499 – ‘Alī narrated to me: He said, “One of the sages was asked about zuhd (asceticism). He replied:
‘The lowest degree of zuhd is that one of you stays in his house; if his sitting there is for Allah, so be it—otherwise, let him go out. When he goes out, if his going out is for Allah, he is content; if not, let him go back. If his returning is for Allah, he is content; if not, let him roam about. Then he reaches for his dirham: if he spends it for Allah, he is content; if not, let him withhold it and reckon it. If his withholding it is for Allah, he is content; if not, let him throw it away. He speaks: if his speech is for Allah, he is content; if not, let him be silent. He falls silent: if his silence is for Allah, he is content; if not, let him speak.’
They said to him, ‘That is too hard.’ He replied, ‘This is the path to Allah; otherwise, do not trouble yourselves.’”