The words of Ibn Masud (may Allah be pleased with him)

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Juhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The purity of this world has gone and its turbidity has remained, so death is a gift for every Muslim."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him): "This world is like water collected in a rock pool: its purity has gone and its turbidity has remained."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "It is enough knowledge for a man that he fears Allah, and it is enough ignorance for a man that he is pleased with his own deeds."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "Whoever intends the Hereafter suffers loss in this world, and whoever intends this world suffers loss in the Hereafter. O people! Bear the loss of what perishes for the sake of what remains."

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "I would love to have been a bird, with feathers on my shoulders."

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "Would that I were a tree that was cut down."

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "I would love for a piece of dung to have split open from me and for me to be attributed to it, so that I were named Abdullah bin Rawthah (son of dung), and for Allah Almighty to forgive one sin of mine." The narrator Abu Mu'awiyah says: He said: "I would love to know that Allah has forgiven me." Then he narrated the same as the previous hadith.

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "Whoever among you is able to have his treasure in the heavens, where no weevil will eat it and no thief will reach it, should do so. For a man's heart is with his treasure."

It is narrated from Abu Burdah that he said: Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) heard a scream, so he lay down facing the Qiblah.

The family of Abdullah reported that Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) gave this advice to his son Abd al-Rahman. He said: I advise you to fear Allah. Let your house be spacious enough for you, keep your tongue under your control, and weep over your mistakes.

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I would love to know that Allah Almighty has forgiven me one sin from among my sins; then I would not care which of the children of Adam gave birth to me.

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Indeed, among the people with the most sins on the Day of Resurrection are those who engage most deeply in falsehood.

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Indeed, Paradise is surrounded by things disliked, and Hell is surrounded by desires. So whoever peeks beyond the veil falls into what lies behind it.

Abd al-Rahman bin Abdullah narrates from his father (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: The example of small deeds is that of people who camp at a place where there is no firewood, and they have meat with them. They keep on gathering until they have collected enough to cook their meat.

It is narrated from Alqamah that he said: Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) suffered a certain illness in which he began to show distress. We said: We have not seen you show such distress in any illness as you have shown in this illness of yours. He (may Allah be pleased with him) said: This illness has overpowered me and has brought heedlessness close to me.

It is narrated from al-Qasim that he said: Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Do not be hasty in praising people and in blaming them. For a man may please you today and displease you tomorrow, and if he displeases you today, he may please you tomorrow. For people keep changing. Allah Almighty will forgive sins on the Day of Resurrection. On the day the servant comes to Allah, Allah Almighty will be more merciful to His servant than a mother who spreads a bed for her only child on bare ground, then begins to feel over his bed with her own hand; so if there is anything that stings, it would be on her hand, and if there is a thorn, it would be on her hand.

It is narrated from al-Qasim that he said: Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I would love to be in this world like an individual who comes in the morning, mounts and departs.

It is narrated from al-Qasim bin Abd al-Rahman that he said: Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Fear of Allah is sufficient as knowledge, and being deluded about Allah is sufficient as ignorance.

It is narrated from al-Harith bin Suwayd that he said: Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: By the One besides whom there is no god, the family of Abdullah has never reached a morning having anything through which they hope that Allah Almighty will give them good, or through which He will repel evil from them, except that Allah knows that Abdullah does not associate anything with Him.

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: By the One besides whom there is no god! A servant who reaches the morning as a Muslim and reaches the evening as a Muslim suffers no harm, whatever condition of this world comes to him.

It is narrated from Abu Mijlaz that he said: The cold troubled the companions of Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him). He said: So a man began to feel shy about coming in a poor garment or a poor sheet. Thereupon Sayyiduna Abu Abd al-Rahman (may Allah be pleased with him) came one day in a cloak, then the next morning he came in it as well, and then on the third morning he also came in it.

It is narrated from al-Sha'bi that he said: Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I have no fear for you regarding error, but I fear for you regarding deliberate wrongdoing. I do not fear for you that you will consider your deeds few, but I fear for you that you will consider your deeds many.

It is narrated from Yahya bin Abi Kathir that he said: Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Leave misgivings, for they are sin.

It is narrated from Abu al-Ahwas that he said: Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The believer regards his sin as though it were a rock which he fears may fall on him, and the hypocrite regards his sin like a fly that settled on his nose, then flew off and was gone.

It is narrated from Malik bin Mighwal that he said: We were sitting with al-Qasim bin Abd al-Rahman. A man then spoke, pointing towards al-Qasim, and said: Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I would love that when I die, I am not raised again. Thereupon al-Qasim made a gesture like this with his head, meaning yes.

It is narrated from Zubayd that he said: Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Speak what is good and you will be known for good. Act upon good and you will become people of good. Do not be hasty people who disclose secrets.

It is narrated from al-Hasan that he said: Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: If I were made to stand between Paradise and Hell and were told: We shall tell you in which of the two you will be, is this dearer to you, or that you become ash? I would choose to become ash.

