This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Hussain bin Mubarak Al-Mawsili's Arabic book Al-Awamer wal-Nawahi, whose Urdu translation has been done by Muhammad Sarwar Gohar Sahib under the title Ahkamat o Mamnoaat.
① Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه narrates, the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم drew a line and said:
هذا الإنسان
"This is a human being."
Then the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم drew a line towards it and said:
هذا أجله
"This is his lifespan."
And he drew another line farther away and said:
هذا الأمل وهذا أجله ، فبينما هو كذلك إذ جاءه الأقرب
"This is desire, and the human being remains busy in the cycle of this desire, thinking that the nearer line will reach him, meaning his death will come."
Reference: Bukhari, Kitab al-Riqaq 6418, Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Zuhd 2334.
② Sayyiduna Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما narrates, the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم took my shoulder and said:
كن فى الدنيا كأنك غريب أو عابر سبيل
"Live in this world like a traveler or a wayfarer."
And Sayyiduna Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما used to say: "When evening comes, do not wait for the morning, and when morning comes, do not wait for the evening. In your days of health, prepare provisions for your sickness, and in your life, prepare for your death."
Reference: Bukhari, Kitab al-Riqaq 6416, Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Zuhd 2333.
① Abdul Rahman bin Uthman bin Abdullah Al-Yamani, a companion, narrates that we were in the state of Ihram with Sayyiduna Talha (may Allah be pleased with him). We were given a bird as a gift while Talha (may Allah be pleased with him) was sleeping. Some of us ate it, and some refrained from eating it out of piety and caution. When Sayyiduna Talha (may Allah be pleased with him) woke up, he agreed with those who ate and said: "We ate it with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)."
Reference: Muslim, Book of Hajj 1197/65, Nasai, Manasik al-Hajj 143/5.
In terms of meaning and indication, there are many hadiths regarding piety and caution, for example, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
دع ما يريبك
"Leave that which makes you doubt."
And similarly, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
الحلال بين والحرام بين وبينهما أمور مشتبهات
"The lawful is clear and the unlawful is clear, and between them are doubtful matters."
① Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنهما narrates from the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم that he said:
انظروا إلى من هو أسفل منكم ، ولا تنظروا إلى من هو فوقكم ، فإنه أجدر أن لا تزدروا نعمة الله عليكم
"Look at the one who is less fortunate than you in worldly matters, and do not look at the one who is greater than you, because this is more fitting so that you do not belittle the blessings of Allah upon yourselves."
Reference: Bukhari, Kitab al-Riqaq 6490, Muslim, Kitab al-Zuhd wal-Riqaq 2963/9, from Abu Hurairah رحمه الله.
