If more than four [students] sat with Abul-’Aaliyah, he would get up and leave.
Category: Knowledge
In pursuit of praise and status
Nothing closes the door to Allaah like the pursuit of praise and status.
The importance of Kitaab at-Tawheed
It is not sufficient to read ‘Kitaab at-Tawheed’ [just] once, rather it is befitting that you always read it; [so] every time you finish it, start [reading] it again, just as I do so myself.
The most linguistically eloquent of the people
If a man was to bequeath a third of his estate to the most [linguistically] eloquent of the people, it would be incumbent [upon him] to give it to Abu Bakr al-Ash’aree.
Who taught you good manners?
[I learnt them] myself. If I see anyone [who is] good, [then] I draw near to him, and if I see anyone [who is] ill-mannered, [then] I keep away from him.
He was capable of dictating it all from memory
‘If the math.hab of ash-Shaafi’ee disappeared, he was capable of dictating it [all] from memory.’
Have you seen a jurist with your own eyes?
I asked al-Hasan al-Basree about something, and said [to him]: The jurists are saying such-and-such.
Created for hadeeth
In this world, Abu Daawood was created for [the knowledge of] hadeeth, and [as] for the Hereafter, [he was created] for Paradise.
Most authentic book
There is no book more authentic on the face of the earth, than the book of [al-Imaam] Muslim.
Before putting pen to paper
I did not put [pen to paper and record] any hadeeth in my book “Saheeh [al-Bukhaaree]” except that I washed before [doing so], and then prayed two rak’ahs.