Abee Mamar (rahimahullaah) said: Sufyaan Bin Uyaynah (rahimahullaah) said to us:
“The scholar is not the one who knows good and bad; rather the scholar is the one who knows good and follows it, and he knows evil and avoids it.’’
[Hilyatul Awliyaa: 7/274]
Ahmad Bin Abil Hawaaree (rahimahullaah) said: I said to Sufyaan, ‘’What is Zuhd in the worldly life? He said: “You are thankful when favoured and patient when put to trial. That is zuhd.”
[Siyar A’laam Nubulaa:8/468]
Abul-Hasan Az-Zaahid (rahimahullaah) said: A man said to Sufyaan Ibn Uyaynah (rahimahullaah): Can a man be Zaahid whilst he has a hundred deenaar? He said: ‘’Yes’’. He (i.e. the man) said: ‘’How is that (possible)?’’ He said: ‘’When he does not grieve if it reduces and does not become happy when it increases, and he does not hate to be separated from it through death.”
[Source: Al-Hath’thu Alaa At-Tijaarah’ number 19’ Al-khallaal(rahimahullaah)]
Bishr Ibn Al-Haarith (rahimahullaah) said: It was said to Sufyaan Ath-Thawri (rahimahullaah): Can a man be a Zaahid (i.e. one who abstains from unnecessary worldly pleasures), whilst he has wealth?” He said: ‘’Yes; if it the case that he exercises patience when put to trial and is grateful to (Allaah) when given (something).”
[Hilyah 6/387-388]
Humility of our beloved Salaf – Sufyaan Ath-Thawree (rahimahullaah)
Whenever Sufyaan Ath-Thawree (rahimahullaah) was informed that he was seen in a dream, he said, ‘’I know myself better than those who see dreams”.
[Siyar: 7/252]
Humility of our beloved Salaf – Maymoon Ibn Mehraan (rahimahullaah)
A man said to Maymoon Ibn Mehraan (rahimahullaah): ‘’The people will not cease to be upon good as long as Allaah keeps you (alive) for them;” so he said, ‘’keep yourself to your own affairs; the people will not cease to be upon good as long as they fear their Lord”.
[Siyar 5/75]
Humility of our beloved Salaf – Khalaf Bin Tameem (rahimahullaah)
Khalaf Ibn Tameem (rahimahullaah) said: I saw Ath-Thawree at Makkah and many (people gathered or came to) him; so he said, ‘’To Allaah we belong! I fear that the Ummah will be lost when the people have a need of the likes of me’’. [Siyar 7/275]
Our Salaf – Yahyah Ibn Abee Katheer before the Approach of Ramadhaan
Yahyah Ibn Abee Katheer (rahimahullaah) used to make du’aa saying:”O Allaah! Preserve me till Ramadhaan; make Ramadhaan blameless for me (and) accept it (from me)’’.
[Hilyatul Awliyaa 3/69]
Humility of our beloved Salaf – Fudayl Ibn Iyaad (rahimahullaah)
Imaam Fudayl Ibn Iyaad (rahimahullaah) was asked about humility; so he said, ‘’(It is ) to humble oneself to the truth, submitting to it and accepting it from the one who said it. He(i.e. the person) accepts it even if heard from a child or the most ignorant amongst the people.”
[Madaarij As-Saalikeen 2/342]
[1] Humility of our beloved Salaf – Ibn Umar (radiyallaahu-anhumaa)
A man said to Ibn Umar (radiyallaahu-anhu): ‘’O (you) the best of the people!” So he said, ‘’I am neither the best of the people nor the son of the best of the people; rather I am a slave from the slaves of Allaah. I have hope in Allaah and I fear Him. By Allaah you (people) will not leave a man until you destroy him’’.
[Siyar 3/236]