44 — It was related to me from Ibn Ā’ishah al-Taymī, who said: A man said to Hammād ibn Salamah, “One man is made to love prayer, another is made to love fasting, and another is made to love jihad”—and he went on to enumerate a number of virtuous qualities. Hammād replied, “All of these are paths leading to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and He loves them to be traveled.”

45 — Abū Bakr said, “Let whoever would seize the opportunity make the most of the remaining days of his respite. Let him vie for that which will bring him good fortune in this world and the Hereafter, before his allotted term expires and death arrives at his threshold. Let him beware of departing this abode with an aversion to death and anguish over the opportunity he has lost. Success comes only from Allah, Mighty and Majestic.”