Al-Awliya' - Ibn Abi al-Dunya - (26)

55 – ʿAbd Allāh narrated to us; ʿAbd al-Raḥīm ibn Yaḥyā mentioned—ʿUthmān ibn ʿUmāra transmitted, from ʿAbd al-Wāḥid ibn Zayd, from Makḥūl, from Wahb ibn Munabbih, who said:

“I left my house intending to journey to Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem). On the way I encountered an elderly man—very tall, dark-complexioned, and bow-legged. He said to me, ‘Hold fast to the prayer, for the prayer is the best undertaking: whoever performs it faithfully will be requited in full; whoever increases it will have it increased for him; and whoever makes it scant will have it made scant for him.’

I said, ‘Give me further counsel.’ He replied, ‘Be mindful of Allah. Eat sparingly. Beware of arrogance. Keep away from stinginess and avarice, and the truthful will visit you, you will be inspired with wisdom, granted every good, and protected from every evil.

Know that Allah has both reward and punishment. Whoever believes in them with certainty will find no rest in this world.’

Makḥūl added, ‘More than once Wahb ibn Munabbih would relate this narration and weep.’

٥٥ - حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، ذَكَرَ عَبْدُ الرَّحِيمِ بْنُ يَحْيَى، نا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عُمَارَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْوَاحِدِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ مَكْحُولٍ، عَنْ وَهْبِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ، قَالَ: خَرَجْتُ مِنْ مَنْزِلِي وَأَنَا أُرِيدُ بَيْتَ الْمَقْدِسِ، فَإِذَا أَنَا بِشَيْخٍ طَوِيلٍ آدَمَ أَحْلَجَ، فَقَالَ لِي: " عَلَيْكَ بِالصَّلَاةِ، فَإِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ خَيْرُ مَوْضُوعٍ، مَنْ أَوْفَى أُوفِيَ لَهُ، وَمَنْ أَكْثَرَ أُكْثِرَ لَهُ، وَمَنْ قَلَّلَ قُلِّلَ لَهُ، قُلْتُ: أَوْصِنِي، قَالَ: عَلَيْكَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ، وَعَلَيْكَ بِقِلَّةِ الطَّعَامِ، وَإِيَّاكَ وَالْكِبْرَ، وَاجْتَنِبِ الْبُخْلَ وَالشُّحَّ يَزُرْكَ الصِّدِّيقُونَ، وَتُلْهَمِ الْحِكْمَةَ، وَتُعْطَ الْخَيْرَ كُلَّهُ، وَيُصْرَفْ عَنْكَ السُّوءُ كُلُّهُ، وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ لِلَّهَ ثَوَابًا وَعِقَابًا، فَمَنْ آمَنَ بِهَا وَصَدَّقَ لَمْ تَقَرَّ عَيْنُهُ بِالدُّنْيَا، قَالَ مَكْحُولٌ: فَرُبَّمَا ذَكَرَ وَهْبُ بْنُ مُنَبِّهٍ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ وَبَكَى "