It used to be said that eating too much diminishes [the ability] to express [one’s] understanding, and leads to hardness [of the heart] and [too much] sleep.
Category: Words of Wisdom
Awake in prayer at night
I used to know Ahmad ibn Hanbal when he was [just] a little boy, and he would remain awake at night standing in prayer.
Sincere in his worship
If any member of the household entered upon ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Abee Laylaa while he was [standing the night] praying, he would immediately jump into bed [out of humility, and remaining sincere in his worship to Allaah, and being far removed from showing off].
He would quietly stand the entire night in prayer
Ayyoob as-Sikhtiyaanee used to quietly stand the entire night in prayer, and in the morning [at the time of Fajr] he would raise his voice as if [giving the impression] he had just awoken at that time.
Reciting Quraan before he died
I was with al-Junayd when death was approaching him, and he completed [reciting] the Qur.aan, then began [reciting] Soorah al-Baqarah – reciting seventy aayahs before he died.
Strength of memory
My heart has never stored (memorised) anything and then left me.
Don’t follow behind me
[It was reported] regarding ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Mahdee that he rose from a gathering and the people [too arose and] followed [behind] him. So [out of humility] he said to them: ‘O people, don’t follow behind me.’
More beloved to me than a voluntary hajj
For me to give [even] a dirham in charity to an orphan or a destitute is more beloved to me than [a voluntary] hajj after [having performed] the obligatory first hajj.
Close your eyes
If a woman passes [before] you, then close your eyes until she has passed by.
Such a look will cause desire in the heart
Do not allow your eyes to look at a woman’s garment, for indeed such a look will cause desire in the heart.