7. Asceticism of Nūḥ (Noah)

٧۔ قِصَّةُ نُوحٍ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ

ahmad-zuhd:277ʿAbdullāh > Bī > ʿAbd al-Razzāq > Wuhayb b. al-Ward al-Ḥaḍramī al-Makkī

[Machine] When Allah reproached Noah about his son, He revealed to him, "Indeed, I advise you never to be among the ignorant." (Surah Hud 11:46) Noah cried for three hundred years until his eyes became swollen from weeping.  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٧٧حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أبِي حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ أَنْبَأَنَا وُهَيْبُ بْنُ الْوَرْدِ الْحَضْرَمِيُّ الْمَكِّيُّ قَالَ

لَمَّا عَاتَبَ اللَّهُ ﷻ نُوحًا فِي ابْنِهِ فَأَنْزَلَ عَلَيْهِ {إِنِّي أَعِظُكَ أَنْ تَكُونَ مِنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ} [هود 46] قَالَ فَبَكَى ثَلَاثَمِائَةِ عَامٍ حَتَّى صَارَ تَحْتَ عَيْنَيْهِ مِثْلُ الْجَدْوَلِ مِنَ الْبُكَاءِ  

ahmad-zuhd:278ʿAbdullāh > Bī > ʿAbd al-Raḥman > Sufyān > al-Aʿmash > Mujāhid > ʿUbaydullāh b. ʿUmayr

[Machine] The people of Nuh used to beat him until he fainted. When he regained consciousness, he would say, "O Allah, forgive my people, for they do not know."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٧٨حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أبِي حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ عَنِ الْأَعْمَشِ عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ قَالَ

كَانَ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ يَضْرِبُونَهُ حَتَّى يُغْشَى عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا أَفَاقَ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِقَوْمِي فَإِنَّهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ  

ahmad-zuhd:279ʿAbdullāh > Yaḥyá b. Maʿīn > Ḥajjāj > Jarīr / Ibn Ḥāzim > Wuhayb al-Makkī > Balaghanī

[Machine] "It is written in the Torah or in some books: O son of Adam, remember Me when you are angry, and I will remember you when I am angry. So, I will not destroy you like those who I destroy. And when you are wronged, seek satisfaction through My support for you; for My support for you is better than your support for yourself."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٧٩حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ مَعِينٍ حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجٌ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ يَعْنِي ابْنَ حَازِمٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي وُهَيْبٌ الْمَكِّيُّ قَالَ بَلَغَنِي

أَنَّهُ مَكْتُوبٌ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ أَوْ فِي بَعْضِ الْكُتُبِ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ اذْكُرْنِي إِذَا غَضِبْتَ أَذْكُرْكَ إِذَا غَضِبْتُ؛ فَلَا أَمْحَقُكَ مَعَ مَنْ أَمْحَقُ فَإِذَا ظُلِمْتَ فَارْضَ بْنُصْرَتِي لَكَ؛ فَإِنَّ نُصْرَتِي لَكَ خَيْرٌ مِنْ نُصْرَتِكَ نَفْسَكَ  

ahmad-zuhd:280ʿAbdullāh > Bī > Abū Muʿāwiyah > al-Aʿmash > Mujāhid > ʿUbaydullāh b. ʿUmayr

[Machine] If the man is from the people of Noah, when he meets him, he will strangle him until he falls unconscious. Then, when he wakes up, he will say, "Oh Lord, forgive my people, for they do not know."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٨٠حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أبِي حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ حَدَّثَنَا الْأَعْمَشُ عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ قَالَ

إِنْ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ لَيَلْقَاهُ فَيَخْنُقُهُ حَتَّى يَخِرَّ مَغْشِيًّا عَلَيْهِ قَالَ فَيَفِيقُ حِينَ يَفِيقُ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِقَوْمِي فَإِنَّهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ  

ahmad-zuhd:281ʿAbdullāh > Muḥammad b. ʿAbbād > Ḥātim / Ibn Ismāʿīl > Hishām b. Saʿd > Muḥammad b. Kaʿb al-Quraẓī

