Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Ata bin Yasar says: The unnecessary material blessings of the world were presented to the Prophet ﷺ, so he ﷺ said: Surely, I have no desire for you. So it (the world) said: If you have no desire for me, soon others besides you will desire me.

Hazrat Abdullah narrates: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: My example and the example of this world is like that of a rider who stops under the shade of a tree on a very hot day, then leaves it and continues on his way (towards his actual destination).

It is narrated from Hazrat Mujahid that Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) says: The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) took my hand—or me—and said to me: O Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them), live like a stranger or a traveler, and count yourself among the people of the graves. Hazrat Mujahid says: (After narrating this tradition) Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) said: When morning comes, do not think about the evening to come, and when evening comes, do not think about the morning to come. And take benefit from your life before your death (comes), and take advantage of your health before your illness (comes), because surely you do not know what your name will be tomorrow (alive or dead).

Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) says: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) passed by us while we were repairing our hut. He (peace be upon him) asked: What is this? I replied: It is our hut which we are fixing. So he (peace be upon him) said: The matter (of the Hour or death) will come even before this (is properly fixed). (Therefore, one should also be concerned about correcting and improving one's deeds in preparation for it.)

Hazrat Mustawrid, who belonged to Banu Fihr, says: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: By Allah, the example of this world in comparison to the Hereafter is like that of one of you dipping his finger into the river and then taking it out; then let him see how much (water) adheres to his finger (so the amount of water that remains on the finger compared to the river is the same as the status of this world compared to the Hereafter).

A similar narration is also reported from Hazrat Mastoor (RA), but it does not contain the words "take out."

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates: The pillow on which the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to recline was made of leather and stuffed with palm fibers.

Yahya bin Ja'dah narrates: Some companions of the Messenger of Allah (e) went to visit Khabbab (may Allah be pleased with him) during his illness and said to him: O Abu Abdullah, rejoice with the glad tidings that you will meet the Messenger of Allah (e) at the Pond of Kawthar on the Day of Resurrection. (Upon hearing this) Khabbab (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: How can this be, when there is such luxury in my house, even though the Messenger of Allah (e) had informed us: For you, from this world, only as much is sufficient as the provision of a traveler.

Hazrat Shaqiq says: Hazrat Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) went to visit his maternal uncle, Abu Hashim bin Utbah, when he was ill. His uncle began to weep. Hazrat Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) asked: O my uncle, why are you weeping? Has the pain of the illness distressed you, or is it attachment to the world? He replied: It is neither of these things, but rather (I am distressed because) the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) advised us, saying: O Abu Hashim! You will surely receive wealth and riches just as other (conquering) nations receive, but for you, only one servant and one mount in the way of Allah (for jihad) will suffice. But I see that I have accumulated (much) more wealth than that.

Hazrat Samurah bin Sahm says: Hazrat Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) went to his maternal uncle's house. After that, the narrator mentioned the previous incident and said that Sufyan Thawri (may Allah have mercy on him) also narrated this statement of Hazrat Muawiyah's (may Allah be pleased with him) maternal uncle in this narration: "If only there was complete and perpetual poverty all around us."

Hazrat Abu Sufyan, narrating from his elders, says: Hazrat Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) went to visit Hazrat Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) when he was ill, and he began to weep. The narrator says: So Hazrat Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) asked him: What has made you weep? Whereas the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) passed away in such a state that he was pleased with you, you will have the honor of meeting him (on the Day of Judgment), and you will also go to him at the Pond of Kawthar. Hazrat Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: I am not weeping out of fear of death or attachment to the world, but (what grieves me is that) the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) advised us: Your sustenance should be limited to the amount that a rider (traveler) carries as provisions. Whereas around me are these cushions (which are more than a traveler’s provisions). The narrator says: In fact, he only had one cushion, a large bowl, and a water jug with him. Then Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) said: O Abu Abdullah! Please give us some advice that we may hold on to after you. So he said: O Sa’d! (Remember) Allah especially at three times: (first) when you are afflicted with any sorrow, (second) when you are about to make a decision, and (third) when you are about to make a distribution (among partners in which equality is required by Shariah).

