God ordained a creature’s sustenance before creating it, then fashioned some beings on land and others in the sea, assigning to each its provision. The sustenance of land animals cannot sustain sea creatures, nor that of sea creatures sustain land animals. If those in the sea were placed on land they would perish, and if land creatures entered the sea they would likewise perish. In this is a lesson for anyone who contemplates God’s distribution of provision and livelihood. Let the son of Adam reflect on the sustenance God has apportioned, for nothing exists outside His decree among His creatures; no one can alter or mix it. Just as land and sea creatures can live only on the provision assigned to them—and if forced into the other realm they would die—when each remains where it is provided, it thrives and lives. Likewise, when the son of Adam settles contentedly with the sustenance God has allotted, he prospers and is set right; but if he covets another’s provision, it diminishes him, harms him, and exposes him. (Reported by Abu Nu‘aym in al-Hilya, 4:29.) Addressing ‘Ata’ al-Khurasani, it was said: “The scholars before you were content with their knowledge and did not turn to the people of the world or their possessions; these people would offer them worldly goods in eagerness for their wisdom. Today, however, our scholars lavish their knowledge on worldly folk seeking worldly gain, and the people of the world grow indifferent to their science because of the low esteem in which they hold it. Beware, O ‘Ata’, of the gates of power, for at their portals are trials as numerous as the knots of a camel’s harness: you will gain nothing of their world without losing an equal portion of your religion.” (Abu Nu‘aym, al-Hilya, 4:29–30.) In continuation: “O ‘Ata’, if what suffices you suffices you, then every provision is enough; but if it does not suffice you, nothing will suffice. Lo! Your belly is like one sea among seas, one valley among valleys, and only earth can contain it.” Ibrahim al-Junayd transmitted on the authority of ‘Abd Allah ibn Abi Bakr al-Muqaddami, from Ja‘far ibn Sulayman, from ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman al-San‘ani, who related that Wahb ibn Munabbih said: “A scholar met another more learned than himself and asked, ‘How is your prayer?’ He replied, ‘I do not believe anyone who hears mention of Paradise and Hell can go a moment without praying.’ He asked, ‘And how is your remembrance of death?’ He said, ‘I do not set a foot down or lift another without feeling I will die.’ The scholar said, ‘And how is your prayer, O man?’ He said, ‘I pray and weep until grass grows from my tears.’ The scholar then remarked, ‘Indeed, laughing while confessing your sin is better for you than crying while showing off your knowledge, for the show-off’s deeds will not be raised.’ The man said, ‘Advise me, for I see you are wise.’ He answered, ‘Renounce the world and do not contend with its people for it; be in it like a bee: when you eat, eat what is good; when you lay eggs, lay good eggs; and if you settle on a branch, do not break it. Be sincere for God as the dog is sincere for its master, though they starve it, drive it away, and beat it, yet it refuses nothing but to protect and benefit them.’ Whenever Wahb mentioned this hadith he would say, ‘Alas! The dog is more sincere to its owner than you, O son of Adam, to God.’” (Abu Nu‘aym, al-Hilya, 4:28.) In another version he said, “I pray until my feet swell.” He was told, “It is better for you to spend the night repentant and wake up regretful than to spend it praying and wake up self-admiring.” (Ibn al-Qayyim, Madarij al-Salikin, 1:177.) Sufyan also narrated from a man of Sana’a from Wahb the same report (ibid.). In addition, Uthman ibn Abi Shaybah related from Sulut ibn ‘Asim al-Muradi, from his father, from Wahb, that when Adam was sent down from Paradise and felt desolate at the absence of the angels’ voices, Gabriel descended and said, “O Adam, shall I teach you something that will benefit you in this world and the Hereafter?” Adam replied, “Yes.” Gabriel taught him to say: “O Allah, complete for me Your blessing so that my life may be pleasant; O Allah, seal me with good so that my sins may not harm me; O Allah, suffice me from the burden of this world and every terror on the Day of Resurrection, and admit me to Paradise in safety.”