Ahmad Bin Abil Hawaaree (rahimahullaah) said: I said to Sufyaan, ‘’What is Zuhd in the worldly life? He said: “You are thankful when favoured and patient when put to trial. That is zuhd.”
[Siyar A’laam Nubulaa:8/468]
Abul-Hasan Az-Zaahid (rahimahullaah) said: A man said to Sufyaan Ibn Uyaynah (rahimahullaah): Can a man be Zaahid whilst he has a hundred deenaar? He said: ‘’Yes’’. He (i.e. the man) said: ‘’How is that (possible)?’’ He said: ‘’When he does not grieve if it reduces and does not become happy when it increases, and he does not hate to be separated from it through death.”
[Source: Al-Hath’thu Alaa At-Tijaarah’ number 19’ Al-khallaal(rahimahullaah)]
Bishr Ibn Al-Haarith (rahimahullaah) said: It was said to Sufyaan Ath-Thawri (rahimahullaah): Can a man be a Zaahid (i.e. one who abstains from unnecessary worldly pleasures), whilst he has wealth?” He said: ‘’Yes; if it the case that he exercises patience when put to trial and is grateful to (Allaah) when given (something).”
[Hilyah 6/387-388]
Humility of our beloved Salaf – Khalaf Bin Tameem (rahimahullaah)
Khalaf Ibn Tameem (rahimahullaah) said: I saw Ath-Thawree at Makkah and many (people gathered or came to) him; so he said, ‘’To Allaah we belong! I fear that the Ummah will be lost when the people have a need of the likes of me’’. [Siyar 7/275]
Humility of our beloved Salaf – Fudayl Ibn Iyaad (rahimahullaah)
Imaam Fudayl Ibn Iyaad (rahimahullaah) was asked about humility; so he said, ‘’(It is ) to humble oneself to the truth, submitting to it and accepting it from the one who said it. He(i.e. the person) accepts it even if heard from a child or the most ignorant amongst the people.”
[Madaarij As-Saalikeen 2/342]
Ataa Ibn Deenaar (rahimahullaah ) narrated from Saeed Bin Jubair (rahimahullaah ) who said:
“Indeed reverential fear is that you fear Allaah until it becomes a barrier between you and disobedience. This reverential fear is remembrance of Allaah and obedience to Allaah; so whoever obeys Allaah is one who (truly) remembers Him. And whoever does not obey Allaah is not one who (truly) remembers Him, even if he utters a lot of words of glorification and recites the Qur’aan a lot”.
[Hilyatul Awliyaa’ 4/276]
Ibn Mas’ood (radiyallaahu-anhu) said to his companions:
“You observe fasting, perform prayer and Jihaad more than the companions of Muhammad (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam ), whilst they were better than you. ” They said, “Why is that the case?” He said, “They practiced more abstinence from the worldly life and we’re desirous of the afterlife”.
[Source: Jaami’ul Uloom Wal Hikam’ page 318]
Some Hidden Defects of the Inner Self’ By Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah
Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) said: ‘’What is manifestly clear is that many of the affairs of the inner self are hidden from a person and he does not realise them. There are many people in whose souls is a love of leadership yet he does not realise it; rather it may be that he is one sincere in carrying out acts of worship but his faults are hidden from him. The speech of the people (i.e. the scholars) in this affair is many and well known. And because of this, this affair is named ‘the hidden love of fame.”
[Majmoo al-Fataawaa: 16/346]
Mutual Rivalry’ By Imaam Ibnul Qayyim
Allaah (The Most High) said:
أَلْهَاكُمُ التَّكَاثُرُ
The mutual rivalry for piling up of worldly things diverts you
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) stated: It is everything of the worldly things through which the slave engages in rivalry against others—(such as) wealth, status, slaves, buildings, agriculture, knowledge (sought or possessed) for other than sincerity to Allaah or actions (performed) for other than getting close to Allaah.
[Ighaathatul Luhfaan 1/84]
The Misers- Those Who Conceal Allaah’s Bounties!
{الَّذِينَ يَبْخَلُونَ وَيَأْمُرُونَ النَّاسَ بِالْبُخْلِ وَيَكْتُمُونَ مَا آتَاهُمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ ۗ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُّهِينًا} [النساء : 37
“Those who are miserly and enjoin miserliness on other men and hide what Allaah has bestowed upon them of His Bounties” [4:37]
Imaam Sadi (rahimahullaah ) said: They refrain from fulfilling the rights obligated on them. “And enjoin miserliness on other men” through their statements and actions. “And hide what Allaah has bestowed upon them of His Bounties” – that is knowledge by way of which the astray are guided and the ignorant are led aright. So they hide it from them and make falsehood apparent to them.
[Source: Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan]