Question

Please provide the reference and Arabic text of the following:

Hasan Basri (rahimahullah) said: “Whoever competes with you in your religion, then mutually compete with him, but whoever competes with you in [matters of this] world, then dump it around his neck.”

 

Answer

‘Allamah Ghazali (rahimahullah) has cited this statement of Hasan Basri (rahimahullah).

Hasan Basri (rahimahullah) said: “Whoever competes with you in matters of religion, then compete with him. But whoever competes with you in worldly matters, then throw it around his neck [i.e. worldly rivalry is not worth competing over].”

(Ihya ‘Ulumid Din, vol. 6 ,pg. 29)

Imam Abu Bakr ibn Abi Shaybah (rahimahullah) has recorded the following wording:

Hasan Basri (rahimahullah) said: “When you see a man competing for worldly gains, compete with him instead for the Hereafter.”

(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 36351)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

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التخريج من المصادر العربية:

إحياء علوم الدين: (٢٩/٦)
وقال الحسن رحم الله أقواما كانت الدنيا عندهم وديعة فأدوها إلى من ائتمنهم عليها ثم راحوا خفافا وقال أيضا رحمه الله من نافسك في دينك فنافسه ومن نافسك في دنياك فألقها في نحره.

مصنف ابن أبي شيبة: (٣٦٩/١٩)
(٣٦٣٥١) – حدثنا عفان ، قال : حدثنا حماد بن زيد ، قال : حدثنا أيوب ، قال سمعت الحسن يقول : إذا رأيت الرجل ينافس في الدنيا فنافسه في الآخرة.