“Spend a long time reclining (in prayer); when he awakens and remembers Allah, one knot is undone; when he performs wudu (ablution), a second knot is undone; and when he prays, a third knot is undone. He then becomes energetic and good-spirited; otherwise he remains ill-spirited and lazy.” This hadith is recorded by al-Bukhari in his Sahih (1091) under The Book of Jumu’ah: “Chapter on the Devil’s Knot on the Occiput,” and (3096) in The Book of the Beginning of Creation: “Chapter on the Description of Iblis and His Hosts”; by Muslim (776) in The Book of the Traveler’s Prayer: “Chapter on What Was Narrated About One Who Prays at Night”; by al-Nasa’i (1607) in The Book of Night Vigil and Daytime Voluntary Prayer: “Chapter on Encouragement to Night Vigil”; by Abu Dawud (1306) in The Book of Prayer: “Chapter on the Night Vigil”; by Ibn Majah (1329) in The Book of Establishing the Prayer and Its Sunnah: “Chapter on What Was Narrated Concerning Standing at Night in Prayer”; and by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad (2:243, 2:253) (7266, 7392). This is a vast subject. Hud was told, as Allah relates: “Worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him” [Qur’an 11:50], then He said, “And He will increase you in strength upon your strength” [Qur’an 11:52]. This “strength” encompasses every kind of strength. Allah increases His worshippers’ strength in their faith (iman), conviction (yaqin), religion (din), reliance (tawakkul), and similar virtues; He also increases their strength in hearing, seeing, bodies, wealth, children, and so on. And Allah, exalted is He, knows best. Imam Ahmad said: “Narrated to us Isma’il ibn ‘Abd al-Karim, narrated to me ‘Abd al-Samad, that he heard Wahb say: ‘Give charity from a man’s own wealth, for he knows that what he offers is truly his own, and nothing remains of another’s wealth.’ I remarked: ‘Is this not like the hadith: “Which of you loves his heir’s wealth more than his own wealth?” They replied: “All of us love our own wealth more than that of our heirs.” He said: “Indeed, one’s own wealth is what one gives in advance, and one’s heir’s wealth is what one leaves behind.”’” This narration is recorded by al-Bukhari from ‘Abd Allah ibn Mas‘ud (6077) in al-Riqaq: “Chapter on What One Gives from His Wealth Is His,” by al-Nasa’i (3612) in al-Wasaya: “Chapter on Dislike for Delaying a Bequest,” and by Imam Ahmad in the Musnad (1:383) (3619). He also said: “I heard Wahb on the pulpit say: ‘Preserve for yourselves three things: Avoid following your desires (hawa muttaba‘an), shun a bad companion, and beware of a person’s conceit in himself.’” These words appear in another version of the hadith (phrased: “Three ruinous things: an obeyed stinginess (shah matā‘a), an indulged desire, and a man’s conceit in himself”) reported by al-Tabarani in al-Awsat and others from Anas. It is classified as hasan by its chains and parallels. And Imam Ahmad said: “Narrated to us Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Samad ibn Ma‘qil, narrated to us Ibrahim ibn al-Hajjaj, who said: I heard Wahb say: ‘The most beloved of the Children of Adam to Satan are the gluttonous and the drowsy.’” Reported by Abu Nu‘aym in al-Hilya (4:58). He also said: “Narrated to us Ghuth ibn Jabir, narrated to us Imran ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman Abu al-Hudhayl, that he heard Wahb say: ‘Indeed Allah preserves, through the righteous servant, al-qabil of the people.’” (In one manuscript it appears as “al-qil,” a scribal error; the correct reading is in al-Hilya 4:58.) And Ahmad further said: “Narrated to us Ibrahim ibn ‘Aqil, narrated to us Imran Abu al-Hudhayl—one of his sons—on the authority of Wahb ibn Munabbih, who said: ‘No human is without a shaitan assigned to him. As for the disbeliever, the shaitan eats with him, drinks with him, and sleeps with him on his bed; as for the believer, he keeps away, awaiting a moment of negligence or heedlessness. And the most beloved of people to Satan are the gluttonous and the drowsy.’” Reported by Abu Nu‘aym in al-Hilya (58/4, 59). And Muhammad ibn Ghalib said: “Narrated to us Abu al-Mu‘tamir, the son of my paternal uncle Bishr ibn Mansur, from Dawud ibn Abi Hind, from Wahb, who said: ‘I read in some of the books that were revealed from heaven to certain prophets that Allah, exalted is He, said to Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): “Do you know why I have chosen you as My Khalil (friend)?” He said, “No, my Lord.” He said, “Because of the humility of your standing before Me in prayer.”’” Reported by Abu Nu‘aym in al-Hilya.