[Machine] Amir ibn Abdul Qais said, "I don't care if I smell your fragrance or the scent of rubbish, or if I see a woman or a wall."  

قَالَ عَامِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ قَيْسٍ مَا أُبَالِي شَمَمْتُ مِسْكَكُمْ هَذَا أَوْ شَمَمْتُ رَوْثَةً أَوْ رَأَيْتُ امْرَأَةً أَوْ رَأَيْتُ جِدَارًا  

[Machine] "To propose to whomever he wished and exempt him from the treasury." He said, "So he sent me a message that the Commander of the Faithful had written to me, wishing to grant you permission and honor you." He said, "Amir Fulan is more in need of that than me." He said, "He means a man who had been quarreling with them for a long time without being given permission. He commanded me to instruct you to propose to whomever you wished and exempt you from the treasury." He said, "I am constantly proposing." He said, "To whom?" He said, "To whoever accepts a silver coin and a date." Then he approached his sitting companions and said, "I ask you, tell me, is there anyone among you who does not have a branch from his heart for his family?" They said, "O Allah, no, indeed." He said, "Then is there anyone among you who does not have a branch from his heart for his children?" They said, "O Allah, no, indeed." He said, "By the One in whose hand is my soul, that the teeth differ in my jaws is dearer to me than to be like this. By Allah, I will make sorrow into one sorrow." Al-Hasan said, "So he did."  

أَنْ يَخْطُبَ إِلَى مَنْ شَاءَ فَأَمْهِرْ عَنْهُ مِنْ بَيْتِ الْمَالِ قَالَ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَدْ كَتَبَ إِلَيَّ أَنْ أُحْسِنَ إِذْنَكَ وَأُكْرِمَكَ قَالَ يَقُولُ عَامِرٌ فُلَانٌ أَحْوَجُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ مِنِّي قَالَ يَعْنِي رَجُلًا كَانَ قَدْ أَطَالَ الِاخْتِلَافَ إِلَيْهِمْ لَا يُؤْذَنُ لَهُ وَأَمَرَنِي أَنْ آمُرَكَ أَنْ تَخْطُبَ إِلَى مَنْ شِئْتَ وَأُمْهِرَ عَنْكَ مِنْ بَيْتِ الْمَالِ قَالَ أَنَا فِي الْخِطْبَةِ دَائِبٌ قَالَ إِلَى مَنْ؟ قَالَ إِلَى مَنْ يَقْبَلُ الْفُلْقَةَ وَالتَّمْرَةَ قَالَ ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَى جُلَسَائِهِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي سَائِلُكُمْ فَأَخْبَرُونِي هَلْ مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا لِأَهْلِهِ مِنْ قَلْبِهِ شُعْبَةٌ؟ قَالُوا اللَّهُمَّ لَا أَيْ بَلَى قَالَ فَهَلْ مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا لِوَلَدِهِ مِنْ قَلْبِهِ شُعْبَةٌ؟ قَالُوا اللَّهُمَّ لَا أَيْ بَلَى قَالَ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَأَنْ تَخْتَلِفَ الْأَسِنَّةُ فِي جَوَانِحِي أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أَكُونَ هَكَذَا أَمَا وَاللَّهِ لَأَجْعَلَنَّ الْهَمَّ هَمًّا وَاحِدًا قَالَ الْحَسَنُ فَفَعَلَ  

[Machine] "For my part, I will never perish, as I have devoted myself to worshiping Allah ﷻ and exerted a great effort. If I were to perish after putting in so much effort, it would be a valid excuse for myself in my own eyes."  

عَنْ نَفْسِي بِهَلَاكِهَا أَبَدًا لَعَبَدْتُ اللَّهَ ﷻ عِبَادَةً وَاجْتَهَدْتُ اجْتِهَادًا أَكُونُ قَدْ هَلَكْتُ بَعْدَ اجْتِهَادٍ مِنِّي فَيَكُونُ أَعْذَرَ لِنَفْسِي عِنْدِي  

[Machine] I am sorry for anything except for the winter season and the thirst of migrants.  

مَا آسَى عَلَى شَيْءٍ إِلَّا عَلَى قِيَامِ الشِّتَاءِ وَظَمَأِ الْهَوَاجِرِ  

[Machine] So I didn't see him sleep during the day or at night until I left him, and he had two loaves of bread which he placed a cloth over. He would have Suhoor with one and break his fast with the other. And when morning came, he would teach us the Quran until it was time for prayer, then he would stand and pray. He would continue praying until the afternoon. He said, "Then he would teach us the Quran again, and when he prayed Maghrib, he said, 'Now it is his night until morning comes.'  

فَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ نَامَ بِلَيْلٍ وَلَا نَهَارٍ حَتَّى فَارَقْتُهُ وَكَانَ لَهُ رَغِيفَانِ قَدْ جَعَلَ عَلَيْهِمَا وَدَكًا فَيَتَسَحَّرُ بِوَاحِدٍ وَيُفْطِرُ بِآخَرَ وَكَانَ إِذَا أَصْبَحَ عَلَّمَنَا الْقُرْآنَ حَتَّى إِذَا أَمْكَنَتْهُ الصَّلَاةُ قَامَ فَصَلَّى فَلَا يَزَالُ يُصَلِّي حَتَّى الْعَصْرِ قَالَ ثُمَّ يُعَلِّمُنَا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِذَا صَلَّى الْمَغْرِبَ قَالَ فَهِيَ لَيْلَتُهُ حَتَّى يُصْبِحَ  

