Inspiration from Past & Present
Son of Adam, the knife is being sharpened and the oven is being heated up, yet the ram is still eating the fodder.
—Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī [d 110H/728CE] on heedlessness
(Read on pg 197, Salaahud-Deen ibn ‘Alee ibn ‘Abdul-Mawjood, Imam Sa’eed bin Al-Musayyab (Biography). Darussalam Publishers. Riyadh:2006.)
It baffles me to see a people who are advised to get their provision and are told that the departure time is due, yet they sit down playing!
—Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī [d 110H/728CE] on heedlessness
(Read on pg 197, Salaahud-Deen ibn ‘Alee ibn ‘Abdul-Mawjood, Imam Sa’eed bin Al-Musayyab (Biography). Darussalam Publishers. Riyadh:2006.)
Truly, this Qur’an is recited by slaves and children who have no knowledge of its interpretation, for they have not followed the matter from its beginning.
Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said, ‘A Book, We have sent it down to you, Blessed, that they may ponder its signs deeply. (S. Sad [38], v. 29)’
Pondering its signs deeply is no more than following it, and Allah Knows best. But by Allah, it is not preserving its letters while wasting its limits! One of them even says, ‘I have recited the whole Qur’an without missing a single letter of it,’ although by Allah, he has missed it all, for the Qur’an is not seen in him in any of his character or deeds. Another even says, ‘Truly, I can recite a surah in one breath’! By Allah, these are not reciters, or people of knowledge or wisdom or spiritual caution! When did real reciters every say things like this? May Allah not make their like widespread amongst the people!
—Al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī [d 110H/728CE]
(Read on pg 41, Imam Abu Baker Muhammad b. al-Husayn al-Ajurri, The Character of the Bearers and People of the Qur’an. Al-Quran Society. London:2002.)
There passed by us a time when we did not think that anyone learned the Qur’an except intending Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Now lately, I fear that men learn it for the sake of people and what they have. Therefore, intend Allah with your recitation and your deeds, for we used to recognize you because the Messenger of Allah (S) was amongst us, and revelation used to descend and Allah used to inform us of your news. As for today, the Messenger of Allah (S) has passed and revelation has been discontinued, so I only recognize you by the following: whoever does good outwardly, we love him for it and think good of him; whoever does evil outwardly, we hate him for it and think evil of him; your secrets are between you and Allah, Mighty and Majestic.
—’Umar b. al-Khattab
(Read on pg 38, Imam Abu Baker Muhammad b. al-Husayn al-Ajurri, The Character of the Bearers and People of the Qur’an. Al-Quran Society. London:2002.)