Ibn Khubayq reported that Ḥudhayfah said, “If you feel no fear that Allah might punish you for even your finest deed, you are doomed.” (1)

He also said, “The greatest calamity is hardness of heart.”

And he said, “All goodness is gathered in two words: a lawful morsel and deeds performed sincerely for Allah.”

80 – Abū al-Ḥasan ʿAlī ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Khālid (2) al-Sufyānī

The prince, Abū al-Ḥasan ʿAlī ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Khālid ibn Yazīd ibn Muʿāwiyah ibn Abī Sufyān al-Qurashī, the Umayyad, the Damascene, known as Abū al-ʿAmayṭar.

He was the leader and elder of his clan in his time. He was given the pledge of allegiance as caliph in Damascus during the reign of al-Amīn, and he gained control of Damascus at the beginning of 196 AH, when he was in his eighties. His residence stood on the western side of al-Raḥbah.

He related from al-Mahdī and Ibn ʿUlāthah, and Abū Mus-hir narrated from him.

Haytham ibn Marwān said, “I heard Abū Mus-hir say, ‘I heard a trustworthy Shaykh from Quraysh recount that al-Mahdī asked Ibn ʿUlāthah, “Why did you reject the testimony of Ibn Isḥāq?” He replied, “Because he did not regard the Friday prayer or congregational prayer as obligatory.” So I asked Abū Mus-hir…’”