[Machine] "They say this, and they say that, about the one they mentioned. So, he did not speak to them until he left and mounted his animal and came to 'Amir while he was in his house. There he found him sitting in his mosque, with a cloak over him. So, he came and sat next to him, and Ma'qil said to him, 'I have come to you from those people, and they have told me something about you.' 'Ammar said, 'I thought that he was going to say something that would startle me. But 'Amr asked, 'And what did they tell you?' He said, 'They claim that you do this and you do that.' Then 'Amr did not say a word to him until he took his hand out from his cloak, and grabbed hold of his hand, then he said, 'As for their saying that I do not eat meat, they buy meat from sheep that do not understand Islam, then they slaughter it. But when I desire meat, we send for a sheep, then we slaughter it. As for their saying that I do not eat fat, I eat fat that comes from the land of the Arabs. But as for the fat that comes from the land of the non-Arabs (Turks/Persians), I do not know what it is mixed with, and that is something that makes me refrain from it. As for their saying that I do not approach women, by Allah, I do not have the energy for that, and I do not have any wealth that would make a Muslim woman notice me, such that she would come to me. As for their saying that I do not go to the mosques, I am in my mosque right now. When it is the day of Jumu'ah, I go and pray in the congregation of the Muslims, then I come back to my mosque. And as for their saying that they claim that he is better than Ibrahim, I do not feel that anyone is foolish enough to say such a thing.'"  

يَقُولُونَ كَذَا وَيَقُولُونَ كَذَا لِلَّذِي قَالُوا فَمَا كَلَّمَهُمْ مَعْقِلٌ حَتَّى خَرَجَ فَرَكِبَ دَابَّتَهُ فَأَتَى عَامِرًا وَهُوَ فِي دَارِهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ قَاعِدٌ فِي مَسْجِدِهِ وَعَلَيْهِ بُرْنُسٌ فَجَاءَ فَجَلَسَ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَعْقِلٌ أَتَيْتُكَ مِنْ عِنْدِ هَؤُلَاءِ وَإِنَّهُمْ حَدَّثُونِي عَنْكَ حَدِيثًا قَالَ حَسِبْتُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ فَأَفْزَعَنِي فَقَالَ عَامِرٌ وَمَا حَدَّثُوكَ؟ قَالَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّكَ تَفْعَلُ كَذَا وَتَفْعَلُ كَذَا لِلَّذِي ذَكَرُوا قَالَ فَمَا كَلَّمَهُ عَامِرٌ بِكَلِمَةٍ حَتَّى أَخْرَجَ يَدَهُ مِنْ بُرْنُسِهِ فَقَبَضَ عَلَى يَدِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَّا قَوْلُهُمْ لَا يَأْكُلُ اللَّحْمَ فَإِنَّهُمْ يَشْتَرُونَ الْعِلْجَ مِنَ السَّبِيِّ الَّذِي لَا يَفْقَهُ الْإِسْلَامَ فَيُذْبَحُ وَأَنَا إِذَا اشْتَهَيْتُ اللَّحْمَ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلَى شَاةٍ فَذَبَحْنَاهَا وَأَمَّا قَوْلُهُمْ لَا يَأْكُلُ السَّمْنَ فَإِنَّى آكُلُ السَّمْنَ الَّذِي يَجِيءُ مِنْ أَرْضِ الْعَرَبِ وَأَمَّا الَّذِي يَجِيءُ مِنْ أَرْضِ الْعَجَمِ فَإِنِّي لَا أَدْرِي مَا يُخَالِطُهُ فَذَلِكَ الَّذِي يَحْمِلُنِي عَلَى تَرْكِهِ وَأَمَّا قَوْلُهُمْ لَا يَقْرَبُ النِّسَاءَ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا بِي إِلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ نَشَاطٍ وَمَا عِنْدِي مَالٌ فَبِأَيِّ شَيْءٍ أَغُرُّ امْرَأَةً مُسْلِمَةً مَا أَجِيءُ بِهَا إِلَيَّ وَأَمَّا قَوْلُهُمْ لَا يَقْرَبُ الْمَسَاجِدَ فَإِنِّي فِي مَسْجِدِي هَذَا فَإِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ ذَهَبْتُ فَصَلَّيْتُ فِي جَمَاعَةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ ثُمَّ رَجَعْتُ إِلَى مَسْجِدِي هَذَا وَقَوْلُهُمْ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فَإِنِّي لَا أَشْعُرُ أَنَّ أَحَدًا يَتَجَرَّى أَنْ يَقُولَ هَذَا  

[Machine] "So I prayed and sat behind him, and when it was late at night or early in the morning, he said, 'O Allah, I have asked You for three things, and You have given me two and withheld one. O Allah, grant me that one so that I may worship You as I love or as I desire.' Then when the dawn broke, he turned and saw me and said, 'You have been here since last night? And you have kept watch over me.' I said, 'Leave this matter alone, for by Allah, you must tell me about these three things or I will inform others about what you have done.' He said, 'Keep it to yourself.' I then made a promise to him not to inform anyone until he died. He said, 'I asked Allah to remove the love of women from my heart, and by Allah, I do not care about any woman I see or any wall. And I asked that I not fear anything other than Him, and I asked Him to remove sleep from me so that I may worship Him day and night as I wish, and He withheld these from me.'"  

