2. Asceticism of Yunūs (Jonah)

٢۔ زُهْدُ يُونُسَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ

ahmad-zuhd:182ʿAbdullāh from my father > Abū Muʿāwiyah > al-Aʿmash > Mujāhid > Ḥaj al-Bayt Sabʿūn Nabī Minhum Mūsá b. ʿImrān ʿAlayh al-Salām ʿAlayh ʿAbāʾatān Qaṭawāniyyatān > And Fīhim Yūnus ʿAlayh al-Salām

[Machine] And among them is Yunus ﷺ , saying "Here I am, O remover of distress, here I am."  

الزهد لأحمد:١٨٢حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي عَنْ أَبِي مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ قَالَ «حَجَّ الْبَيْتَ سَبْعُونَ نَبِيًّا؛ مِنْهُمْ مُوسَى بْنُ عِمْرَانَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْهِ عَبَاءَتَانِ قَطَوَانِيَّتَانِ» قَالَ

وَفِيهِمْ يُونُسُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ؛ يَقُولُ لَبَّيْكَ كَاشِفَ الْكُرَبِ لَبَّيْكَ  

ahmad-zuhd:183ʿAbdullāh from my father > Ismāʿīl > Ibn Abū ʿArūbah

[Machine] "He used to pray for a long time during ease."  

الزهد لأحمد:١٨٣حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عَرُوبَةَ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ ﷻ {فَلَوْلَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ} [الصافات 143] قَالَ

«كَانَ طَوِيلَ الصَّلَاةِ فِي الرَّخَاءِ»  

ahmad-zuhd:184ʿAbdullāh from my father > Ibn Mahdī > Sufyān > Manṣūr

[Machine] That it does not harm him in his bones or flesh and then another whale swallows him {And he called out within the darkness} [21:87] The darkness of the whale and another whale, and the darkness of the sea.  

الزهد لأحمد:١٨٤حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ أَبِي الْجَعْدِ {فَنَادَى فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ} [الأنبياء 87] قَالَ أَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَى الْحُوتِ

أَنْ لَا تَضُرِّي لَهُ عَظْمًا وَلَا لَحْمًا ثُمَّ ابْتَلَعَهُ حُوتٌ آخَرُ {فَنَادَى فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ} [الأنبياء 87] ظُلْمَةُ الْحُوتِ وَحُوتٍ آخَرَ وَظُلْمَةُ الْبَحْرِ  

ahmad-zuhd:185ʿAbdullāh from my father > Hāshim > Ṣāliḥ > Abū ʿImrān al-Jawnī > Abū al-Mujallad

[Machine] Indeed, the punishment descended upon the people of Yunus (Jonah) ﷺ , and it hovered over their heads like pieces of thick darkness. So those with intellect among them went to one of their remaining scholars and said, "Indeed, something has befallen us that you can see, so teach us a supplication that we can invoke, perhaps Allah will lift His punishment from us." He said, "Say: O Ever-Living, O Sustainer of existence, O Living, O Eternal, there is no deity except You." He said, "So Allah lifted His punishment from them."  

الزهد لأحمد:١٨٥حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا هَاشِمٌ حَدَّثَنَا صَالِحٌ عَنْ أَبِي عِمْرَانَ الْجَوْنِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي الْمُجَلَّدِ قَالَ

إِنَّ الْعَذَابَ لَمَّا هَبَطَ عَلَى قَوْمِ يُونُسَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فَجَعَلَ يَحُومُ عَلَى رُءُوسِهِمْ مِثْلَ قِطَعِ اللَّيْلِ الْمُظْلِمِ فَمَشَى ذَوُو الْعُقُولِ مِنْهُمْ إِلَى شَيْخٍ مِنْ بَقِيَّةِ عُلَمَائِهِمْ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا قَدْ نَزَلَ بِنَا مَا تَرَى فَعَلِّمْنَا دُعَاءً نَدْعُو بِهِ عَسَى اللَّهُ ﷻ أَنْ يَرْفَعَ عَنَّا عُقُوبَتَهُ قَالَ فَقُولُوا يَا حَيُّ حِينَ لَا حَيَّ وَيَا حَيُّ مُحْيِي الْمَوْتَى وَيَا حَيُّ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ قَالَ «فَكَشَفَ اللَّهُ ﷻ عَنْهُمْ»  

ahmad-zuhd:186ʿAbdullāh from my father > Sufyān b. Wakīʿ > Jumayʿ b. ʿUmayr > Mujālid > al-Shaʿbī

[Machine] A man said, "Peace be upon him, a man stayed in the belly of the whale for forty days. Ash-Sha'bi (a scholar) said, "He stayed there for less than a day; the whale swallowed him in the morning, and when it was after Asr (afternoon prayer) and the sun was approaching sunset, the whale yawned and Yunus (Jonah) ﷺ saw the sunlight. He said, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers." [Surah Al-Anbiya 87] A man said to Ash-Sha'bi, "Do you deny the power of Allah?" He said, "I do not deny the power of Allah, and if Allah willed, He could have made a marketplace in its belly."  

