1. He was among the Tab-e-Taabieen having had the honour of meeting a large number of senior Tabieen.
Hunger was his salient feature. His diet was mainly dried out bread immersed in water. He would say: “One who is contented with dry bread is never dependent on others.” Sometimes extreme hunger would drive him to the home of Hadhrat Hasan Basri who would become delighted to receive him. One of his sayings is:
“Fortunate is the man who wakes up in the morning hungry, sleeps hungry and remembers Allah Ta’ala in his hunger.”
2. A man asked for some naseehat. Muhammad Waasi’ said: “Adopt abstinence (zuhd). Abandon greed. Know that all people are dependent. Do not ask your needs from anyone. If you follow this advice, you will become independent and you will acquire the kingdom of both worlds.”
3. Once he said to maalik Bin Dinaar:”It is more difficult to guard the tongue than guarding gold and silver.”
4. Someone enquired: “How are you?” Muhammad Waasi’ said: “What can I say about a man whose life is decreasing and sins increasing?”
5. He said: “A Saadiq (true saint) is not a perfect Saadiq as long as his khauf (fear) and raja (hope) are not equal. (There should be neither excess or deficiency in these attributes. A perfect balance between the two is necessary excess or deficiency leads to transgression of the limits.)
Source: Scattered Pearls