Sunan ad-Darimi

A‘mash (Sulaiman bin Mehran) said: We tried to make Imam Ibrahim Nakha‘i (may Allah have mercy on him) sit by the pillar, but he refused.

It is narrated from Mughira bin Muqsim that Imam Ibrahim Nakha'i, may Allah have mercy on him, disliked sitting while leaning against a pillar.

Mughira bin Muqsim said: Imam Ibrahim Nakha'i, may Allah have mercy on him, would not narrate hadith to anyone without being asked.

Khaitamah said: Harith bin Qais al-Ju'fi, who was among the students of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), and people used to take pride in him, if one or two men sat with him, he would begin to narrate a hadith to them. Then, when their number increased, he would stand up and leave them. (That is, he did not like to gain fame among many people.)

It is narrated from Ibrahim: When Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) passed away, it was said to Alqamah (bin Qais): "If only you would sit (in Ibn Mas'ud's place) and teach the people the Sunnah as he did." He replied: "Do you want my heel to be crushed?" (i.e., do you want me to fall into tribulation because of those who come after me?)

Salim bin Hanzalah said that we went to Sayyiduna Ubayy bin Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) to have a conversation. When he stood up, we also stood up and began to walk behind him. Then Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) came close to us and, going behind Ubayy (may Allah be pleased with him), struck him with a whip. The narrator said: He stopped it with his wrist and said: O Commander of the Faithful! What are you doing? He replied: Do you not see (this following behind)? It is a trial for the one who is followed and humiliation and disgrace for the one who follows.

It is narrated from Mansur (bin al-Mu'tamir) that Ibrahim said: The predecessors disliked walking behind (others).

Bustam bin Muslim said: When someone walked behind Imam Muhammad bin Sirin (may Allah have mercy on him), he would stand up and say: Do you need anything? If the person had a need, he would fulfill it. Even then, if the person continued to walk behind him, he would ask: Is there any other need?

It is narrated from Abu Hamza that Ibrahim said: Beware that he follows behind you. (That is, beware that he walks in your footsteps.)

It is narrated from Asim bin Damrah that he saw some people walking behind Saeed bin Jubair. The narrator said: I think Asim said: He stopped them from walking behind him and said: This action of yours, or he said: This walking behind me is a humiliation for the follower and a trial (fitnah) for the one who is being followed.

Abdullah bin Aun said: I consulted Muhammad (Ibn Sirin, may Allah have mercy on him) about building a house in a field. He replied: When you intend to lay the foundation, inform me. So when I came to him and we both started walking, suddenly a man came and began to walk behind them. Muhammad (may Allah have mercy on him) stopped and said: Do you need anything? He said: No. He said: If you have no need, then go. Then he turned to me and said: Go, you also go. So I too (left him and) went away by another path.

It is narrated from Naseer (ibn Dha’looq) that when people (his students) would come to Rabee’ (may Allah have mercy on him), he used to say: I seek Allah’s refuge from your evil.

Abdur Rahman bin Bishr said: We were with Sayyiduna Khabbab bin Al-Aratt (may Allah be pleased with him), his students came to him and he remained silent. It was said: Will you not narrate hadith to your students? He replied: I fear that I might narrate something to them which I do not act upon myself.

Salih (bin Salih bin Hayy) said: I heard Imam Sha’bi, may Allah have mercy on him, say: My wish is that I would just break even in my knowledge, that I would neither gain anything (nor be held accountable), nor would I bear the burden of any sin.

It is narrated from Imam Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) that Sayyiduna Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) was walking and people started following him. He said: "Do not walk behind me. By Allah, if you knew for what reason I close my door, none of you would follow me."

Saeed bin Jubair, may Allah have mercy on him, said: For the one who is being followed, there is trial, and for the one who is following, there is humiliation and disgrace.

Umi (bin Rabee’ah) said: People were walking behind Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), and he said: Keep the sound of your shoes away from me, for it corrupts the hearts of the foolish and weak people.

It is narrated from Yazid bin Hazim that I heard Imam Hasan al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, say: Stealing shoes behind people prevents fools from increasing in knowledge.

Laith narrated that when one or two people would sit with Imam Tawus (may Allah have mercy on him), he would stand up and move away from there.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Barzah Aslami (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The feet of any servant will not move on the Day (of Resurrection) until he is asked: In what did you spend your life? How much did you act upon your knowledge? From where did you earn your wealth and in what did you spend it? And in what (work) did you use your body?"

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: On the Day of Resurrection, when people will be standing before the Lord of the worlds, Allah Almighty will not let the servants go before asking them about four things: How did you spend your life? In what did you use your body? How did you earn your wealth and in what did you spend it? And how much did you act upon the knowledge you acquired?

Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) said: On the Day of Resurrection, no servant's feet will move until he is asked about four things: In what did he spend his life? In what did he use his body? How did he earn his wealth and where did he spend it? And how much did he act upon the knowledge he acquired?

It is narrated from Laith bin Abi Sulaim: Imam Tawus (may Allah have mercy on him) said to me: Learn knowledge for yourself, because trustworthiness has been lifted from the people.

It is narrated from ‘Imarah bin Mihran that Imam Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I found such a group that when any worshipper among them would worship, it could not be known from his speech, but they would be recognized by their actions. This is the beneficial knowledge.