الزهد لأحمد:١٨٦حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ وَكِيعٍ حَدَّثَنَا جُمَيْعُ بْنُ عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُجَالِدٍ عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ قَالَ

قَالَ رَجُلٌ عِنْدَهُ مَكَثَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي بَطْنِ الْحُوتِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا فَقَالَ الشَّعْبِيُّ مَا مَكَثَ إِلَّا أَقَلَّ مِنْ يَوْمٍ؛ الْتَقَمَهُ ضُحًى فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ وَقَارَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ الْغُرُوبَ تَثَاوَبَ الْحُوتُ فَرَأَى يُونُسُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ ضَوْءَ الشَّمْسِ فَقَالَ {لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ} [الأنبياء 87] قَالَ «فَنَبَذَهُ وَقَدْ صَارَ كَأَنَّهُ فَرْخٌ» فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ لِلشَّعْبِيِّ أَتُنْكِرُ قُدْرَةَ اللَّهِ ﷻ؟ قَالَ «مَا أُنْكِرُ قُدْرَةَ اللَّهِ ﷻ وَلَوْ أَرَادَ اللَّهُ ﷻ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ فِي بَطْنِهَا سُوقًا لَفَعَلَ»  

ahmad-zuhd:187ʿAbdullāh from my father > Wakīʿ > Sufyān > al-Suddī > Abū Mālik

[Machine] Jonah ﷺ remained in the belly of the whale for forty days.  

الزهد لأحمد:١٨٧حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ عَنِ السُّدِّيِّ عَنْ أَبِي مَالِكٍ قَالَ

«لَبِثَ يُونُسُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ فِي بَطْنِ الْحُوتِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا»  

ahmad-zuhd:188ʿAbdullāh from my father > Wakīʿ > ʿAbdullāh b. Saʿīd b. Abū Hind from his father > Ibn ʿAbbās

“I heard Ibn ‘Abbas saying that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Two blessings which many people squander: Good health and free time.’” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 4170)  

الزهد لأحمد:١٨٨حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي هِنْدَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ نِعْمَتَانِ مَغْبُونٌ فِيهِمَا كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ الْفَرَاغُ وَالصِّحَّةُ  

ahmad-zuhd:189ʿAbdullāh from my father > ʿAbd al-Raḥman b. Mahdī > Muʿāwiyah / Ibn Ṣāliḥ > ʿAmr b. Qays > ʿAbdullāh b. Busr

[Machine] I heard Abdullah ibn Busr saying that two Bedouins came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and one of them asked, "O Messenger of Allah, who is the best of people?" He replied, "The one whose lifespan is long and his actions are good." The other one said, "O Messenger of Allah, the laws of Islam have become too many for me. Command me with something that I can hold onto." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah."  

الزهد لأحمد:١٨٩حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ أَخْبَرَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ يَعْنِي ابْنَ صَالِحٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ قَيْسٍ قَالَ

سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ بُسْرٍ يَقُولُ جَاءَ أَعْرَابِيَّانِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَيُّ النَّاسِ خَيْرٌ؟ قَالَ «مَنْ طَالَ عُمْرُهُ وَحَسُنَ عَمَلُهُ» وَقَالَ الْآخَرُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ شَرَائِعَ الْإِسْلَامِ قَدْ كَثُرَتْ عَلَيَّ فَأْمُرْنِي بِأَمْرٍ أَتَشَبَّثُ بِهِ فَقَالَ يَعْنِي رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ «لَا يَزَالُ لِسَانُكَ رَطْبًا مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ»  

ahmad-zuhd:190ʿAbdullāh from my father > ʿAbd al-Raḥman b. Mahdī > Muʿāwiyah > al-ʿAlāʾ b. al-Ḥārith > Zayd b. Arṭāh > Jubayr b. Nufayr

that the Prophet ﷺ said: "You shall not return to Allah with what is more virtuous than what came from Him." Meaning the Qur'an. (Using translation from Tirmidhī 2912)   

