Al-Wāḥid

How the scholars invoke Al-Wāḥid.

1. "He asked, "Have you been pleased with Him? He said, "No. Abd al-Wahid then said, "So is your increase from Him the fasting and prayer? He said, "Yes. Abd al-Wahid said, "Were it not for my shyness toward you, I would tell you that your fifty years of worship are flawed. This means that the door of the heart had not been opened for him to ascend to the ranks of closeness through the works of the heart, and he is merely counted among the ranks of the People of the Right, because his additional acts are with bodily actions, which are the additions of the general people."

   — Imam al-Ghazali, Book 36: The Book of Love, Longing, Intimacy, and Contentment

2. "Musa ibn Mas'ud described sitting with al-Thawri as if surrounded by fire, observing his fear and anxiety. Mudar, the reciter, once recited the verse: "This is Our Book that speaks against you with truth... This caused Abd al-Wahid ibn Zayd to weep until he passed out. Upon awakening, he said, "By Your might, I will never cease striving to obey You. So help me with Your guidance in serving You.""

   — Imam al-Ghazali, Book 33: Fear and Hope

3. "and break it by leaving the appearance of the reciters, and save it from its afflictions by continually suspecting it." Abd al-Wahid ibn Zayd used to swear by God Almighty that God has not made anyone His intimate companion except with hunger; they did not walk on water except by it, nor was the earth expanded for them except by hunger, nor did God take charge of them except by hunger.""

   — Imam al-Ghazali, Book 23: The Book of Breaking the Two Desires

4. "One might even become so engrossed with a trivial worldly concern that he ponders deeply and walks past his intended location, forgetting the task he set out to accomplish. It was said to 'Abd al-Wahid ibn Zayd, "Do you know, in your time, of a man so absorbed in his own affairs that he is oblivious to others? He replied, "I know only of a man who will enter upon you this hour."

   — Imam al-Ghazali, Book 38: The Book of Self-Examination and Self-Reckoning