2788 – Muḥammad narrated to us; he said: Yaḥyā narrated to us; he said: al-Ḥusayn narrated to us; he said: Ibn al-Mubārak narrated to us; he said: ʿAbd al-Wahhāb ibn al-Ward narrated to us, from a man of Medina, who said:

Muʿāwiyah wrote to ʿĀʾishah asking, “Write me a brief letter of counsel—keep it short and do not overburden me.” ʿĀʾishah replied to Muʿāwiyah (may Allah be pleased with him):

“Peace be upon you. Now then, I heard the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) say: ‘Whoever seeks Allah’s pleasure while incurring people’s displeasure, Allah will spare him the need for the people; but whoever seeks people’s pleasure while incurring Allah’s displeasure, Allah will abandon him to the people.’ Peace be upon you.”