I accompanied Muhammad ibn Aslam for more than 20 years, and never once saw him praying a voluntary prayer except on the day of Jumu’ah; [I understood why, when] I once heard him saying: ‘If I was able to pray a voluntary prayer such that my two angels could not see me, I would have done so – out of fear of showing off’.
Category: Words of Wisdom
He would pinch his nose
Ayyoob as-Sikhtiyaanee was tender hearted, and when he would become tearful in front of his companions, he would pinch his nose to give [them] the impression he had a cold, and if he feared he would be overcome by tears, he would get up [and leave the gathering].
If anyone did speak to him, he would respond to them
al-Awzaa’ee would not speak to anyone after the fajr prayer until [after] he had engaged himself in the remembrance of Allaah; And if anyone did speak to him, he would respond to them.
One good turn deserves another
I went out with my father and we came to Madeenah. Maalik ibn Anas then sent us a plate of fresh dates. So he (my father) then placed 1,000 deenaars and returned it (the plate) to him.
Fasting every other day for the last sixty years
Regarding ‘Alee ibn al-Ja’d [it was said that] for the last sixty years, he has been fasting every other day.
Did not rise until the adhaan for ‘ishaa
I saw ath-Thowree in the Haram after [the] maghrib [prayer]; He prayed, then descended into prostration and did not rise until the call (adhaan) for the ‘ishaa prayer [was made].
Sufyaan ath-Thowree’s prostration
I saw ath-Thowree in the Haram (al-Masjid al-Haraam, Makkah) after maghrib; He prayed [the maghrib prayer] and then went into prostration, and did not rise [from the prostration] until the call for the ‘ishaa prayer was made.
The glorification and praise of Allaah
On the Day of Reckoning, the glorification (تسبيح) and praise (حمد) of Allaah in the account of the believer is better [for him] than to be accompanied by a mountain of gold.
If you hear about a good deed
If you hear anything about a good [deed] – then practice it, even if only once; so you can be from amongst those [who do good].
He would discard it entirely
If [Imaam] Maalik had doubt in a hadeeth, he would discard it entirely.