‘Abdullah ibn al-Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: لا يسال عبد عن نفسه الا القران, فان كان يحب القران فانه يحب الله و رسوله “The slave is not asked about anything except for the Qur’an. Therefore, if he loves the Qur’an, then he loves Allah and His messenger.” Fadaail al-Qur’an p 21-22
Imaam Maalik bin Anas 179 AH (may Allah have mercy on him) said: السنة مثل سفينة نوح من ركبها نجا و من تخلف عنها هلك “The Sunnah is like the Ark of Nuh. Whoever embarks upon it reaches salvation and whoever refuses is drowned.” Quoted by Shaikh ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah in Majmoo’ ul-fataawaa (4/57)
Imaam adh-Dhahabi 748 AH (the student of Ibn Taymeeyah) said: ان العلم ليس بكثرة الرواية, و لكنه نور يقذفه الله في القلب, و شرطه الاتباع, و الفرار من الهوى و الابتداع “Knowledge is not by narrating a lot, but it is a light that Allah puts in the heart. Its condition is following (the sunnah)…
‘Abdur-Rahmaan al-Awzaa’ee 157 AH (May Allah have mercy on him) said: اصبر نفسك على السنة و قف حيث وقف القوم و قل بما قالوا و كف عما كفوا عنه, واسلك سبيل سلفك الصالح. فانه يسعك ما وسعهم “Have patience upon the Sunnah, and stop where the people stopped (the Companions may Allah be pleased with…
Abu ʿAbdillah Muhammad ibn Idris ash-Shafi’ee 204 AH (May Allah have mercy on him) said, اصبر على مر الجفا من معلم *** فإن رسوب العلم في نفراتهBe patient over the teacher’s strictness and harshnessFor the stores of knowledge are present in his harshness ومن لم يذق ذل التعلم ساعة *** تجرع ذل الجهل طول حياتهWhoever…
Imaam Maalik bin Anas 179 AH (may Allah have mercy on him) said: انه لا يصلح أخر هذا الأمة الا ما أصلح أولها “There is nothing that will rectify the last part of this ummah except for what rectified the first part of it” Collected by Shaatibi in his Itisaam
Abdullah ibn Mubaarak 171 AH (may Allah have mercy on him) said, رب عمل صغير تعظمه النية و رب عمل كبير تصغره النية “Perhaps a small deed becomes great because of the intention behind it, and perhaps a big deed becomes insignificant because of the intention behind it.” Taken from Jaami’ ‘Uloom p. 16
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
Ibn Qayyim al-Jawzeeyah 751 AH (may Allah have mercy on him) said: و كل علم و عمل لا يزيد الايمان قوة فمدخول “All knowledge and action that does not increase Imaan is weak” Source: al-Fawaaid/162
Hasan al-Basree 110 AH (may Allah have mercy on him) said: العلم علمان: علم في القلب, و علم على اللسان, فعلم القلب هو العلم النافع, و علم اللسان هو حجة الله على عباده “Knowledge is two (types): Knowledge in the heart and knowledge upon the tongue. Knowledge of the heart is the beneficial knowledge, and…
Trying to Follow the Salaf 