[Machine] Indeed, Noah ﷺ used to say "Alhamdulillah" (Praise be to Allah) when he ate, and he would say "Alhamdulillah" when he drank, and he would say "Alhamdulillah" when he wore clothes, and he would say "Alhamdulillah" when he rode. So Allah named him a grateful servant.  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٨١حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبَّادٍ حَدَّثَنَا حَاتِمٌ يَعْنِي ابْنَ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ كَعْبٍ الْقُرَظِيَّ يَقُولُ

إِنَّ نُوحًا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ كَانَ إِذَا أَكَلَ قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَإِذَا شَرِبَ قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَإِذَا لَبِسَ قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَإِذَا رَكِبَ قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ؛ فَسَمَّاهُ اللَّهُ عَبْدًا شَكُورًا  

ahmad-zuhd:282ʿAbdullāh > Bī > Yazīd > Muḥammad b. ʿAbd al-Raḥman b. al-Mujabbar > Zayd b. Aslam > ʿAṭāʾ b. Yasār

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Nuh (Noah) said to his son, 'O my son, I admonish you with two instructions and I forbid you from two things. As for the two instructions, I admonish you to believe in Allah and bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, and I forbid you from associating anything in worship with Him and from pride. If you meet Allah with no trace of associating anything in worship with Him, you will be rewarded; and if you meet Him with no trace of pride, you will be undeniably happy.'"  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٨٢حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أبِي حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ أَنْبَأَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْمُجَبَّرِ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ نُوحٌ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لِابْنِهِ يَا بُنَيَّ إِنِّي مُوصِيكَ بِوَصِيَّةٍ وَقَاصِرٌ بِهَا عَلَيْكَ حَتَّى لَا تَنْسَاهَا؛ أُوصِيكَ بَاثْنَتَيْنِ وَأَنْهَاكَ عَنِ اثْنَتَيْنِ؛ فَأَمَّا اللَّتَانِ أُوصِيكَ بِهِمَا فَإِنِّي رَأَيْتُهُمَا يُكْثِرَانِ الْوُلُوجَ عَلَى اللَّهِ ﷻ وَرَأَيْتُ اللَّهَ ﷻ يَسْتَبْشِرُ بِهِمَا وَصَالِحُ خَلْقِهِ؛ قَوْلُ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ فَإِنَّهَا صَلَاةُ الْخَلْقِ وَبِهَا يُرْزَقُ الْخَلْقُ وَقَوْلُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ فَإِنَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ لَوْ كُنَّ حَلْقَةً لَفَصَمَتْهَا وَلَوْ كُنَّ فِي كِفَّةٍ لَرَجَحَتْ بِهِنَّ وَأَمَّا اللَّتَانِ أَنْهَاكَ عَنْهُمَا فَالشِّرْكُ وَالْكِبْرُ؛ فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تَلْقَى اللَّهَ ﷻ وَلَيْسَ فِي قَلْبِكَ شَيْءٌ مِنْ شِرْكٍ وَلَا كِبْرٍ فَافْعَلْ  

ahmad-zuhd:283ʿAbdullāh > Bī > ʿAbdullāh b. Yazīd > Mūsá / Ibn ʿAlī from my father > Balaghanī > Nūḥ ʿAlayh al-Salām

[Machine] To his son Sam, he said, "My son, do not enter the grave with even the weight of a mustard seed of shirk (associating partners with Allah) in your heart. For whoever comes to Allah as a mushrik (polytheist), there will be no proof for him. And my son, do not enter the grave with even the weight of a mustard seed of arrogance in your heart. For arrogance is the garment of Allah, so whoever competes with Allah in His garment, He will become angry with him. And my son, do not enter the grave with even the weight of a mustard seed of despair in your heart. For no one despairs of Allah's mercy except the misguided."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٨٣حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أبِي حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يَزِيدَ حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى يَعْنِي ابْنَ عَلِيٍّ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يَقُولُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ نُوحًا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ

لِابْنِهِ سَامٍ «يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تَدْخُلَنَّ الْقَبْرَ وَفِي قَلْبِكَ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ مِنَ الشِّرْكِ بِاللَّهِ؛ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَأْتِ اللَّهَ مُشْرِكًا فَلَا حُجَّةَ لَهُ وَيَا بُنَيَّ لَا تَدْخُلَنَّ الْقَبْرَ وَفِي قَلْبِكَ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ مِنَ الْكِبْرِ؛ فَإِنَّ الْكِبْرِيَاءَ رِدَاءُ اللَّهِ ﷻ فَمَنْ يُنَازِعِ اللَّهَ رِدَاءَهُ يَغْضَبْ عَلَيْهِ وَيَا بُنَيَّ لَا تَدْخُلَنَّ الْقَبْرَ وَفِي قَلْبِكَ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ مِنَ الْقَنَطِ؛ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَقْنَطُ مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا ضَالٌّ»  

ahmad-zuhd:284ʿAbdullāh > Bī > Yūnus b. Muḥammad > Ṣāliḥ / al-Murrī > al-Ḥasan

[Machine] Noah, ﷺ , did not invoke a curse upon his people until this verse was revealed: "And it was revealed to Noah that no one of your people will believe except those who have already believed, so do not be distressed by what they have been doing" [Hud 36]. So, his hope was cut off from them at that point, and he said, "He invoked a curse upon them at that time."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٨٤حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أبِي حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ أَخْبَرَنَا صَالِحٌ يَعْنِي الْمُرِّيَّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ

أَنَّ نُوحًا عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لَمْ يَدْعُ عَلَى قَوْمِهِ حَتَّى نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ {وَأُوحِيَ إِلَى نُوحٍ أَنَّهُ لَنْ يُؤْمِنَ مِنْ قَوْمِكَ إِلَّا مَنْ قَدْ آمَنَ فَلَا تَبْتَئِسْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْعَلُونَ} [هود 36] فَانْقَطَعَ رَجَاؤُهُ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُمْ قَالَ «فَدَعَا عَلَيْهِمْ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ»  

ahmad-zuhd:285ʿAbdullāh > Bī > ʿAlī b. Thābit > Hishām b. Saʿd > Zayd b. Aslam > ʿAṭāʾ b. Yasār

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Noah advised his son before he died." He mentioned something similar to the hadith of Yazid bin Al-Mujabbir who said, "As for the two things that are forbidden, they are pride and associating partners with Allah." Then Abdullah bin Amr said, "O Messenger of Allah, is it considered pride if I have good clothing that I wear?" He said, "No, indeed Allah is beautiful and loves beauty." He said, "Is it considered pride if I have a good and noble horse that I ride?" He said, "No." He said, "Is it considered pride if I have companions who follow me and I feed them?" He said, "No." He said, "Then what is pride, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "To reject the truth and despise people." Ali said, "I asked Hisham, what does it mean to 'despise people'?" He said, "To belittle them."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٨٥حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أبِي حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ حَدَّثَنِي هِشَامُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «أَوْصَى نُوحٌ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ ابْنَهُ» فَذَكَرَ نَحْوَ حَدِيثِ يَزِيدَ عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُجَبَّرِ قَالَ «وَأَمَّا اللَّتَانِ أَنْهَاكَ عَنْهُمَا فَالْكِبْرُ وَالشِّرْكُ» فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَمْرٍو يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ الْكِبْرُ أَنْ يَكُونَ لِي حُلَّةٌ حَسَنَةٌ أَلْبَسُهَا؟ قَالَ «لَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ جَمِيلٌ يُحِبُّ الْجَمَالَ» قَالَ فَالْكِبْرُ أَنْ يَكُونَ لِي دَابَّةٌ صَالِحَةٌ أَرْكَبُهَا؟ قَالَ «لَا» قَالَ فَالْكِبْرُ أَنْ يَكُونَ لِي أَصْحَابٌ يَتْبَعُونَنِي وَأُطْعِمُهُمْ؟ قَالَ «لَا» قَالَ فَبِمَ الْكِبْرُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ «أَنْ تُسَفِّهَ الْحَقَّ وَتَغْمِصَ» قَالَ عَلِيٌّ قُلْتُ لِهِشَامٍ مَا «تَغْمِصَ» ؟ قَالَ تَعِيبُهُ  

ahmad-zuhd:286ʿAbdullāh > ʿAbdullāh b. ʿUmar b. Muḥammad b. Abān b. Ṣāliḥ b. ʿUmayr > Ibn al-Mubārak > Bakkār b. ʿAbdullāh > Wahbb. Munabbih > Mar a man ʿĀbid > a man ʿĀbid > Mā Lak