فَصَلَّى وَجَلَسْتُ خَلْفَهُ فَلَمَّا كَانَ مِنْ آخِرِ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ فِي السَّحَرِ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي سَأَلْتُكَ ثَلَاثًا فَأَعْطَيْتَنِي اثْنَتَيْنِ وَمَنَعْتَنِي وَاحِدَةً اللَّهُمَّ فَأَعْطِنِيهَا حَتَّى أَعْبُدَكَ كَمَا أُحِبُّ أَوْ كَمَا أُرِيدُ قَالَ فَلَمَّا بَرَقَ الْفَجْرُ الْتَفَتَ فَرَآنِي فَقَالَ فَإِنَّكَ مُنْذُ اللَّيْلَةِ هَا هُنَا وَإِنَّكَ لَتُرَاعِينِي قَالَ وَأَقْبَلَ عَلَيَّ فَشَقَدَ لِسَانَهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ دَعْ هَذَا فَوَاللَّهِ لَتُخْبِرَنِّي بِهَذِهِ الثَّلَاثِ أَوْ لَأُخْبِرَنَّ بِمَا صَنَعْتَ قَالَ فَاكْتُمْ عَلَيَّ قَالَ فَجَعَلْتُ لَهُ عَلَى أَنْ لا أُخْبِرَ بِها أحَدًا حَتّى يَمُوتَ قالَ: سَألْتُ اللَّهَ أنْ يُذْهِبَ حُبَّ النِّساءِ مِن قَلْبِي فَواللَّهِ ما أُبالِي امْرَأةً رَأيْتُ أوْ حائِطًا، وسَألْتُ أنْ لا أخافَ شَيْئًا غَيْرَهُ، وسَألْتُهُ أنْ يُذْهِبَ عَنِّي النَّوْمَ حَتّى أعْبُدَهُ فِي اللَّيْلِ والنَّهارِ كَما أشاءُ فَمَنَعَنِيها  

[Machine] "Oh daughter of my brother, isn't this mine and I can do whatever I want with it?" She said, "Yes," so he gave it to the beggar. The servant girl became distressed. He said, "Bring me dates and an axe." So she brought them and he ate and drank from them. Then he said, "Oh daughter of my brother, this stomach is merely a container, and whatever you fill it with will eventually deplete, but the reward for what you give will remain for you."  

يَا ابْنَةَ أَخِي أَلَيْسَ هَذَا لِي وَأَصْنَعُ بِهِ مَا شِئْتُ؟ قَالَتْ بَلَى فَأَعْطَاهُ لِلسَّائِلِ قَالَ فَتَضَرَّرَتِ الْجَارِيَةُ قَالَ قَالَ هَاتِي هَاتِي قَالَ فَجَاءَتْ بِتَمْرٍ وَفَلَقٍ فَأَكَلَ وَشَرِبَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْمَاءِ قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا ابْنَةَ أَخِي إِنَّمَا هَذَا الْبَطْنُ وِعَاءٌ وَمَا حَشَوْتِيهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ احْتَشَى وَيَبْقَى لَكِ ذُخْرُ مَا قَدَّمْتِ  

[Machine] Regarding your family and your tribe, you know about them and yet you did not ask me about those who died from among them and those who are still alive. You know about my whereabouts among them, and you asked me a question about a man whom you made a promise to yesterday, but you did not mention me during dinner. As for your statement about me being good in my questioning of you, I have seen that you are righteous. Therefore, I shall not ask you any further about myself, my family, or my tribe. Whoever among them has died, has died, and whoever has not died, shall die. As for your statement that I did not join you for dinner, I have made an agreement with you that you would eat the food of rulership, while my food contains humility. I did not think that you had any need for it.  

عَنْ أَهْلِكَ وَعَشِيرَتِكَ مِنْ حَيْثُ تَعْلَمُ فَلَمْ تَسْأَلْنِي عَمَّنْ مَاتَ مِنْهُمْ وَمَنْ عَاشَ وَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَكَانِي مِنْهُمْ وَسَأَلْتَنِي مُسَاءَلَةَ رَجُلٍ عَهْدُكَ بِهِ بِالْأَمْسِ وَلَمْ تُسَمِّنِي الْعَشَاءَ أَمَّا قَوْلُكَ فِي مُسَاءَلَتِي إِيَّاكَ فَقَدْ رَأَيْتُكَ صَالِحًا فَعَمَّا أَسْأَلُكَ وَأَمَّا عَشِيرَتِي وَأَهْلِي فَمَا أَسْأَلُ عَنْهُمْ فَمَنْ مَاتَ مِنْهُمْ فَقَدْ مَاتَ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَمُتْ فَسَيَمُوتُ وَأَمَّا قَوْلُكَ فَإِنِّي لَمْ أُسَمِّكَ الْعَشَاءَ فَقَدْ عَهِدْتُكَ تَأْكُلُ طَعَامَ الْأُمَرَاءِ وَطَعَامِي فِيهِ خُشُونَةٌ وَلَمْ أَظُنَّ أَنَّ بِكَ حَاجَةً إِلَيْهِ  

[Machine] I heard Abu Sakhr say: It was said to Aamir, "Are you satisfied with your honor and your status? And do you consider this house and this clothing sufficient for you?" He said, "Indeed, Allah has made Aamir's greatest pleasure in this".  

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا صَخْرَةَ يَقُولُ قِيلَ لِعَامِرٍ رَضِيتَ فِي شَرَفِكَ وَحَسَبِكَ بَيْتَكَ هَذَا وَهَذَا لِبَاسُكَ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ ﷻ جَعَلَ قُرَّةَ عَيْنِ عَامِرٍ فِي هَذَا  

[Machine] By yourselves, I swear by Allah, if I am able, I will surely make the worry a single worry." Al-Hasan said, so he did; may Allah have mercy on him.  

عَنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَمَا وَاللَّهِ لَئِنِ اسْتَطَعْتُ لَأَجْعَلَنَّ الْهَمَّ هَمًّا وَاحِدًا قَالَ الْحَسَنُ فَفَعَلَ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ  

