Sukayn al-Nakhai

1. [1/177] Rijal al-Kashshi: Muhammad b. Masud from al-Fadhl b. Shadhan from Ibn Abi Umayr from Ibrahim b. Abd al-Hamid who said: I made the Hajj with Sukayn al-Nakhai who became engrossed in worship [devoted himself to asceticism] and abandoned women, perfume, good clothes, good food, and used not to raise his head to look up at the sky when in the Masjid [out of fear of Allah]. When he (Sukayn) reached Madina [after making the Hajj] he came near to Abu Ishaq (al-Sadiq) عليه السلام and prayed by his side [in the Masjid of the prophet] then he said: may I be made your ransom – I want to ask you a few questions? He عليه السلام said: go [back to Kufa] and write them down then send them to me. So he (Sukayn) later wrote: may I be made your ransom, fear of Allah has entered the heart of a man such that he has abandoned [cohabiting with] women, good food, and he cannot raise his head to look at the sky, as for good clothes – he is doubtful about wearing them. So He عليه السلام wrote: as to your words about leaving women then you are well aware what the messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم had of women [multiple wives], and as for your words about leaving good food then know that the messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم used to eat meat and honey, and as for your words that fear has entered his heart until he cannot raise his head to the sky then he should increase in the recitation of this verse “the patient, the true ones, the obedient ones, those who spend [in the way of Allah], and those who seek forgiveness by dawn” (3:17).

"J'ai vu Al-Nakha'i avec une épée, il adorait et abandonnait les femmes, les parfums, les vêtements et les bons plats. Il ne levait pas la tête vers le ciel à l'intérieur de la mosquée. Quand il est arrivé à Médine, il s'est approché d'Abu Ishaq et a prié à côté de lui. Abu Ishaq lui a dit: 'Je te demande par Dieu, je veux te poser des questions.' Al-Nakha'i a répondu: 'Va écrire tes questions et envoie-les moi.' Il écrivit: 'Je te demande par Dieu, un homme a été saisi par la crainte de Dieu au point d'abandonner les femmes, les bons plats, et il ne peut pas lever la tête vers le ciel. Quant aux vêtements, il a des doutes à leur sujet.' Al-Nakha'i répondit: 'En ce qui concerne ton abandon des femmes, tu sais ce que le Messager de Dieu avait en termes de femmes. En ce qui concerne ton abandon des bons plats, le Messager de Dieu, que la paix et les bénédictions de Dieu soient sur lui, mangeait de la viande et du miel. En ce qui concerne ta crainte qui t'empêche de lever la tête vers le ciel, récite abondamment ces versets: 'Les endurants, les véridiques, les obéissants, ceux qui dépensent [dans le sentier d'Allah], et ceux qui implorent le pardon aux dernières heures de la nuit.'"