Statements of Salman al-Farisi[RA]

Statements of Salman al-Farisi

“O Jarir, lower yourself for Allah. Indeed whoever lowers himself for Allah `azza wa jall in this world, will be raised by Him on the Day of Judgment.”

“The most sinful amongst the people, are those who speak about the disobedience of Allah `azza wa jall the most.”

“People will continue to remain in a state of goodness so long as the first of them teach the latter ones. If the first generation passes away before the latter have learnt, then that is when they shall fall into destruction.”

“If the people knew how much Allah helps the weak ones, they would never even grab iron poles (to strike others with). Truly, Allah `azza wa jall feels shy upon seeing His slave extend his two hands towards Him, asking Him for goodness, that He should return them empty (and unanswered).”

“There is no-one who performs wudu’ (ablution) with perfection and then comes to the mosque for no other reason other than for worship except that he comes as a guest of Allah `azza wa jall, and Allah has taken it upon Himself to honour His guests.”

“Do not be the first person to enter the market-places, nor be the last person to leave it, for indeed in them are the mounts of Shaytan and the focus of his flag/banner (i.e. it’s the battlefield of Shaytan).”

[Kitab al-Zuhd by Imam Ahmad pg. 172 – 173]

source

Jabir[RA] travels for a month to obtain a single hadith

Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah bin Muhammad bin `Aqil heard Jabir bin `Abdullah say, “I was told about a Hadith which a man heard from the Prophet , so I bought a camel and put my saddle on it, then I traveled on it for a month until I came to Ash-Sham, where `Abdullah bin Unays was. I said to the doorkeeper, `Tell him that Jabir is at the door.’ He said, `Jabir bin `Abdullah’ I said, `Yes.’ So he came out, still putting his garment on, and embraced me, and I embraced him, and said: `I heard a Hadith narrated by you, that you heard from the Messenger of Allah about reciprocal punishments. I was afraid that you or I would die before I could hear it.’ He said, `I heard the Messenger of Allah say:

«يَحْشُرُ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ النَّاسَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَوْ قَالَ: الْعِبَادَ عُرَاةً غُرْلًا بُهْمًا»

(Allah will gather the people — or His servants — on the Day of Resurrection, naked, uncircumcised and Buhman.) I asked, `What is Buhman’ He said,

لَيْسَ مَعَهُمْ شَيْءٌ، ثُمَّ يُنَادِيهِمْ بِصَوْتٍ يَسْمَعُهُ مَنْ بَعُدَ كَمَا يَسْمَعُهُ مَنْ قَرُبَ: أَنَا الْمَلِكُ، أَنَا الدَّيَّانُ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ النَّارَ وَلَهُ عِنْدَ أَحَدٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ حَقٌّ حَتَّى أُقِصَّهُ مِنْهُ، وَلَا يَنْبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ الْجَنَّةَ وَلَهُ عِنْدَ رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ حَقٌّ حَتَّى أُقِصَّهُ مِنْهُ حَتَّى اللَّطْمَة»

(They will have nothing with them. Then a voice will call out to them that will be heard by those far away just as easily as it will be heard by those near: “I am the Sovereign, I am the Judge. None of the people of Hell should enter Hell if he is owed something by one of the people of Paradise, until I have settled the matter, and none of the people of Paradise should enter Paradise if he is owed something by one of the people of Hell, until I settle the matter — even if it is only the case of a slap.”) We said, `How will that be, when we have come before Allah barefooted, naked, uncircumcised and having nothing with us’ He said,

«بِالْحَسَنَاتِ وَالسَّيِّئَات»

(By [merit for] good deeds, and [recompense] for evil deeds.)

Hiding grave of Danyal

Commander of the faithful `Umar bin Al-Khattab, when he found the grave of Danyal (Daniel) in Iraq during his period of rule, he gave orders that news of this grave should be withheld from the people, and that the inscription containing mention of battles etc., that they found there should be buried.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir

turn not away those who invoke their Lord…

mam Muslim recorded in his Sahih that Sa`d bin Abi Waqqas who said: “There was a group of six of us with the Prophet . The idolators said, `Tell these people to leave so they will not offend us.’ There was myself, Ibn Mas`ud, a man from Hudayl, Bilal and two other men whose names I have forgotten. Allah’s Messenger thought to himself about whatever Allah willed he should think about, then Allah revealed:

[وَلاَ تَطْرُدِ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِىِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ]

(And turn not away those who invoke their Lord, morning and afternoon.)

[Surah al Kahf]

Tafsir ibn kathir

“Son, why do you then seek to increase Allah’s proof against us and you?

‎’Ata’ narrates that there used to be a young man who used to go to Mother of the Believers ‘Aishah to ask her questions and she would narrate to him. One day, he came to ask her some questions. She said, “Son, have you put into practice what you hear from me yet?” He replied, “No Mother, I have not.” So she said,“Son, why do you then seek to increase Allah’s proof against us and you?!”

Al-Khatîb Al-Baghdâdî in Iqtidâ’ Al-‘Ilm Al-‘Amal no. 92.

the Sunnah and the Book is far better

Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said regarding this verse in al kahf:

[أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَـبَ الْكَهْفِ وَالرَّقِيمِ كَانُواْ مِنْ ءَايَـتِنَا عَجَبًا ]

(Do you think that the people of Al-Kahf and Ar-Raqim were a wonder among  Our signs)

“What I have given to you of knowledge, the Sunnah and the  Book is far better than the story of the people of Al-Kahf and  Ar-Raqim.”

Tafsir at Tabari

“We have been prohibited from spying…

It has been reported that a man was brought before Abdullah bin Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) because his beard was giving out smell of wine.

Ibn Mas`ud said:

“We have been prohibited from spying (on Muslims) and finding faults (with them). But we can take to task only and only if the sin is overt.

[Abu Dawud and the hadith is hasan sahih and meets the condition of bukhari and muslim].

Footsteps of Bilal in Jannah

Prophet- Sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam- said to Bilal- Allah be pleased with him:

I entered paradise and I heard the noise of your shoes (footsteps) before me in paradise. So inform me of your deeds you performed for which you are most hopeful (of being rewarded for) in Islam.

He- Allah be pleased with him- said:

I have not performed any deed for which I hope for more benefit than this one: I do not perform a complete purification at any time during the night or day, except that I pray with the purification that which Allah has written for me to pray.

Al Bidayah wan nihayah

Ali Ibn Talib and his Love for Abu Bakr – Farewell Speech

“The city of Al-Madeenah literally trembled on the day that Abu Bakr (raadi Allaahu ‘anhu) died; in fact; other than the day of the Prophet’s death the people of Madeenah had never witnessed a sadder day, nor a day upon which they had shed more tears. Upon hearing the sad news, ‘Ali ibn Abi-Talib (raadi Allaahu ‘anhu) hurried towards Abu Bakr’s house, all the while saying, “Verily we belong to Allah, and to Him is our return.”

‘Ali (raadi Allaahu ‘anhu) then stood outside the house in which Abu Bakr (raadi Allaahu ‘anhu) had died, and made the following long speech, which he addressed to Abu Bakr (raadi Allaahu ‘anhu) himself:

“O Abu Bakr, may Allah have Mercy upon you. You were the closest companion and friend of the Messenger of Allah (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam); you were a comfort to him; you were the one he trusted most. If he had a secret, he would tell it to you; and if he needed to consult someone regarding a matter, he would consult you. You were the first of your people to embrace Islam, and you were the most sincere of them in your faith. Your faith was stronger than any other person’s, as was the degree to which you feared Allah. And you were wealthier then anyone else in terms of what you acquired from the religion of Allah ‘Azza Wa-Jall (The Posessor of Might and Majesty). You cared most for both the Messenger of Allah (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and Islam. Of all people, you were the best Companion to the Messenger of Allah (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam); you possessed the best qualities; you had the best past; you ranked the highest; and you were closest to him. And of all people you resembled the Messenger of Allah (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) the most in terms of his guidance and demeanor. Your ranking was higher than anyone else’s, and the Prophet (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) honored you and held you in higher esteem than anyone else. On behalf of the Messenger of Allah and Islam, may Allah reward you with the best of rewards. When the people disbelieved in the Messenger of Allah (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) you believed in him. Throughout his life, you were both his eyes with which he (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), and his ears with which he heard. Allah has named you truthful in his book when He said:

“And he (Muhammad (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) who has brought the truth (this Qur’an and Islamic Monotheism) and (those who) believed therein (i.e. the true believers of Islamic Monotheism), those are Al-Muttaqun (the pious and righteous persons)” (Qur’an 39:33)

When people were stingy in their support for the Messenger of Allah (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) you comforted him. And when people sat still, you stood side by side with the Messenger of Allah (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), facing the same hardships that he faced. In times of hardship, you were truly a good and noble Companion of his. You were the ‘second of two’, his Companion in the Cave; and the one upon whom As-Sakeenah descended. You were his Companion during the migration and you were his successor regarding the religion of Allah and His nation. And truly good sucessor you proved to be when the people apostatized.

You did what no other Khaleefah of a Prophet did before you. You stood up firmly and bravely when his other Companions lost their resolve and became soft. And when they became weak, you adhered to the methodology of the Messenger of Allah (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). You truly were as the Messenger of Allah (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: weak in your body, but strong regarding the commands of Allah; humble in yourself, but lofty in your ranking with Allah; well-esteemed in the eyes of people, honored and great in their hearts. Not a single one of them had any reason to dislike you, to be suspicious of you, or to hold you in contempt.

The weak and humble you have always treated as strong and honorable, making sure you gave them what was rightfully theirs. And in this regard, you have treated relatives and strangers equally. Of all people, you respect those who are most obedient to Allah and who fear Him the most. In your overall character, you embody truth and compassion. Your speech has always been characterized by the qualities of wisdom and decisiveness. And you have always struck a noble balance between gentleness and firmness. You have always based your decisions on knowedge, and once you have made your decisions, you have always kept a firm resolve to execute them.

Verily to Allah do we belong, and to Him is our return. We are pleased with, and we submit to, Allah’s decree. And by Allah, other than the death of the Messenger of Allah (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) Muslims have never been afflicted with a greater calamity than the calamity of your death. You have always been a protector, a sanctuary, and source of honor for this religion. May Allah ‘Azza Wa-Jall make you join the company of His Prophet, Muhammad (salAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and may he not deprive us of your reward. And may He not lead us astray after you.”

People had gathered around ‘Ali (raadi Allaahu ‘anhu) and listened to his speech until he was finished. Then they all cried with raised voices, and they all responded in unison to ‘Ali’s speech, saying, “Indeed, you have spoken the truth.” [1]

___________

[1]At-Tabsirah, by ibn Al-Jawzee (1/477-479); and Ashaab Ar-Rasool (1/108)

Some gems from the Sahaba

On the authority of Mālik bin Dinār who said, “Abud Dardā’ said,

‘Whoever increased in knowledge, increased in pain (of being answerable to Allāh سبحانه و تعالى).’

And in the narration of Sa’īd,

‘And I don’t fear that it will be said to me, “O’ ‘Uwaymir (Abud Dardā’ himself) what did you learn?” Rather I fear that it will be said to me, “O’ ‘Uwaymir what have you done with what you learnt?”

[Kitāb az-Zuhd 1/265 of al-Imām Abū Dāwūd رحمه الله]

Abū Nawfal said,

“‘Ammār bin Yasār used to speak little, lengthened his silence and his usual words would be of the one who sought refuge in ar-Raḥmān from His Punishment.”

[Kitāb az-Zuhd 1/284]

Ḥudhayfaħ bin al-Yamān رضي الله عنه said,

“The first thing you will be deprived of in your religion will be the display of humility (i.e. person being humble).”

[Kitāb az-Zuhd 1/296]