1093 – ʿAbd Allah narrated to us; ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿUmar ibn Muhammad ibn Aban ibn Salih ibn ʿUmayr narrated to me; Ibn al-Mubarak narrated to us; al-Rabiʿ ibn Anas informed me, from Abu Qatadah, from Ubayy ibn Kaʿb (may Allah have mercy on him), who said:

“Hold fast to the path and the Sunnah. There is no servant who is upon the path and the Sunnah, remembers the All-Merciful—glorified and exalted be He—so that his eyes overflow with tears out of awe of Allah—glorified and exalted be He—except that the Fire will never touch him. Nor is there any servant who is upon the path and the Sunnah, remembers the All-Merciful—glorified and exalted be He—so that his skin shudders from fear of Allah, without becoming like a tree whose leaves have withered: when the wind strikes it, its leaves fall away, and likewise his sins fall away from him at that moment just as its leaves fall. Indeed, measured effort upon the path and the Sunnah is better than strenuous exertion that departs from the path and the Sunnah. Therefore examine your deeds; if there is striving and moderation, let it be upon the way and the Sunnah of the Prophets (peace be upon them).”