The sermon of Ibn Masud (may Allah be pleased with him) and some of his sayings

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says: It is only a matter of two things: guidance (conduct) and speech. The best speech is the speech of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Beware! Keep away from newly invented matters and innovations, for the worst of things are newly invented matters, and every newly invented thing is misguidance. Beware! Let not the term become long for you so that your hearts become hardened by long hopes; what is coming is near. Beware! The far is only that which is not coming. Beware! The wretched one is he who was written as wretched while still in his mother's womb, and the fortunate one is he who takes admonition from the state of others. The worst narration is a false narration. Beware! Lying is not right, neither in earnest nor in jest. Beware! Lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to Hell; and truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. It is said of the truthful person: "He spoke the truth and acted righteously," and it is said of the liar: "He lied and acted wickedly."
And I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "A servant keeps lying until he is written with Allah as a great liar, and he keeps speaking the truth until he is written as a siddiq (truthful one)" - then he said - "Beware of 'adh (slanderous lying). Do you know what 'adh is? It is tale-bearing and carrying words from one person to another."

A similar hadith is also narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him).

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), and this hadith reaches the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), that he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to give a sermon standing on Thursday, saying: "O people, it is only a matter of two things: guidance and speech." Then the narrator mentioned (the rest) similar to the hadith of Ma'mar from Abu Ishaq.

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "It is only a matter of two things: guidance and speech. The most truthful speech is the speech of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). The worst of things are newly invented matters, every newly invented matter is an innovation, every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance is in (leads to) the Fire."

It is narrated about Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that he would come every Thursday and stand up, not sitting down, and say: "Do not put people to trial, for among them are the weak, the elderly and the needy." Then he would say: It is a matter of two things. The best way is the way of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), the most truthful word is the Book of Allah, the worst of things are newly invented matters, and every newly invented thing is misguidance. The wretched one is he who was written as wretched while still in his mother's womb, and the fortunate one is he who takes admonition from the state of others. Beware! Let not the term become long for you, and let not hope distract you, for everything that is coming is near, and the far is only that which is not coming. Among the worst of people are those who prolong the day out of fear of the night. Indeed, killing a believer is disbelief (kufr), and insulting him is sinfulness (fusuq), and it is not lawful for a Muslim to cut off his brother for more than three days. Beware! The worst narration is lying, and lying is not right, neither in earnest nor in jest, nor that a man makes a promise to his child and does not fulfil it. Beware! Lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to Hell; and truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. It is said of the truthful one: "He spoke the truth and acted righteously," and it is said of the liar: "He lied and acted wickedly."
And I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "A servant speaks the truth until he is written with Allah as a siddiq (truthful one), and he keeps lying until he is written with Allah as a great liar. Do you know what 'adh (slanderous lying) is? It is tale-bearing that causes corruption among people."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Everything that is coming is near. Listen! The far is only that which is not coming. Allah does not hasten because of anyone's haste, nor is He moved lightly by the affairs of people. What Allah wills (happens), not what people will. Allah wills one thing and people will another thing; what Allah wills happens, even if people dislike it. None can bring near what Allah has put far, and none can put far what Allah has brought near, and nothing happens except by the permission of Allah. The most truthful word is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). The worst of things are newly invented matters, every newly invented matter is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance."
Ma'mar says: Someone other than Ja'far bin Burqan also narrated from Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him): "The best thing placed in the heart is certainty; the best wealth is self-sufficiency of the heart; the best knowledge is that which benefits; the best guidance is that which is followed; and what is little and suffices is better than what is plentiful and distracts. Each of you will ultimately go to a place of four cubits (the grave), so do not weary people, nor grow tired of them. Every soul has a devil and a period of eagerness - beware! - and it also has a period of weariness and turning away. Beware! The worst of narrations is lying. Beware! Lying leads to wickedness, and wickedness leads to Hell. Beware! Hold fast to truthfulness, for truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. Take a lesson from this: these are two companions that meet. It is said of the truthful one: 'He spoke the truth,' until he is written as a siddiq (truthful one), and the liar keeps lying until he is written as a great liar. Beware! Lying is not fitting, neither in earnest nor in jest, nor that one of you makes a promise to his child and then does not fulfil it. 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 invented new things in their religion. If you have no choice but to ask them, then take what agrees with your Book, and keep away from what contradicts it and remain silent."

