Al-Fudayl Ibn Iyad

Al-Dhahab describes Al-Fudayl b. Ayyd as an Imm, an example, and Shaykh AlIslm. He is renowned as one of the pious Salaf, and many wise and inspiring statements are related from him, Allh have mercy on him, so insha'Allah I wanted to dedicate this thread to some of these wise and inspiring statements, feel free to add any more that you come across bi'idnillah. Here is the story of how he made tawbah: Al-Fadl b. Ms reports: Al-Fudayl b. Ayyd used to be a highwayman, between Abyrd and Sarkhas. He was in love with a girl, and the cause of his repentance was that he was once climbing a wall to meet her when he heard someone reciting the following verses:

Has not the time come for those who believe, that their hearts should be humbled and submitted (to Allah)?
[Al-Hadd: 16] When he heard this, Al-Fudayl said, Indeed my Lord, it is time. So he left, and seeking a nights shelter he found himself at some ruins, and there he saw some travelers. Some of them said, We should move on. Others said, Wait until morning, Al-Fudayl operates in this area, he will rob us. Al-Fudayl said, So I thought and said to myself: I spend the night in sin and there are some Muslims here who fear me; I think that Allah only led me to them so that I might take lesson and stop what I am doing. O Allah! I have repented, and as part of my tawbah I will live next to Al-Bayt Al-Harm (in Makkah). Al-Dhahab, Siyar Alm Al-Nubal` in his biography of Al-Fudayl b. Ayyd. Al-Fudayl b. Ayyd [187H] Allah have mercy on him said:

Allah azza wa jalla accepts only those deeds which are both correct and sincere (pure). If the deed is done correctly but not sincerely, it will not be accepted. And if it is sincere but not correct, it will not be accepted. He was asked, Ab Al! What is the sincere and correct deed? He replied, The sincere deed is one that is done only for Allah azza wa jall. And the correct deed is one done according to the Sunnah.
Ab Nuaym, Hilyah Al-Awliy` Vol.8 p95. Al-Fudayl ibn Iyaadh said:

Whoever loves to be mentioned, will not be mentioned; and whoever dislikes to be mentioned, then he will be mentioned.
As-Siyar: 8/432

I was once with Al-Fudayl b. Ayyd in Makkah. He sat with us until midnight, then went and did tawf until the morning. I said, Ab Al! Wont you sleep? He replied, Woe to you! And is there anyone who hears a mention of the Fire and then feels like sleeping!?
It is reported that Bashr b. Al-Hrith said, Ab Bakr Al-Daynr, Al-Mujlasah wa Jawhir Al-Ilm, article 723

When backbiting appears, brotherhood for Allh will disappear; and at that time you will be like things plated with gold and silver: wooden on the inside, [merely] looking good on the outside.
It is reported that Al-Fudayl b. Ayyd said, Ab Nuaym, Hilyah Al-Awliy`, Vol. 3 p395.

I asked AlFudayl b. Ayyd Allh have mercy on him about patience (al-sabr) in the face of adversity and he said, It is to not broadcast it. I asked him about asceticism (al-zuhd) and he said, Al-zuhd is to be content with what you have, and that is what it means to be rich. I asked him about prudence (al-wara) and he said, It is to stay away from what is forbidden. And I asked him about humbleness (al-tawdu) and he said, It is when you submit to the truth and comply no matter who you hear it from; even if it was from the most ignorant of people, you would be required to accept it from him.
It is reported on the authority of Ibrhm b. Al-Ashath that he said, Ibn Abd Al-Barr, Jmi Bayn Al-Ilm wa Fadlihi Vol. 1 p498.

Fudail bin 'Iyad said, "Abandoning deeds because of people is riyaa' (showing off)! And doing deeds because of people is shirk (polytheism)! And ikhlaas (sincerity) is that Allah protects you from both of that." ('Bustan al-'Arifin' by Imam al-Nawawi) It is reported that Al-Fudayl b. Ayyd said:

If you can be unknown, be so; it doesnt matter if you are not known and it doesnt matter if you are not praised. It doesnt matter if you are blameworthy according to people if you are praiseworthy with Allh the Mighty and Majestic.
Al-Bayhaq, Al-Zuhd Al-Kabr p100.