الزهد لأحمد:١٩٠حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنِ الْعَلَاءِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَرْطَاةَ عَنْ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ نُفَيْرٍ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «إِنَّكُمْ لَنْ تَرْجِعُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ ﷻ بِشَيْءٍ أَفْضَلَ مِمَّا خَرَجَ مِنْهُ» يَعْنِي الْقُرْآنَ  

ahmad-zuhd:191ʿAbdullāh from my father > Yaḥyá b. Ghaylān > Rishdīn > Yūnus > Ibn Shihāb > ʿUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb

[Machine] "This Quran is the speech of Allah, so place it in its proper places and do not follow your desires in it."  

الزهد لأحمد:١٩١حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ غَيْلَانَ حَدَّثَنَا رِشْدِينُ حَدَّثَنِي يُونُسُ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ ؓ قَالَ

«إِنَّ هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ كَلَامُ اللَّهِ ﷻ فَضَعُوهُ عَلَى مَوَاضِعِهِ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا فِيهِ أَهْوَاءَكُمْ»  

ahmad-zuhd:192ʿAbdullāh from my father > Jarīr > Manṣūr > Hilāl > Farwah b. Nawfal al-Ashjaʿī

[Machine] I was a neighbor to Khabbab, and one day I left the mosque while he was holding my hand. He said, "O Hanat, draw close to Allah to the best of your ability, for you will never draw closer to Him with anything more beloved to Him than His words."  

الزهد لأحمد:١٩٢حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ عَنْ هِلَالٍ عَنْ فَرْوَةَ بْنِ نَوْفَلٍ الْأَشْجَعِيِّ قَالَ

كُنْتُ جَارًا لِخَبَّابٍ فَخَرَجْتُ يَوْمًا مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ وَهُوَ آخِذٌ بِيَدِي فَقَالَ يَا هَنَاةُ تَقَرَّبْ إِلَى اللَّهِ ﷻ بِمَا اسْتَطَعْتَ؛ فَإِنَّكَ لَنْ تَقَرَّبَ إِلَيْهِ بِشَيْءٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ كَلَامِهِ  

ahmad-zuhd:193ʿAbdullāh from my father > Wakīʿ > ʿAlī b. ʿAlī > al-Ḥasan > Balaghanā

[Machine] That the poor Muslims will enter Paradise before their rich counterparts by forty years, and the others will crawl on their knees, and then their Lord will come to them and say, "You were the rulers and leaders of the people, and you had my need and request." Al-Hasan said, "And by Allah, the account is severe except what Allah has made easy."  

الزهد لأحمد:١٩٣حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ حَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الْحَسَنَ يَقُولُ بَلَغَنَا

أَنَّ فُقَرَاءَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ قَبْلَ أَغْنِيَائِهِمْ بِأَرْبَعِينَ عَامًا وَالْآخَرُونَ جُثَاءٌ عَلَى رُكَبِهِمْ فَيَأْتِيهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ ﷻ فَيَقُولُ أَنْتُمْ كُنْتُمْ حُكَّامَ النَّاسِ وَوُلَاةَ أُمُورِهِمْ فَعِنْدَكُمْ حَاجَتِي وَطِلْبَتِي قَالَ فَقَالَ الْحَسَنُ «فَثَمَّ وَاللَّهِ حِسَابٌ شَدِيدٌ إِلَّا مَا يَسَّرَ اللَّهُ ﷻ»  

ahmad-zuhd:194ʿAbdullāh from my father > Muḥammad b. ʿAbdullāh b. al-Zubayr > ʿImrān / Ibn Zāʾidah b. Nashīṭ from his father > Abū Khālid / al-Wālibī > Abū Hurayrah

“I do not know except that he attributed it to the Prophet ﷺ” – “Allah says: ‘O son of Adam, devote yourself to My worship, and I will fill your heart with contentment and take care of your poverty; but if you do not do that, then I will fill your heart with worldly concerns and will not take care of your poverty.’” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 4107)   

