The Salaf Preferred Not To Be Known (Part 2)

southenduponsunnah
Jun 29
2 min read

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In a time when people compete for prominence, aspire to positions occupied by those who came before them, and prefer speaking to listening, we should reflect on how the Salaf viewed fame, recognition and public prominence.

Sa'd bin Abu Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say, "Indeed, Allah loves the slave who is pious, not in need of others, and is unknown amongst the people." (1)

Hafiz an Nawawi (d.676H) said (in explanation of the hadith): i.e. unknown, focused on worship and preoccupied with his own affair. (2)

Ibrahim Bin Adham (d.162H): The servant who loves fame has not been truthful with Allah. (3)

Ayyūb al-Sakhtiyānī, Abū Bakr al-ʿAnazī (d.131H)

The Imam, the memoriser, the leader of the scholars, Abū Bakr ibn Abī Tamīmah Kaysān al-ʿAnazī. (4)

Humaidi (d.219H) narrated: Ibn Uyainah (Sufyan) (d.197H) met 86 from the tabieen and he would say I have never seen the likes of Ayyub. (5)

Makhlad ibn al-Ḥusayn said:

Ayyūb said:

"No servant has ever been truly truthful/sincere and also loved fame." (6)

Bishr bin Al-Haarith (d.227H) The Imam, the scholar, the memoriser, the ascetic, cultivator, leader, Shaykh of Islam, Abū Naṣr al-Marwazī, then al-Baghdādī. (7)

Bishr bin Al-Haarith (d.227H): A man that loves to be known by the people will not find the sweetness of (seeking) the hereafter. (8)

He also said: Whoever loves fame has not truly been dutiful to Allah. (9)

Ibn Mubarak said: Sufyan Ath-Thawri (d.161H) wrote to me: Spread your knowledge and beware of fame. (10)

Ibn Mubarak: Sufyan(Ath-Thawri) (d.161h) told me: Beware of fame, indeed I have never gone to anyone except he warned of fame. (11)

Thabit narrated that Muḥammad ibn Sireen (d.110H) said to me:

"O Abū Muḥammad, nothing prevented me from sitting with you (or keeping your company) except my fear of fame and public recognition. Yet trials and afflictions kept befalling me until I ended up standing upon the platform (i.e., in a public and prominent position)." (12)

https://www.southenduponsunnah.com/post/the-salaf-preferred-not-to-be-known-part-1

• (1) Extracted from Hadith Muslim 2965

• (2) Sharh An-Nawawi ‘Ala Sahih Muslim 18/100

• (3) Hilyah al-Awliyah 8/31; Siyar A’lam An-Nubala 7/393

• (4) Siyar A’lam An-Nubala 6/15

• (5) Siyar A’lam An-Nubala 6/17

• (6) Siyar A’lam An-Nubala 6/20

• (7) Siyar A’lam An-Nubala 10/469

• (8) Hilyah al-Awliyah 8/343

• (9) Siyar A’lam An-Nubala 10/476

• (10) Hilyah al-Awliyah 7/70

• (11) Siyar A’lam An-Nubala 7/260