Imam Sahl al-Tustari's Sayings..

[Abu Hafsat]

As-Salaam alaikum,

 It is my pleasure to share with you some of the sayings of Shaykh al-arifin, Master of Knowers, Imam Sahl al-Tustari (d. 283 A.H/896 C.E) as follows:--

1. '' We have 6 principles: Holding fast to the Qur'an; taking the Sunnah as a guide; eating what is licit;

      quitting from harm and avoiding sin; Repentance; Fulfillment of obligations.''

2. '' Among the manners of the most truthful and trustful Saints (al-Siddiqin) is

      that they never swear by Allah, nor commit backbiting, nor does backbiting take place

    around them, nor do they eat to satiation. If they promise, they are true to their word,

   and they never speak in jest.''

3. ''Allah does not open the heart of a servant if it still contains 3 things: Loving to remain

   [in the world]; love of wealth; and concern about tomorrow.''

4. '' When the servant abides in a specific sin, all his good deeds are admixed with his

     egotism (hawa). His good deeds are not purified as long as he abides in a single sin.

   He will not deliver himself from his egotism until he outs from himself all that he knows to be abhorred by Allah.''

 

Culled from: 'Sahl Al-Tustari, may Allah be Merciful to him', by G.F Haddad

[Bint e Aisha]

Sahl al-Tustari, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

اجتمع الخير كله في هذه الأربع خصال وبها صار الإبدال إبدالاً إخماص البطون والصمت والسهر والاعتزال عن الناس

All good is combined in these four traits, and by them the righteous replacements became replacements: having slender bellies, silence, sleeplessness, and withdrawing from people.

Source: Qūt al-Qulūb 1/170