[Machine] "O people of Basra, write for me the names of five men from the readers whom I will consult in my matter and inform them of my secret. I seek their assistance in what Allah has entrusted me with." He said, "So Ziyad bin Matir Al-Adawi was written for him, and his eyesight had been affected until he lost his sight. Ghazwan from the tribe of Bani Raqash was also written for him, and he had sworn not to laugh until he knows where Allah wills for him to end up." Al-Hasan said, "By Allah, he did not laugh until he joined Allah." Jabir bin Ashtar from the tribe of Ghatafan was written for him. Abdullah said, "My father said other than Husayn said," Ashtar bin Jabir was written for him." Amir bin Abd Qais al-Anbari was written for him, and Nu'man bin Shawwal al-Abdi was written for him. When they entered upon him, he said, "You are the readers whom I have ordered for you two thousand and so on." Nu'man bin Shawwal answered him, and he was one of the most intelligent among the people and the answer they responded with. He had been entrusted with their affairs, so he said to him, "O Amir, are we special or are we for the people of Basra in general?" He said, "Rather, you are special, and this wealth does not suffice for the people of Basra." He said, "So you say what we say as charity, for if it is charity, it will not enter our stomachs nor elevate our skins. Rather, the worker takes the price of his work, and we work for our Lord. So we have no need for what you have." Ibn Amir said to him, "Do you not see yourself as harmful? Leave from me." He said, "Have you not entrusted me with the princes as a visitor?" He then turned to Amir and said, "I have ordered for you two thousand and so on." He said, "Look at the scribes who are at the doors of the mosque; they are more in need of it than me." He said, "I have ordered that I not be prevented from a door." He said, "You should go to Sa'id bin Qurhah; he is more suitable for the princes than me." He said, "Look for any woman you want in Basra, and I will marry her, and he had never been married before." He said, "O Amir, have you not seen a man who has a wife and children that occupy his heart?" He said, "Yes." He said, "So I have no need for it. Make one concern my only concern until I meet my Lord."  

يَا أَهْلَ الْبَصْرَةِ اكْتُبُوا لِي مِنْ كُلِّ خَمْسَةٍ رَجُلًا مِنَ الْقُرَّاءِ أُشَاوِرُهُمْ فِي أمْرِي وأُطْلِعُهُمْ عَلى سِرِّيَ وأسْتَعِينُ بِهِمْ عَلى ما ولّانِيَ اللَّهُ ﷿، قالَ: فَكُتِبَ لَهُ زِيادُ بْنُ مَطَرٍ العَدَوِيُّ، وكانَ قَدْ بُلِيَ حَتّى ذَهَبَ بَصَرُهُ وكُتِبَ لَهُ غَزْوانُ مِن بَنِي رَقاشٍ، وكانَ قَدْ حَلَفَ أنْ لا يَضْحَكَ حَتّى يَعْلَمَ حَيْثُ يُصَيِّرُهُ اللَّهُ ﷿ قالَ: قالَ الحَسَنُ: واللَّهِ ما ضَحِكَ حَتّى لَحِقَ بِاللَّهِ، وكُتِبَ لَهُ جابِرُ بْنُ أشْتَرَ مِن غَطَفانَ، قالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ: قالَ أبِي غَيْرَ حُسَيْنٍ قالَ: أشْتَرُ بْنُ جابِرٍ، وكُتِبَ لَهُ عامِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ قَيْسٍ العَنْبَرِيُّ، وكُتِبَ لَهُ النُّعْمانُ بْنُ شَوّالٍ العَبْدِيُّ، فَلَمّا دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ قالَ: أنْتُمُ القُرّاءُ قَدْ أمَرْتُ لَكُمْ بِألْفَيْنِ ألْفَيْنِ وكَذا وكَذا جَرِيبٍ فَأجابَهُ النُّعْمانُ بْنُ شَوّالٍ، وكانَ مِن أسَنِّ القَوْمِ وخَلَّوهُ والجَوابَ، وكانَ قَدْ ولَّوْهُ أمْرَهُمْ فَقالَ لَهُ: أيُّها الأمِيرُ ألَنا خاصَّةً أمْ لِأهْلِ البَصْرَةِ عامَّةً قالَ: بَلْ لَكُمْ خاصَّةً ولا يَسَعُ هَذا المالُ أهْلَ البَصْرَةِ قالَ: فَتَقُولُ ما نَقُولُ صَدَقَةً فَإنْ كانَ صَدَقَةً فَلا يَدْخُلُ لَنا بُطُونًا ولا يَعْلُو لَنا جُلُودًا وإنَّما يَأْخُذُ العامِلُ ثَمَنَ عَمَلِهِ وإنَّما نَعْمَلُ لِرَبِّنا ﷿ فَلا حاجَةَ لَنا فِيما عِنْدَكَ، فَقالَ لَهُ ابْنُ عامِرٍ: ألا أراكَ طَعّانًا، اخْرُجْ مِن عِنْدِي قالَ: أما إنَّكَ ما عَهِدْتَنِي لِلْأُمَراءِ زَوّارًا قالَ: ثُمَّ أقْبَلَ إلى عامِرٍ فَقالَ: قَدْ أمَرْتُ لَكَ بِألْفَيْنِ وكَذا وكَذا جَرِيبٍ قالَ: انْظُرِ المُكاتَبِينَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلى أبْوابِ المَسْجِدِ هُمْ أفْقَرُ إلَيْها مِنِّي قالَ: إنِّي قَدْ أمَرْتُ أنْ لا تُحْجَبَ لِي عَنْ بابٍ قالَ: عَلَيْكَ بِسَعِيدِ بْنِ قَرْحى هُوَ أغْشى لِلْأُمَراءِ مِنِّي قالَ: انْظُرْ أيَّ امْرَأةٍ شِئْتَ بِالبَصْرَةِ أُزَوِّجْكَها، ولَمْ يَكُنْ تَزَوَّجَ قَطُّ قالَ: أيُّها الأمِيرُ أرَأيْتَ الرَّجُلَ إذا كانَ لَهُ امْرَأةٌ ووَلَدٌ يَشْغَلُ ذَلِكَ قَلْبَهُ؟ قالَ: نَعَمْ قالَ: فَلا حاجَةَ لِي فِيهِ، أجْعَلُ الهَمَّ هَمًّا واحِدًا حَتّى ألْقى رَبِّي ﷻ  

[Machine] And he was the last to enter the mosque and the first to leave it.  

وَكَانَ آخِرَ مَنْ يَدْخُلُ الْمَسْجِدَ وَأَوَّلَ مَنْ يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ  

[Machine] "That this may be in my prayer."  

