Sufyaan ath-Thawree 161 AH (May Allah have mercy on him) was asked about the verse “…and man was created weak” (Surah Nisaa: 28) what is man’s weakness? He replied, “It is when a woman passes by a man and he does not restrain himself from looking at her nor does he gain any benefit from looking at her,…
Sufyaan ath-Thawree 161 AH (May Allah have mercy on him) said: الاسناد سلاح المؤمن, فاذا لم يكن معه سلاح فبأي شيء يقاتل؟ “The isnaad is the weapon of the believer. So if he does not have a weapon then what will he fight with?” Collected by Ibn Hibban in his book “al-Majruhin” (1/27)
Sufyaan ath-Thawree 161 AH (May Allah have mercy on him) said: ما عالجت شيئا أشد علي من نيتي, لانها تتقلب علي “There is nothing more difficult upon me to observe than my intention, as it is always changing.” Taken from Jaami’ ‘Uloom p. 16
Trying to Follow the Salaf 