[9] Some Extraordinary Personalities of The First Three Generations
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Abu Ali, Ahmad Bin Aasim Al-Antaakee, may Allah have mercy upon him
He was well known for his fine admonitions. He was a Zahid and a devout worshipper. He narrated hadith from Abu Mu’aawiyah Ad-Dareer, may Allah have mercy upon him, and those at his level.
He said, “One of the bounties is that you rectify matters during what is left from your lifespan so that you are forgiven what has already elapsed”.
He said, “Whoever (truly) knows Allah will fear Allah more than others”.
He said, “The best companion in your worldly life is the one who cuts you off from the (excesses) of the worldly life and connects you to the matters of the Afterlife”. [1]
He said: “People are three types: Those dominated by their sound natural disposition and they are the believers. When heedless, they are reminded and they take heed. Those whose natural disposition is overcome, but when they are made to see (the truth, reality), they perceive it and return through the strength of (sound) intellect. Those whose natural disposition is overcome, possess no sound natural disposition, and there is no way of bringing them back through admonitions.” [2]
He said: “The most beneficial intellect is the one that makes you acknowledge Allah’s blessings, aids you to be grateful and oppose (evil) desires”. [3]
He said: The most beneficial type of fear is that which restrains you from sins, prolongs your sorrow over what has elapsed, and obligates to you to contemplate what remains from your lifespan and the end of your affair. The most beneficial type of truthfulness is your acknowledgement – in the presence of Allah – the faults of your own soul. The most beneficial type of shyness is that you feel shy in Allah’s presence for asking what you love while committing what He dislikes. The most beneficial type of patience is that which strengthens you to turn away from your (vain) desires. The best type of jihad is to strive against your own soul in order to return it to accept the truth. [4] [end of quotes]
O Allah! Grant us what is good in this life and the next, and include us among your obedient servants Amin.
[1] An Excerpt from Al-Bidaayah Wan-Nihaayah. 10/318
[2] Siyar A’lam An-Nubula 11/410
[3] Seerah As-Salaf As-Saaliheen. 1/1073. Chapter: A mention of the At’baa at-Taabi’een
[4] Sifatus Safwah 2/418