English Translation

Affan told us, Hammad ibn Salamah told us, al-Zubayr Abu Abd al-Salam informed us, from Ayyub ibn Abdullah ibn Mikraz — though he had not heard it directly from him, he said: those who sat with him told me, and I had seen him — from Wabisah al-Asadi — Affan said: he told me more than once, without saying "those who sat with him told me" — who said: I came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, intending not to leave anything of righteousness and sin without asking him about it, and around him was a band of Muslims seeking his rulings. I began trying to make my way through them, and they said, "Away with you, O Wabisah, from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him." I said, "Let me draw near to him, for he is the dearest of people to me that I should draw near to him." He said, "Let Wabisah be; come near, O Wabisah" — twice or three times. I drew near to him until I sat before him. He said, "O Wabisah, shall I tell you, or will you ask me?" I said, "No, rather tell me." He said, "You have come to ask me about righteousness and sin." I said, "Yes." He gathered his fingertips and began tapping them on my chest, saying, "O Wabisah, ask your heart, ask your soul" — three times — "Righteousness is that which the soul finds rest in, and sin is that which wavers in the soul and turns back and forth in the breast, even if people give you their rulings and rule for you."