Hazrat Aswad says: Abdullah said: If the people of knowledge safeguard their knowledge, and spread it only among those who are worthy of it, then because of this they would rule over the people of their time. But they squandered that knowledge among the people of the world so that through it they might obtain their worldly wealth and benefits from them. So they became disgraced among the people of the world. I heard your Prophet e say: Whoever chooses one concern (the concern for religion) out of all his concerns, Allah Almighty will suffice him in the matter of his Hereafter. And the person whom (worldly) worries and the conditions of the world entangle and scatter into various desires and aspirations, Allah Almighty will not care in the least into which valley (of calamity and misguidance) he falls.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Ja'far that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: When faith enters the heart, the heart opens up and there is expansion in it. Then he recited this verse { فَمَنْ یُرِدِ اللَّہُ أَنْ یَہْدِیَہُ یَشْرَحْ صَدْرَہُ لِلإِسْلاَمِ }. People asked, "O Messenger of Allah! Is there any sign by which it can be recognized?" He said, "Its sign is turning towards the Hereafter, detachment from the house of deception, and preparing for death before death comes."

Hazrat Abdullah bin Masoor narrates that the Prophet ﷺ recited this blessed verse { فمَنْ یُرِدِ اللَّہُ أَنْ یَہْدِیَہُ یَشْرَحْ صَدْرَہُ لِلإِسْلاَمِ }. The people asked, "O Messenger of Allah! What is its explanation?" He replied, "It is a light; when it enters the heart, the heart opens up." He was asked, "Is there any sign by which it can be recognized?" He replied, "Its sign is attention towards the Hereafter, aversion to the house of deception, and preparation for death before death."

Hazrat Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) once said to me, "Look, who appears to you as the most distinguished person in the mosque?" I looked carefully and saw that there was a man in the mosque who was wearing fine clothes. I said, "It is he." Then he asked, "Who appears to you as the most inferior person in the mosque?" I looked and saw that there was a man whose body was covered with worn-out clothes. I said, "It is he." The Prophet said, "If the likes of the first one were to fill the whole earth, this second one is still better than all of them."

It is narrated in the same way from another narrator.

It is narrated from Hazrat Dhahhak bin Muzahim that he says: A person came to the service of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. He said, "O Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him! Who is the greatest ascetic among the people in matters of the world?" The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The one who does not forget graves and decay, who leaves the best of the adornments of the world, who prefers the everlasting over the perishable, who does not count tomorrow as part of his days (of life), and who considers himself among the dead."

It is narrated from Hazrat Amr bin Maymoon that the Noble Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said to a man: "Consider five things as a blessing before five things: your life before your death, your free time before your preoccupation, your wealth before your poverty, your youth before your old age, and your health before your illness. (Consider them a blessing)"

It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Have modesty before Allah as is His due." Ibn Masood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: We said, "O Messenger of Allah! We do have modesty." He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "This is not (true) modesty. Rather, whoever has modesty before Allah as is His due, he should protect his head and what it contains, and he should protect his stomach and what it contains, and he should remember death and decaying (in the grave), and whoever desires the Hereafter, he leaves the adornment of the world. So whoever does these things, indeed he has fulfilled the right of modesty before Allah."

It is narrated from Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had a she-camel which was called ‘Adhba’. No one could surpass this she-camel. Then a Bedouin came riding a young camel and surpassed this she-camel. This was very hard on the Muslims. They said, “O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! ‘Adhba’ has been surpassed.” The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Indeed, it is incumbent upon Allah that whatever rises high in this world, Allah will also bring it down.”

Hazrat Simak narrates about Hazrat Nu'man bin Bashir (may Allah be pleased with him). He says: I heard him say: Are you not among your desired foods and drinks? Whereas I saw your Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in such a state that he did not even have enough inferior and dry dates by which he could fill his stomach.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Burdah that he says: I went to the service of Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), and she showed me a thick lower garment. This lower garment was made from the clothes that are made in Yemen. She took out one of those sheets which you call a patched sheet. Then she made me swear an oath and said: The blessed soul of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was taken in these two garments.

It is narrated from a man of the tribe of Banu Salim... or Fahm... that a gift was brought to the Noble Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). So he looked around but did not find anything in which he could place it, so he (peace be upon him) said: "Place it on the ground (itself). So this is also a servant who eats like other servants eat. And he drinks just as other servants drink. And if the weight of the world with Allah were even equal to the wing of a mosquito, no disbeliever would be able to drink even a sip of water from this world."

