contracts in scientific terms, the lens of the eye is formed of a capsule which contains protein, and this protein consists of what is called Alpha crystalline, Beta crystalline, Gamma crystalline and albumin. It is changes in the denatured protein that causes opacity, which begins and then increases gradually. This protein in the capsule of the lens is arranged in harmonious manner in a small shape, in other words, each type of it is arranged in small shape composed of two arms folded around one another in harmonious, manner so that it can perform its function of letting light through that falls on the eye. Changes in the nature of this protein indicate a change in the degree of harmony and precise order. This change leads to random distribution. To make it clearer for the reader we can liken it to the white albumin, which is transparent and allows light to pass through or makes it turns in to random distribution and becomes opaque and it is not possible to see things through it. This is the opacity.  

Q.How are cataracts treated according to current medical methods?

A.Up until the current time, treatment has focused on surgery, whether it is the traditional method of removing the opaque lens or siphoning off the protein of the lens and implanting a lens in part of the capsule. In either case, of course the strength of vision does not return to the way it was.  

Q.How did you reach a solution to this chronic problem from the holy Quran?

 A. As previously stated and as I indicated, the lens of the eye is formed of a capsule containing protein that is distributed and arranged in small form, and changes in the nature of this protein or changes in the way it is arranged, lead to random distribution, which causes opacity. Hence I began to think of finding a substance that would isolate the protein that is not in harmony by means of a physical process. Not a chemical one, so that it would go back to its proper, harmonious, folded status. Because no previous research was to be found on this matter in the scientific periodicals, I was faced with difficulty on how to begin or how to find a starting point. We found the first glimmer of hope in Surah Yoosuf, where it speaks of Yaqub (Jacob, Yoosuf’s father) in the passage where Allah says:

And he turned away from them and said: "Alas, my grief for Yusuf (Joseph)!" And he lost his sight because of the sorrow that he was suppressing.” (Soorah Yoosuf, 12:84)

What Yoosuf did, on the basis of revelation from his Lord, was to ask his brothers to take to their father a shirt of healing:

"Go with this shirt of mine, and cast it over the face of my father, he will become clear-sighted, and bring to me all your family." And when the caravan departed, their father said: "I do indeed feel the smell of Yoosuf, if only you think me not a dotard (a person who has weakness of mind because of old age)."  They said: "By Allah! Certainly, you are in your old error." Then, when the bearer of the glad tidings arrived, he cast it (the shirt) over his face, and he became clear-sighted. He said: "Did I not say to you, 'I know from Allah that which you know not. (Soorah Yoosuf 12:93-96)

Q: What could there have been of healing in the shirt of Yoosuf (peace be upon him)?

A. After thinking about it, we could not come up with anything other than sweat. So our research was about the components of human sweat. We took lenses that had been extracted from eyes by traditional surgical methods, and we soaked them in sweat, and we found that gradual transparency began to occur in these opaque lenses.

The next question was: Were all the components of sweat effective in this case, or was it just one of these components? By separating them, it was possible to reach one of the basic components, which is the compound urea, which can be chemically prepared. By carrying out experiments on laboratory animals in which opacity or whiteness of the lens of the eye had been introduced by means of rays or  by means of what is called opacity caused by galactose, it was found that this chemically prepared galactose caused whiteness of the lens. It was also proved that they had this disease by means of an examination using slit lamp and ultra sound waves, and by shining red lights on the lens of the eye.

After that, the matter required carrying out tests on a physiological sample done on the computer, which takes half an hour and costs 0.25 million dollars. Opacity was introduced to the lens of the eye and the amount of light passing through it was calculated by computer before putting drops in the eye. It was found to be no more than 2 percent, and after putting the drops in the eye it was found that the amount of light passing through increased from 2 percent to 60 percent in a quarter of an hour, then to 90 percent after 20 minutes, then to 95 percent after 30 minute, and to 99 percent after an hour.

Q. Are there any side effects to using sweat?

A. Not at all. This was a matter of great concern especially since sweat is regarded as an expelled waste product and especially the effective substance in sweat which as we have stated above is a derivative of urine. Hence it was essential to carry out official experiments on laboratory animals and give them these compounds in a concentrated form that was 10 times stronger, either by mouth or by injections in the pericardium. No side effects or toxic effects were found at all; it did not affect the functions of the liver, kidneys, brain or blood.

Q.This has to do with experiments on animals, namely rabbits, and on physiological samples. What about experiments on humans?

A. The results of experiments carried out on 250 volunteers recorded the disappearance of this whiteness and restoration of eyesight to more than 90 percent, as for the cases which did not respond it was found in clinical examinations that the protein of the lens had become transparent, but there were other reasons, such as disease of the retina, which meant the eyesight was not restored to its natural levels. And as for its effect on the heart, no such side effect was seen, and there were no effects on the function of the liver, kidneys , brain or blood.

Q. Are there diseases other than cataracts which can be treated by these drops?

A. Yes, there is also whiteness of the cornea. Weak eyesight may results from thrombosis or changes in the nature of the corneal protein. It was also proved by means of experiments that putting these drops twice a day for two weeks takes away this whiteness in the pupil or iris of the eye, application of these drops restored the eye to good health after two weeks.

Q: Do you think that this research represents an incentive to do more research and applied studies based on the texts of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah?

A. Definitely. The miracles of the Holy Quran never cease. I believe that focusing on studying the texts of the Quran and Sunnah with awareness will open new horizons in all fields, to serve mankind in all places.” 

Source: Islamic Medicine by Yusuf al-Hajj Ahmad, P. 395

(The article found in the website is an abbreviated version of the original)

Jacob and the Angel of Death

It was said that that the Prophet Ya’qub (Jacob) ‘Alaihi Salam said to the Angel of Death, “I need something from you, and the angel of Death asked him what he wanted. Ya’qub said, “That you inform me when my term comes to an end, when the time comes that you capture my soul. “ The angel of Death said, “I will send two or three emissaries to you.

When Ya’qub’s term came to its expiration date, the angel of Death came to Ya’qub who asked, “Have you come to visit or capture my soul?” He said, “To capture your soul” Ya’qug said, “Did you not tell me that you will send me two or three emissaries?

The Angel of Death answered him , “Yes, and I did; the white hairs you have that used to be black, the weakness in your body after it was strong and your becoming bent after it was straight. These are my emissaries” 

Source: Silent Moments by Abdul-Malik Al-Qasim

Some rare dreams

Once a man visited a cemetery. Looking at the graves, he said to himself: "I wish that a miracle takes place and that some of these people come out and tell me about what they saw!" He then sat beside one of the graves pondering, when he was seized by slumber. In his sleep, someone appeared to him in a dream and said: "Do not boast about the way you fashion the gravestones and how you maintain the look of the cemetery. For under these gravestones there are people whose cheeks have decayed. Some are blessed and are awaiting God's reward and His paradise, while others are distressed with their past and are suffering the consequences of their deeds. Beware of heedlessness."


Imam Al-Junayd reported that he was once sitting by his doorsteps. A blind man who was asking people to help him passed by him. Al-Junayd said to himself: "If this man trusted in God Almighty and sat on the corner of a street, or at the entrance of a mosque, God Almighty will surely provide for him without his asking." Al-Junayd continued: "That night, a copper tray was placed before me in a dream, and that blind man was laid on it. A voice then said to me: 'Eat from the flesh of this man.' I replied: 'God is my witness, I did not backbite him. It was only a thought, and my tongue never uttered a word of that.' The voice then said: 'Remember, 0 Junayd, such an excuse cannot be accepted from a person with your level of knowledge."


After Al-Junayd's death, a disciple saw him in a dream and asked: ''What did God Almighty do to you, 0 Junayd?"Al-Junayd replied: "All the knowledge went away, and all the thoughts disappeared. Only a few prayers (Raka'h) which we used to pray in the depth of the night were of any benefit to us'.


Ibrahim AI-Khurabi once said: "I saw Bishr Al-Hafi in a dream. It seemed as though he was leaving the Mosque of Rasafa. As he walked away from the mosque, the sleeve of his shirt looked weighty, and something kept on moving inside it. I asked him: 'What did God Almighty do to you?' He replied: 'He forgave me, and He was generous to me.' I asked: 'What are you carrying in your sleeve?' He replied: 'The soul of Ahmad Ibn Hanbal visited us yesterday, and it was welcomed with showers of gems and pearls. This is the share I was able to gather from that welcome.' I asked: 'What happened to Yahya Ibn Ma'in and Ahmad Ibn Hanbal after that?' He replied: 'They were called to visit the Lord of the universes, and they were welcomed with heavenly banquets.' I asked: 'Why did you not eat with them?' He replied: 'My Lord knew how little I care for food, and He allowed me to look at His Divine Countenance.'"


One night, a woman who lived in Mecca read the Qur'an before going to sleep. In a dream, she saw maids of honor circumambulating  the Ka'aba- and carrying fine sheets covered with safflowers. The woman exclaimed in her dream: "Glory be to God! Who are these women?" A voice said to her: "Do you not know that tonight is the wedding of Abdul-Azlz Abi Dawud?" The woman woke up scared from her dream, as she heard a bursting noise coming from the street. She inquired about it to find that Abdul-Azlz Dawud has just died.


Once upon a time, a king hired a private tutor to teach his children the Qur'an and proper conduct. After the teacher had died, one day the king's children went to visit the grave of their teacher. After paying the customary greetings, they sat beside his grave and engaged in a mundane conversation, ate some fruits, and threw the peels and pits on the side of the grave. That night, the teacher came to the king in a dream and told him: "Instruct your children to refrain from visiting my grave, for they have certainly offended me." When the children learned from their father about what happened, they cried and exclaimed: "God bless his soul, for surely he is still teaching us proper conduct, even after his death."


A man said to Imam Ibn Seerin: "A man saw himself in a dream piercing eggs from the top, extracting the egg white, and leaving the egg yoke." Imam Ibn Seerin replied: "Let him come here and tell me his dream in person." At three different occasions, the man kept on asking about the meaning of that dream, and Imam Ibn Seerin insisted on the same reply. Finally, after taking a promise from Ibn Seer'in, the man confessed that he is the person who saw that dream. Imam Ibn Seer'in asked someone to call the chief of police and to tell him that this man is a body snatcher who digs the graves and steals their contents. The man immediately asked for forgiveness, repented from his doing, and promised never to do it again.


Once Sufyan Bin 'Uyaynah saw Sufyan Al-Thawri in a dream and asked him: "What is the special virtue that makes God Almighty love you?" Sufyan Al-Thawri, God bless his soul, replied: "Knowing less about people." Ibn 'Uyaynah then said: "Advise me." Sufyan Al-Thawri replied: "Use what I have just told you." Ibn 'Uyaynah added: "God have Mercy on you. There are many good brothers here, and each one of them may intercede for his fellow brother on the Day of Judgment." Sufyan Al-Thawri replied: "I wish not to know you from this day on. Have you seen harm coming from other than people you know?" Ibn 'Uyaynah continued: "I suddenly woke up crying from my dream."