أَنْ يَكُونَ هَذَا فِي صَلَاتِي  

[Machine] About Himself, but obey Allah and then call upon Him, He will respond to you.  

عَنْ نَفْسِهِ وَلَكِنْ أَطِعِ اللَّهَ ثُمَّ ادْعُهُ يَسْتَجِبْ لَكَ  

[Machine] "That they see him praying."  

أَنْ يَرَوْنَهُ يُصَلِّي  

[Machine] Indeed, I have found the livelihood of people in four things: women, food, clothing, and sleep. As for clothing, by Allah, I do not care about what I have not seen through it my nakedness. And as for women, by Allah, I do not care about any woman I have seen, even if it were a wall. And as for sleep and food, they have overwhelmed me, except that I was afflicted by them. By Allah, they will certainly harm my efforts. Al-Hasan said: By Allah, his efforts were indeed harmed by them until he died, may Allah have mercy on him.  

إِنِّي وَجَدْتُ عَيْشَ النَّاسِ فِي أَرْبَعٍ فِي النِّسَاءِ وَالطَّعَامِ وَاللِّبَاسِ وَالنَّوْمِ فَأَمَّا اللِّبَاسُ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا أُبَالِي مَا وَارَيْتُ بِهِ عَوْرَتِي وَأَمَّا النِّسَاءُ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا أُبَالِي امْرَأَةً رَأَيْتُ أَوْ جِدَارًا وَأَمَّا النَّوْمُ وَالطَّعَامُ فَقَدْ غَلَبَانِي إِلَّا أَنْ أُصِيبَ مِنْهُمَا فَوَاللَّهِ لَأُضُرَّنَّ بِهَا جَهْدِي قَالَ الْحَسَنُ فَأَضَرَّ وَاللَّهِ بِهِمَا جَهْدَهُ حَتَّى مَاتَ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ  

[Machine] Some people would come and recite to him until the sun rises and the prayer becomes possible for him. He would then stand to pray until midday, then return to his house. It would be said, and he would return to the mosque when the sun sets and pray until he prays Dhuhr. Then he would pray until he prays Asr, and when he prays Asr, he would move to the side of the mosque and say "Who would recite?" It would be said, and they would come and recite to him until the sun sets. He would then pray Maghrib, and then he would pray the final Isha prayer. Then he would return to his house and eat two loaves of bread, then he would take a short nap and then he would wake up. When it was the time of Sahar, he would eat his other loaf of bread and drink a sip of water. Then he would go out to the mosque. Khalaf said, and one of our companions told us that Mansour bin Zadhan used to do all of this, and he would excel especially, not spending every night until his turban was soaked with his tears, then he would put it  

فَيَأْتِي قَوْمٌ فَيُقْرِئُهُمْ حَتَّى إِذَا طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَأَمْكَنَتِ الصَّلَاةُ قَامَ يُصَلِّي إِلَى أَنْ يَنْتَصِفَ النَّهَارُ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ فَيَقِيلُ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ إِذَا زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَيُصَلِّي حَتَّى يُصَلِّيَ الظُّهْرَ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي حَتَّى يُصَلِّيَ الْعَصْرَ فَإِذَا صَلَّى الْعَصْرَ تَنَحَّى فِي نَاحِيَةِ الْمَسْجِدِ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ مَنْ أُقْرِئُهُ؟ قَالَ فَيَأْتِيهِ قَوْمٌ فَيُقْرِئُهُمْ حَتَّى إِذَا غَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ صَلَّى الْمَغْرِبَ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي حَتَّى يُصَلِّيَ الْعِشَاءَ الْآخِرَةَ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ فَيَتَنَاوَلُ أَحَدَ رَغِيفَيْهِ فَيَأْكُلُ ثُمَّ يَضْطَجِعُ هَجْعَةً خَفِيفَةً ثُمَّ يَقُومُ فَإِذَا كَانَ السَّحَرُ تَنَاوَلَ رَغِيفَهُ الْآخَرَ فَيَأْكُلُهُ ثُمَّ يَشْرَبُ عَلَيْهِ شَرْبَةً مِنْ مَاءٍ ثُمَّ يَخْرُجُ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ قَالَ خَلَفٌ وَحَدَّثَنِي بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا قَالَ كَانَ مَنْصُورُ بْنُ زَاذَانَ يَفْعَلُ هَذَا كُلَّهُ وَيَفْضُلُ بِخَاصَّةٍ لَا يَبِيتُ كُلَّ لَيْلَةٍ حَتَّى تُبَلَّ عِمَامَتُهُ بِدُمُوعِهِ ثُمَّ يَضَعَهَا  

[Machine] Amir used to take his charity and put it in the edge of his cloak, and no one from the poor would ask him for it except that he would give it to him. When he entered his family, he would throw it to them and they would return it to him, and they would find it the same as he had given it.  

أَنَّ عَامِرًا كَانَ يَأْخُذُ عَطَاءَهُ فَيَجْعَلُهُ فِي طَرَفِ رِدَائِهِ فَلَا يَلْقَاهُ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْمَسَاكِينِ يَسْأَلُهُ إِلَّا أَعْطَاهُ فَإِذَا دَخَلَ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ رَمَى بِهِمْ إِلَيْهِمْ فَيَعُدُّونَهَا فَيَجِدُونَهَا سَوَاءً كَمَا أُعْطِيَهَا  

[Machine] Abu Musa al-Ash'ari wrote to 'Amir ibn 'Abd Qais al-'Anbari from 'Abdullah to 'Amir ibn 'Abdullah, who was previously called 'Abd Qais. After that, I entrusted you with a matter and I have been informed that you have changed. If you are still on what I entrusted you with, then fear Allah and remain as you are. But if you have changed, then fear Allah and return.  

