- Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Bakr informed us: al-Hasan ibn Uthman narrated to us; Ya‘qub ibn Sufyan informed us; Abdullah ibn Uthman narrated to us; Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak informed us; al-Rabi‘ ibn Anas informed us, from Abu Dawud, from Ubayy ibn Ka‘b, who said:
“Hold fast to the path and the sunnah. For there is no servant on earth who adheres to the path and the sunnah, mentions the Most Merciful, and whose ⦗60⦘ eyes then overflow with tears out of fear of Allah, except that Allah will not punish him.
“Nor is there any servant on earth who adheres to the path and the sunnah and, upon mentioning Him—that is, the Most Merciful—to himself, his skin shivers out of fear of Allah, except that he is like a tree whose leaves have dried: when a violent wind strikes it, its leaves fall away; likewise, his sins are shed from him just as the leaves fall from that tree.
“Indeed, moderation upon a path and a sunnah is better than strenuous exertion in opposition to a path and a sunnah. So ensure that your deeds—whether strenuous exertion or moderation—are in accordance with the way and sunnah of the Prophets.”