الزهد لأحمد:١٩٤حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ حَدَّثَنَا عِمْرَانُ يَعْنِي ابْنَ زَائِدَةَ بْنِ نَشِيطٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي خَالِدٍ يَعْنِي الْوَالِبِيَّ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ اللَّهُ ﷻ ابْنَ آدَمَ تَفَرَّغْ لِعِبَادَتِي أَمْلَأْ صَدْرَكَ غِنًى وَأَسُدَّ فَقْرَكَ وَإِلَّا تَفْعَلْ مَلَأْتُ صَدْرَكَ شُغْلًا وَلَمْ أَسُدَّ فَقْرَكَ  

ahmad-zuhd:195ʿAbdullāh from my father > ʿAbdullāh b. Yazīd / al-Muqriʾ > Ḥaywah > Abū Hāniʾ > Abū ʿAlī > Faḍālah b. ʿUbayd

'These people are mad' or "possessed." So when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ finished the Salah, he turned to them and said: 'If you knew what was in store for you with Allah then you would love to be increased in poverty and need.'” Fadalah said: “And on that day, I was with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” (Hasan) (Using translation from Tirmidhī 2368)   

الزهد لأحمد:١٩٥حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يَزِيدَ يَعْنِي الْمُقْرِئَ حَدَّثَنَا حَيْوَةُ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو هَانِئٍ أَنَّ أَبَا عَلِيٍّ حَدَّثَهُ

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ فَضَالَةَ بْنَ عُبَيْدٍ يَقُولُ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا [33] صَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ يَخِرُّ رِجَالٌ مِنْ مَقَامِهِمْ فِي الصَّلَاةِ؛ لِمَا بِهِمْ مِنَ الْخَصَاصَةِ وَهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الصُّفَّةِ حَتَّى يَقُولَ الْأَعْرَابُ إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ مَجَانِينُ فَإِذَا قَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الصَّلَاةَ انْصَرَفَ إِلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ «لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ مَا لَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ ﷻ لَأَحْبَبْتُمْ لَوْ أَنَّكُمْ تَزْدَادُونَ حَاجَةً وَفَاقَةً» قَالَ فَضَالَةُ وَأَنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَوْمَئِذٍ  

ahmad-zuhd:196ʿAbdullāh And Jadt Fī Kitāb Abū Bikhaṭ Yadih > Abū Muʿāwiyah al-Ghalābī > a man > Bishr b. Manṣūr > In al-Īmān ʿAfīf > al-Maṭāmiʿ Wa-al-Maṭāʿim ʿAfīf

[Machine] "About the forbidden things"  

الزهد لأحمد:١٩٦حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَجَدْتُ فِي كِتَابِ أَبِي بِخَطِ يَدِهِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ الْغَلَابِيُّ حَدَّثَنِي رَجُلٌ عَنْ بِشْرِ بْنِ مَنْصُورٍ قَالَ «إِنَّ الْإِيمَانَ عَفِيفٌ عَنِ الْمَطَامِعِ وَالْمَطَاعِمَ عَفِيفٌ

عَنِ الْمَحَارِمِ»  

ahmad-zuhd:197ʿAbdullāh

[Machine] Shumayt, may Allah have mercy on him, said, "Indeed, these dinars and dirhams are the calamities of the hypocrites; they are led by them towards evil deeds."  

الزهد لأحمد:١٩٧حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ قَالَ فِي كِتَابِ أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ حَدَّثَنِي رَجُلٌ عَنْ بِشْرِ بْنِ مَنْصُورٍ قَالَ

قَالَ شُمَيْطٌ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ «إِنَّ هَذِهِ الدَّنَانِيرَ وَالدَّرَاهِمَ أَزِمَّةُ الْمُنَافِقِينَ؛ يُقَادُونَ بِهَا إِلَى السَّوْءَاتِ»  

ahmad-zuhd:198ʿAbdullāh > Hārūn b. Muʿāwiyah > Ḍamrah > Saʿīd b. Jubayr > Kān

[Machine] Abdul Rahman ibn Awf wasn't recognized among his slaves.  

الزهد لأحمد:١٩٨حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ حَدَّثَنَا ضَمْرَةُ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ قَالَ

«كَانَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ عَوْفٍ ؓ لَا يُعْرَفُ مِنْ بَيْنِ عَبِيدِهِ»  

ahmad-zuhd:199ʿAbdullāh > Bī > Sayyār > Jaʿfar > al-Muʿallá b. Ziyād

[Machine] I was in a gathering of the Ansar and indeed some of us were not covered from others from nakedness and someone was reciting the Quran to us. So we were listening to the Book of Allah ﷻ when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood among us and sat down. The reciter stopped and the Prophet ﷺ said, "What were you saying?" We said, "O Messenger of Allah, there was someone reciting the Book of Allah to us." The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, while gesturing with his hand and circling it, "Continue with that." The circle reformed. He said, "I have not seen anyone of them whom I recognized except for me." He said, "Rejoice, O people of Sa'ad, you will enter Paradise before the rich by half a day, and that is five hundred years."  

