In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The lives of the salaf between word and deed.
Gifts and donations.
On the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn al-Sa‘di.
He came to ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, during his caliphate.
‘Umar said to him:
"Have I not been informed that you manage some of the people's affairs?"
"And that when you are given a salary, you dislike it?"
I replied, "Yes."
‘Umar then said:
"What is your intention in doing so?"
I said:
"I possess horses and slaves."
"I am in a good state."
"And I wish for my salary to be a charity for the Muslims."
‘Umar said:
"Do not do that."
"For I once intended what you now intend."
"The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, used to give me a gift."
I would say:
"Give it to someone poorer than me."
Until one day he gave me some wealth.
I said:
"Give it to someone poorer than me."
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
"If you are given something without having asked for it,"
"Then eat it and give it in charity."
Salim said:
"Because of that, Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him,"
"Would never ask anyone for anything,"
"Nor would he refuse anything he was given."
Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked:
"Regarding a man who is given a gift,"
"Do you think he should accept it?"
He replied:
"The Prophet, peace be upon him, used to accept gifts and reward the giver for them."
"I believe that if he accepts it, he should reward the giver."
It is said:
"To appease the angry,"
"To win the favor of the ruler,"
"To remove grudges,"
"To ward off debts,"
"To avoid what is feared,"
"And to reconcile the estranged,"
"Nothing is as effective as gifts and kindness."
A poet said:
"The gifts people exchange with one another,"
"Generate connection in their hearts,"
"Plant affection and love in the conscience,"
"And clothe them in beauty when they are present."
The stance of the salaf regarding praise and commendation.
On the authority of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
"Praise is slaughter."
And on the authority of a man from the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him,
From the early generation of this Ummah,
Who possessed great merit,
That whenever he was praised or commended and heard it,
He would say:
"O Allah, do not hold me accountable for what they say,"
"And forgive me for what they do not know."
Al-Hasan, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
"A man’s disparagement of himself in public,"
"Is praise for him in private."
It used to be said:
"Whoever reveals his own faults has purified himself."
Al-Rabi‘ ibn Khuthaym, may Allah have mercy on him, said to his son:
"Do not let the abundance of people’s praise for you deceive you,"
"For your deeds are yours alone."
Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
"Praise does not harm one who knows himself."
Malik ibn Dinar, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
"When a man begins to praise himself,"
"His splendor departs."
He also said, may Allah have mercy on him:
"Since I have known people, I have not rejoiced at their praise,"
"Nor have I disliked their criticism,"
"Because those who praise them are excessive,"
"And those who criticize them are excessive."
Wahb ibn Munabbih said,
And ‘Awf ibn Abi Jamilah, may Allah have mercy on them:
"It is among the traits of the hypocrite,"
"That he loves praise and hates criticism."
Jealousy and chastity.
On the authority of Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Qadi, who said:
"I attended the session of Musa ibn Ishaq al-Qadi, may Allah have mercy on him, in Rayy,"
"In the year 286."
A woman came forward,
And her guardian claimed 500 dinars as a dowry from her husband.
He denied it.
The judge said:
"Bring your witnesses."
He said:
"I have brought them."
One of the witnesses requested to look at the woman,
So that he could point her out in his testimony.
The witness stood up and said to the woman:
"Stand up."
The husband said:
"What are you doing?"
The agent said:
"They are looking at your wife while she is unveiled,"
"So that her identity is confirmed for them."
The husband said:
"I call the judge to witness,"
"That she is entitled to this dowry she claims from me,"
"But she shall not unveil her face."
The woman was informed of what her husband had done,
So she said:
"I call the judge to witness,"
"That I have gifted this dowry to him,"
"And I absolve him of it in this world and the Hereafter."
The judge said:
"Let this be recorded among the noble character traits."
Deliberation, reflection, and gentleness.
And the condemnation of haste.
A Bedouin testified before Mu‘awiyah, may Allah be pleased with him, regarding something he disliked.
Mu‘awiyah said to him:
"You have lied."
The Bedouin replied:
"The liar, by Allah, is the one wrapped in your garments."
Mu‘awiyah smiled and said:
"This is the reward for one who is hasty."
‘Urwah ibn al-Zubayr, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
"It is written in wisdom:"
"Gentleness is the essence of wisdom."
Among the proverbs of the Arabs:
"Many a haste leads to delay."
This is used as a proverb for a man who performs a task but does not perfect it,
Because of his haste,
So he is forced to return, undo it, and start over.
Ibrahim al-Khawwas, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
"Haste prevents one from attaining the truth."
The lives of the salaf,
Between word and deed.