He (Ahmad ibn Yahya ash-Shaybaanee) was self-deprecating, and would not deem himself [to be much].
Category: Knowledge
The best of actions
The best of actions [are those that] oppose personal desire.
If the remembrance of death departed my heart
If the remembrance of death departed my heart, I would certainly fear my heart['s pursuit of desires] will corrupt me.
He was the most humblest of all the people
He would remain in the main masjid of the city from [the time of] Fajr until [the time of] 'Ishaa, not leaving other than for a need. He would teach the people and have them read the Qur.aan to him.
How are you this morning?
al-Marwathee said, I said to Ahmad ibn Hanbal رحمه الله:
'How are you this morning?' He [Ahmad ibn Hanbal رحمه الله] replied
The perishers
The ignorant one is dead, and the forgetful one is asleep, and the sinner is intoxicated, and the one who insists [upon remaining so] will perish.
A believer will never be complete until...
A believer will never be complete until he prefers his religion over his desires, and he will never perish until he prefers his desires over his religion.
Pious companions
ar-Rabee' [ibn Khuthaym] was the most pious of the companions of 'Abdullaah.
How many times have you lied?
I only [ever] lied once. 'Umar asked me about a garment, [and] how much I paid for it. So I [lied, and] dropped its price by two thirds.
No illness is more dangerous than telling lies
There are no provisions better than taqwa, and nothing is better than silence, and no enemy is more harmful than ignorance, and no illness is more dangerous than telling lies.