He said, “Successful indeed is the one who is protected from quarrelsome dispute, anger, and greed.”

He asked a man, “Who is the chief of your people?”
The man replied, “I am.”
He said, “Had you truly been their chief, you would not have said so.”

He said, “The most ascetic of all people regarding this world is ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib.”

He said, “A servant is blessed in the need that makes him multiply his pleas to his Lord, whether it is granted or withheld.” (1)

He said, “Tether knowledge by writing it down.”

He also said to a man, “Teach your child the greatest jurisprudence: contentment and refraining from harming others.”

A man once spoke eloquently in his presence, whereupon he remarked, “This is permissible magic.”

His conversation with Abū Ḥāzim is lengthy: when Abū Ḥāzim saw him after he had become caliph—his face pale from austerity and his whole condition changed—he said to him, “Were not your clothes once spotless, your face radiant, your food pleasant, and your mount comfortable?”

He replied, “Did you not relate to me from Abū Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ‘Ahead of you lies a steep ascent which none will surmount except one who is lean and wasted’?” He then wept until he lost consciousness. When he revived he said that, during his swoon, he had seen the Resurrection: each of the four Rightly Guided Caliphs was summoned and commanded to enter Paradise. He mentioned those who had ruled between them and himself but did not see what was done with them. Then he himself was called and ordered to enter Paradise.

As he withdrew, a questioner met him and asked what had happened, so he told him. He then asked the questioner, “And who are you?” He replied, “I am al-Ḥajjāj ibn Yūsuf. My Lord has killed me, for every killing a like killing; and here I am awaiting what the monotheists are awaiting.” (2)

His virtues and noble deeds are exceedingly numerous. What we have mentioned is sufficient—and all praise and grace belong to Allah. He is sufficient for us and the best Trustee; there is no power and no might except with Him.

Mention of the cause of his death (may Allah have mercy on him)

The cause was consumption; others say a servant of his poisoned him in food or drink and was given one thousand dinars for it. Because of the poison he fell ill and announced that he had been poisoned. He said, “I knew it the very day I was given the poison.” He then summoned the servant who had administered it and said, “Woe to you! What made you do this?” The servant answered, “One thousand dinars were given to me.”

He said, “Bring them.” So the servant brought them, and ʿUmar placed them in the public treasury. Then he said to him, “Go where no one sees you and perish.”

People said to ʿUmar, “Seek treatment for yourself.” He replied, “By Allah, if my cure lay in merely touching the lobe of my ear, or in being brought some perfume to smell, I would not do it.”

It was said to him, “Here are your sons”—they were twelve—“will you not make any provision for them? They are poor.”
He said, “Indeed, my Guardian is Allah, who has sent down the Book, and He takes charge—”