7 – Abu Saʿid al-Madani narrated to us; Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah ⦗28⦘ al-Hizami narrated to me; Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn al-Muttalib ibn Abi Wadaʿah al-Sahmi narrated to us. He said: Zuhrah ibn ʿAmr al-Taymi told me, from Abu Hazim, from Sahl ibn Saʿd al-Saʿidi, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAbbas d.:

“Young man, shall I teach you some words from which you will benefit?” He replied, “Indeed, O Messenger of Allah.” ⦗29⦘ He said:

“Be mindful of Allah and He will keep you safe; be mindful of Allah and you will find Him before you. Make yourself known to Allah in times of ease and He will know you in times of hardship. When you ask, ask Allah; and when you seek help, seek help from Allah. The pen has dried concerning what is to be. If all the servants were to strive to benefit you with something that Allah has not written for you, they would never be able to; and if all the servants were to strive to harm you with something that Allah ⦗30⦘ has not decreed against you, they would never be able to. If you are able, therefore, to act for Allah with sincerity upon firm certainty, then do so; but if you cannot, know that in patience with what you dislike there is abundant good. And know that victory comes with patience, relief accompanies distress, and that with hardship comes ease.”