Mustadrak al-Hakim — Hadith 4339

Sahl bin Abdullah al-Tustari says: When Allah Almighty sent the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), there were seven categories of people in the world: kings, farmers, herders of livestock, merchants, craftsmen, laborers, and the weak and the poor. None of them was commanded to abandon his occupation; rather, they were commanded to have knowledge, certainty, piety (taqwa) and reliance (tawakkul) in all their circumstances. Sahl (may Allah have mercy on him) says that the intelligent person should say: Since I have come to know that I am Your servant, it is not fitting for me to hope in or long for anyone other than You; nor should I imagine about You, when You have created me and made me Your servant, that You would leave me to my own self or entrust my affairs to anyone other than You.
Imam al-Hakim says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) has described this group with the qualities which Allah Almighty granted them specifically in contrast to the other groups; so whoever is found to have those qualities deserves the name of Sufism (tasawwuf).