Someone used to regularly recite special prayers and offer their blessing to the benefit of the soul of Raibi'a Al 'Adawiyyah, God be pleased with her. One night, he saw her in a dream, and she said to him: "Your gifts are carried to us on trays of light and are covered with light."


A man came to Imam Ibn Seerin and said: "I saw a big bird that landed upon a jasmine tree in a dream, and he ate all its flowers." Ibn Seerin's face became alarmed as he replied: "Your dream means the death of scholars."


source: Ibn Seerin's dictionary of dreams by Muhammad Al-Akili

The piety of Umar bin Abdul Azeez

Umar bin Abdul Azeez is considered fifth caliph among the Khulafa ar-Rashideen(The rightly guided caliphs). Most of the scholars among Muslims say that the Khulafa ar-Rashideen are five:Abu bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali, and Umar bin abdul Azeez. (May Allah be Pleased with them)

Before becoming caliph Umar bin Abdul Azeez wore showy and costly clothes. However, after becoming caliph he adopted the life style of a poor in his food and clothing. 

Malik bin Dinar relates “People used to say,”If anyone can be said to be a Zahid(ascetic), he is Umar bin Abdul Azeez. (Because the world came to him and he renounced it).

After Umar bin Abdul Azeez took oath for caliphate, they brought a horse from the royal stable for him. But he refused by saying his personal mule was sufficient for him. And when he was returning home his slave said to him, “You look sad”. He said, “If anybody has a right to be grieved today, it is me. Is it a light burden? Before I am asked to explain the written register of my actions, I will have to give the people their dues”. And when he entered his house, he started weeping until his beard became wet. His wife becoming alarmed and asked him whether he was well. He said, “How can I be well? The burden of the entire ummah has been put around my neck. I have been overburdened with the naked, the hungry, the sick, the oppressed, the travelers, the captives, the children, and the poor with large families. I am weeping for the fear of being asked to render accounts and my possible failure to do so on the day of Reckoning”.

After becoming caliph he said to his wife, “Deposit all your jewelry in the treasury or I shall part with you, because I don’t like that you, your jewelry and I should live under the same roof”. His wife soon sent all her jewelry to the treasury. 

Yunus bin shabib says, “I had seen Umar bin Abdul Azeez before he became caliph. Then the belt of his trouser was sunken into his abdomen due to his plumpness but after he became caliph he became so thin that each and every bone could be counted”.

Umar bin Abdul Azeez’s son says, “Abu Jafar Mansoor asked me about his wealth when he died. I said four hundred dinars and had he lived a few more days, it would have come down more”.

Maslama bin Abdul Malik says, “I visited Umar bin Abdul Azeez during his sickness. I saw that he was wearing a dirty shirt. I said to my sister (that is his wife), “Why don’t you wash his shirt? She said “He has no other shirt to change into”.

His slave Abu Omayya says, “One day I said to my master’s respectable wife, “I am sick of eating lentils” she said, “Your master eats them daily”

His wife states during his caliphate when he used to come home from outside he would go in to prostration and he would fall asleep weeping. When he woke, he would start weeping again. 

Sayeed bin Saweed says that once when Umar bin abdul Azeez came to lead the congregational prayer on Friday, he saw his shirt had patches in front and in the back. A man said to him,” Amir al Muminun, Allah has given you everything. Why don’t you get new clothes tailored? He continued to ponder for some time with his head bent and then said, “Moderation in prosperity and forgiveness in power are great things”.

Once he asked his slave to heat water for him. The slave went and brought it by heating it in royal kitchen. When he came to know where it came from, he sent firewood worth a dirham to replace it. 

It was his custom that so long as people kept sitting by him and talking about affairs of state, he kept the lamp of the treasury burning and when they left, he put it out and lit his own lamp.

Mohamed ibn Fadala relates that Abdullah (son of Umar bin Abdul Azeez) passed by an ascetic who lived on an island. The ascetic saw him and went to him though he had never gone to anyone before and began to say to him,” Do you know why I came to you?” He replied in the negative. Then he said,” Simply because you are son of a righteous and just Imam(leader).

Ata relates that Umar bin Abdul Azeez used to gather legal scholars at night and discussed death and Doomsday with them causing him to weep so much as if there was a dead body in front of him. Abi Sayeb says that he had not seen a man greater in fearing Allah than Umar bin Abdul Azeez.

Obaid bin Hassan says that when his end came and the pain of death started, he asked the people to leave him alone and everybody went out. Maslama bin Abdul Malik and his wife Fatima bin Abdul Malik remained standing at the door. They heard him say, “Bismillah, (in the name of Allah), Please come. These faces are neither of men nor Jinn” and then he recited, (Quran translation) “That home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We shall assign to those who rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief by committing crimes. And the good end is for the Muttaqun (pious).(28:83).

When Imam Hasan al Basri was informed of his death, he said, “The best man in the world has died”.