كَتَبَ أَبُو مُوسَى الْأَشْعَرِيُّ إِلَى عَامِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ قَيْسٍ الْعَنْبَرِيِّ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ إِلَى عَامِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي كَانَ يُدْعَى عَبْدَ قَيْسٍ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنِّي عَهِدْتُكَ عَلَى أَمْرٍ وَبَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ تَغَيَّرْتَ فَإِنْ كُنْتَ عَلَى مَا عَهِدْتُكَ فَاتَّقِ اللَّهَ وَدُمْ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَغَيَّرْتَ فَاتَّقِ اللَّهَ وَعُدْ  

[Machine] "All praise be to Allah, who has gathered me as a traveler."  

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي حَشَرَنِي رَاكِبًا  

[Machine] "To the two cousins, he entrusted your matter to Allah so that you may find rest. Abdullah said, my father said, it reached me that Amr ibn Abd Qays used to say when he would wake up in the morning, 'O Allah, these people go about their day and return, and each of them has a need. Indeed, Amr's need is that You forgive him.'"  

لِابْنَيْ عَمٍّ لَهُ فَوِّضَا أَمْرِكُمَا إِلَى اللَّهِ ﷻ تَسْتَرِيحَا

قالَ: عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، قالَ أبِي، فَبَلَغَنِي أنَّ عامِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ قَيْسٍ كانَ إذا أصْبَحَ قالَ: اللَّهُمَّ إنَّ هَؤُلاءِ يَغْدُونَ ويَرُوحُونَ ولِكُلٍّ حاجَةٌ وإنَّ حاجَةَ عامِرٍ أنْ تَغْفِرَ لَهُ  

[Machine] A person is not truly saddened by anything I left behind in Iraq except for the thirst of the wild creatures and the conversations with people who seek discussions.  

عَامِرٌ مَا آسَى عَلَى شَيْءٍ فَارَقْتُهُ بِالْعِرَاقِ إِلَّا عَلَى ظَمَأِ الْهَوَاجِرِ وَمُجَالَسَةِ أَقْوَامٍ يَتَحَرَّوْنَ الْحَدِيثَ  

[Machine] He said, "No one comes to this mosque, meaning the sacred house, except to pray in it and returns as the day his mother gave birth to him from sins." Amar said, "The man sitting with you, meaning Ka'b?" He said, "Yes, Ka'b. The night is not like a day, and the day is not like a night. And indeed, it was not like that. An umrah is better than two acts of sanctification, and a hajj is better than two umrahs. And there is no servant who stands during the night, performs ablution well and prays two rak'ahs and seeks forgiveness from Allah, except that he will be forgiven."  

أَنَّهُ قَالَ لَا يَأْتِي أَحَدٌ هَذَا الْمَسْجِدَ يَعْنِي بَيْتَ الْمَقْدِسِ لَا يُرِيدُ إِلَّا الصَّلَاةَ فِيهِ رَجَعَ كَيَوْمِ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ قَالَ فَقَالَ عَامِرٌ الرَّجُلُ جَلِيسُكَ يَعْنِي كَعْبًا قَالَ فَقَالَ كَعْبٌ مَا اللَّيْلُ بِلَيْلٍ وَلَا النَّهَارُ بِنَهَارٍ وَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ ذَاكَ كَذَلِكَ وَلَعُمْرَةٌ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ تَقْدِيسَتَيْنِ وَحَجَّةٌ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ عُمْرَتَيْنِ وَمَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ يَقُومُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ فَيَتَوَضَّأُ فَيُحْسِنُ الْوُضُوءَ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ إِلَّا غُفِرَ لَهُ  

[Machine] Indeed, the angels rejoice in the winter for the believer because the days are shortened, so they fast and the nights are lengthened, so they stand in prayer. It has reached us that when 'Amir was present, he began to cry, so they asked him, "What makes you cry, O 'Amir?" He said, "I do not cry out of fear of death or eagerness for the world, but I cry over the thirst of the hungry and the standing of the winter."  

إِنَّ الْمَلَائِكَةَ تَفْرَحُ بِالشِّتَاءِ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ يَقْصُرُ النَّهَارُ فَيَصُومُهُ وَيَطُولُ اللَّيْلُ فَيَقُومُهُ وَبَلَغَنَا أَنَّ عَامِرًا لَمَّا حُضِرَ جَعَلَ يَبْكِي فَقَالُوا مَا يُبْكِيكَ يَا عَامِرُ؟ قَالَ مَا أَبْكِي جَزَعًا مِنَ الْمَوْتِ وَلَا حِرْصًا عَلَى الدُّنْيَا وَلَكِنِّي أَبْكِي عَلَى ظَمَأِ الْهَوَاجِرِ وَقِيَامِ الشِّتَاءِ  

Neither limited [to season] nor forbidden, (Using translation from Qurʾān 56:33)   

مَقْطُوعَةٌ مَمْنُوعَةٌ  

[Machine] To say about them, I saw a group of the companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and I accompanied them. They told us that the best of people on the Day of Resurrection are those who have the most self-accountability in this worldly life, and that the most joyful of them on the Day of Resurrection are those who are most saddened in this worldly life, and that the most laughing of them on the Day of Resurrection are those who cry the most in this worldly life. And they told us that Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has obligated obligations and recommended actions and set limits. So whoever performs the obligations of Allah and His recommended actions and stays away from His limits, will enter Paradise without any reckoning. And whoever performs His obligations and His recommended actions, and then transgresses His limits, and then repents, and then transgresses again, will face earthquakes, hardships, and terrors. Then Allah will enter him into Paradise. And whoever performs the obligations of Allah and His recommended actions, and transgresses His limits, and dies persisting upon that, will meet Allah as a Muslim. If He wills, He will forgive him, and if He wills, He will punish him.  

