Sufyan At-Thawri wrote to Abbad ibn Abbad

Sufyan At-Thawri wrote to Abbad ibn Abbad with the following advice, “To proceed: You are living in a time from which the companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would seek refuge and they knew what we did not and they had precedence which we do not have. How is it for us, then, when we reach this time having little knowledge, little patience, few helpers for good, the people corrupted and the world polluted? So take to the original state of affairs and cling to it. I advise you to remain unknown, since this is the age for being anonymous; and remain aloof and mix little with the people, for before when the people met they would benefit from each other, but that time has passed and your safety – in our view – is in abandoning them. Beware of the Rulers; beware of coming near to them and mixing with them in the affairs. Beware of being deceived, such that it said to you: Intercede to help the oppressed, or repel some oppression – because that is the deception of Satan (iblees) which the wicked reciters have taken as a ladder to attain position.”

He continued, “It used to be said: Beware of the trial (fitnah) of the ignorant worshipper and the evil scholar, because the trial of these two is a trial for everyone. If you have questions and need judgment (fatwa), then take advantage of it but do not compete for it. Beware of being someone who loves for his saying to be acted upon, or that his saying is publicized and listened to, and if the people abandon him the sadness will be seen upon him.  Beware of the love of leadership, for leadership may be more beloved to a man than gold and silver, but it is something difficult and obscure; and this will not be understood except by scholars of wisdom. Seek after your lost soul, work with correct intention, and know that there has come a time so difficult a person will desire death. Peace be with you.”

[Hilyat Al-Awliya, Sufyan At-Thawri]

كَتَبَ سفيان إِلَى عَبَّادِ بْنِ عَبَّادٍ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّكَ فِي زَمَانٍ كَانَ أَصْحَابُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَتَعَوَّذُونَ أَنْ يُدْرِكُوهُ وَلَهُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَيْسَ لَنَا وَلَهُمْ مِنَ الْقَدَمِ مَا لَيْسَ لَنَا فَكَيْفَ بِنَا حِينَ أَدْرَكْنَاهُ عَلَى قِلَّةِ عِلْمٍ وَقِلَّةِ صَبْرٍ وَقِلَّةِ أَعْوَانٍ عَلَى الْخَيْرِ وَفَسَادٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَكَدَرٍ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا فَعَلَيْكَ بِالْأَمْرِ الْأَوَّلِ وَالتَّمَسُّكِ بِهِ وَعَلَيْكَ بِالْخُمُولِ فَإِنَّ هَذَا زَمَنُ خُمُولٍ وَعَلَيْكَ بِالْعُزْلَةِ وَقِلَّةِ مُخَالَطَةِ النَّاسِ فَقَدْ كَانَ النَّاسُ إِذَا الْتَقَوْا يَنْتَفِعُ بَعْضُهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ فَأَمَّا الْيَوْمَ فَقَدْ ذَهَبَ ذَاكَ وَالنَّجَاةُ فِي تَرْكِهِمْ فِيمَا نَرَى وَإِيَّاكَ وَالْأُمَرَاءَ أَنْ تَدْنُوَ مِنْهُمْ وَتُخَالِطَهُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ مِنَ الْأَشْيَاءِ وَإِيَّاكَ أَنْ تُخْدَعَ فَيُقَالُ لَكَ تَشْفَعُ وَتَدْرَأُ عَنْ مَظْلُومٍ أَوْ تَرُدُّ مَظْلِمَةً فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ خَدِيعَةُ إِبْلِيسَ وَإِنَّمَا اتَّخَذَهَا فُجَّارُ الْقُرَّاءِ سُلَّمًا

وَكَانَ يُقَالُ اتَّقُوا فِتْنَةَ الْعَابِدِ الْجَاهِلِ وَالْعَالِمِ الْفَاجِرِ فَإِنَّ فِتْنَتَهُمَا فِتْنَةٌ لِكُلِّ مَفْتُونٍ وَمَا لَقِيتَ مِنَ الْمَسْأَلَةِ وَالْفُتْيَا فَاغْتَنِمْ ذَلِكَ وَلَا تُنَافِسْهُمْ فِيهِ وَإِيَّاكَ أَنْ تَكُونَ كَمَنْ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ بِقَوْلِهِ أَوْ يَنْشُرَ قَوْلَهُ أَوْ يَسْمَعَ مِنْ قَوْلِهِ فَإِذَا تُرِكَ ذَاكَ مِنْهُ عُرِفَ فِيهِ وَإِيَّاكَ وَحُبَّ الرِّيَاسَةِ فَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ تَكُونُ الرِّيَاسَةُ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الذَّهَبِ وَالْفِضَّةِ وَهُوَ بَابٌ غَامِضٌ لَا يُبْصِرُهُ إِلَّا الْبَصِيرُ مِنَ الْعُلَمَاءِ السَّمَاسِرَةِ فَتَفَقَّدْ نَفْسَكَ وَاعْمَلْ بِنِيَّةٍ وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ قَدْ دَنَا مِنَ النَّاسِ أَمْرٌ يَشْتَهِي الرَّجُلُ أَنْ يَمُوتَ وَالسَّلَامُ

376 حلية الأولياء وطبقات الأصفياء ذكر طوائف من جماهير النساك والعباد أبو عبد الله سفيان بن سعيد الثوري