There was none more knowledgeable of the Sunnah in Iraq than Ibn ‘Own.
Category: Knowledge
The sweetness of worship
You will not find (experience) the sweetness of worship until you place a barrier between you and your desires.
From the etiquettes of differing with one another
I met our Shaykhs – Zirr and Abu Waa.il – and from them was he whom ‘Uthmaan [ibn ‘Affaan] was dearer to him than ‘Alee [ibn Abee Taalib], and from them was he whom ‘Alee was dearer to him than ‘Uthmaan – yet [despite this] they were very friendly and loving toward one another.
Avoid gatherings of backbiting and slander
When you have prayed, why do you not sit with us?
Encouraging others
When a man narrates to me a hadeeth, I remain silent [to encourage] him – [giving the impression] as if I haven’t heard it [before], even though I [first] heard it before he was even born!
Would not allow time to pass without benefit
About him, I was told he would take account of himself [to the level of every] breath; he would not let time pass without [utilising it for] benefit. He would be [busy] either writing, teaching, or reading. I was told he would even be moving his lips when sharpening his pen[cil].
Let us remain brothers in Islaam
I have not seen [anyone] more sensible than ash-Shaafi’ee.
Doing more good than harm
We pursued this affair [of seeking knowledge] and [when] we looked [around us], we did not find anyone doing an action without knowledge, except that [as a result] he would do more good than harm.
Defence of the Sunnah
Defence of the Sunnah is better than jihaad in the Path of Allaah.
Scholars are of three types
Abu Moosaa al-Khowlaanee said ‘Scholars are [of] three [types]…’