*Information taken from “The history of Islam” by Akbar Shah Najeebabadi

Do not feel secure of Allah's Punishment

O you who are deceived by false hopes! Satan was cursed and descended from the glorious abode by neglecting one prostration he was ordered to perform. Adam descended from Paradise because of a mouthful he ate. The criminal was separated by a handful of blood. Moreover, the adulterer is supposed to be killed in the most awful way because he committed an unlawful act. Flogging is enjoined on him who says a word of slander, or drinks a drop of liquor. He (Allah) ordered that one of your hands should be cut in case theft is committed, so do not feel secure, for He might cast you into Hellfire because of only one sin.
Allah, the Almighty says,

وَلَا يَخَافُ عُقْبَاهَا 

(Meaning of the Ayah), "And He (Allah) feared not the consequences thereof." (Ash-Shams, 91:15)

A woman was cast into Hellfire because of a cat. One may utter a word carelessly, which displeases Allah. This might be done without thinking about the gravity of the word, and then because of that he will be thrown into the Hellfire, like the distance between the east and the west. And one may obey Allah for sixty years, and at his death he misjudges, and this will be the reason for his being thrown into Hellfire. The person’s lifetime is judged by its end, and man's actions are regarded by their final deeds. Whoever breaks his ablution before the final salutation, surely his prayer becomes invalid, and whoever breaks his fast before sunset, surely his fast is invalid, and whoever is sinful at the end of his life, surely he will meet Allah in that state. If you give charity, surely you will find the blessings thereof, but beware of greed. How many times do you seek a good reward but it is rejected because of procrastination?

Verily, no salvation is found when faith is incomplete, when false hope is overestimated, when a disease has no remedy or visitor, when one insists on vain desires, when a sleeping heedless mind wanders blindly in wild intoxication, overwhelmed by its ignorance, feeling alienated from his Lord, and finding delight with his servants, and remembering people is his power and pleasure, while remembering Allah is his prison and death. To Allah he offers superficial acts of worship, and to people his devotion and trust are directed.

Taken from Al Fawaid by Ibn al-Qayyim 

Remembrance of Allah and reciting Quran

Ibn Taimiyaa wrote, "Remembrance of Allah is to the heart what water is to fish. What happens to a fish when it is taken out of water?" Imam Shams ad-Din ibn al-Qayyim wrote about nearly eighty benefits that come with dhikru'llah in his book al-Wabil al-Sayyib. We shall quote some of them here, although we recommend the reader to refer to this book itself because of its great value.


Remembrance of Allah is sustenance for both the heart and the spirit. If the servant is deprived of it he becomes like a body which has been deprived of food.

Remembrance of Allah also drives away shaytan, suppressing him and breaking him; it is pleasing to the Merciful, Might and Exalted is He, dispels worry and melancholy from the heart, adorns it with delight and joy, fills the heart and face with light, and cloaks the one who remembers Allah with dignity, gentleness and freshness. It instils love for Allah, fear of Him, and relating all matters to Him. It also enhances Allah's remembrance of His servant, for as Allah says:
So remember Me - I will remember you. (2:152)


Even if this were the only reward for the remembrance of Allah, it would be mercy and honour enough, for such a heart is always aware and free from wrong actions.

Although remembrance is one of the easiest forms of worship, the mercy and honour that it brings cannot be acheived by any other means. Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "Whoever recites the words, "There is no god but Allah, the One, having no partner with Him. Sovereignty belongs to Him and All praise is due to Him, and He is Powerful over everything', one hundred times every day, there is a reward equal to freeing ten slaves for him, and a hundred good actions are recorded for him, and a hundred wrong actions are removed from his record. That is a safeguard for him against shaytan on that day until evening, and no one brings anything more excellent than this, except the one who has done more than this (that is, who recites these words more than one hundred times)."

Jabir reported that the Prophet  (Peace be upon him) said, "Whoever recites the words, "Glory be to Allah and His is the praise', will have a palm tree planted for him in the Garden."


Ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "To Praise Allah, may He be Exalted, is more dear to me than spending the same number of dinars (as the number of times I praise Him) in the way of Allah."

Remembrance of Allah is a remedy for hard hearts. A man once told al-Hassan, "O Abu Sa'id, I complain to you about the hardness of my heart." He said, "Soften it with the remembrance of Allah." Makhul said, "Remembrance of Allah is (a sign of) health, while remembrance of people is like a disease." A man once asked Salman, "Which deeds are the best?" He said, "Haven't you read in the Qur'an:
And the remembrance of Allah is greatest. (29:45)


Abu Musa once related that the Prophet  (Peace be upon him) said, "The difference between the one who remembers his Lord and the one who does not is like the difference between the living and the dead."


Abdullah ibn Busr related that a man once told the Prophet  (Peace be upon him), "The roads to good are many and I am unable to take all of them, so please tell me something to which I can hold fast, but do not overburden me lest I forget it." He said, "Make sure that your tongue is moist and supple with the remembrance of Allah, the Exalted."


Continual remembrance of Allah increases a servant's good witnesses on the Day of Resurrection. It is a means which prevents him from talking in the wrong way, such as backbiting and spreading tales and their like. Either the tongue is mentioning Allah and remembering Him, or it is talking incorrectly.

Whoever has the gates of remembrance opened to him has an opening to his Lord, Mighty and Glorious is He, through which he will find what he seeks. If he finds Allah, he has found everything. If he misses the opportunity, he has missed everything.

There are several types of remembrance. The remembrance of the Names of Allah, Mighty and Glorious is He, the remembrance of His Attributes, and praising Him and thanking Him. All of these can take the form of saying, for example, 'Glory be to Allah', 'Praise be to Allah', 'There is no god but Allah'. A servant can also remember Allah by referring to His Names and Attributes, such as by saying, for example, "Allah, Mighty and Glorious is He, Hears all that his servants say and do"; or by mentioning what He has commanded and what He has forbidden, such as saying, "Allah, the Mighty and Glorious, commands such and such, or forbids such and such."