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The most truthful word is the Book of Allah, the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and the worst of things are newly invented matters. What you are promised is surely coming, and you cannot frustrate (Allah). Indeed, the far is that which is not coming. Beware! Hold fast to truthfulness, for it leads to Paradise. A man keeps speaking the truth until he is written with Allah as a siddiq (truthful one), righteousness becomes firmly established in his heart, and wickedness does not find in his heart even the space of a needle in which to settle. Beware! Keep away from lying, for it leads to Hell. A man keeps lying until he is written with Allah as a great liar, and wickedness settles in his heart, so that there does not remain in his heart even the space of a needle in which (righteousness) could settle."

Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Lying is not fitting, neither in jest nor in earnest, nor that one of you makes a promise to his child and then does not fulfil it."

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Lying is not fitting, neither in earnest nor in jest."

Ibn Awn (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates: We came to Abu Wa'il (may Allah have mercy on him), and with him was a slave girl named Buraydah. We said: O Buraydah, tell Abu Wa'il to narrate hadith to us. She said: Abu Wa'il, narrate to the people what you heard from Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him). He said: I heard Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) say: "O people, you will all be gathered on a single plain, where the caller will make you all hear and the sight will see you all. Listen! The wretched one is he who was written as wretched while still in his mother's womb" - the narrator says: I think he also said after it - "and the fortunate one is he who takes admonition from (the end of) others."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The wretched one is he who was written as wretched in his mother's womb, and the fortunate one is he who takes admonition from others."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The wretched one is he who was written as wretched in his mother's womb, and the fortunate one is he who takes admonition from others."

Abu al-Tufayl Amr bin Wathilah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: Whenever Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) gave us a sermon in Kufah, he would say: "The wretched one is he who was written as wretched in his mother's womb, and the fortunate one is he who was written as fortunate in his mother's womb."

Rabah al-Nakha'i (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates: Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) would give us a sermon every Thursday and say: "The most truthful word is the Book of Allah, the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), every newly invented matter is an innovation, every innovation is misguidance, and the worst of things are newly invented matters. You will all be gathered on a single plain, where the sight will see you all and the caller will make you all hear. Listen! The wretched one is he who was written as wretched in his mother's womb, and the fortunate one is he who takes admonition from others."

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "O people, hold fast to truthfulness, for it brings one near to righteousness, and righteousness brings one near to Paradise. And keep away from lying, for it brings one near to wickedness, and wickedness brings one near to Hell. It is said of the truthful one: 'He spoke the truth and acted righteously,' and it is said of the liar: 'He lied and acted wickedly.' Beware! The angel has an impulse (upon the heart) and the devil also has an impulse. The angel's impulse is a promise of good, and the devil's impulse is a threat of evil. So whoever finds the angel's impulse, let him praise Allah, and whoever finds the devil's impulse, let him seek refuge from it, for Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, says: 'Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you (to immorality)' [Surah al-Baqarah: 268], to the end of the verse." He also said: "Beware! Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, laughs at two men: one is a man who on a cold night gets up from his bed, his quilt and his blanket, performs ablution (wudu), and then stands for prayer. Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, says to His angels: 'What led this servant of Mine to do what he did?' They say: 'Our Lord, hope for what is with You and fear of what is with You.' Allah says: 'I have given him what he hoped for and granted him safety from what he feared.' The other is a man who was in an army and knew what fleeing would bring him, and also knew what was for him with Allah (in standing firm), so he fought until he was martyred. Allah says to the angels: 'What led this servant of Mine to do what he did?' They say: 'Our Lord, hope for what is with You and fear of what is with You.' Allah says: 'I make you witnesses that I have given him what he hoped for and granted him safety from what he feared.'" - or words similar to these.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "Each one of you is a guest and a loan; the guest is departing, and the loan is to be returned to its owners."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "Knowledge is not narrating many hadith; rather, knowledge is the fear of Allah."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "If I were made to stand between Paradise and Hell and it were said to me: Choose, we give you the option of whichever of the two you like more, or that you become ashes, I would prefer to become ashes."

Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) advised his son Abu Ubaydah with three things: "My son, I advise you to fear Allah; let your house be sufficient for you; keep weeping over your sin; and keep your tongue under control."

