even a whisper.’ (1)

They had been at ease, distracted by idle hopes; heedless of an appointed Day; oblivious to a dawn that would leave people remorseful. Yet you know what descended upon their courtyards, in the dead of night, of Allah’s punishment: many of them awoke lying lifeless in their own homes, while the survivors looked upon the traces of His vengeance and the disappearance of His favors—empty dwellings that contain a sign for those who fear the painful chastisement and a lesson for whoever is mindful. As for you, you have awakened to a life-span that is shrinking and a world that is slipping away, in a time whose indulgence has passed and whose prosperity has vanished; nothing remains of it but the sting of evil, the dregs of murk, terrifying upheavals, torrents of trials, and the refuse of a degenerate brood.

Al-Hakam ibn Musa said: Walid ibn Muslim narrated to us:

“I was not particularly eager to hear from al-Awzaʿi until I saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, in a dream, with al-Awzaʿi beside him. I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! From whom shall I take knowledge?’ He answered, ‘From this man,’ and he pointed to al-Awzaʿi.”

I remarked, “Al-Awzaʿi was indeed a man of great standing.”

ʿAmr ibn Abi Salamah al-Tinnisi reported: Al-Awzaʿi narrated to us, saying:

“I dreamed that two angels carried me upward and set me before the Lord of Might. He said to me, ‘Are you My servant ʿAbd al-Rahman who enjoins what is right?’ I replied, ‘By Your might, You know best.’ Then the angels descended with me and returned me to my place.”

This was transmitted by ʿAbd Allah ibn Ahmad, from al-Hasan ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAziz, from him.

Al-ʿAbbas ibn al-Walid al-Bayruti said: ʿAbd al-Hamid ibn Bakkar narrated to us, from Muhammad ibn Shuʿayb, who said:

“I was sitting with an elder in the congregational mosque when he said, ‘I shall die on such-and-such a day.’”