A servant can also remember Allah by talking about His blessings, while the best type of remembrance is the recitation of the Qur'an, because this contains remedies to cure the heart from all illnesses. Allah, the Exalted, says:
O mankind, there has come to you a protection from your Lord and a healing for what is in your hearts, and for those who believe, a guidance and a mercy. ( 10:57 )
And also::
We send down in the Qur'an that which is a healing and a mercy for those who believe. (17:82)


All the illnesses of the heart result from desires and doubt, and the Qur'an is a cure for both. It has enough clear signs and proofs to distinguish between truth and falsehood, and thus it cures the diseases of doubt which ruin knowledge, understanding and perception, by enabling a person to see things as they really are. Whoever studies the Qur'an, and allows it to be absorbed by his heart, will recognise truth and falsehood and will be able to distinguish between them, just as he is able to distinguish between night and day.

As for curing the diseases that arise from desires, it is because it contains wisdom and good counsel. This recommends avoiding worldly gains and inspires a yearning for the akhira.

The Prophet  (Peace be upon him)once said, "Whoever wants to love Allah and His Messenger should read the Qur'an."


The Qur'an is also the best means for bringing the servant nearer to his Lord, Glorious and Exalted is He. Khabab ibn al-Arat said to a man, "Draw closer to Allah as much as you can, and remember that you can do so by no means more pleasing to Him than using His own words."

Ibn Mas'ud said, "Whoever loves the Qur'an loves Allah and His Messenger," and Uthman ibn Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "If your hearts were really pure, they would never have enough of reciting Allah's words."

All in all, the most benefical thing for the servant is to remember Allah, Mighty and Glorious is He, constantly:
Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest. ( 13:28 )


The Best kind of remembrance is to recite the Book of Allah, the Glorious and Exalted.


Source: purification of the soul by Ahmed Farid

The story of Al-Jassasah and the dajjal

‘Aamir ibn Sharaaheel Al-Sha’bi Sha’b Hamdaan narrated that he asked Faatimah bint Qays, The sister of Al-Dahhaak ibn Qays, who was the earliest Muhaajir women, “Relate to me a Hadeeth that you heard directly from the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him)”

She said,”If you wish, I will do that. “He said to her, “Yes, tell me.” She said:

 “I heard the voice of the caller of the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) saying: Al-salaatu jaami’ah (prayer is about to begin), so I went out to the mosque and I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him). I was in the women’s row that was closest to the people. When the Messenger of Allah had finished his prayer, he sat on the Minbar and he was smiling. He said, “Let each person stay in the place where he just prayed, “Then he said, “Do you know why I called you together?” They said, “Allah and his Messenger (Peace be upon him) know best.” He said, “By Allah, I did not call you together for something good or for some alarming news. I have called you together because Tameem Al-Daari was a Christian and he came and swore allegiance and became Muslim, and told me something which agrees with what I was telling you about the Dajjal (false messiah).

He told me that he sailed in a ship with thirty men of Lakhm and Judhaam and they were tossed by the waves of the sea for a month. They came to an island at sunset. They sat in a small rowing-boat and landed on that island. They were met by a beast with a great deal of hair and they could not distinguish his face from his back because he was so hairy. They said: “woe to you, what are you?” It said Al-Jassaasah. “They said: “what is Al-Jassasah?” It said, “people, go to this man in the monastery for he is keen to know about you,”’’

He the narrator said, when it named a man for us we were afraid of it lest it be a devil. Then we set off, rushing , until we came to that monastery, where we found the hugest man we has ever seen, bound strongly in chains with his hands tied to his neck and his legs bound from the knees to the ankles with iron shackles. We said, “woe to you, who are you?” He said , “you will soon find out about me ; tell  me who you are,” They said , “we are people from Arabia who embarked on a ship, but the sea became wild and the waves tossed us about for one month, then it brought us to this island of yours. We took to the rowing boats and landed on this island. We were met by a beast with a great deal of hair and we could not tell his front from his back. We said: “woe to you, what are you?” It said I am Al-Jassaasah. “We said: “what is Al-Jassasah?” It said, “, go to this man in the monastery for he is keen to know about you,”’

So we came rushing to you and we fled from it because we could not be sure that it was a devil.

He (that chained person) said: “Tell me about the date palm trees of Baysaan(1). We said “What do you want to know about them?” He said, “I am asking you whether those trees bear fruits” We said “Yes”. He said, “Soon they will not bear fruit.” He said, “Tell me about the Tiberias(2)” we said, “ what do you want to know about it” He said “Is there water in it” They said, “There is a great deal of water in it.” He said, “Soon it will dry up.” Then he said, “Tell me about the spring of Zughar(3). We said “What do you want to know about it?” He said, “Is there water in the spring and does the people grow crops with the water of the spring?” We said to him, “Yes there is plenty of water in it and the people grow crops with its water” he said, “Tell me about the Prophet of the unlettered; what has he done?” we said “He has left Makkah and has settled in Yathrib (Madeenah).” He said, “Do the Arabs fight against him” We said “Yes” He said “How did he deal with them” We told him that he had prevailed over the Arabs in his vicinity and they shown obedience to him. He said to us” Has it really happened” We said “Yes”

He said “if it is so that is better for them that they show obedience to him. Now I will tell you about myself. I am the dajjal and soon I will be given permission to emerge., So I will come out an travel in the land, and will not spare any town but I will stay for forty nights, except Makkah and Taybah (Madeenah). They are both forbidden to me, Every time I try to enter one of them, I will be met by an angel with a sword in his hand, who will bar my way, and on every route there will be angels guarding it”.

She said, Then the Messenger (Peace be upon him) struck the Minbar with his staff and said “This is Taybah, this is Taybah, this is Taybah, meaning Madeenah. Did I not tell you this before?” The people said “Yes” (The prophet (Peace be upon him) “I liked the story of Tameem because it agrees with what I used to tell you about him and about Makkah and Madeenah. But he is in Syrian Sea (Mediterranean) or the Yemeni Sea (Arabian Sea). No rather he is in the east, he is in the east, he is in the east. “ And he pointed towards the east with his hand. She said, “I memorized this from the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him). “

(1)     Baysaan: a city on the western side of the Jordon basin,south west of Tiberias.

