(1) “Ula’ika yujzawna al-ghurfata bima sabaru” (Surah al-Furqan 25:75). He explained: al-ghurfa (the chamber) is Paradise, in return for their patience in poverty in this world. (Abu Nu‘aym, al-Hilya 1/347; 3/181–182) (2) Abd al-Salam ibn Harb, from Zayd ibn Khaythama, from Abu Ja‘far, said: “The thunderbolts strike the believer and the disbeliever, but they do not strike the dhakir (one who remembers Allah).” (Abu Nu‘aym, al-Hilya 3/181; Sa‘id ibn Mansur, Sunan 5/430, no. 1162; also in Ibn al-Jawzi, Sifat al-Safwa 2/108; al-Dhahabi, Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala’ 4/408.) I say: A similar report is transmitted from Ibn ‘Abbas: “Even if thunderbolts were to descend from the sky in number equal to the stars, they would never strike the dhakir.” (3) Jabir al-Ja‘fi related: Muhammad ibn Ali said to me, “O Jabir, I am distressed and my heart is occupied.” I asked, “What is distressing you and preoccupying your heart?” He replied: “O Jabir, whoever welcomes the pure din (religion) of Allah into his heart, it occupies him above everything else. O Jabir, what is this world and what can it be? Is it not a mount you have ridden? Clothes you have worn? A woman you have attained? O Jabir, the believers are neither reassured by the world’s permanence, nor feel safe against the coming of the Hereafter. Hearing of tribulation does not prevent them from remembering Allah, nor does seeing adornment blind them to Allah’s light. Thus they attain the reward of the righteous. “Indeed, the people of piety are the most frugal in worldly expenses and the most helpful toward you: if you forget, they remind you; if you remember, they support you—affirming the truth of Allah and standing firmly by His command. They have severed ties for love of their Lord, and with their hearts they look to Allah and His love. They withdraw from the world for the obedience of their Beloved, knowing this is by the decree of their Creator. Therefore they consign the world to the station assigned by their King—like a dwelling they once occupied and then abandoned, like a vision in sleep that vanishes upon waking. “So guard Allah concerning what He has entrusted to you of His religion and judgment.” (Abu Nu‘aym, al-Hilya 3/182; Ibn al-Jawzi, Sifat al-Safwa 2/108–109) (4) Khālid ibn Yazid reported: I heard Muhammad ibn Ali say that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab remarked, “If you see the reciter loving the rich, he is attached to the world; and if you see him clinging to the ruler without need, he is a thief.” (Abu Nu‘aym, al-Hilya 3/184) His chain: “Habib ibn al-Hasan narrated to us, Abu Shu‘ayb al-Harawi narrated to us, Khālid ibn Yazid narrated to us, Abu Dawud heard Muhammad ibn Ali say…” (5) Abu Ja‘far used to perform fifty rak‘ahs of the prescribed prayers each day and night. (Abu Nu‘aym, al-Hilya 3/182; al-Dhahabi, Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala’ 4/404–405) (6) Ibn Abi al-Dunya narrated from him: “The weapon of the lowly is foul speech.” (Abu Nu‘aym, al-Hilya 3/182–183; Ibn al-Jawzi, Sifat al-Safwa 2/109) (7) Abu al-Ahwas narrated from Mansur, from him, that he said: “Everything has a calamity, and the calamity of knowledge is forgetfulness.” (Abu Nu‘aym, al-Hilya 3/183) (8) He said to his son: “Beware of laziness and fatigue, for they are the keys to every evil: if you become lazy you will fail to fulfill a right, and if you are weary you will not persevere in a right.” (ibid.) (9) He also said: “The most arduous of deeds are three: the remembrance of Allah in every circumstance, justice toward oneself, and consoling a brother in his wealth.” (ibid.)