Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 17736

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "Whatever is coming is near; far is only that which is not coming. Allah Almighty does not hasten because of anyone's wish for haste. What happens is what Allah wills, not what people will. Allah Almighty intends one matter and people intend another, but what Allah Almighty wills is what happens, even if people consider it far off. There is none to bring near what Allah Almighty puts far, and none to put far what Allah Almighty brings near. Everything happens by the command of Allah. The most truthful speech is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Sayyiduna Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). The worst of matters are the newly invented ones; every newly invented thing is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance. The best of what is placed in the heart is certainty; the best richness is richness of the soul; the best knowledge is that which benefits; and the best guidance is that which is followed. What is little but suffices is better than what is much but distracts. The final destination of each one of you is a place of four cubits, so do not make people weary and fed up. Every person is at times cheerful and attentive, and at times weary and inattentive. The worst thing is lying. Beware! Lying leads to sin, and sin leads to Hell. You must hold to truthfulness, for truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. Take heed of this, for these are two things that go together. It will be said of the truthful person: 'He has spoken the truth,' until he is recorded as truthful; and the liar keeps on lying until he is recorded as a liar. Beware! Lying is not permissible in any situation, whether in seriousness or in jest, nor should a man make a promise to his child and then not fulfill it. And do not ask the People of the Book about anything, for a long time has passed over them, their hearts have hardened, and they have introduced new things into their religion. If you must ask them something, then take whatever agrees with your Book, and dissociate yourselves from whatever goes against it and remain silent."
Al-Tabarani recorded it with a munqati' (broken) chain, and the narrators of its chain are thiqat (trustworthy).