- ʿAbd Allāh narrated to us; my father narrated to us; Yaḥyā ibn Ādam narrated to us; Abū Bakr ibn ʿAyyāsh narrated to us, from Idrīs ibn Wahb ibn Munabbih, from his father, who said:
“We were in the company of Ibn ʿAbbās when he was told that some people were arguing at the gate of Banū Sahm—-I think he said it was about the Divine Decree. He rose at once, handed his staff to ʿIkrimah, put one hand on him and the other on Ṭāwūs, and went toward them. When he reached them, they made room and welcomed him, but he did not sit down. He said, ‘Wahb, what did the young man say?’
Wahb replied, ‘He said:
“The greatness and majesty of God, and the remembrance of death, are such that they weary your tongue, cut short your argument, and break your heart. Do you not know, O Job, that God has servants whom the fear of God has rendered silent—not out of incapacity or dumbness? They are the most eloquent and articulate, the noblest and keenest, deeply knowledgeable of God and of the histories of His dealings. Yet whenever they remember God—exalted is He—their minds are bewildered, their hearts are humbled, and their tongues are stilled, in reverence, veneration and exaltation of Him. When they regain their composure, they hasten to God with righteous deeds. They count themselves among the negligent, though they are the shrewdest and strongest; among the wrongdoers and sinners, though they are the most chaste and innocent. They never deem much to be much for His sake, nor are they content with offering little; nor do they presume upon Him with their works. Wherever you meet them you will find them awestruck, compassionate, anxious and afraid.” ’
He (the narrator) said: Then Ibn ʿAbbās left them and returned to his seat.