A man asked Hadhrat Ibn Mubaarak (rahmatullah alayh): “Who is a pious man?”

Ibn Mubaarak: “A sincere practising Aalim.”

“Who is a king?”, the man asked. Ibn Mubaarak: The Zaahid in this world is a king.”

The man: “Who is a contemptible person?”

Ibn Mubaarak: “A man who earns the world (wealth, name and fame) with his knowledge and deeds.”