Some of our associates narrated to me that a man came to Yunus bin Ubayd (d. 139H) and complained of the hardship he was going through in his livelihood and of his anxiety because of it. So he said (to him), "Would you be happy to give up your eyesight for a hundred thousand (dinars, dirhams)?" He said, "No." He said, "Then what about your hearing?" He said, "No." He said, "Then what about your tongue?" He said, "No." He said, "Then what about your aql (intellect)?" He said, "No, [not] for any wants, needs." Then he reminded him of the favours of Allaah upon him after which he, Yunus, said, "I see that you have hundreds of thousands of (dinars, dirhams) yet you are complaining of need!
Al-Siyar of al-Dhahabi (6/292). And the meaning here is that since you have placed such monetary worth on your faculties granted to you by Allaah, then you can't be that destitute like what you are claiming, and in reality, Allaah's favours and bounties upon your are abundant by your own self-admission.
The rectitude of five lie in five: The rectitude of a child lies in the study-room. The rectitude of a youth lies in (seeking and acquiring) knowledge. The rectitude of the mature, middle-aged man lies in the masjid. The rectitude of a woman is in her house. And the rectitude of one who harms others is in the prison.
Al-Siyar of al-Dhahabi (13/441).
Shaqiq al-Balkhee said, "Whoever complained of a calamity to other than Allaah, he will not find the sweetness of obedience" (9/315). Hamdoon al-Qassaar said, "No one despairs from a calamity except one who suspects His Lord" (13/51). Mugheerah said, "The eye of al-Ahnaf was lost, and al-Ahnaf said, 'I lost it forty years ago and I have not complained to a single person'." (4/92). Al-Asma'ee said, "al-Fudayl saw a man complaining to another so he said, 'O So and so! Are you complaining about the one who shows you mercy (Allaah) to one who does not show you mercy (man)'." (8/439)
Abu Nawfal bin Abee Aqrab narrated to us, saying: Ammaar bin Yaasir spoke little and was of much silence, and the generality of his speech was "I seek refuge in al-Rahmaan from tribulation, I seek refuge in al-Rahmaan from tribulation," for mighty tribulation came his way. [From] al-A'mash from Abd Allaah bin Ziyaad who said: Ammaar said, "Verily, our mother (meaning Aa'ishah) has passed on to her way, and she is his (the Prophet's) wife in this life and the hereafter, however, Allaah put us (the Companions) to trial by her so that He may know whether we obey Him or her.
Al-Siyar (1/424). Ahl al-Sunnah remain silent on whatever happened between the Companions as whatever occurred was a trial and tribulation for them and their faith, and we believe they were the most superior of mankind after the Prophets, and the most superior of mankind are the ones put to trial the most. It is a disease to raise such controversies and spread them amongst the people.
Three things I love but the people hate: Poverty, illness and death. I love poverty out of humility to my Lord, and death out of fondness (of meeting) my Lord, and illness as expiation for my sin.
Al-Siyar of al-Dhahabi (2/349)
