Ibn Mas`ood: Hearts are like vessels

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Some people presented a scroll to Ibn Mas`ood رضي الله عنه saying that there is a good story written in there. So Ibn Ma`sood رضي الله عنه asked his slave girl to bring some water and started erasing what was written on that scroll while reciting:

نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ بِمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ هَـٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ

{We relate unto you (O Muhammad) the best of stories through Our Revelations unto you of this Qur’aan} [Surah Yusuf (12): 3

Ibn Mas`ood رضي الله عنه then said:

The hearts are like vessels. So let it be preoccupied with the Qur’aan and do not let it be preoccupied with anything other than it.

[Jaami` Bayaan al-`Ilm (358)]