Jihad is required in all Conditions

انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا وَجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ

(March forth, whether you are light (being healthy, young and wealthy) or heavy (being ill, old and poor), strive hard with your wealth and your lives in the Cause of Allah. This is better for you, if you but knew.)

Sufyan Ath Thawri narrated from his father from Abu-Duha, Muslim bin Subayh, who said, “This Ayah,

انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا

(March forth, whether you are light or heavy)

was the first part to be revealed from “Surah Bara’ah” (At-Tabari 14:270) Mu’tamir bin Sulayman narrated that his father said, “Hadrami claimed that he was told that some people used to declare that they will not gain sin (if they lag behind the forces of Jihad) because they are ill and old. This Ayah was revealed.

انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا

(March forth, whether you are light or heavy)

Allah commanded mass mobilization together with the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) for the battle of Tabuk, to fight the disbelieving, People of the Book, the Romans, Allah’s enemies. Allah ordained that the believes all march forth with the Messenger (صلي الله عليه وسلم) regardless whether they felt active, lazy, at ease or had difficult circumstances, (At Tabari 14:266)

انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا

(March forth, whether you are light or heavy)

Ali bin Zayd narrated that Anas said that Abu Talhah commented (on this Ayah), “Whether you are old or young, Allah did not leave an excuse for anyone.” Abu Talhah marched to Ash-Sham and fought until he was killed. In another narration, Abu Talhah recited Surah Bara’ah until he reached this Ayah,

انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا وَجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ

(March forth, whether you are light (being healthy, young and wealthy) or heavy (being ill, old and poor), strive hard with your wealth and your lives in the Cause of Allah. This is better for you, if you but knew.)

He then said. “I see that Allah had called us to mobilize whether we are old or young. O my children! Prepare my supplies.” His children said, “May Allah grant you His mercy! You conducted Jihad along with the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) until he died, then with Abu Bakr until he died, then with Umar until he died. Let us perform Jihad in your place.” Abu Talhah refused and he went to the sea [under the command of Mu’awiyah] where he died. They could not find an island to bury him on until nine days later, during which his body did not deteriorate or change and they buried him on the island. (Ibn Abi Hatim 6:1802.)

As-Suddi said,

انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا

(March forth, whether you are light or heavy), whether you are rich, poor, strong, or weak. A man came forward, and he was fat, complained, and asked for permission to stay behind (from Jihad) but the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) refused. Then this Ayah,

انْفِرُوا خِفَافًا وَثِقَالًا

(March forth, whether you are light or heavy) was revealed, and it became hard on the people. So Allah abrogated it with this Ayah,

لَيْسَ عَلَى الضُّعَفَاءِ وَلَا عَلَى الْمَرْضَىٰ وَلَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ مَا يُنْفِقُونَ حَرَجٌ إِذَا نَصَحُوا لِلَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ

(There is no blame on those who are weak or ill or who find no resources to spend [in holy fighting (Jihad)], if they are sincere and true (in duty) to Allah and His Messenger.) (9:91)

Ibn Jabir said that Hibban bin Zayd Ash-Shar’abi narrated to him; “We mobilized our forces with Safwan bin ‘Amr, who was the governor of Hims towards the city of Ephsos appointed to the Jerajima Christian expatriates (in Syria). I saw among the army an old, yet active man, whose eyebrows had sunk over his eyes (from old age), from the residents of Damascus, riding on his animal. I said to him, ‘O uncle! Allah has given you an excuse (to lag behind).’ He said, ‘O my nephew! Allah has mobilized us whether we are light or heavy. Verily, those whom Allah loves, He tests them. Then to Allah is their return and eternal dwelling. Allah tests from His servants whoever thanks (Him) and observes patience and remembrance of Him, all the while worshipping Allah, the Exalted and Most Honored, and worshipping none else.’” (At-Tabari 14:264)

Next, Allah encourages spending in His cause and striving with one’s life in His pleasure and the pleasure of His Messenger (صلي الله عليه وسلم),

وَجَاهِدُوا بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

(And strive hard with your wealth and your lives in the Cause of Allah. This is better for you, if you but knew.)

Allah says, this is better for you in this life and the Hereafter. You might spend small amounts, but Allah will reward you the property of your enemy in this life, as well as, the honor that He will keep for you in the Hereafter. The Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم)  said,

«تَكَفَّلَ اللهُ لِلْمُجَاهِدِ فِي سَبِيلِهِ إِنْ تَوَفَّاهُ أَنْ يُدْخِلَهُ الْجَنَّةَ، أَوْ يَرُدَّهُ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ بِمَا نَالَ مِنْ أَجْرٍ أَوْ غَنِيمَة»

(Allah promised the Mujahid in His cause that if He brings death to him, He will enter him into Paradise. Or, He will return him to his house with whatever reward and war spoils he earns.) [Muslim 4:1496]

So Allah said;

كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِتَالُ وَهُوَ كُرْهٌ لَكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰ أَنْ تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰ أَنْ تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

(Jihad is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know.) [2:216]

 Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said to a man,

«أَسْلِم»

(Embrace Islam,) but the man said, "I dislike doing so.'' The Messenger (صلي الله عليه وسلم)  said,

«أَسْلِمْ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ كَارِهًا»

(Embrace Islam even if you dislike it).'' [Ahmad 3:109]

لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيبًا وَسَفَرًا قَاصِدًا لَاتَّبَعُوكَ وَلَٰكِنْ بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الشُّقَّةُ ۚ وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ لَوِ اسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ يُهْلِكُونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ

Had it been a near gain (booty in front of them) and an easy journey, they would have followed you, but the distance (Tabuk expedition) was long for them, and they would swear by Allah, "If we only could, we would certainly have come forth with you." They destroy their ownselves, and Allah knows that they are liars. [9:42].

Source: Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol 4) P: 432 to 435, Jihad is Required in all Conditions

God-consciousness of Sufyan ath-thawri

Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhàb said: "I never saw princes and rich men sit more meekly than in the gathering of Sufyàn al-Thawrï."

 Qabïsa said that no-one sat with Sufyàn except they remembered death.

Yusuf ibn Asbat. narrates that he once handed Sufyàn the ablution-pot in the evening and left him holding it pensively. At dawn, he had not moved and said: "I am still thinking about the next life." 

Ibn Mahdï said: "Night after night I would catch sight of Sufyàn sitting up and calling out: 'The Fire! The Fire! I cannot sleep nor feel pleasure anymore because I think of the Fire."

 Abu Nu'aym said that Sufyàn would be useless for days whenever this state overtook him.

Shuja' bin Walid said: "I performed the Hajj with Sufyan, and he would come and go with his tongue never ceasing to command the good and forbid the evil."

 When al-Mahdi came into power, he sent for Sufyan. When Sufyan entered, al-Mahdi removed his ring and threw it at Sufyan and said: "O Aba 'Abdillah, this is my ring. Work for this nation according to the Qur'an and the Sunnah." So, Sufyan took the ring and said: "Do you permit me to speak, O Commander of the Believers? Can I speak with your promise not to harm me?" He said: "Yes." So, Sufyan said: "Do not send for me again until I come to you myself, and do not give me anything unless I ask you for something." So, al-Mahdi become enraged and wanted to kill him, but his assistant reminded him that he had promised not to harm Sufyan. So, Sufyan was kicked out of the palace and his companions asked him: "What made you refuse? He only asked you to work according to the Qur'an and Sunnah!" So, Sufyan belittled their intellects due to their missing the point and he ran away as a fugitive to al-Basrah.

al-Mahdi later said : "I was unable to look at Sufyan out of haya' and intimidation from him."

Sufyan would reach states of anxiety about the Day of Judgment in which he urinated blood. He said: "I may see something against which I ought to speak out but I do not, then I urinate blood." 

Sufyan also said: "I felt the fear of God to a point I wondered how I could still be alive, then I would say to myself: I have a fixed term of life, but I wish it were made lighter for me. My fear is such that I fear losing my mind."

Sufyan once went to Abu Ja'far when they were at Mina and said to him: "Fear Allah! You are in this position and have this power due to the swords of the Muhajirin and Ansar, and their sons are dying of hunger! 'Umar made the Hajj and spent only fifteen dinars, and he used to shade himself under the trees!" So, Abu Ja'far said: "Do you want me to be like you?" Sufyan said: "No. Just be below what you are and above what I am." Abu Ja'far said: "Get out."

