Al-Qāsim ibn Hāshim narrated to me: from al-Khattāb ibn ʿUthmān al-Fawzī—who was reputed to be one of the abdāl—who said: ʿUbayd ibn al-Qāsim al-Asadī narrated to us, from al-ʿAlāʾ ibn Thaʿlaba al-Asadī, from Abū l-Malīḥ, from Wāthila ibn al-Asqaʿ who said:

I presented myself to the Prophet ﷺ in the Mosque of al-Khayf. His Companions said to me, “Step back, Wāthila; move away from the face of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Leave him; he has only come to ask.”

So I said, “May my father and mother be ransomed for you! Issue us a ruling that we can hold fast to after you.” He replied, “Let your own soul issue the ruling for you.”

I asked, “And how shall I do that?” He said, “Abandon whatever troubles your conscience for what leaves it untroubled, even if the jurists give you a verdict.”

I said, “And how shall I do that?” He answered, “Place your hand upon your heart; for the heart finds tranquillity in what is lawful and never finds tranquillity in what is unlawful. Indeed, the conscientious Muslim forsakes the small sin for fear of falling into the grave one.”