أَنْ أَقُولَ فِيهِمْ رَأَيْتُ نَفَرًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَصَحِبْتُهُمْ فَحَدَّثُونَا أَنَّ أَحْسَنَ النَّاسِ إِيمَانًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَكْثَرُهُمْ مُحَاسَبَةً لِنَفْسِهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَأَنَّ أَشَدَّهُمْ فَرْحَةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَشَدُّهُمْ حُزْنًا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَأَنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ ضَحِكًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَكْثَرُهُمْ بُكَاءً فِي الدُّنْيَا وَحَدَّثُونَا أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى فَرَضَ فَرَائِضَ وَسَنَّ سُنَنًا وَحَّدَ حُدُودًا فَمَنْ عَمِلَ بِفَرَائِضِ اللَّهِ وَسُنَنِهِ وَاجْتَنَبَ حُدُودَهُ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ وَمَنْ عَمِلَ بِفَرَائِضِهِ وَسُنَنِهِ ثُمَّ رَكِبَ حُدُودَهُ ثُمَّ تَابَ ثُمَّ رَكِبَ ثُمَّ تَابَ اسْتَقْبَلَ الزَّلَازِلَ وَالشَّدَائِدَ وَالْأَهْوَالَ ثُمَّ يُدْخِلُهُ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَنْ عَمِلَ بِفَرَائِضِ اللَّهِ وَسُنَنِهِ وَرَكِبَ حُدُودَهُ ثُمَّ مَاتَ مُصِرًّا عَلَى ذَلِكَ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ مُسْلِمًا إِنْ شَاءَ غَفَرَ لَهُ وَإِنْ شَاءَ عَذَّبَهُ  

[Machine] It is said to her: "O worshipper, do you not see what He does with Himself?" So she treats him with sorcery, and brings it to him. Then he goes out to the orphans of the neighborhood and invites them. She says to them: "I have only done it for you with my own hands so that you may eat it." He says: "Did you not intend to benefit me?" He used to say to her: "O 'Ubaydah, console yourself with the Quran from this world, for whoever does not console himself with the Quran from this world will be filled with regret."  

يُقَالُ لَهَا عَبْدَةَ تَرَى مَا يَصْنَعُ بِنَفْسِهِ فَتُعَالِجُ لَهُ الثَّرِيدَ فَتَأْتِيهِ بِهِ فَيَخْرُجُ إِلَى أَيْتَامِ الْحَيِّ فَيَدْعُوهُمْ فَتَقُولُ إِنَّمَا عَمِلْتُهَا لَكَ بِيَدَيَّ لِتَأْكُلَهَا فَيَقُولُ أَلَيْسَ إِنَّمَا أَرَدْتِ أَنْ تَنْفَعِينِي؟ قَالَ وَكَانَ يَقُولُ لَهَا يَا عُبَيْدَةُ تَعَزِّي بِالْقُرْآنِ عَنِ الدُّنْيَا فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ لَمْ يَتَعَزَّ بِالْقُرْآنِ عَنِ الدُّنْيَا تَقَطَّعَتْ نَفْسُهُ عَلَى الدُّنْيَا حَسَرَاتٍ  

[Machine] I migrated to him and learned the Quran from him, but it was a journey of love and my pain from Iraq, only on his departures and my brothers among them Al-Aswad Ibn Kulthum.  

هَاجَرْتُ إِلَيْهِ وَتَعَلَّمْتُ بِهِ الْقُرْآنَ وَلَكِنَّهَا رِحْلَةُ هَوَى وَمَا آسَى مِنَ الْعِرَاقِ إِلَّا عَلَى هَوَاجِرِهَا وَإِخْوَانِي مِنْهُمُ الْأَسْوَدُ بْنُ كُلْثُومٍ  

[Machine] This is the book of Amir al-Mu'minin that came to you that you do not eat meat, do not marry women, do not eat fat, and criticize the imams. He said: As for your statement that I do not eat meat, I passed by a butcher who says hypocrisy, hypocrisy, until it slaughters, and I hate the sacrifice that does not mention the name of Allah upon it. So when we desire meat, we slaughter the sheep that we have raised and eat its meat. As for your statement that I do not eat fat, I used to see them cutting the sheep for it in our warehouses and rubbing it with fat, and that is a dead animal. And I ate what came from our desert here. As for your statement that I criticize the imams, God forbid that I criticize an imam. And as for your statement that I do not marry women, I was betrothed to my Lord before your mother gave birth to you. Humran said to him: May Allah not increase such people among the Muslims, meaning people like you. He said: But Allah has increased such people among the Muslims, like you. Muslims must have necessities.  

هَذَا كِتَابُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ جَاءَ إِلَيْكَ أَنَّكَ لَا تَأْكُلُ اللَّحْمَ وَلَا تَتَزَوَّجُ النِّسَاءَ وَلَا تَأْكُلُ السَّمْنَ وَتَطْعَنُ عَلَى الْأَئِمَّةِ قَالَ أَمَّا قَوْلُكَ لَا آكُلُ اللَّحْمَ فَإِنِّي مَرَرْتُ بِقَصَّابٍ يَقُولُ النِّفَاقَ النِّفَاقَ حَتَّى ذَبَحَ وَقَدْ أَكْرَهُ الذَّبِيحَةَ الَّتِي لَا يُذْكَرُ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهَا فَإِذَا اشْتَهَيْنَا اللَّحْمَ ذَبَحْنَا الشَّاةَ وَقَدْ رَبَّيْنَاهَا فَأَكَلْنَا لَحْمَهَا وَأَمَّا قَوْلُكَ لَا آكُلُ السَّمْنَ فَإِنِّي كُنْتُ أَرَاهُمْ فِي مَغَازِينَا يَقْطَعُونَ إِلَيْهِ الشَّاةَ ثُمَّ يُسْلُونَهَا مَعَ السَّمْنِ وَتِلْكَ مَيْتَةٌ وَقَدْ آكُلُ مَا جَاءَ مِنْ بَادِيَتِنَا هَذِهِ وَأَمَّا قَوْلُكَ إِنِّي أَطْعَنُ عَلَى الْأَئِمَّةِ فَمَعَاذَ اللَّهِ أَنْ أَطْعَنَ عَلَى إِمَامٍ وَأَمَّا قَوْلُكَ إِنِّي لَا أَتَزَوَّجُ النِّسَاءَ فَلَقَدْ خُطِبْتُ إِلَى رَبِّي ﷻ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَلِدَكَ أُمُّكَ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُ حُمْرَانُ لَا أَكْثَرَ اللَّهُ فِي الْمُسْلِمِينَ يَعْنِي مِثْلَكَ فَقَالَ لَكِنْ أَكْثَرَ اللَّهُ فِي الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِثْلَكَ لَا بُدَّ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ مِنْ مُهِمَّاتٍ  

