حياة السلف بين القول والعمل

Relief after hardship: On the authority of Sufyan, he said: A man was brought to Ziyad, and he ordered him to be killed. When the man felt death approaching, he said: “Grant me permission to perform ablution and pray two rak’ahs so that I may die in repentance, perhaps I will be saved from God’s punishment.” Ziyad said: “Let him perform ablution and pray as he wishes.” He said: So he performed ablution and prayed as well as he could. When he finished his prayer, he was brought to be killed. Ziyad said to him: “Have you repented?” He said: “Yes, by Him besides Whom there is no god.” So he let him go. [Ibn Abi al-Dunya’s Encyclopedia 5/374].

Concealing and keeping good deeds secret: * On the authority of Buraydah ibn al-Husayn (may God be pleased with him), he said: “I witnessed the Battle of Khaybar, and I was among those who climbed the breach in the wall. I fought until my position was visible, and I was wearing a red garment. I do not know that I have committed a greater sin in Islam than this—meaning seeking fame.” I said: “Yes, the ignorant people of our time consider such an act to be among the greatest forms of jihad. In any case, deeds are judged by intentions, and perhaps Buraydah (may God be pleased with him), by his self-abasement, will have his deed become an act of obedience and jihad for him! Similarly, with good deeds, a fool might boast about them and publicize them, thus turning them into the register of showing off. God Almighty said: ‘And We will approach what they have done of deeds and make them as dust dispersed.’ [Al-Furqan: 23]” [Al-Siyar (its abridgment) 1/291].

Concealing and keeping good deeds secret: On the authority of Ibn Muhayriz, he said: I accompanied Fadalah bin Ubayd, may God be pleased with him, the companion of the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, and I said: Advise me, may God have mercy on you. He said: Remember three things from me, God will benefit you by them: If you can know others without being known yourself, then do so; if you can listen and not speak, then do so; and if you can sit and no one sits with you, then do so. [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 2/168].

Concealing and keeping good deeds secret: On the authority of Khalid bin Durayk, he said: Ibn Muhayriz had two qualities that I did not find in anyone I met from this nation; he was the furthest of people from remaining silent about the truth, after it became clear to him, until he spoke about it, whether whoever was angry was angry or whoever was pleased was pleased, and he was among the most eager of people to keep the best of himself hidden. [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 2/170].

Concealing and keeping good deeds secret: On the authority of Sahl bin Mansur, he said: Bishr bin Mansur, may God have mercy on him, was praying one day and he prolonged the prayer and saw a man looking at him, so Bishr noticed him and said to the man: Do not be impressed by what you saw from me, for Iblis has worshipped God with the angels for such and such a time. [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 2/331].