It was also related from Ibn Abi Hatim that there was a blind man who used to sit with Sufyan. When it was Ramadan, the man would go lead the people in prayer, and they would give him clothes and gifts as a reward for this. So, Sufyan said: "On the Day of Resurrection, the people of the Qur'an will come with their Qur'an, and it will be said to the likes of this person: 'You have already received your reward previously.'" So, the man said to him: "O Aba 'Abdillah, you say this while I am sitting right next to you?" Sufyan replied: "I fear that it will be said to me on the Day of Resurrection that you were sitting next to me and I did not advise you."

The mother of Sufyan ath-Thawri

It is related that Wakee' ibn Al-Jarrah said, 

"One day, the mother of Sufyaan Ath-Thauree said to (young) Sufyan, 'O my son! Seek out knowledge, and I will, with my spinning wheel, provide enough for you to live on. O my son, when you have written down ten Ahaadeeth, look and see if you notice an improvement in the way you walk, in your level of patience, and in your degree of self-dignity. For if you do not see any such improvement, then know that your knowledge harms you and does not benefit you.'" 

"Biography of Sufyaan Ath-Thauree" p.21 by  Salahud-deen Abdul-Mawjood

Some beautiful sayings of Sufyan Ath-Thauree

"Were certainty of faith to become firmly fixed in the hearts of people, each person would become excitedly hopeful or extremely fearful - hopeful for (rewards from) Allah, the Possessor of might and majesty, or fearful of the Hellfire".

"True certainty of faith means not to accuse your Lord of any of the things that befall you."

"The only situation which I feel is analogous to the departure of a believer from this world is the departure of a baby from its mother’s womb, from the gloominess (inside of its mother’s womb) to the spirit (and freshness) of the world."

A man said to Sufyaan, “Advice me.” Sufyaan said, “Work for this world in proportion to the time you will stay in it (which does not amount to many years). And work for the Hereafter in proportion to the time you will stay in it (for eternity) - and peace (be upon you).”

“In our view, a person does not have an understanding of the religion until he thinks of a hardship as a blessing, and comfort and luxury as being a hardship.”

“Zuhd (desiring little from this world because of one’s preoccupation with the Hereafter) means not having long-term hopes for this world, and it does not mean eating coarse food and wearing a tattered robe.”

“Verily, the examples of this world are a loaf of bread over which some honey is spread: a fly passes over it and has its wing cut off (being caught in the stickiness of the honey); and a loaf of dry bread: a fly passes over it and is unable to take anything from it.”

“Evil deeds are the disease, and the scholars are the cure. Now, if scholars become corrupt, who will cure the disease?”

“A scholar is like a doctor: He places his medicine over the area that is affected by the disease.”

“Love people in proportion to the (good) deeds they perform. Become humble and flexible when you are invited to perform a good deed, and become rigid and defiant when you are invited to commit a sin”

 “If you want to know the true value of this world, look at the value (and character) of those people who have it (i.e., of those people who are rich and prosperous).”

“The following three are from patience: do not speak about a calamity that has befallen you, do not speak about your pain; and do not praise yourself”.

“Be happy with religion and forsake the life of kings, just as kings are happy with life and have forsaken the religion”.

“If you do not travel with the provision of piety,

And if you meet after death one who did have the provision a plenty,

You will regret that you had not been like him,

And that you did not save up (for the hereafter) as he did.”

“Be happy with religion and forsake the life of kings, just as kings are happy with life and have forsaken the religion”.

“If someone invites you (to meet with him) and you fear that he will corrupt your heart and your religion, then do not answer him”.

If you see a recite (of the Quran) always seeking refuge at the gate of the ruler (desiring financial favors from them), know that he is a thief. And if you see him always seeking refuge with rich people , know that he is a show-off”.

"Beware of filling your stomachs for doing so hardens your heart. And suppress your anger. And do not laugh too much, for laughing a great deal kills the heart".

"The vision of one's eyes is meant for this world, and the vision of one's heart is meant for the hereafter. When a man looks with his eyes he benefits naught. It is when he looks with his heart that he benefits". 

“Live moderately. Beware of imitating arrogant people. And in your food, drink, clothing, and means of conveyance, seek out that which is not specifically purchased by profligate and extravagant spenders. And when you seek out advice, let the people you go for advice, be the people of piety – people who fear Allah (the Possessor of might and majesty) and who are trustworthy.”

Source: The biography of Sufyaan Ath-Thauree by Salaahu-Deen ibn 'Alee ibn 'Abdul-Maujood

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

How some of the pious feared Allah

Abu Bakr Siddiq RadiyAllah Anhu said, “ I wish I were no more than a hair on the side of a believing servant”. Whenever he got up to do the prayer he would be trembling like a leaf out of fear of Allah.

Umar bin Khattab RadiyAllah anhu was once reading Surat-Tur and when he came to the verse
Surely the doom of your Lord will surely come to pass (52: 7)
And he wept so intensely that he fell ill so that people came to see how he was.

When Umar radiyAllah anhu was on his death bed he told his son, “Put my cheek next to the earth so that Allah may forgive me.” Then he said, “ I am doomed if Allah does not forgive me” he repeated the same words three times and then he died.

When Umar used to read the Quran at night and read an Ayah that filled him with fear, he would stay indoors for days on end so that people come to visit him, thinking that he was ill. His frequent weeping etched two dark lines on his face.

Ibn Abbas once told Umar ,”Allah has brought many countries into the Muslim Ummah through you, And through you many victories has been won. Umar replied, “All I desire is to be saved, I desire neither reward nor punishment”.

Uthman bin Affan RadiyAllah anhu used to cry until his beard was soaked each time that he stood at a grave. He used to say , “ If I were standing between the garden and the Fire, not knowing in which one of the two I would end up I would rather be turned into ashes before I learned my fate.”

Abu Darda RadiyAllhu anhu used to say “If you knew what you will encounter after your death you would never eat with any appetite, nor drink thirstily, nor enter houses to shelter but you would go to open spaces and beat your breast and weep at your lot. I wish I were a tree to be cut up and destroyed.

Ibn Abbas RadiyAllah anhu had skin under his eyes which looked like worn out sandal leather , due to his frequent weeping.

Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah honor him, was once overwhelmed with sadness after completing the dawn prayer; He said, " Never did i see anything like the companions of the Messenger of Allah. Their hair was disheveled. Their faces were pale, they were covered in dust, and the space between their eyes looked like the knees of goats. They had spent their night in prayer and in recitation of the Quran either on their feet or in prostration. When the dawn came they would spend it in remembrance of Allah,swaying like a tree on a stormy day, with tears flowing from their eyes till their clothes soaked. By Allah it seem to me the people around me now have passed the night in fast asleep." Then he got up and was never seen laughing until he was stabbed to death by Ibn Muljim.

Musa ibn Mas'ud said: "Whenever we sat in the company of Sufyaan at Tawri, we would feel as if the Fire had surrounded us because of the fear and panic we could see in his eyes."

Al Hasan al Basri was once described as follows "Whenever he aproached us it would seem as if he has only just returned from the burial of his best friend, and when he sat in a company , it was as if he was a prisoner sentenced to death by having his head cut off. And when ever the Fire was mentioned it would be as it had been created especially for him".

It has been related that Zurarah ibn Abu awfa led some people in dawn prayer and recited surah Al-Mudhathir from the Quran. When he reached the words
For when the trumpet sound that will be that day-a Day of distress (74:8-9)
He gasped and fell dead.

Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al- As is reported to have said, “Weep , and if you cannot weep then pretend to weep, I swear by Him in Whose Hand my life is, that if any of you really knew you would plead until your voice went, and pray until your back is broken".


Source : The purification of the soul by Ahmed Farid

Fear of Mistake In Knowledge And Guidance a Characteristic of the Salaf

From the morals and manners of the Salaf was that they would have terrible fear that mistakes would enter into their knowledge, practice and in their directing the nation (Ummah) to what is good in the world and the Hereafter. Do not think that any of them loved to be elevated in rank in any worldly matter. They hated giving religious verdicts (fataawah) because the one who gives the verdict (fatwah) has entered a station between Allah and His worshipers.

Do not say about that which your tongues put forth falsely "This is lawful (halaal) and this is forbidden (haraam)", so as to invent lies against Allah. Those who invent lies about Allah will never prosper" Suratun-Nahl (16:116)

'Abdul-Rahmaan ibn Abi Lailah (rahimahullah) said, "I have met 120 companions of the Messenger of Allah(Peace be upon him).None of them spoke without wishing his brother's speech be sufficient, and none of them gave a fatwah without wishing his brother would suffice him in it".

Fudayl ibn 'Iyaad (rahimahullaah) said, "To send dinars (money) on a people is more beloved to me than to spend on them my speech, and therefore easier on my soul".

Some people requested that Sufyaan ibn 'Uyainah (rahimahullaah) sat with them to give a lecture, but he refused them by saying, "I am not of the correct stature to relate to you neither knowledge nor you to listen. The likeness of you and I are like the saying:"Expose all your faults and them come to a mutual concealment!"

Abu Muslim al-Khawlaani (rahimahullaaah) said, "Many people live amongst the people just with their knowledge, destroying their souls" i.e., with vanity and egoism.

Abu Haazim (rahimahullaah) used to say, "The scholars of our time have been content with speech and with no practice! The Salaf use to practice but not speak. After them the people practiced and spoke being followed by a people who spoke but did not practice. There will come a time when people will not speak nor practice."

'Abdul-Raheem as-Sulami (rahimahullaah) said, "We met people who learned the Qur'an ten verses (ayaats) being followed by another ten. They would not move to another ten without practicing the first ten".

'Abdullah ibn al-Mubaarak (rahimahullaah) reported on the authority of Muhammad ibn Ziyaad that he said, "I saw Abu Umamah speaking to a person who had been weeping and crying to Allah in prostration in the mosque saying: "You would have been as yourself had this been your house!"

It was said to Ash-sha'bi (rahimahullaah) "Deliver your verdict to us O Scholar ('aalim)! He replied to them, "do not say scholar to the likes of me, but the 'aalim is the one who humbles his joints from the submissive fear (khushoo') of Allah".

Sufyaan ath-Thawri (rahimahullaah) said, "Whoever's knowledge makes him weep, then he is a scholar ('aalim). Allah the Most High said,

Verily those who were given knowledge before it, when it is recited to them they fall down on their faces in humble prostration
(Surah Bani Israel 17:107)

He also said,

"When the verses (aayaat) of Ar Rahmaan (The Most Merciful) was recited to them they fall in prostration weeping" (Suratul-Maryam 19:58)

So reflect in your soul dear Muslimoon. Have you fulfilled the rights of your knowledge and actions as they used to?

Source: From the characteristics of the Salaf by Sheikh Ahmed Fareed

Some of the dreams people saw about Sufyaan -Ath -Thawri after his death

Imam Sufyan was dear to the hearts of the scholars and common Muslims alike, so much so that some of them remembered Imam Sufyan both in their waking and sleeping hours. Following are some of the dreams that people saw about him after he died- May Allah have Mercy on him.

Sakhr ibn Raashid said, "After 'Abdullah ibn Al-Mubaarak died, I saw (and met) him in my sleep, and I said to him, "Didn't you die?" He replied, "Yes", I asked , "And what did your Lord do with you?" He said, "He forgave me in such a manner that His forgiveness encompassed all my sins." I said, " And what happened to Sufyan Ath-Thawri?" He said, " What happened with him is wonderful indeed: He is:

مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللَّـهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ ۚ وَحَسُنَ أُولَـٰئِكَ رَفِيقًا

"In the company of those on whom Allah has bestowed His Grace, of the Prophets, the Siddiqun(those followers of the Prophets who were first and foremost to believe in them, like Abu Bakr As-Siddiq), the martyrs, and the righteous. And how excellent these companions are!" (Quran 4:69)'"

Ibraheem ibn 'Ayun Al-Bajalee said, "I saw Sufyan in a dream, and his beard was red. I said, "O Abu 'Abdullah(Imam Sufyan) may I held ransom for you! what happened to you?" He said, "I am with Safarah." I said, "Who are the Safarah?" He said , "Al-Kiram Al-Bararah."

(Safarah refers to the scribes (angels) in the first of the following two Verses, and Al-Kiraam Al-Bararah is the description of the Safarah that is given in the second of the follwoing Verses

(بِأَيْدِي سَفَرَةٍ ﴿١٥﴾ كِرَامٍ بَرَرَةٍ ﴿١٦

"In the hands of scribes(angels).Honorable and obedient."(Qur'an 80:15,16)

Su'air ibn Al-Khumus said, "In a dream, I saw Sufyan flying from date-palm tree to date-palm tree, and all the while reciting

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ الَّذِي صَدَقَنَا وَعْدَهُ

"All the praises and thanks be to Allah Who has fulfilled His Promise to us."(Qur'an 39:74)

Source: The biography of Sufyan Ath-Thawri by Salahud-Deen ibn 'Alee ibn 'Abdul-Maujood

The Night: Sufyan Ath-Thawri's favourite time

During the day, Imam Sufyan was preoccupied in a myriad of ways. He sought out knowledge, he imparted knowledge to others, he worked in order to earn a living, and so on. Most of his day time activities had one thing in common: he was around other people. In this regard , night time was different: no human eye could see him, and he could therefore concentrate with all his mind and heart on worship.