[Machine] I am amazed by this person; indeed, he had excelled in his worship and the worldly possessions had no effect on him. So he said, "Do not be amazed by someone who is inclined towards worldly possessions, but be amazed by someone who remains steadfast."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٨٦حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبَانَ بْنِ صَالِحِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ عَنْ بَكَّارِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ وَهْبَ بْنَ مُنَبِّهٍ يَقُولُ مَرَّ رَجُلٌ عَابِدٌ عَلَى رَجُلٍ عَابِدٍ فَقَالَ مَا لَكَ؟ قَالَ

أَعْجَبُ مِنْ فُلَانٍ؛ إِنَّهُ كَانَ قَدْ بَلَغَ مِنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَمَالَتْ بِهِ الدُّنْيَا فَقَالَ لَا تَعْجَبْ مِمَّنْ تَمِيلُ بِهِ وَلَكِنِ اعْجَبْ مِمَّنِ اسْتَقَامَ  

ahmad-zuhd:287ʿAbdullāh > Bī > Hāshim > Abū Jaʿfar > al-Rabīʿ b. Anas

[Machine] Allah revealed to a prophet from the prophets, peace be upon them, saying, "What is the matter with your people? They wear woolen garments and imitate the monks. Their words are sweeter than honey, but their hearts are harder than a rock. Do they deceive my father? Or do they deceive me? By my glory, I will leave none of them confused and doubtful. There is no one among them who can foretell the future or practice magic. Whoever believes in me, let him rely on me, and whoever does not believe in me, let him follow someone else."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٨٧حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنِي أبِي حَدَّثَنَا هَاشِمٌ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ عَنِ الرَّبِيعِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ قَالَ

أَوْحَى اللَّهُ ﷻ إِلَى نَبِيٍّ مِنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ مَا بَالُ قَوْمِكَ يَلْبَسُونَ مُسُوكَ الضَّأْنِ وَيَتَشَبَّهُونَ بِالرُّهْبَانِ؟ كَلَامُهُمْ أَحْلَى مِنَ الْعَسَلِ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ أَمَرُّ مِنَ الصَّبْرِ أَبِي يَغْتَرُّونَ؟ أَمْ [47] إِيَّايَ يُخَادِعُونَ؟ وَعِزَّتِي لَأَتْرُكَنَّ الْعَالِمَ مِنْهُمْ حَيْرَانَ لَيْسَ مِنِّي مَنْ تَكَهَّنَ أَوْ تُكُهِّنَ لَهُ أَوْ سَحَرَ أَوْ سُحِرَ لَهُ؛ مَنْ آمَنَ بِي فَلْيَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَيَّ وَمَنْ لَمْ يُؤْمِنْ بِي فَلْيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرِي  

ahmad-zuhd:288ʿAbdullāh > Bī > ʿAbd al-Razzāq > Mundhir b. al-Nuʿmān > Wahbb. Munabbih

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Indeed, when Allah loves a people, He tests them."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٨٨حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنِي أبِي أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ أَنْبَأَنَا مُنْذِرُ بْنُ النُّعْمَانِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ وَهْبَ بْنَ مُنَبِّهٍ يَقُولُ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «إِنَّ اللَّهَ ﷻ إِذَا أَحَبَّ قَوْمًا ابْتَلَاهُمْ»  

ahmad-zuhd:289ʿBd Allāh > By > ʿAbd al-Razzāq > Bakkār > Wahb > In al-Rab Tabārak Wataʿālá

[Machine] In some of what is said to the Children of Israel, indeed, if I am obeyed, I am pleased, and if I am pleased, I bless, and my blessings have no end. And indeed, if I am disobeyed, I become angry, and when I am angry, I curse, and my curse reaches to the seventh generation.  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٨٩حَدَّثَنَا عبد الله حَدَّثَنَا أبي حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ حَدَّثَنَا بَكَّارٌ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ وَهْبًا يَقُولُ إِنَّ الرَّبَّ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى قَالَ

