—and from Anas ibn Malik, who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) declared, “Whoever performs four rak‘ahs before ẓuhr (the noon prayer) will have his sins forgiven for that day.” (1)

Abu al-Qasim al-Qushayri said: It is reported from Abu Sulayman al-Darani that he stated, “I kept attending the gathering of a qāṣṣ (public preacher). His words touched my heart, yet when I stood up nothing of that effect remained. I returned a second time; his words still moved my heart after I left and while I was on the road. I went back a third time; the impact stayed with me until I reached my house, whereupon I smashed the implements of disobedience and committed myself to the Path.” (2)

When this story was recounted to Yahya ibn Mu‘adh, he remarked, “A sparrow has hunted a crane.” (3) By the sparrow he meant the preacher, and by the crane he meant Abu Sulayman al-Darani. (4)

Ahmad ibn Abi al-Hawari said: I heard Abu Sulayman say, “If someone is inspired with some act of goodness, he should not act upon it until he hears it transmitted in the tradition. Once he finds it in the tradition, he should practise it and praise Allah for the agreement between it and what was in his heart.” (5)

Al-Junayd related that Abu Sulayman al-Darani said, “A subtle notion from the insights of the people may settle in my heart for days, yet I will not accept it unless two just witnesses testify to it: the Book and the Sunnah.” (6)

He also said: “The best of deeds is that which contravenes the soul’s desire.” (7)

And he said: “Everything has a sign; the sign of being abandoned is the loss of tears.” (8)

And he said: “Everything has a rust; the rust of the heart’s light is a satiated belly.” (9)