The asceticism of Easa (Jesus)

Ibn Abu Ad-Dunya narrated from Fudail bin Iyad, saying: Prophet Easa (Alaihi Salam) was asked:” O Jesus! How do you walk on the water? “ He replied: “With my faith I have (in Allah) and certainty” They said: “But we also have faith as you have faith and we also have certainty as you have certainty”.

Jesus said: “So come and walk”. So they walked with him on the waves and they drowned. Jesus said to them: “What happened to you” They said “We are frightened of the waves” Jesus said: “Do not you fear the Lord of the waves?”

Then he took them out of the water. Then he stroked the earth with his hand and took its dust, and when he opened them there was gold in one hand and pebbles in another. He asked them:  “Which one do you like most.” They said: “Gold”  He said “But they are just the same to me”.

Jesus wore clothes made of wool, ate from leaves, and had no home, no family, no wealth and property and nothing to save for tomorrow. It is said that he ate from the earnings of his mother out of her spinning work.

Sha’bi said: whenever the Day of Judgment was mentioned to him, he cried and said:” It is not befitting for the son of Mary that the Day of Judgment is mentioned in front of him, and he keeps quiet”.

Jesus said to his disciples: “As the kings and rulers have left the wisdom for you, you leave the Dunya (the materials) for them”.

He also said: “Ask me, I am kindhearted person, and I am insignificant in my own eyes.”

He also said to his disciples: “Eat of barley breads and drink of pure water and go out from this world feeling safe (from harm). The sweetness of this world is the bitterness of the Hereafter and the bitterness of this world is the sweetness of the Hereafter. Allah’s true slaves do not live in luxuries. I am saying truly that the worst of you is a scholar who gives preference of his desires over his knowledge. “

It is also reported from him sating “O weak son of Adam! Fear Allah wherever you maybe, live in this world like a guest and take the mosques as a home, and teach your eyes to cry, and your body to endure, and your heart to reflect. And do not worry about tomorrow’s provision, because it is a sin.”

Source: Stories of the Prophets (P.568) by Imam Imaduddin Abul-Fida Ismail Ibn Kathir Ad-Dimishqi 700-774H / Rendered into English by Rashad Ahmad Azami