Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.
ahmad-zuhd:1643ʿAbdullāh from my father > Rawḥ > Hishām > al-Ḥasan

[Machine] "And by Allah, I have encountered people and associated with groups among them who did not rejoice in anything of the worldly life and did not feel regret over anything of it. Their pastime was lighter in their eyes than this dust. One of them would live for fifty years without ever having a garment lengthened for him or a price set for him, and he did not place anything between himself and the earth. He never ordered the making of food in his house. So when the night came, they would stand on their toes, resting their faces, and tears would flow on their cheeks as they supplicated to their Lord, seeking release from the bondage of their necks. When they did a good deed, they would continue to give thanks to Allah and request that it be accepted. And when they committed a sin, it saddened them, and they would ask Allah to forgive it. They continued in this manner, by Allah, never finding respite from sins nor escaping except by seeking forgiveness. Indeed, you have awoken in a diminished life span, and actions are detained, and death is upon you with Allah, and the Hellfire is between your hands. So, anticipate the decree of Allah every day and night."  

الزهد لأحمد:١٦٤٣حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحٌ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ قَالَ

«وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ أَدْرَكْتُ أَقْوَامًا وَصَحِبْتُ طَوَائِفَ مِنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَفْرَحُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا أَقْبَلَ وَلَا يَتَأَسَّفُونَ عَلَى شَيْءٍ مِنْهَا أَدْبَرَ وَلَهِيَ كَانَتْ أَهْوَنَ فِي أَعْيُنِهِمْ مِنَ هَذَا التُّرَابِ كَانَ أَحَدُهُمْ يَعِيشُ خَمْسِينَ سَنَةً لَمْ يُطْوَ لَهُ ثَوْبٌ قَطُّ وَلَا نُصِبَ لَهُ قِدْرٌ وَلَا جَعَلَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْأَرْضِ شَيْئًا وَلَا أَمَرَ فِي بَيْتِهِ بِصَنْعَةِ طَعَامٍ قَطُّ فَإِذَا كَانَ اللَّيْلُ فَقِيَامٌ عَلَى أَطْرَافِهِمْ يَفْتَرِشُونَ وُجُوهَهُمْ تَجْرِي دُمُوعُهُمْ عَلَى خُدُودِهِمْ يُنَاجُونَ رَبَّهُمْ فِي فِكَاكِ رِقَابِهِمْ كَانُوا إِذَا عَمِلُوا الْحَسَنَةَ دَأَبُوا فِي شُكْرِهَا وَسَأَلُوا اللَّهَ أَنْ يَقْبَلَهَا وَإِذَا عَمِلُوا السَّيِّئَةَ أَحْزَنَتْهُمْ وَسَأَلُوا اللَّهَ أَنْ يَغْفِرَهَا فَمَا زَالُوا كَذَلِكَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا سَلِمُوا مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ وَلَا نَجَوْا إِلَّا بِالْمَغْفِرَةِ وَإِنَّكُمْ أَصْبَحْتُمْ فِي أَجَلٍ مَنْقُوصٍ وَالْعَمَلُ مَحْفُوظٌ وَالْمَوْتُ وَاللَّهِ فِي رِقَابِكُمْ وَالنَّارُ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيكُمْ فَتَوَقَّعُوا قَضَاءَ اللَّهِ ﷻ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ وَلَيْلَةٍ»