Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

It is narrated from Abdullah that he used to say in his sermon: The truest word is the Word of Allah, and the strongest handle is the word of piety, and the best religion is the religion of Abraham, and among the most beautiful stories is this Qur’an, and the most beautiful path is the Sunnah of Muhammad ﷺ. The most honorable speech is the remembrance of Allah. Among the best matters is the firm matter. The worst of matters are innovations, and the best guidance is the guidance of the Prophets. The most honorable death is the killing of martyrs. The most dangerous misguidance is the deviation after guidance. The best knowledge is that which is beneficial, and the best guidance is that which is followed. The worst blindness is the blindness of the heart.

2. And the upper hand is better than the lower hand. That which is little but sufficient is better than that which is much but distracts. “And a soul that you save is better than a leadership you cannot account for.” The worst blame is the blame at the time of death, and the worst regret is the regret on the Day of Resurrection. And some people come to prayer at the last moment, and some remember Allah with a heedless heart. Among the greatest mistakes is the lying tongue. The best wealth is the wealth of the heart. The best provision is piety. A great part of wisdom is the fear of Allah. Among what is placed in the hearts, the best thing is certainty, and doubt about disbelief and wailing are acts of ignorance. Betrayal (in war booty) is a coal from Hell, and hoarding is a branding from Hell.

3. Poetry is among the flutes of Satan. Wine is a collection of sins. Women are the ropes of Satan. Youth is a branch of madness. The worst earning is the earning from usury, and the worst food is the food of the orphan. The fortunate one is he who takes admonition from others, and the wretched one is he who is written as wretched in the womb of his mother. For any of you, that amount is sufficient with which his soul is content, for the return is to four spans (of earth). The matter is judged by its end. The acceptance of an action depends on its conclusion. The worst narrators are those who narrate lies, and what is coming is near.

4. To abuse a believer is a sin, and to fight him is disbelief, and to eat his flesh is among the disobediences to Allah. The sanctity of his wealth is like the sanctity of his blood. Whoever dares against Allah, Allah proves him a liar. And whoever forgives, Allah also forgives him, and whoever pardons, Allah also pardons him, and whoever controls his anger, Allah rewards him, and whoever is patient over calamities, Allah helps him, and whoever recognizes the trial, he is patient over it, and whoever does not recognize it, he dislikes it. And whoever acts arrogantly, Allah brings him down, and whoever seeks fame, Allah disgraces him, and whoever desires the world, the world wearies him, and whoever obeys Satan, disobeys Allah, and whoever disobeys Allah, Allah punishes him.