It is narrated from Ma'n that he said: Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Do not fall into sects, or you will perish.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: I would love that peace be made with me on the basis of one good deed and nine bad deeds.

It is narrated from Awn that he said: Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The believer loves. There is no good in the man who neither loves nor is loved.

It is narrated from Murrah that he said: Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Indeed, Allah Almighty gives this world both to the one He loves and to the one He does not love, but He gives faith only to the one He loves. So when Allah Almighty loves a servant, He gives him faith.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: On the Day of Resurrection, people will be presented before three registers: a register containing good deeds, a register containing blessings, and a register containing sins. The register of blessings will be set against the register of good deeds, so the good deeds will be used up in exchange for the blessings, and the sins will remain, depending on the will of Allah. If Allah wills He will punish, and if He wills He will forgive.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: Acquire knowledge, acquire knowledge; then when you have acquired knowledge, act upon it.

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Outward appearance resembles outward appearance only when hearts resemble hearts.

Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Indeed, a major part of humility is that you be content with a place of lower rank than the place of honour in a gathering, and that you be the first to greet whomever you meet with salam.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: You exceed the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) (may Allah be pleased with them) in fasting, in prayer and in jihad, yet they were better than you. The people asked: O Abu Abd al-Rahman! Why is that? He (may Allah be pleased with him) said: They had less desire for this world and greater desire for the Hereafter.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: These hearts are only vessels. So fill them with the Qur'an, and do not fill them with anything else.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he used to say in his sermon: The truest speech is the speech of Allah, the firmest handhold is the word of piety (taqwa), the best religion is the religion of Ibrahim, the most beautiful of narratives is this Qur'an, and the most beautiful way is the Sunnah of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). The noblest speech is the remembrance of Allah. The best of affairs are those resolutely settled. The worst of affairs are innovations. The finest guidance is the guidance of the prophets. The most honourable death is the killing of the martyrs. The most dangerous misguidance is misguidance after guidance. The best knowledge is that which benefits, and the best guidance is that which is followed. The worst blindness is the blindness of the heart. The upper hand is better than the lower hand. What is little and sufficient is better than what is abundant and makes one heedless. A soul you save is better than a governorship you cannot fully manage. The worst reproach is the reproach at the time of death, and the worst regret is the regret on the Day of Resurrection. Some people come to the prayer only at its very last time, and some remember Allah only with a heedless heart. The greatest of sins is a lying tongue. The best wealth is the wealth of the heart. The best provision is piety. The chief part of wisdom is the fear of Allah. The best of what is placed in hearts is certainty, and doubt is part of disbelief. Wailing over the dead is an act of the Days of Ignorance. Stealing (from the spoils of war) is an ember of Hell, and hoarded treasure is a branding from Hell. Poetry is among the musical pipes of Satan. Wine is the sum of all sins. Women are the snares of Satan. Youth is a branch of madness. The worst earning is the earning of usury (riba), and the worst food is eating the wealth of an orphan. The fortunate one is he who takes admonition from others, and the wretched one is he who was written as wretched in his mother's womb. What suffices any of you is the amount with which his soul is content, for the return is to a place of four cubits. The matter is judged by its end, and what governs a deed is its conclusion. The worst of narrators are the narrators of lies, and whatever is coming is near. Reviling a believer is a sin, fighting him is disbelief, eating his flesh is among the acts of disobedience to Allah, and the sanctity of his wealth is like the sanctity of his blood. Whoever presumes against Allah, Allah proves him a liar. Whoever forgives, Allah Almighty forgives him. Whoever pardons, Allah Almighty pardons him. Whoever restrains his anger, Allah Almighty rewards him. Whoever is patient in calamities, Allah gives him a good recompense. Whoever recognises a trial is patient with it, and whoever does not recognise it dislikes it. Whoever acts arrogantly, Allah brings him down. Whoever seeks renown, Allah Almighty disgraces him. Whoever wants this world, it wears him out. Whoever obeys Satan disobeys Allah, and whoever disobeys Allah, Allah punishes him.

It is narrated from Murrah bin Sharahil that he said: Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Fear Allah as He should be feared [Al Imran: 102]. To fear Him as He should be feared is that He be obeyed and not disobeyed, remembered and not forgotten, and thanked and not met with ingratitude. Giving wealth despite one's love for it is that you spend your wealth while you are healthy and tight-fisted, hoping to live on and fearing poverty. The superiority of night prayer over day prayer is like the superiority of secret charity over public charity.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: Prayer benefits only the one who obeys it. Then Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) recited this verse: Indeed, prayer restrains from indecency and evil, and the remembrance of Allah is greater [Al-Ankabut: 45]. Then Sayyiduna Abdullah said: Allah's remembrance of the servant is greater than the servant's remembrance of his Lord.