الزهد لأحمد:١٩٩حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أبِي حَدَّثَنَا سَيَّارٌ حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرٌ حَدَّثَنَا الْمُعَلَّى بْنُ زِيَادٍ حَدَّثَنَا الْعَلَاءُ بْنُ بَشِيرٍ الْمُزَنِيُّ وَكَانَ وَاللَّهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ شُجَاعًا عِنْدَ اللِّقَاءِ بَكَّاءً عِنْدَ الذِّكْرِ عَنْ أَبِي الصِّدِّيقِ النَّاجِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ

كُنْتُ فِي حَلْقَةٍ مِنَ الْأَنْصَارِ وَإِنَّ بَعْضَنَا لَيْسَتَتِرُ بِبَعْضٍ مِنَ الْعُرْيِ وَقَارِئٌ لَنَا يَقْرَأُ عَلَيْنَا؛ فَنَحْنُ نَسْمَعُ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ ﷻ إِذْ وَقَفَ عَلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَقَعَدَ فِينَا؛ لِيَعُدَّ نَفْسَهُ مَعَهُمْ فَكَفَّ الْقَارِئُ فَقَالَ «مَا كُنْتُمْ تَقُولُونَ؟» قَالَ قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَانَ قَارِئٌ لَنَا يَقْرَأُ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ ﷻ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِيَدِهِ وَحَلَّقَ بِهَا؛ يُومِئُ إِلَيْهِمْ أَنْ تَحَلَّقُوا فَاسْتَدَارَتِ الْحَلْقَةُ قَالَ فَمَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَرَفَ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا غَيْرِي قَالَ فَقَالَ «أَبْشِرُوا يَا مَعْشَرَ الصَّعَالِيكِ تَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ قَبْلَ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ بِنِصْفِ يَوْمٍ وَذَلِكَ خَمْسُمِائَةِ عَامٍ»  

ahmad-zuhd:200ʿAbdullāh > Bī > Yazīd > Hishām b. Ḥassān > al-Ḥasan

[Machine] I heard al-Hasan say, "By Allah, if Allah grants someone from among the people the worldly possessions, and he does not fear being deceived by them, then this person's knowledge will be diminished, and his insight will be weakened. And if Allah withholds something from a servant and he does not believe that it is good for him, then his knowledge will be diminished and his insight will be weakened."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٠٠حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنِي أبِي حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ أَنْبَأَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ حَسَّانَ قَالَ

سَمِعْتُ الْحَسَنَ يَقُولُ «وَاللَّهِ مَا أَحَدٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ بَسَطَ اللَّهُ ﷻ لَهُ دُنْيَا فَلَمْ يَخَفْ أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدْ مُكِرَ بِهِ فِيهَا إِلَّا كَانَ قَدْ نَقَصَ عِلْمُهُ وَعَجَزَ رَأْيُهُ وَمَا أَمْسَكَهَا اللَّهُ ﷻ عَنْ عَبْدٍ فَلَمْ يَظُنَّ أَنَّهُ قَدْ خِيرَ لَهُ فِيهَا إِلَّا كَانَ قَدْ نَقَصَ عِلْمُهُ وَعَجَزَ رَأْيُهُ»  

ahmad-zuhd:201ʿAbdullāh > Bī > Yazīd > Hishām > al-Ḥasan > And al-Lah Laqad Adrakt Aqwām Law Shāʾ Aḥaduhum > Yaʾkhudh Hadhā al-Māl from Ḥillih Akhadhah

[Machine] "They are told, 'Why don't you come and take your share of this wealth lawfully?' And they say, 'No, we fear that taking it would corrupt our hearts.'"  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٠١حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنِي أبِي حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامٌ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ قَالَ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَدْرَكْتُ أَقْوَامًا لَوْ شَاءَ أَحَدُهُمْ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ هَذَا الْمَالَ مِنْ حِلِّهِ أَخَذَهُ

فَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ أَلَا تَأْتُونَ نَصِيبَكُمْ مِنْ هَذَا الْمَالِ فَتَأْخُذُونَهُ حَلَالًا؟ فَيَقُولُونَ لَا إِنَّا نَخْشَى أَنْ يَكُونَ أَخْذُهُ فَسَادًا لِقُلُوبِنَا  

ahmad-zuhd:202ʿAbdullāh > Bī > ʿAbd al-Wahhāb > Saʿīd > Qatādah > Dhukir Lanā

[Machine] The Prophet ﷺ entered upon the people of Safa, and the poor Muslims were gathered there, patching their clothes with patches of Adam (pieces of fabric). They could not find enough patches, so he said, "Are you better today or is it a day where one of you wakes up in one garment and goes in another, and there is nothing to eat, and you are covered with another garment, and your house is covered as the Ka'bah is covered?" They said, "No, rather we are better that day." So the Prophet ﷺ said, "No, rather you are better today."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٠٢حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنِي أبِي حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَهَّابِ عَنْ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ قَتَادَةَ قَالَ ذُكِرَ لَنَا

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ دَخَلَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الصُّفَّةِ وَكَانَ يَجْتَمِعُ بِهَا فُقَرَاءُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَكَانُوا يَرْقَعُونَ ثِيَابَهُمْ بِآدَمٍ وَلَا يَجِدُونَ رِقَاعًا فَقَالَ «أَنْتُمُ الْيَوْمَ خَيْرٌ أَوْ يَوْمَ يَغْدُو أَحَدُكُمْ فِي حُلَّةٍ وَيَرُوحُ فِي أُخْرَى وَتَغْدُو عَلَيْهِ جَفْنَةٌ وَيُرَاحُ عَلَيْهِ بِأُخْرَى وَيَسْتُرُ بَيْتَهُ كَمَا تُسْتَرُ الْكَعْبَةُ؟» قَالُوا لَا بَلْ نَحْنُ يَوْمَئِذٍ خَيْرٌ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ «لَا بَلْ أَنْتُمُ الْيَوْمَ خَيْرٌ»  

ahmad-zuhd:203ʿAbdullāh > ʿAbdullāh b. Sandal > Ibn al-Mubārak > Jubayr > al-Ḥasan > Abū Hurayrah

[Machine] From the Prophet ﷺ; about what is mentioned from his Lord ﷻ, "O son of Adam, remember Me after Fajr prayer and after Asr prayer, I will suffice you for the time between them."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٠٣حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ سَنْدَلٍ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ عَنْ جُبَيْرٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ؛ فِيمَا يَذْكُرُ عَنْ رَبِّهِ ﷻ «ابْنَ آدَمَ اذْكُرْنِي بَعْدَ الْفَجْرِ وَبَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ سَاعَةً أَكْفِيكَ مَا بَيْنَهُمَا»  

ahmad-zuhd:204ʿAbdullāh > Bī > Muḥammad b. Abū ʿAdī > Ḥumayd > Anas

"The Messenger of Allah had a she-camel called Al-'Adba' which could not be beaten. One day a Bedouin came on a riding-camel and beat her (in a race). The Muslims were upset by that, and when he saw the expressions on their faces they said: 'O Messenger of Allah, Al-'Adba' has been beaten.' He said: 'It is a right upon Allah that nothing is raised in this world except He lowers it.'" (Using translation from Nasāʾī 3588)   

الزهد لأحمد:٢٠٤حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنِي أبِي حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ عَنْ حُمَيْدٍ عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ

كَانَتْ نَاقَةٌ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ تُسَمَّى الْعَضْبَاءَ وَكَانَتْ لَا تُسْبَقُ فَجَاءَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ عَلَى قَعُودٍ فَسَبَقَهَا فَشَقَّ ذَلِكَ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَلَمَّا رَأَى مَا فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ سُبِقَتِ الْعَضْبَاءُ فَقَالَ «إِنَّ حَقًّا عَلَى اللَّهِ ﷻ أَنْ لَا يَرْفَعَ شَيْئًا مِنَ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا وَضَعَهُ»  

ahmad-zuhd:205ʿAbdullāh > Bī > Wahbb. Jarīr from my father > Yaʿlá b. Ḥakīm > Sulaymān b. Abū ʿAbdullāh > Kān

[Machine] Abu Umamah, the companion of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , had prepared his provisions for his journey. He said, "I heard Ibn Umar say, 'Whoever wishes to see a man performing Hajj, let him look at Abu Umamah.'" So we said to him, "Are we not performing Hajj?" He replied, "You claim to be performing Hajj."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٠٥حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ أَخْبَرَنِي أبِي حَدَّثَنَا وَهْبُ بْنُ جَرِيرٍ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي قَالَ سَمِعْتُ يَعْلَى بْنَ حَكِيمٍ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ

