The one from whom you smelt the odour [for the desire] of leadership will not be successful.
Category: Manners
The love of fame
He who loves fame, has not feared Allaah.
The most linguistically eloquent of the people
If a man was to bequeath a third of his estate to the most [linguistically] eloquent of the people, it would be incumbent [upon him] to give it to Abu Bakr al-Ash’aree.
Who taught you good manners?
[I learnt them] myself. If I see anyone [who is] good, [then] I draw near to him, and if I see anyone [who is] ill-mannered, [then] I keep away from him.
He was capable of dictating it all from memory
‘If the math.hab of ash-Shaafi’ee disappeared, he was capable of dictating it [all] from memory.’
Have you seen a jurist with your own eyes?
I asked al-Hasan al-Basree about something, and said [to him]: The jurists are saying such-and-such.
Eating too much
Indeed, a man will certainly become full from speech (talking too much), just as he will become full from food (eating too much).
Before putting pen to paper
I did not put [pen to paper and record] any hadeeth in my book “Saheeh [al-Bukhaaree]” except that I washed before [doing so], and then prayed two rak’ahs.
Resembling the companions
I have not seen anyone resemble the companions of Muhammad ﷺ more than al-Hasan al-Basree.
He memorised an aayah a day
Yahya ibn Waththaab read the entire Qur.aan to ‘Ubayd ibn Nudhaylah – a companion of ‘Alqamah, and with him he memorised an aayah every day.