Indeed, you are unable to please all of the people, so rectify that which is between you and Allaah, and do not concern yourself with [what] the people [may think or say].
Category: Humility
ath-Thowree has arrived
I heard them [speaking] at Marwu saying: 'ath-Thowree has arrived.' So I went out to see him, and was beholden [to find] he was [just] a youth, [whose] beard had just started to grow.
Humility of the scholar
I have never seen a scholar say 'I do not know' more than Taawoos [ibn Keesaan].
I do not know
[To say] 'I do not know' is half of [all] knowledge.
He refused to take it
A man came to Ahmad ibn Hanbal with 10,000 [deenaars] of profit from his trade, and he refused [to take] it.
Three essential characteristics
You will not be a scholar until you possess three characteristics.
Until he knew where he was destined
Riba'ee ibn Hiraash took an oath that his teeth would not be seen when laughing, until he knew where he was destined.
Discrete and humble
Daawood ibn Abi Hind رحمه الله [voluntarily] fasted for forty years, and his family were not aware of it.
Deeds done in secret
If [one's] deeds done in secret are equal to [one's] deeds done in public, then that is fair. And if [one's] deeds done in secret are better than [one's] deeds done in public, then that is better.
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!