حياة السلف بين القول والعمل

The worship of the early Muslims: It was narrated on the authority of Mutarrif ibn Abdullah, may God have mercy on him, that he used to say: “O my brothers, strive in good deeds, for if the matter is as we hope for from God’s mercy and forgiveness, we will have ranks in Paradise. But if the matter is as severe as we fear and dread, we will not say: ‘Our Lord, bring us out so that we may do righteousness other than what we used to do’ [Fatir: 37]. We will say: We did do good deeds, but they did not benefit us.” [Sifat al-Safwa 3/158]

The worship of the predecessors: It was said to Abu Muslim al-Khawlani, may God have mercy on him, when he grew old and frail: If only you would refrain from some of what you do. He said: If you sent horses into the racecourse, wouldn't you tell their rider: Leave them and be gentle with them until you see the finish line, then you would spare none of their effort? They said: Yes. He said: I have seen the finish line, and every hour has a finish line, and the finish line of every hour is death, so there is one who goes ahead and one who is overtaken. [Sifat al-Safwa 4/427].

The worship of the Salaf: Abu Sulayman al-Darani, may God have mercy on him, said: The people of obedience find more pleasure in their night than the people of amusement find in their amusement, and were it not for the night, I would not have loved to remain in this world. [Sifat al-Safwa 4/445].

The worship of the predecessors: Ahmad ibn Harb, may God have mercy on him, said: I worshipped God for fifty years, and I did not find the sweetness of worship until I gave up three things: I gave up seeking the approval of people until I was able to speak the truth, I gave up the company of the wicked until I found the company of the righteous, and I gave up the sweetness of this world until I found the sweetness of the Hereafter. [Al-Siyar (its abridgment) 2/906].

Prayer and its importance: On the authority of Sulayman ibn Yasar, that al-Miswar ibn Makhrama told him about the stabbing of Umar, may God be pleased with him: that he and Ibn Abbas, may God be pleased with them both, entered upon him, and when morning came they alarmed him, saying: Prayer, prayer. He said: Yes, and there is no share in Islam for one who abandons prayer. Then he went out while the wound was gushing blood. [al-Shari’a / 141]