حياة السلف بين القول والعمل

The situation of the Salaf with the temptations of desires and women: Al-Hasan bin Salih, may God have mercy on him, said: I heard that Satan said to the woman: You are half of my army, and you are my arrow that I shoot and do not miss, and you are the keeper of my secrets, and you are my messenger in my need. [Ibn Abi Al-Dunya Encyclopedia 4/539].

The situation of the Salaf with the temptations of desires and women: On the authority of Maimun bin Mihran, may God have mercy on him, he said: There are three things you should not afflict yourself with: Do not enter upon the ruler even if you say: I am commanding him to obey God, and do not enter upon a woman even if you say: I am teaching her the Book of God, and do not lend your ear to the one who has desires, for you do not know what will cling to your heart from him? [Al-Hilya (its abridgment) 2/54].

The situation of the Salaf with the temptations of desires and women: Hakam bin Salam said: I was with Sufyan al-Thawri, may God have mercy on him, when a woman came to him and said: I want to ask you about something. He said to her: Close the door and then speak from behind the door. [Condemnation of Desire / 135].

Sayings and guidance of the Salaf regarding trials and tribulations: Ibn al-Qayyim, may God have mercy on him, said: “Shaykh al-Islam, may God have mercy on him, said to me—after I had presented him with objection after objection—‘Do not make your heart like a sponge for objections and doubts, absorbing them and then exuding nothing but them. Rather, make it like a solid glass vessel; doubts pass over its surface but do not settle inside. It sees them clearly and repels them with its firmness. Otherwise, if you allow every doubt that comes your way to permeate your heart, it will become a repository for doubts.’ Or words to that effect. I do not know of any advice that has benefited me more in repelling doubts than this.” [Miftah Dar al-Sa’adah 1/443]