Ismāʿīl ibn ʿAyyāsh reported to us from ʿAqīl ibn Mudrik, who traced the account back to Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī, saying:

“Adhere to taqwā (reverent fear of Allah), for it is the foundation of everything. Commit yourself to jihād, for it is the monasticism of Islam. Maintain the remembrance of Allah and the recitation of the Quran, for they are your life­-breath among the dwellers of heaven and your good name among the people of earth. And keep silent except when speaking the truth, for by that you defeat Satan.” (1)

Hanzalah ibn Abī Sufyān narrated, on the authority of his elders, that none of the younger Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was more knowledgeable than Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī. (2)

Abū ʿAqīl al-Dawraqī said: I heard Abū Naḍrah relate that, on the Day of al-Ḥarrah, Abū Saʿīd entered a cave. A man went in after him and then came out and said to a Syrian soldier, “Shall I point out someone you can kill?” When the Syrian reached the mouth of the cave, Abū Saʿīd’s sword was hanging from his neck. The Syrian called, “Come out!” Abū Saʿīd replied, “I will not come out; and if you enter, I will kill you.” The Syrian stepped inside, whereupon Abū Saʿīd laid down the sword and said, “Then bear my sin and yours, and be among the people of the Fire.” The man asked, “Are you Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī?” He answered, “Yes.” The man said, “Then seek forgiveness for me—may Allah forgive you.” (3)

ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmar, through Wahb ibn Kaysān, said: I saw Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī wearing khazz—fine brocade. (4)