‘Abdullaah ibn al-Mubaarak was gratefully rich, [and] his wealth amounted to about 400,000 [deenars].
Category: Manners
He was good to the students
It was said that Ibn Abi Zayd [al-Qayrawaanee] wrote his famous book when he was [just] 17 years [of age].
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.
Three essential characteristics
You will not be a scholar until you possess three characteristics.
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.
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.
From the etiquettes of debating
al-Muwaffaq ibn Qudaamah would not debate anyone, except that he would smile [whilst doing so].
The various stages of knowledge
The first [stage] of knowledge is to listen [carefully], then [conscientiously] memorise it, then act according to it, then convey it [to others].