A man said to Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him): Advise me with comprehensive and beneficial words. Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him; move with the Qur'an wherever it takes you; whoever brings you the truth, accept it from him even if he is a stranger; and whoever brings you falsehood, reject it even if he is beloved and close."

Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "I dislike seeing a man idle, occupied neither in any work of this world nor of the Hereafter."

Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "I strongly detest seeing a man idle, engaged neither in any work of this world nor of the Hereafter."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "Whoever emigrates seeking something, that is what he gets." And he related: A man emigrated in order to marry a woman named Umm Qays, and so he became known as "the Emigrant of Umm Qays."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Whoever says three times: 'I seek the forgiveness of Allah, besides whom there is no true deity, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all, and I turn to Him in repentance,' is forgiven, even if he had fled from the battlefield."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Indeed, a mountain calls out to another mountain by its name: 'O so-and-so! Has anyone passed by you today who remembered Allah?' If it says: 'Yes,' it rejoices." Awn said: "Do they (the mountains) hear what is evil and not hear what is good? Rather, they are more attentive to what is good." And he recited this verse: "And they say: 'The Most Merciful has taken a son.' You have indeed brought forth a terrible thing. The heavens almost rupture from it, the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation, that they attribute to the Most Merciful a son. And it is not befitting for the Most Merciful that He should take a son" [Surah Maryam: 89].

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Whoever is not commanded to do good and restrained from evil by his prayer gains nothing from it except greater distance from Allah."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Patience is half of faith, and certainty is the whole of faith."

Bilad bin Ismah narrates: I was with Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) when suddenly I saw a crowd that rushed off to one side and then came back. He said: "Beware of the crowding of the marketplace, for it is the crowding of Satan."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Paradise has been surrounded by hardships and the Fire has been surrounded by desires; so whoever peeps behind the veil falls into what lies behind it."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The people with the most sins on the Day of Resurrection will be those who were most engrossed in falsehood."

The paternal uncle of Muharib bin Dithar narrates: I used to pass by the house of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) at the time of suhur (before dawn) and would hear him saying: "O Allah! You called me and I responded, You commanded me and I obeyed, and this is the time before dawn, so forgive me." Once I met him and said: I heard you saying these words before dawn, and I told him what they were. He said: "Sayyiduna Ya'qub (peace be upon him) also delayed (his supplication for the forgiveness of) his sons until the time before dawn."

Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) used to supplicate: "O Allah! Increase me in faith, certainty and understanding" - or he said: "and knowledge."

Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Beware of saying again and again, 'What if it were so?', for those before you were destroyed only because of their abundance of 'What if it were so?'. And do not draw analogy between one thing and another, lest a foot slip after being firmly planted. And when one of you is asked about something he does not know, let him say: 'I do not know,' for that (saying) is one third of knowledge."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "No year comes except that the one after it is worse than it. No year (in itself) is better than another year, and no nation is better than another nation; rather (the real cause of corruption) is the departure of your best people and your scholars. And some people will measure matters by their own opinion, and so Islam will be broken and shattered."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The righteous will depart (from this world) one after another, and there will remain people of doubt, who neither recognise good nor reject evil."

Whenever Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) sat down, he would say: "You are in the passing of night and day, your lifespans are diminishing and your deeds are being preserved, and death comes suddenly. So whoever sows good will soon reap joy, and whoever sows evil will soon reap regret. Every sower has his own share: the slow man cannot be outstripped of his share, nor can the greedy man attain what has not been decreed for him. So whoever is given good, it has been given by Allah, and whoever is protected from evil, it is Allah who has protected him. The God-fearing are leaders and the jurists are guides, and sitting in their company is a source of increase (for a person)."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Do not try to overpower this night (with wakefulness), for you will not be able to bear it. When one of you becomes drowsy, let him go to his bed, for that is safer for him."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Sayyiduna Yusuf (peace be upon him) and his mother were given two thirds of beauty."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Sayyiduna Yusuf (peace be upon him) and his mother were given two thirds of beauty."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Sayyiduna Yusuf (peace be upon him) and his mother were given two thirds of beauty, that is, of people's beauty in the face, the fairness of complexion and other than that. When a woman came to him, he would cover his face, fearing that she would fall into temptation."