(2)     Tiberias: Between Jordon and Palestine.

(3)     Zughar: A village in Syria on the banks of the Dead Sea (the sea of Zughar), Ibn Al-Atheer said: Zughar is a spring in Syria, in the area of Al-Balqa’. 


Souce: The end of the world by Dr. Muhammad al-'Areefi

Some beautiful advice given to Imam Ahmad by righteous people

By: Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

When the Muslim is faced with trials and his Lord tests him in order to purify him, one of the means which Allah gives him to help him stand firm is a righteous man who will advise and help him. Through this man’s words Allah helps the believer to stand firm and directs his steps. These words remind him of Allah, the Meeting with Him, His Paradise and His Hell. There follow some examples from the life of Imaam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him), who entered the test and emerged as pure gold.

He was taken to al Ma’moon in chains, and (al-Ma’moon) had already issued him such a stern warning before he reached him that a servant said to Imaam Ahmad, “It hurts me, O Abu ‘Abd-Allaah, that al-Ma’moon has unsheathed a sword which he has never unsheathed before, and he swears by his relationship to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that if you do not accept what he says about the Qur’aan being created, he will certainly kill you with that sword.” (Al- Bidaayah wa’l-Nihaayah, 1/332)

At this point, the intelligent scholars took the opportunity to say to their imaam words that would help him to remain steadfast. In al-Siyar (11/238), al-Dhahabi reports from Abu Ja’far al-Anbaari: “When Ahmad was taken to al-Ma’moon, I was told about it, so I crossed the Euphrates and found him sitting in an inn, where I greeted him. He said, ‘O Abu Ja’far, why did you go to the trouble (of coming here)?’ I said, ‘Listen to me, today you are the leader and the people are following you. By Allah, if you accept that the Qur’aan is created, a lot of people will go along with that, but if you do not, then neither will they. Even if this man (al-Ma’moon) does not kill you, you will still die, because death is inevitable, so fear Allah, and do not go along with (al- Ma’moon).’ Ahmad began to weep and said, ‘Ma sha Allah.’ Then he said, ‘O Abu Ja’far, say it again,’ so I said it again, and he kept saying, ‘Ma sha Allah.’…”

With regard to his being taken to al-Ma’moon, Imaam Ahmad said: “We reached al- Rahbah at midnight, and a man came to us and said, ‘Which of you is Ahmad ibn Hanbal?’ He was told, ‘This man.’ He said to the camel-driver, ‘Slow down.’ … Then he said, ‘Listen to me, why should you worry if you get killed here and go to Paradise?’ Then he said, ‘May Allah be with you,’ and left. I asked about him and I was told, ‘He is an Arab from the tribe of Rabee’ah who deals with wool in the desert. He is called Jaabir ibn ‘Aamir, and they say good things about him.’” (Siyar A’laam al-Nubala’, 11/241).

In al-Bidaayah wa’l-Nihaayah, it says that a Bedouin said to Imaam Ahmad: “Listen to me, you are a representative of the people, so do not be bad news for them. You are the leader of the people today, so beware of doing what they are asking you to do, lest you bear their sins on the Day of Resurrection. If you love Allah, then bear this with patience, for the only thing standing between you and Paradise is your being killed.” Imaam Ahmad said: “His words strengthened my resolve not to do what they were asking me to do.” (Al-Bidaayah wa’l-Nihaayah, 1/332).

It was reported that Imaam Ahmad said: “I never heard any stronger words at that time than what a Bedouin said to me at Rahbat Tawq, a village between al-Raqqah and Baghdaad on the banks of the Euphrates. He said, ‘O Ahmad, if they kill you for the truth, you will be a shaheed (martyr), and if you live, you will be praised.’ And so my heart grew strong.” (Siyar A’laam al-Nubala’, 11/241).

Imaam Ahmad said of the young man Muhammad ibn Nooh, who accompanied him at that time of trial: “Even though he was so young, he had such great knowledge, and I never saw anyone who adhered more firmly to the command of Allah than Muhammad ibn Nooh, and I hope that his end was good. He said to me one day, ‘O Abu ‘Abd-Allaah, you are not like me. You are a man whom people follow, and they are straining their necks to see what you will do, so fear Allah and adhere to His commands.’ Then he died, and I prayed the janaazah (funeral) prayer for him and buried him.” (Siyar A’laam al-Nubala’, 11/242)

Even his fellow-prisoners, whom Imaam Ahmad used to lead in prayer in chains, had a role to play in helping him to stand firm. One day when he was in prison, Imaam Ahmad said, “I don’t care about being in prison – it is no different from my home – or about being killed by the sword, but I am afraid of the trial of being whipped.” One of the other prisoners heard him and said, “Don’t worry, O Abu ‘Abd-Allah, it is only two lashes of the whip, then you don’t feel where the rest fall.” It was as if this reassured him and calmed him down. (Siyar A’laam al-Nubala’, 11/240)

So try to seek advice from righteous people, and try to understand it if it is given to you.