[Machine] "And because in it is my homeland."  

وَلِأَنَّ بِهَا وَطَنِي  

[Machine] Someone told me that they saw 'Amir ibn 'Abd Qais calling for oil and pouring it onto his hand. Jafar then described how he wiped one hand onto the other, and recited the verse from Surah Al-Mu'minun: "And ˹We brought forth˺ a tree issuing from Mount Sinai which produces oil and food for those who eat." (23:19). He then anointed his head and beard.  

حَدَّثَنِي مَنْ رَأَى عَامِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ قَيْسٍ دَعَا بِزَيْتٍ فَصَبَّهُ عَلَى يَدِهِ كَذَا وَصَفَ جَعْفَرٌ مَسَحَ إِحْدَاهُمَا عَلَى الْأُخْرَى ثُمَّ قَالَ {تَخْرُجُ مِنْ طُورِ سَيْنَاءَ تَنْبُتُ بِالدُّهْنِ [185] وَصِبْغٍ لِلْآكِلِينَ} [المؤمنون 20] قَالَ فَدَهَنَ رَأْسَهُ وَلِحْيَتَهُ  

[Machine] I do not see Allah's responsibility being undermined while I am alive and then being saved from it.  

لَا أَرَى ذِمَّةَ اللَّهِ تُخْفَرُ وَأَنَا حَيٌّ ثُمَّ اسْتَنْقَذَهُ  

[Machine] When 'Amir bin Abdullah was leaving, his brothers accompanied him. He said, "I am calling, so be secure." They said, "Give us, for we have been patient with you." He said, "O Allah, whoever supports me and lies about me, and expels me from my home and separates me from my brothers, O Allah, increase his wealth and children, make his body healthy, and prolong his lifespan."  

لَمَّا سُيِّرَ عَامِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ شَيَّعَهُ إِخْوَانُهُ قَالَ فَكَانَ بِظَهْرِ الْمِرْبَدِ قَالَ إِنِّي دَاعٍ فَأَمِّنُوا قَالُوا هَاتِ فَقَدْ كُنَّا نَسْتَبْطِئُ هَذَا مِنْكَ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ مَنْ وَشَا بِي وَكَذَبَ عَلَيَّ وَأَخْرَجَنِي مِنْ مِصْرِي وَفَرَّقَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَانِي اللَّهُمَّ فَأَكْثِرْ مَالَهُ وَوَلَدَهُ وَأَصِحَّ جِسْمَهُ وَأَطِلْ عُمْرَهُ  

[Machine] That Aamer came to a woman from Bilanbar to offer condolences to her on the death of her last remaining relative. He said to her, "Offer condolences with the Quran, for he who does not offer condolences with the Quran, his soul will be cut off from the world."  

أَنَّ عَامِرًا أَتَى امْرَأَةً مِنْ بَلْعَنْبَرٍ يُعَزِّيهَا عَلَى أَخٍ لَهَا كَانَ آخِرَ مَنْ بَقِيَ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا فَقَالَ لَهَا تَعَزِّي بِالْقُرْآنِ؛ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ لَمْ يَتَعَزَّ بِالْقُرْآنِ تَقَطَّعَتْ نَفْسُهُ عَلَى الدُّنْيَا  

[Machine] Once there was an old woman who was a caretaker for 'Aamir and used to stay with him in his house. She said, "He would not be alone with anyone except me, except for one time when a group entered upon him and spoke to him about something that I did not understand, except that I heard 'Aamir saying to them, 'I remind you of Allah, I incite you to Allah, and I urge you to be a source of pride for the people of Quran.'"  

أَنَّ عَجُوزًا كَانَتْ مَوْلَاةً لِعَامِرٍ وَكَانَتْ تَكُونُ مَعَهُ فِي بَيْتِهِ قَالَتْ مَا كَانَ يَخْلُو بِأَحَدٍ دُونِي إِلَّا أَنَّهُ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ قَوْمٌ مَرَّةً فَكَلَّمُوهُ بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ أَدْرِ مَا قَالُوا غَيْرَ أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ عَامِرًا وَهُوَ يَقُولُ لَهُمْ أُذَكِّرُكُمْ اللَّهَ أَنْشُدُكُمْ اللَّهَ أَنْ تَكُونُوا عَارًا عَلَى أَهْلِ الْقُرْآنِ  

[Machine] "O 'Aamir, do you see that servant of his? Are you pleased with what you see of the world?" He said, "I am content with little in it." So, he said, "By Allah, you and your companions are those who are content with little." Then, he got up for his prayer.  

لَهُ جَارِيَةُ يَا عَامِرُ أَرَضِيتَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَا أَرَى؟ لَقَدْ رَضِيتَ فِيهَا بِالْقَلِيلِ فَقَالَ أَنْتَ وَاللَّهِ وَأَصْحَابُكَ الَّذِينَ رَضِيتُمْ مِنْهُمَا بِالْقَلِيلِ ثُمَّ نَهَضَ إِلَى صَلَاتِهِ