He was among the eminent figures of the Tābiʿūn (the generation following the Companions). He was from Basra. He was a person of virtue, taqwa (God-consciousness), worship, and zuhd (asceticism). His kunya was Abū Sabḥa. He would pray so much that, due to exhaustion from prayer, he could only reach his bed by crawling. He has many remarkable anecdotes. On one occasion, some young men who were amusing themselves and playing games passed by him. He said to them: "Tell me, my sons, about a people who, though they wish to reach a destination, lose their way during the day, stray from the path, and sleep at night—when will such a people ever cover the distance of their journey?" One of the youths said, "By Allah, my friends, this man means us by these words. We spend our days in amusement and our nights in sleep." After saying this, that young man became a follower of Ṣila b. Ashyam and worshipped with him, remaining by his side in worship until his death.
On another occasion, a young man passed by him, dragging the hem of his garment on the ground. Ṣila's companions wanted to speak to the youth, but Ṣila said, "Do not interfere with him. I will deal with him on your behalf." He then called the young man over and said:
- O son of my brother, I have a request of you.
- What is it?
- I would like you to raise your garment a little and not drag it on the ground.
- Certainly, with pleasure.
After this, the young man lifted his garment slightly off the ground. Ṣila then turned to his companions and said, "What you wished has been fulfilled in the best way. But if you had insulted this youth, he would have insulted you in return, and your aim would not have been achieved."
Jaʿfar b. Zayd narrates a memory regarding Ṣila b. Ashyam: "We went on a military expedition. Among the soldiers was Ṣila b. Ashyam. Our unit halted at nightfall. I said to myself, 'I will observe what Ṣila does tonight.' He entered a wooded area, and I followed him. He stood up and began to pray. A lion approached him. I climbed a tree. He thought the approaching lion was a puppy. He went into prostration. I thought, 'The lion will now tear him apart.' Ṣila rose from prostration, sat, then gave salām (ending the prayer), and turned to the lion, saying: 'O lion! If you have been commanded to do something, then do it; otherwise, seek your sustenance elsewhere.' The lion roared and turned away. Its roar was terrifying. Towards dawn, Ṣila sat and praised Allah with a praise the like of which I have never heard, then said: 'O Allah, I ask You to protect me from the Fire. Someone like me cannot even dare to ask You for Paradise.'"
After making this dua (supplication), he returned to the soldiers, and in the morning, it was as if he had slept among them in his bed. That morning, I felt some slackness, the extent of which only Allah knows. At that moment, Ṣila's mule, with its load on its back, had disappeared. Ṣila made dua: 'O Allah, I ask You to return my mule to me with its load.' After this supplication, the mule came and stood before him. When we encountered the enemy, Ṣila and Hishām b. ʿĀmir charged at them. We struck the enemy with spears and swords. The enemy said: 'Two men from among the Arabs have brought this calamity upon us and defeated us. If all of them were to fight us, what would become of us? Give the Muslims whatever they want and submit to their rule.'
Ṣila b. Ashyam said: During a military campaign, I became very hungry. While walking, I prayed to my Lord and asked Him for food. At that moment, I heard a voice from behind. When I turned, I saw a handkerchief containing a food bowl. The bowl was filled with fresh dates. I ate the dates until I was satisfied. In the evening, I went to the church of a monk and, upon entering, told him about this event. He asked me for some of the fresh dates that had been given to me. I gave him some to eat. Some time later, I visited the monk again and saw that he had beautiful, fresh dates with him. The monk said to me: 'These are the leftovers from the fresh dates you gave me.'
Some time later, the white handkerchief wrapped around the food bowl came into the possession of Ṣila's wife, who would show it to people.
When Ṣila was to marry Muʿāza, his nephew took him to the bathhouse. After washing him, he brought him to the bridal chamber, which was perfumed with incense. They stood and prayed until daybreak. His nephew came to him and said:
- O uncle! Last night I brought you together with my cousin Muʿāza, but instead of being with her, you stood up and prayed. What is the meaning of this?
- In the morning, you took me to such a house (the bathhouse) that it reminded me of the Fire of Hell. In the evening, you brought me to such a house (the bridal chamber) that it reminded me of Paradise. So I spent the night contemplating Paradise and Hell.
Someone said to Ṣila:
— Pray for me.
Ṣila replied:
— May Allah make you desirous of the everlasting abode of the Hereafter, make you ascetic in the perishing world, and grant you yaqīn (certainty) that is directed solely towards Him. Indeed, in matters of religion, only yaqīn is to be relied upon.
Ṣila b. Ashyam participated in a military expedition, accompanied by his son. He said to his son: 'O my son, advance and fight so that you may be killed and I may seek your reward from Allah.' His son charged at the enemy, fought, and was eventually killed. Then Ṣila himself charged at the enemy, fought, and was also killed. The women gathered around his wife, Muʿāza al-ʿAdawiyya. She said to them: 'If you have come to congratulate me, welcome. But if you have come to offer condolences, then return.'
Ṣila and his son died in a battle that took place in the Persian lands that year.