Source: Wasaa’il al-Thabaat- (English translation: Means of Steadfastness: Standing Firm in Islam)

The scholars tests the memory of Imam Bukhari

One of the most telling stories about Imam Bukharee’s (May Allah have Mercy on him) intelligence and powerful memory was related by Ahmad ibn’ Adee al-Hafiz. Ahmad was present when a number of Baghdad’s most eminent scholars were discussing the arrival of Muhammad ibn Ismael al-Bukharee in their native city. The scholars of Hadeeth were particularly excited by his arrival, and they decided to put his knowledge and memory to the test. The plan they agreed upon was as follows: They would choose one hundred Hadeeth narrations and mix up the text s of those narrations with their chains of narrators; in the end each text would be matched with an incorrect chain. And they appointed ten people to conduct the test; each of those ten people was to present ten incorrect Hadeeth narrations to Imam Bukharee.

When Imam Bukharee (May Allah have Mercy on him) attended a gathering, the above mentioned scholars put their plan into action, and the ten chosen examiners sat in the front of the gathering so they could easily execute their plan; however only some people in the gathering, and not everyone , knew in advance about the planned test.

At the outset of the gathering, one of the ten men began by mentioning one of his incorrect Hadeeth, (and by incorrect, I mean that the text of the Hadeeth narration did not correctly correspond to its chain of narrators). Imam Bukharee responded “I do not know this Hadeeth” Those who did not know about a plan were surprised that Imam Bukharee , who was renowned for his knowledge of Hadeeth, did not know about a Hadeeth narration; meanwhile , those who knew about the plan were well pleased with his answer. The first examiner continued to mention one narration after another until he reached his tenth and final narration; and in response to each narration, Imam Bukharee said, “I don’t not know this Hadeeth”. The scholars who knew about the plan began to give knowing looks to one another, as if to say: Yes, he understands very well what we are doing. Meanwhile everyone else was beginning to have doubts about Imam bukharee’s knowledge. Perhaps they thought his reputation as a scholar and memorizer of Hadeeth narrations had been blown way out of proportion.  Such doubts grew in intensity when the next examiner presented ten Hadeeth narrations, and when in response to each of those narrations, Imam Bukharee said, “I do not know this Hadeeth narration”. This pattern continued until the tenth and final examiner mentioned his tenth and final narration. Every time one of the ten examiners mentioned a Hadeeth narration, Imam Bukharee said, “I do not know this Hadeeth narration.”

After the tenth examiner mentioned his final narration there was complete silence in the gathering, and Imam Bukharee realized that they were all finished and that it was his turn to speak. He turned to the first examiner and said, “As for the first Hadeeth you mentioned, you said such and such, but its correct version is such and such. As for the second Hadeeth you mentioned, you said such and such , but its correct version is such and such. And he continued in this manner until he corrected all ten narrations, matching each narration to its correct chain of narrators. Then he went on to do the same with the other nine examiners. When he was done, everyone that was present acknowledged his superior knowledge and memory.

Commenting on this story Al Hafiz ibn Hajar (May Allah have Mercy on him) wrote: It is not something to wonder at that he was able to correct the mistakes (that was presented to him) for that was to be expected from him since he was a prolific memorizer of Hadeeth narrations. What was so amazing was that, having heard the examiners presentations only once, he was to able to memorize, in order all of the mistakes that they presented to him. 

Source: The biography of Imam Bukharee by Salahudden ibn Alee ibn Abdul Maujood. 

Ibn al-Mubarak's letter to Fudayl ibn Iyad (Ya 'Abid Al Haramayn)

It is reported that when in Tarsus, Ibn al-Mubarak wrote a letter to his friend al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyadh (who was known for his worship in Makkah and Madinah), encouraging him to partake in Jihad and not to be satisfied with simply worshiping Allah in the mosques. Ibn Abi Sukaynah said, 'In Tarsus in the year 177 AH, Ibn al-Mubarak gave me a letter with the following verses. I bid farewell to him and went to deliver it to al-Fudhayl ibn 'Iyadh:

O Worshipper of the Two Holy Masjids

يا عابد الحرمين لو ابصرتنا

لعلمت انك في العبادة تلعب

من كان يخضب خده بدموعه

فنحورنا بدمائنا تتخضب

أو كان يتعب خيله في باطل

فخيولنا يوم الصبيحة تتعب

ريح العبير لكم ونحن عبيرنا

رهج السنابك والغبار الأطيب

ولقد اتانا من مقال نبينا

قول صحيح صادق لا يكذب

لا يستوي غبار خيل الله في

أنف امرئ ودخان نار تلهب

هذا كتاب الله يحكم بيننا

ليس الشهيد بميت لا يكذب


O Worshiper of the Two Holy Masjids!
Had you witnessed us in the battlefield
You would have known that, compared to our Jihad,
Your worship is child's play.
For every tear you have shed upon your cheek,
We have shed in its place, blood upon our chests.
You are playing with your worship,
While worshipers offer your worship
Mujahideen offer their blood and person (life).
The smell of nice perfume of is for you,
And our perfume is the dust and dirt (which is more pure),
And it has reached us from the sayings of our Prophet,
The martyr is not dead,
This is a true correct saying, in which there is no lie.
The dust of the people of Allah is never equal,
To a thousand men, whilst the smoke is climbing.
This is the book of Allah between us,
The martyr is not dead - and this is no lie

Ibn Abi Sukaynah said, 'So I met al-Fudhayl in the Haram (Makkah) with the letter and when he read it, tears came to his eyes and he said, 'Indeed, Abu Abdur-Rahman (Ibn al-Mubarak) has told the truth and he has certainly advised (me).