فِي بَعْضِ مَا يَقُولُ لِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِنِّي إِذَا أُطِعْتُ رَضِيتُ وَإِذَا رَضِيتُ بَارَكْتُ وَلَيْسَ لِبَرَكَتِي نِهَايَةٌ وَإِنِّي إِذَا عُصِيتُ غَضِبْتُ وَإِذَا غَضِبْتُ لَعَنْتُ وَلَعْنَتِي تَبْلُغُ السَّابِعَ مِنَ الْوَلَدِ  

ahmad-zuhd:290ʿBd Allāh > By > ʿAbd al-Razzāq > Bakkār > And Hb

[Machine] The people of the Children of Israel were afflicted with punishment and hardship, so they said to a prophet among them, "We wish to know what will please our Lord so that we may follow it." Allah revealed to him, "Indeed, your people say, 'We wish they knew what pleases me so that they would follow it.' Inform them that if they truly seek my pleasure, they should show kindness to the needy, for when they please them, I am pleased, and when they make them angry, I am angered."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٩٠حَدَّثَنَا عبد الله حَدَّثَنَا أبي حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ حَدَّثَنَا بَكَّارٌ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ وَهْبًا يُحَدِّثُ

أَنَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَصَابَتْهُمْ عُقُوبَةٌ وَشِدَّةٌ فَقَالُوا لِنَبِيٍّ لَهُمْ وَدِدْنَا أَنَّا نَعْلَمُ مَا الَّذِي يُرْضِي رَبَّنَا ﷻ فَنَتَّبِعُهُ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ ﷻ إِلَيْهِ إِنَّ قَوْمَكَ يَقُولُونَ وَدُّوا لَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا الَّذِي يُرْضِينِي فَيَتَّبِعُونَهُ أَخْبِرْهُمْ إِنْ أَرَادُوا رِضَايَ فَلْيُرْضُوا الْمَسَاكِينَ؛ فَإِنَّهُمْ إِذَا أَرْضَوْهُمْ رَضِيتُ وَإِذَا أَسْخَطُوهُمْ سَخِطْتُ  

ahmad-zuhd:291ʿAbdullāh > Bī > ʿAbd al-Razzāq > Bakkār > WahbYuḥaddith > al-Rab ʿAz Wajal

[Machine] "For the scholars of the Children of Israel, you understand matters unrelated to religion, you learn things unrelated to action, and you seek worldly gain through actions related to the afterlife. You wear the garments of sheep, but hide the souls of wolves. You remove the impurities from your drinks, but swallow forbidden things in amounts like mountains. You burden the people with debts like mountains, but do not help them by raising burdens. You whiten your clothes and prolong your prayers, but by doing so you decrease the wealth of orphans and widows. By my honor, I swear that I will afflict you with a trial in which the opinions of the knowledgeable are misled and the wisdom of the wise is lost."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٩١حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنِي أبِي أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ أَخْبَرَنَا بَكَّارٌ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ وَهْبًا يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ الرَّبَّ ﷻ قَالَ

لِعُلَمَاءِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ «تَفَقَّهُونَ لِغَيْرِ الدِّينِ وَتَعْلَمُونَ لِغَيْرِ الْعَمَلِ وَتَبْتَغُونَ الدُّنْيَا بِعَمَلِ الْآخِرَةِ تَلْبَسُونَ مُسُوكَ الضَّأْنِ وَتُخْفُونَ أَنْفُسَ الذِّئَابِ وَتُنَقُّونَ الْقَذَاءَ مِنْ شَرَابِكُمْ وَتَبْتَلِعُونَ أَمْثَالَ الْجِبَالِ مِنَ الْمَحَارِمِ وَتُثْقِلُونَ الدَّيْنَ عَلَى النَّاسِ أَمْثَالَ الْجِبَالِ وَلَا تُعِينُوهُمْ بِرَفْعِ الْخَنَاصِرِ تُبَيِّضُونَ الثِّيَابَ وَتُطِيلُونَ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْتَقِصُونَ بِذَلِكَ مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ وَالْأَرْمَلَةِ فَبِعِزَّتِي حَلَفْتُ لَأَضْرِبَنَّكُمْ بِفِتْنَةٍ يَضِلُّ فِيهَا رَأْيُ ذِي الرَّأْيِ وَحِكْمَةُ الْحَكِيمِ»  

ahmad-zuhd:292ʿAbdullāh > Bī > Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan b. Anas > Mundhir > And Hb