Al-Fudayl ibn Iyad said, "As long as people are doing fine, their true nature is

concealed, but when calamity strikes, their true natures are revealed, so the believer resorts to his faith and the hypocrite resorts to his hypocrisy."
If you want to know if someone truly loves you purely for the sake of Allah then tell him something that will upset him or he will dislike, and see how he appears to you afterwards (Fudayl ibn Iyaad) Ar-Rashid, a first century ruler, once said to al-Fudayl bin Iyad, "Admonish me." "O Leader of the believers!" said al-Fudayl. "Indeed your grandfather, al-Abbas, the uncle of the Prophet, once went to the Prophet and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, appoint me to be a leader.' The Messenger of Allah said, 'My uncle, indeed, being a leader leads to sorrow, and regret on the Day of Resurrection. If you are able to go without ever being a leader, then do so!'" Moved to tears, ar-Rashid said, "Give me more." al-Fudayl looked at ar-Rashid and said, "O one who has a handsome face, if you are able to protect that face from the Hell-fire then do so. And beware of ever cheating or betraying your people." Being much moved by al-Fudayl's words, ar-Rashid wanted to reward him. "Do you have any debts?" he asked. "To my Lord, yes, and He will hold me accountable for them," said al-Fudayl. "I am of course referring to debts to other human beings," said ar-Rashid. After al-Fudayl answered in the negative, ar-Rashid said to one of his assistants, "Give him 1000 dinars, which he can use to help his family." Al-Fudayl was greatly offended by these words and said, "How perfect Allah is! I am guiding you to safety and you want to reward me with this paltry, worldly sum!" He then left, refusing to take anything. Fudayl ibn Iyad (rahimahullah) said:

Whoever fears Allah will not be harmed by anyone, while whoever fears others besides Allah will not be helped by anyone.
from pg 22, Ibn al-Jawzi, The Devils Deception

"If Iblees conquers the son Adam with one of the three [things] he says, 'I will not seek anything else from him. (1) being fond of himself, (2) deeming his deeds to be plentiful, and (3) forgetfulness... of his sins.'"
Fudayl ibn 'Iyad (rahimahullaah) said: - Siyar 'Alam al Nubala' of Imaam ad-Dhahabee al-Fudayl bin Iyad said:

Stick to the path of guidance, and do not be hurt by the small number of people who take this path, and beware of the path of misguidance, and do

not be fooled by the large number of people who destroy themselves on this path.
[''Uluww al-Himmah'; p. 41] al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyaad (rahimahullah) said: "There is no night when darkness comes but the Most Majestic calls out, 'Who is more generous than me? My creatures disobey Me but I take care of them in their beds as if they do not disobey Me. I continue to protect them as if they did not sin. I bestow generously upon the one who disobeys and I give generously to the sinner. Who is there that calls Me and I do not respond? Who is there that asks of Me and I do not give? I am the Most Generous and generosity comes from Me, I am the Most Kind and Kindness comes from Me. It is by My generosity that I give My slave what he asks Me for and what he does not ask Me for. It is by My generosity that I give to the one who repents as if he had never disobeyed Me. So where can my creation flee from Me? Where will the disobedient find refuge other than with Me?" [The World of Jinn and Devils, 'Umar al-Ashqar, p.219] al-Fudayl bin Iyad said:

If you love for the people to have exactly what you have (and nothing more), then you have not been true to your Lord. So, how is it when you secretly wish for them to have less than what you have?
['Jami' al-'Ulum wal-Hikam'; 1/309] When Al-Fudayl Ibn Iyad was asked about the difference between advising and exposing, he said:

A believer covers up and advises [his or her fellow believers], whereas an evildoer exposes and humiliates [others].
["Jami' Al-'Uloom wal-'Hikam",77]. Fudhayl Ibn Iyaad said: Associate with those who have good behavior, for they will only call you to goodness, and accompanying them brings comfort. As for ill-mannered persons, they only call to evil. Therefore, do notassociate with them, so that you save yourself from their ill conduct. I prefer associating with a sinner who has good mannerism, to associating with a worshiper whose mannerism with people is unbecoming. Verily, the former type (the sinner who has good conduct in public) uses caution with people, who like him because he is easy going, while the latter, who has bad mannerism, is despised and disliked to people. Rawdhaat Ul-Uqalaa, p64

Al-Fudhayl ibn Iyyaadh (rahimahullaah) said to a man: How many (years) have come upon you? He replied: Sixty years. He said: Therefore, for sixty years you have been going to your Lord and you are about to reach (Him). So the man said: To Allaah we belong and to Him we shall return! So Al-Fudhayl asked: Do you know the meaning of that (statement)? You are saying, I belong to Allaah as a servant and I am going to return to Him. So whoever knows that he belongs to Allaah as a servant and that he will return to Him, then he should know that he will be stopped. And whoever knows that he will be stopped, then he should know that he will be questioned. And whoever knows that he will be questioned, then let him prepare an answer for the question. Jaami al-Uloom wal-Hikam of Ibn Rajab

Aboo Bakr al-Kataanee said: A discussion about mahabbah took place in Makkah, during pilgrimage season. The Shaykhs who were present spoke about this topic, and al-Junayd being the youngest of them. They said to him: What do you say, O Iraaqee? So alJunayd lowered his head and tears were gushing from his eyes, then he said: A servant should overcome his soul, And be continuous in the remembrance of his Lord, Establishing the rights of his Lord, Focusing upon Him with his heart, The light of fear setting ablaze his heart, Whilst drinking from the vessel of pure love, And certain hidden realities being unveiled for him. So when he talks, it is due to Allaah, When he speaks, it is from Allaah, When he moves, it is by the Command of Allaah, And when he is serene, then it is from Allaah, He belongs to Allaah, is for Allaah and is with Allaah.

Upon hearing, the Shaykhs all started weeping, and they said: There is nothing left to add to that, may Allaah reward you O Crown of the Knowledgeable Ones.