Hazrat Abu Salamah narrates, he says that Hazrat Mu’adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) submitted: O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)! Please give me some advice. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Worship Allah as if you see Him. And count yourself among the dead. And remember Allah near every tree and stone, and whenever you commit a sin, follow it up with a good deed—one done secretly for a secret sin, and one done openly for an open sin.”

Hazrat Abu Salamah narrates, he says that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, used to say: "Remember frequently the destroyer of pleasures... that is, death."

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Remember frequently the destroyer of pleasures... that is, death."

It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Sabit that he said: A man was mentioned in the presence of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and he was praised well. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: "How is his attitude towards remembering death?" But this was not mentioned about him. Upon this, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "He is not as you have described him."

It is narrated from Hazrat Rabee’ that he says: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Death alone is sufficient to make one disinterested in the world and to create eagerness for the Hereafter.

Hasan narrates from the Noble Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that he (peace be upon him) said: "If Allah Almighty had willed, He would have made all of you wealthy so that there would not be a single poor person among you. And if Allah Almighty had willed, He would have made all of you poor so that there would not be a single wealthy person among you. But Allah Almighty has put some of you to trial through others among you."

It is narrated from Hazrat Bara’ (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: We were with the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) at a funeral. When he (peace and blessings be upon him) reached the grave, he sat down on his knees at the grave. ... The narrator says ... I also turned and faced him (peace and blessings be upon him). The narrator says then he (peace and blessings be upon him) began to weep until the ground became wet. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "My brothers! Those who act should act like this. So prepare yourselves."

It is narrated from Hazrat Abdul Malik bin Umair, he says that it was conveyed to me that Hazrat Ibn Masood said that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "O people! There is nothing that brings you closer to Paradise and keeps you away from Hell except that I have commanded you regarding it. And there is nothing that brings you closer to Hell and keeps you away from Paradise except that I have forbidden you from it. And the Trustworthy Spirit has inspired into my heart that no soul will die until it has completed its provision. So fear Allah and seek provision in a good manner. And the slow coming of provision should not prompt you to seek it through disobedience to Allah. For whatever is with Allah can only be attained through obedience to Him."

It is narrated from Hasan that he said: Whenever the mention of the Companions of the Ditch (Ashab al-Ukhdud) occurred, the Noble Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) would seek refuge with Allah from severe trials.

Hazrat Mus'ab bin Sa'd narrates about Hazrat Hafsa bint Umar. He says that Hazrat Hafsa (may Allah be pleased with her) said to her father, "O Commander of the Faithful! If you wear softer clothes instead of these clothes of yours, and eat better food than this food of yours, there is no harm for you. Because Allah Almighty has opened the conquests of the earth for you and has expanded your sustenance." Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I make you the judge in this dispute between us. Do you not know how much hardship the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had to face in his life?" Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) began to remind Hazrat Hafsa (may Allah be pleased with her) of the events that befell the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), until he made Hazrat Hafsa weep. Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Indeed, I told you that my two companions took one path, so if I walk on a path other than theirs, then because of me, a path other than theirs will be followed. So I... by God... will certainly and surely join them in their hard life. Perhaps I may also be found with them in their life of ease." By his two companions, Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) meant the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him).

Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) says that I heard the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: Most of the hypocrites of my Ummah will be among its Qurra (reciters of the Qur'an).

It is narrated in a marfu’ form from Hazrat Saeed bin Jubair (may Allah have mercy on him) in the commentary of { ألا إنَّ أَوْلِیَائَ اللہِ لاَ خَوْفٌ عَلَیْہِمْ وَلاَ ہُمْ یَحْزَنُونَ } that seeing them reminds one of Allah.

It is narrated from Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her)! Protect yourself even from minor deeds... sins, because for them too there is one who seeks (accountability) from Allah."

It is narrated from Hazrat Bara bin Azib that he says: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The strongest link of the links of faith is love for the sake of Allah and hatred for the sake of Allah."

It is narrated from Hazrat Muwarriq Ajli that he says: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, recited { أَلْہَاکُمُ التَّکَاثُرُ حَتَّی زُرْتُمُ الْمَقَابِرَ }. The narrator says, then the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Of your wealth, only that is truly yours which you have eaten and consumed, or you have worn and worn out, or you have given in charity and sent ahead.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Ja'far that he says: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Among deeds, the most severe are three: remembering Allah in every condition, being just to oneself, and sharing wealth with others.

It is narrated from Hasan that he says: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Indeed, Allah Almighty does not accept the deed of any servant until He is pleased with him.