Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī arrived and asked, “Has Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān come out yet?” We replied, “No.” He therefore sat with us until Ibn Masʿūd emerged; when he did, we all rose and accompanied him. Abū Mūsā said, “O Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān, I have just witnessed something in the mosque that I found objectionable, though—praise be to Allah—I saw nothing but good in it.”

Ibn Masʿūd asked, “And what was that?”

Abū Mūsā answered, “If you live long enough, you will see it for yourself. In the mosque I noticed some people sitting in circles as they waited for the prayer. In every circle there was a man, and in their hands were pebbles. He would say, ‘Pronounce the takbīr one hundred times,’ and they would do so one hundred times. Then he would say, ‘Declare the testimony of faith one hundred times,’ and they would do so one hundred times. Then he would say, ‘Glorify Allah one hundred times,’ and they would do so one hundred times.”

Ibn Masʿūd asked, “What did you say to them?”

Abū Mūsā replied, “I said nothing; I was waiting for your view or your command.”

Ibn Masʿūd said, “Why did you not instruct them to count their sins instead, and guarantee for them that none of their good deeds would be lost?” Then he set off, and we went with him until he reached one of those circles. He stood over them and said, “What is this that I see you doing? Count your sins; I guarantee that none of your good deeds will be wasted. Woe to you, community of Muhammad! How swiftly you plunge toward ruin. The Prophet’s Companions are still numerous, and his garments have not yet worn out…”