Imam al-Bukhari

Al-Adab al-Mufrad - by Imam Al-Bukhari - - A code For Everyday Living: The Example of the Early Muslims
Imam al-Bukhari is world-renowned for his major work, “al Jami’ al Sahih” (”Sahih al Bukhari”), but he has also produced a number of other works, including “Al-Adab al-Mufrad”, here translated into English. This book is a compilation of ahadith on Islamic morals and manners from various sources.

V. Looking after children

45. A child is a source of both honour and cowardice

84. ‘A’isha said, “Abu Bakr said, ‘By Allah, there is no man on the face of the earth that I love better than ‘Umar.’ Then he went out and came back and said, ‘How did I swear, daughter?’ I told him what he had said. Then he said, ‘He is dearer to me although one’s child is closer (to one’s heart).’”

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Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah

Ikhlaas (sincerity) cannot coexist in a heart which [embraces] the love of praise and commendation, [nor] the yearning [to obtain] that which is possessed amongst the people, save in the [manner] that fire and water, or a lizard and fish may coexist.

If your soul informs you to quest for Ikhlaas, turn first towards your yearning and slaughter it with a knife [in a state] of desperation. Then turn [in a state of] asceticism upon praise and commendation, the asceticism of the [one] who loved the Dunya for the sake of the Hereafter. If your quest in the [act] of slaughtering the yearning, and [the acquisition of] asceticism [against] praise and commendation is successful, your [journey] shall be facilitated in your [quest] for Ikhlaas.

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