كَانَ أَبُو أُمَامَةَ صَاحِبُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَدْ أَحْقَبَ زَادَهُ خَلْفَهُ عَلَى رَحْلِهِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ يَقُولُ «مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَنْظُرَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ حَاجٍّ فَلْيَنْظُرْ إِلَى أَبِي أُمَامَةَ ؓ » فَقُلْنَا لَهُ «أَوَمَا نَحْنُ حُجَّاجٌ؟» فَقَالَ «إِنَّكُمْ لَتَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّكُمْ حُجَّاجٌ»  

ahmad-zuhd:206ʿAbdullāh > ʿAbbās b. al-Walīd al-Narsī And Muḥammad b. Bakkār > ʿAbdullāh b. al-Mubārak > Abū Bakr b. Abū Maryam > Ḍamrah b. Ḥabīb > Shaddād b. Aws

“The wise man is the one who takes account of himself and strives for that which is after death. And the helpless man is the one who follows his own whims then indulges in wishful thinking about Allah.” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 4260)   

الزهد لأحمد:٢٠٦حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبَّاسُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ النَّرْسِيُّ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَكَّارٍ جَمِيعًا قَالَا حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ أَبِي مَرْيَمَ عَنْ ضَمْرَةَ بْنِ حَبِيبٍ عَنْ شَدَّادِ بْنِ أَوْسٍ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «الْكَيِّسُ مَنْ دَانَ نَفْسَهُ وَعَمِلَ لِمَا بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ وَالْعَاجِزُ مَنْ أَتْبَعَ نَفْسَهُ هَوَاهَا وَتَمَنَّى عَلَى اللَّهِ ﷻ»  

ahmad-zuhd:207ʿAbdullāh > Bī > Yazīd > Abū al-Ashhab > Saʿīd b. Ayman a freed slave of Kaʿb b. Sawwār

[Machine] While the Prophet ﷺ was talking to his companions, a poor man came and sat next to a rich man. It seemed that he took something from his garments without him noticing. The Prophet ﷺ's expression changed, so he said, "I feared, O so-and-so, that your wealth would tempt him, and his poverty would tempt him towards you." The man asked, "O Messenger of Allah, is wealth evil?" He said, "Yes, indeed, for your wealth may invite you to the Hellfire, and his poverty may invite him to Paradise." The man asked, "So how can I be saved from it?" The Prophet ﷺ said, "Console him." The man replied, "In that case, I will do so," while the other man said, "I have no need for it." The Prophet ﷺ then said, "Then seek forgiveness for him and supplicate for your brother."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٠٧حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أبِي حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْأَشْهَبِ حَدَّثَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَيْمَنَ مَوْلَى كَعْبِ بْنِ سَوَّارٍ قَالَ

بَيْنَمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُحَدِّثُ أَصْحَابَهُ إِذْ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ الْفُقَرَاءِ فَجَلَسَ إِلَى جَنْبِ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ فَكَأَنَّهُ قَبَضَ مِنْ ثِيَابِهِ عَنْهُ فَتَغَيَّرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «أَخَشِيتَ يَا فُلَانُ أَنْ يَعْدُوَ غِنَاكَ عَلَيْهِ وَأَنْ يَعْدُوَ فَقْرَهُ عَلَيْكَ؟» قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَشَرٌّ الْغِنَى؟ قَالَ «نَعَمْ إِنَّ غِنَاكَ يَدْعُوكَ إِلَى النَّارِ وَإِنَّ فَقْرَهُ يَدْعُوهُ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ» فَقَالَ فَمَا يُنْجِينِي مِنْهُ؟ قَالَ «تُوَاسِيهِ» قَالَ إِذًا أَفْعَلُ فَقَالَ الْآخَرُ لَا إِرَبَ لِي فِيهِ قَالَ «فَاسْتَغْفِرْ وَادْعُ لَأَخِيكَ»  

ahmad-zuhd:208ʿAbdullāh > Bī > ʿAbd al-Ṣamad > al-Mustamir b. al-Rayyān al-Iyādī 35 > Abū Naḍrah al-ʿAbdī > Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī

[Machine] That the Messenger of Allah ﷺ mentioned the worldly life, saying: "Verily, the worldly life is green and sweet, so be cautious of it and be cautious of women."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٠٨حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أبِي أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ حَدَّثَنَا الْمُسْتَمِرُّ بْنُ الرَّيَّانِ الْإِيَادِيُّ [35] حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نَضْرَةَ الْعَبْدِيُّ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ ذَكَرَ الدُّنْيَا فَقَالَ «إِنَّ الدُّنْيَا خَضِرَةٌ حُلْوَةٌ فَاتَّقُوهَا وَاتَّقُوا النِّسَاءَ»  

ahmad-zuhd:209ʿAbdullāh > Bī > ʿAbdullāh b. Yazīd > Saʿīd b. Abū Ayyūb > Abū Marḥūm ʿAbd al-Raḥīm b. Maymūn > Sahl b. Muʿādh b. Anas al-Juhanī from his father

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Whoever leaves wearing clothes that he is capable of wearing out of humility for Allah, Allah will call him on the Day of Resurrection at the heads of all creation until He allows him to choose from the adornments of faith which one he wishes to wear."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٠٩حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أبِي حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يَزِيدَ حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو مَرْحُومٍ عَبْدُ الرَّحِيمِ بْنُ مَيْمُونٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ مُعَاذِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ الْجُهَنِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «مَنْ تَرَكَ اللِّبَاسَ وَهُوَ يَقْدِرُ عَلَيْهِ تَوَاضُعًا لِلَّهِ ﷻ دَعَاهُ اللَّهُ ﷻ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ عَلَى رُءُوسِ الْخَلَائِقِ حَتَّى يُخَيِّرَهُ مِنْ حُلَلِ الْإِيمَانِ يَلْبَسُ أَيَّهَا شَاءَ»  

ahmad-zuhd:210ʿAbdullāh > Bī > ʿAbd al-Ṣamad > ʿUmārah b. Hishām Ṣāḥib al-Zaʿfarānī > Anas b. Mālik

[Machine] That Fatimah, peace be upon her, gave the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , a morsel of barley bread and he said, "This is the first meal your father has eaten in three days."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢١٠حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ أَخْبَرَنِي أبِي حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ حَدَّثَنَا عُمَارَةُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ صَاحِبُ الزَّعْفَرَانِيِّ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ

أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ عَلَيْهَا السَّلَامُ نَاوَلَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كِسْرَةً مِنْ خُبْزِ شَعِيرٍ فَقَالَ «هَذَا أَوَّلُ طَعَامٍ أَكَلَهُ أَبُوكِ مُنْذُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ»  

ahmad-zuhd:211ʿAbdullāh > Bī > Yazīd b. Hārūn > Muḥammad b. Rāshid > Makḥūl > a man > Abū Hurayrah

[Machine] "I have never sat with anyone who sought forgiveness more than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ," the man said. "And I have never sat with anyone who sought forgiveness more than Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢١١حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أبِي حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ أَنْبَأَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَاشِدٍ عَنْ مَكْحُولٍ عَنْ رَجُلٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ

«مَا جَلَسْتُ إِلَى أَحَدٍ أَكْثَرَ اسْتِغْفَارًا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ» قَالَ الرَّجُلُ وَمَا جَلَسْتُ إِلَى أَحَدٍ أَكْثَرَ اسْتِغْفَارًا مِنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ  

ahmad-zuhd:212ʿAbdullāh > Bī > Yazīd > Ḥammād b. Salamah > ʿAlī b. Zayd > Abū ʿUthmān al-Nahdī > ʿĀʾishah

the Prophet (saas) used to say: "Allahum-maj'alni minal-ladhina idha ahsanu istabsharu, wa idha asa'u istaghfaru (O Allah, make me one of those who, if they do good deeds, they rejoice, and if they do bad deeds, they seek forgiveness)." (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 3820)  

الزهد لأحمد:٢١٢حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أبِي حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ أَنْبَأَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ النَّهْدِيِّ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ؓ قَالَتْ

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ «اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَحْسَنُوا اسْتَبْشَرُوا وَإِذَا أَسَاءُوا اسْتَغْفَرُوا»  

ahmad-zuhd:213ʿAbdullāh > Bī > Yaḥyá > Shuʿbah > ʿAmr b. Murrah > Abū Burdah > al-Aghar a man from Juhaynah > Ibn ʿUmar

[Machine] "He heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, 'O people, repent to your Lord, for indeed I repent to Him a hundred times a day.'"  

الزهد لأحمد:٢١٣حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أبِي حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى عَنْ شُعْبَةَ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا بُرْدَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الْأَغَرَّ رَجُلًا مِنْ جُهَيْنَةَ يُحَدِّثُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ «يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ تُوبُوا إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ فَإِنِّي أَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ فِي الْيَوْمِ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ»