Ibn al-Musayyib:
“There is no honourable person, scholar or doer of good except that he has a shortcoming. However, there are some people to whom we should not mention their faults , that is, those whose good deeds exceed their faults.”
2/81 Sifat as-Safwah –
Ibn al-Jawzi (rahimahullah)
After Ali died , Mu`awiyah bin Abi Sufyan said to Dirar bin Damrah
“Describe ‘Ali to me.”
“Will you not excuse me from answering you,” said Dirar.
“No, describe him,” insisted Mu`awiyah.
“Please excuse me from doing so,” said Dirar.
“I will not,” said Mu`awiyah.
” I will do so, then” said Dirar with a sigh.
“By Allah, he was (far-sighted) and [...]
When Sa’id bin Jubair (radiyaAllahu ‘anhu) entered into the court of the ruthless governor, Al-Hajjaj bin Yusuf Ath-Thaqafi, the latter asked the former, “What is your name?”
“Sa’id bin Jubair.”
“Rather, you are ‘the miserable one, son of the broken one,” said Al-Hajjaj, immediately showing hostility towards Sa’id. This was the way he treated all of his [...]
Abu Bakr as-Saidalaani reported that he heard Salim bin Mansur bin ‘Ammar say,
“Upon seeing my father in a dream, I asked him, ‘What did your lord do with you?’
He answered : ‘Indeed, my lord drew me near and close and he said to me: ‘O evil shaykh (old man), do you know why I forgave [...]
`Umar bin al-Khattab (radiAllahu `anhu) said,
“Take account of your own selves (i.e., of your deeds), before you will be taken to account (on the Day of Resurrection).
Weigh yourselves (i.e., your deeds) before you will be weighed (i.e., before your deeds will be put on the balances on the Day of Resurrection).
Verily, if [...]
It is reported from Abu Hurayrah – may Allah be pleased with him – that he said, “Shall I not point you to comfortable proceeds?” People responded, “And what is that O Abu Hurayrah?” He replied, “Fasting in winter.” The Arabs used to refer to matters which were relatively easy to gain as being cool. [...]
Bakr al Muzani said, “If you want your prayer to be of benefit to you, say to yourself, ‘I might not have a chance to perform another prayer.’” [Jami` al `Ulum wal Hikam, p 466.]
Shubrumah said, “We accompanied Karz al Harithi on a journey. Whenever he wanted to set camp in an area, he used [...]
For forty years, the Adhan was never called but Sa`id bin al-Musayyab radhiallahu `anhu was in the mosque before it was called. [Tabaqat al Hanabilah 1/141, Hilyat al Awliya 2/163, Sifat as Safwah 2/80]
After ar-Rabi` bin Khaytham became partially paralyzed, he used to go to the mosque helped by two men. He was told: “O [...]
`Umar said, while standing on the podium,
“A man might have white hair in Islam (i.e. reaches in old age while Muslim), yet has not completed even one prayer for Allah, the Exalted!”
He was asked, “Why is that?”
He said, “He does not perfect the prayer’s required [...]
Ibn Ubayd said “We visited Muhammad Ibn Su’qah and he said: ‘Shall I inform you of something which might avail you, because it has been of great help to myself?’ He said ‘Ata ibn Abu Raba’h told us:
‘People who were before you used to hate futile talk. They used to consider everything useless talk except [...]