[Machine] A man who had been worshiping Allah for seventy years went out one day, feeling that his efforts were not sufficient. He complained to Allah and confessed his sins. Then, a representative from Allah came to him and said, "Indeed, this gathering of yours is more beloved to Allah than all the deeds you have done throughout your life."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٩٢حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنِي أبِي أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ حَدَّثَنَا مُنْذِرٌ عَنْ وَهْبٍ

أَنَّ رَجُلًا سَائِحًا عَبَدَ اللَّهَ سَبْعِينَ سَنَةً ثُمَّ خَرَجَ يَوْمًا؛ يُقَلِّلُ عَمَلَهُ وَشَكَا إِلَى اللَّهِ ﷻ بَثَّهُ وَاعْتَرَفَ بِذَنْبِهِ فَأَتَاهُ آتٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ ﷻ فَقَالَ «إِنَّ مَجْلِسَكَ هَذَا أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ ﷻ مِنْ عَمَلِكَ فِيمَا مَضَى مِنْ عُمْرِكَ»  

ahmad-zuhd:293ʿAbdullāh > Bī > Ibn Ātish > Mundhir > And Hb

[Machine] The Lord Almighty, when My servant puts his trust in Me, even if the heavens and the earth were to conspire against him, I would make a way out for him.  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٩٣حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنِي أبِي حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ آتِشَ حَدَّثَنَا مُنْذِرٌ عَنْ وَهْبٍ قَالَ يَقُولُ

الرَّبُّ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى إِذَا تَوَكَّلَ عَلَيَّ عَبْدِي لَوْ كَادَتْهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ جَعَلْتُ لَهُ مِنْ بَيْنِ ذَلِكَ الْمَخْرَجَ  

ahmad-zuhd:294ʿAbdullāh > Bī > Wakīʿ > Sufyān > ʿĀṣim b. Abū al-Najūd 48 > Muṣʿab b. Saʿd from his father

[Machine] I said, "O Messenger of Allah, who among the people endures the most severe trials?" He said, "The prophets, then the righteous, then those who resemble them. For the one who resembles the prophets, he is tested according to his faith. So, if his faith is firm, his trials are increased. And if his faith is weak, his trials are decreased. The trials continue upon the servant until he walks on the earth without any sin."  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٩٤حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنِي أبِي حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ عَنْ عَاصِمِ بْنِ أَبِي النَّجُودِ [48] عَنْ مُصْعَبِ بْنِ سَعْدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ

قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَشَدُّ بَلَاءً؟ قَالَ «الْأَنْبِيَاءُ ثُمَّ الصَّالِحُونَ ثُمَّ الْأَمْثَلُ فَالْأَمْثَلُ مِنَ النَّاسِ؛ يُبْتَلَى الرَّجُلُ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ فَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ صَلَابَةٌ زِيدَ فِي بَلَائِهِ وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ رِقَّةٌ؛ خَفَّفْتُ عَنْهُ وَلَا يَزَالُ الْبَلَاءُ فِي الْعَبْدِ حَتَّى يَمْشِيَ فِي الْأَرْضِ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ خَطِيئَةٌ»  

ahmad-zuhd:295ʿAbdullāh from my father > ʿAwf b. Jābir > ʿAbdullāh > Ṣafwān / Ibn al-Kalbī Wāb.ah b. WahbYadhkur from his father > Wahb

[Machine] "Indeed, affliction is to the believer like the itch is to the animal"  

الزهد لأحمد:٢٩٥حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ أَخْبَرَنَا أَبِي أَخْبَرَنَا عَوْفُ بْنُ جَابِرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ يَعْنِي ابْنَ الْكَلْبِيِّ وَابْنَةَ بِنْتِ وَهْبٍ يَذْكُرُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ وَهْبٍ قَالَ

«إِنَّ الْبَلَاءَ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ كَالشِّكَالِ لِلدَّابَّةِ»