Source: The Life of ‘Abdullah Ibn al-Mubarak The scholar of the East and the scholar of the West Compiled by Farhia Yahya Based on the book 'Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak, al-Imam al-Qudwah' By Muhammad 'Uthman Jamal
To download this book click here

To listen to the audio click here

The sincerity of the Salaf

The Salaf - may Allah be Pleased with them - were very particular about following the truth, even if it was unpleasant and sour. They were very particular about being truthful, even if this was very heavy and difficult to maintain. They were very particular about having both their apparent and inner conditions be one and the same, even if in the most difficult of circumstances. One of them would make sure to have deeds between himself and Allah that nobody else would know of. So, if the people were to come to know of this act of worship that he was engaged in, he would quickly leave that area in order that he would be once again hidden from the people.

Imam Ahmad – may Allah have Mercy upon him – when he would walk in the streets, he would walk amongst the laborers so that nobody would point to him out of respect, and so that the people would think him to just be another laborer, and would therefore not point to him out of respect.  One of them, when he would enter battle, would disguise himself, and if he ended up with an abundance of war booty, he would conceal his identity and abandon his booty so that the people would not know who had acquired it.

You all know the story of the one who dug the hole on the day that Maslamah bin ‘Abd al- Malik  had laid siege to a fortress for a lengthy period of time? On that night, one of the Mujahidin slowly crept up and scaled the wall of the fortress, descended upon the guards, killed them all, and dug open a hole in the wall of the fortress through which the Islamic army entered and took over the fortress. So, Maslamah called out for some time: “Which of you is the one who dug this hole?” Nobody stepped forth. One night, a veiled knight entered Maslamah’s tent, saying: “Do you wish to know who dug that hole?” Maslamah replied: “Yes.” The knight said: “I will tell you with the condition that you do not mention his name to anyone, and that you do not give him any reward or compensation for it.” He said: “Yes.” The knight said: “I am the one who dug that hole,” and did not reveal his name, and rode away quickly. So, after that, whenever Maslamah was facing the Qiblah while supplicating, he would say: “O Allah, gather me with the one who dug the hole on the Day of Resurrection.”

Source: Being true with Allah by Sheikh Abdullah Azzam

The supplication of 'Abdullah bin Jahash

Sa'd bin Abu Waqas (Radiyallahu anhu) relates a memorable incident from the life of 'Abdullah bin Jahash (Radiyallahu anhu).

"When the battle of Uhud was about to take place, 'Abdullah bin Jahash took me aside and asked me if I would not like to offer supplications to Allah. I answered that of course I would like to do so and prayed thus:

"O Allah Lord of the worlds! When I enter the battlefield let me come face to face with an enemy who is great and furious warrior. Let me engage with him a hand to hand fight and give me control over him until I finally overpower him completely. Then I should kill him and take away all his belongings."

Abdullah bin Jahash said " Ameen" after I completed my prayer.

Then Abdullah bin Jahash offered supplications to Allah:

"O Allah! Please give me the ability to fight against an enemy who is a furious, brave and experienced warrior. I should fight only to gain your pleasure and blessings. Then he should succeed in overpowering me and cut off my nose and ears. When I come into Your presence on the day of Judgement You should ask me: 'Abdullah why were your ears and nose cut off? Then I should answer you thus, 'For your sake O Lord'

The supplication of 'Abdullah bin Jahash was much better than mine, and Allah accepted it. In the evening I saw  that he had been killed and the enemy had strung his ears and nose on a string. He achieved the honorable status of a martyr like his maternal uncle, Hamzah.""

Source: Commanders of the Muslim Army

Imam Ash Shafi’ee visits Imam Ahmad

Imam Ahmad used to mention the virtues of his sheikh, Imam Ash Shafi’ee to his wife. He would mention to her the extensive and superb knowledge of Imam Ash Shafi’ee as well as his taqwah (i.e. piety). Imam Ahmad invited Imam Ash Shafi’ee to come visit him at his home. When the time for dinner arrived, Imam Ash Shafi’ee ate until he was full and went to the guest room for some sleep.

The wife of Imam Ahmad said to him: “O Ahmad! Is this the same Shafi’ee that you used to tell me so much about?“

Imam Ahmad said: “Indeed he is!“

So she said: “I noticed three things about him worthy of criticism! Firstly, when we served him the food, he ate plenty of it! Secondly, when he went into the guest room, he went to sleep without standing up to perform the night prayer (i.e. tahujjud)! Lastly, when he prayed Salat ul Fajr with us, he did not perform ablution (i.e. wudhu)?!”

So Imam Ahmad went to Imam Ash Shafi’ee to ask him about these three matters his wife noticed. Imam Ash Shafi’ee said to him, (the way a father would explain to his son): “O Ahmad! I ate plenty because I know for certain that your food is halal (i.e. permissible islamically) and you are a generous man! And the food that comes from a generous man is a cure, while the food that comes from a stingy man is a disease!

However, I didn’t eat plenty of food in order to achieve my fill; rather I ate plenty of your food in order to derive the cure from it! As for the reason I didn’t stand up at night to perform the night prayer, when I laid my head down to get some sleep, I looked and all I could see was the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet (Sallahu alaihi wa salam) right in front of my face! So I deducted 72 fiqh related benefits from them for the Muslims to benefit from. Thus there was no opportunity for me to stand and perform the night prayer!

As for the reason why I prayed Salat ul Fajr without performing ablution, by Allah! My eyes never tasted the sweetness of sleep in order for me to renew my wudhu!! I was awake the whole night, so I prayed Salat ul Fajr with the same wudhu I had for Salat ul Isha!!!“

[Collected by Al Hafidh Ibn Hajr in Fath ul Bari concisely and by Abu Nu’aim in Hilya tul Awliyaa’. Translated by Abu Azzubayr Shadeed Muhammad on 3/30/2010 in the City of Riyadh Saudi Arabia]