That day, Ghundar brought out a sack of books, and said: 'Do your best to find an error in them.' So we [strived hard, and] did not find an error in any of them.
Category: Words of Wisdom
The generous companion
I have not seen a man who was more generous than Ismaa'eel ibn 'Ayyaash. When we would visit him at the farm, he would suffice only with [slaughtering] a sheep for us and [some] dried fried dates.
Rectifying the misunderstandings of the people
The people of Egypt would disparage 'Uthmaan ibn 'Affaan, until al-Layth ibn Sa'd emerged from [amongst] them and spoke to them about his virtues, and so they refrained.
The two imaams of Khuraasaan
Abu Zur'ah and Abu Haatim are the two imaams of Khuraasaan.
Not to accept gifts from the students
If I accepted it from you, then I will not relate any [more] hadeeth to you; and if I do not accept it from you, then I will [continue to] relate hadeeth to you.
Maintaining cautious ties with the rulers
[The ruler] al-Ma.moon gifted my father 30,000 [deenaars], 10 horses and a slave girl - and he did not accept them.
Supplicating for the ruler
If I had a [single] supplication which was [certain] to be answered [by Allaah], I would make it for the ruler; for the wellbeing and righteousness of the ruler entails the wellbeing of the land and...
The error of his teacher
A man will not know the error of his teacher, until he sits with other than him.
Maintaining close attachment to the scholars
[In the pursuit for knowledge], I maintained close attachment to Shu'bah for twenty years.
The most knowledgeable of them
The most knowledgeable of them [with regard to matters] about the Qur.aan was Mujaahid. And the most knowledgeable of them [with regard to matters] about hajj was 'Ataa.