200 – ʿAlī ibn Abī Maryam narrated to us, from Zuhayr ibn ʿAbbād, who said: Dāwūd ibn Hilāl al-Naṣībī related to us; he said:

It is written in the Scrolls of Abraham—peace be upon him:

“O worldly life, how insignificant you are in the eyes of the righteous—those for whom you have tried to adorn and beautify yourself! I have cast into their hearts a hatred for you and a turning away from you. I have created nothing more contemptible to Me than you; every affair of yours is trifling, and you are destined for annihilation. On the very day I created creation I decreed concerning you that you would last for no one, and that no one would last for you, even if your possessor should cling to you and hoard you.

Blessed are the righteous who have shown Me, from their hearts, contentment, and from their innermost selves, sincerity and steadfastness. Blessed are they! The reward that awaits them with Me, when they come to Me from their graves, is a light that will run before them, while the angels surround them, until I bring them to the mercy they have been hoping for.”