Imam Sufyan longed for and loved the solitude of the night, and he especially loved to wait for that part of the night when Allah Subu'haanahu wat'ala desends to the lowest heaven and asks, " Is there anyone who is asking for forgiveness? Is there anyone who is repenting? Is there anyone who is asking (Me for something)? Is there anyone who is supplicating (to Me)?"

Abu Yazeed Al-Ma'na said," In the morning, Sufyan Ath-Thawri would extend his legs to the wall and place his head on the ground, so that he could regain blood circulation after having spent the night standing and praying. " Yazeed ibn Thubah related that sufyan once said to him, "Iam overjoyed with coming of the night only because I can relax and know that no human eye is watching me (and I can therefore be at peace while I worship Allah.)

While a group of people were gathered together, Fudail came, stood over Sufyan's head and recited this Verse

" Say: In the bounty of Allah, and in His Mercy (i.e.,Islam and the Qur'an); -That is better than what (the wealth) they amass.(Qur'an 10:58)

"Say (O Muhammad) : He is Allah, (the) One." ( Qur'an 112:1)

Sufyaan said, "O Abu 'Alee (i.e Fudail), by Allah, we will never be able to rejoice until we take the cure of the Qur'an and place it over the disease of our hearts."

Sufyaan advised young people not to waste the time of their youth, but to spend it usefully by worshiping Allah. Muhammad ibn Yousuf said, "Sufyaan Ath-Thawri would make us stand up (to pray at night , and he would say, 'Stand up, O young people, and continue to pray throughout the years of your youth (so that you will have become accustomed to worship in your old age)."

Furthemore, sufyaan advised others on how to gain the physical strength they needed to sleep less so that they could work during the day and pray during the night. 'Uthmaan ibn Zaaidah reported that Sufyaan Ath-thawri wrote him a letter that continued this message: "If you want to maintain a healthy body, and if you want to sleep only a little, then eat only a little." Imam Sufyan followed his own advice, eating only enough to help him keep his strength, no more and no less. If someone came and asked sufyan for food, he would give him a share of his own food and keep just enough to keep his body strong enough to worship.

Source: The biography of Sufyan Ath-Thawri compiled by Salaahud-Deen ibn 'Alee ibn 'Abdul-Maujood/Translated by Faisal ibn Muhammad shafeeq.

Sufyan Thawri

by Shaykh Gibril F. Haddad

Sufyàn ibn Sa'ïd ibn Masruq Abu 'Abd Allàh al-Thawrï al-Mudarï al-Kufï (97-161), the God-fearing, wise, grief-stricken, Mujtahid Imàm, "Commander of the Believers in Hadïth" - the highest level in hadïth Mastership -, "Shaykh al-Islàm, the Imàm of hadïth Masters, the leader of the prac­ticing Ulema in his time, the author of the Jàmi'" (al-Dhahabï). His father was a junior Tàbi'ï Muhaddith and he thus began his scholarly career at home. Abu Ishàq al-Sabï'ï recited when he saw Sufyàn coming: (And We gave him wisdom when a child) (19:12). His Shuyukh number 600. Ibn al-Jawzï claimed that his students number over 20,000 but al-Dhahabï said: "This is preposterous, they hardly reached 1,000. I know none of the hadïth Masters from whom more narrated than Màlik, and those number 1,400 - including the liars and the unknown!"

Among the praises related about him:

· "I wrote from 1,100 Shaykhs, but from none better than Sufyàn." (Ibn al-Mubàrak)

· "I never saw better than Sufyàn." (Yunus ibn 'Ubayd - he had seen Sa'ïd ibn Jubayr, Ibràhïm al-Nakha'ï, 'Atà', and Mujàhid.)

· "If 'Alqama and al-Aswad were present they would stand in need of Sufyàn." (Abu Hanïfa)

· "I never saw one resemble the Tàbi'ïn more than Sufyàn al-Thawrï" (Ibn Abï Dhi'b).