Nadhirah Baharin: Dawah quotes .. lets ponder

Man once went to Raabi’ah bint Isma’il al-’Adawiyyah, who was known by the titles, ‘Mother of Goodness,’ and, ‘The Famous Worshipper.’ He said, ‘Indeed, I have perpetrated a great number of sins. If I repent, do you think that Allah will accept my repentence?”

She said, “Woe unto you! Do you not see that He invites those who turn away from Him; then why wouldn’t He accept the repentance of those who turn towards Him?”

The following is one of the famous sayings of al-Hasan, may Allah have mercy on him:

“Before He created us, Allah knew that we would sin and disobey Him, yet He still made us Muslims. O sinners, hurry to repent before the pangs of death overcome you, before the time of utter regret is upon you. Work, for death is coming, and everything that is coming is near at hand. Death hovers over you day and night; it will not come late, not even for one who has lost track of time.”

Talq bin Habib said, “Indeed, the rights of Allah are too great for His slaves to be able to fulfill them. And indeed, His favors and blessings are too many for them to be able to enumerate them. Then [the only way to safety] is for you to wake up every morning and repent for your sins, and go to bed every night and repent for your sins.”

Al-Hasan once said, “O son of Adam, to abstain from a sin is easier for you than curing it later on through repentance. How can you be sure that you will not commit a deed so grave in its wickedness that the door of repentance will be closed before you?”

Shaqiq said, “Weeping over past misdeeds, being afraid of perpetrating a sin again, forsaking the company of evildoers, and adhering to the company of the righteous- these are the hallmarks of a sincere repentance.”

It was stated that if someone asked to see Ibrâhîm An-Nakha’î, while he was at home, but he disliked to go outside to meet him, he would tell his servant: “tell him to ask for me in the Masjid and do not say: I am not here, so that it does not count as a lie”.

It was narrated that a wise man used to say if he ever finds a person who talks much and rarely is silent: “Allâh subhânahu created for you two ears and one tongue so that what you hear is double to what you talk”.

Ar-Rabî’ bin Subaih narrated that a man said to al-Hasan: O Abû Sa’îd I see something I dislike, Abû Sa’îd replied: what is that? He said:” I see people attending your place looking for any mistake you make so they can spread it amongst people to ruin your reputation. Al-Hasan replied: O’ My nephew: Do not let this matter be heavy on your chest and bother you. I will tell you what is greater and surprising than that. The man replied: what is that, uncle? He said: “I obeyed myself in every aspect that gets me closer to Allâh, hoping to enter Jannah, be saved from hell-fire and to be with the prophets. However, I never obeyed myself when it comes to listen to what people has say i.e. backbiting, slandering or whatever is evil. You need to know that if anyone has to be preserved from people’s tongues evilness then it has to be the creator who created them. Thus, knowing that, the created is normally to be never protected from their evil tongues.

Jubair bin ‘Abdullâh said: I saw a man approaching Wahb bin Manbah saying to him: “There is someone who backbites you” so Wahb replied: “Did not the shaitân find anyone else but you to muck with and make him look like a fool? Then it was just moments after that and the man came so he welcomed him and treated him kindly.

Hâtim bin al-’Âsim said: “If a respectable good man sits with you, you would be watching every word you utter so that you do not say something wrong. Yet, you know that your words are watched by Allâh but you still do not watch the words you utter.

Abû Haiyân at-Tamîmî narrated from his father saying: “I saw the daughter of ar-Rabî’ bin Khathîm asking his permission to go and play so he replied to her: go and utter nothing but goodness.

A man backbited someone while he was in the presence of Ma’rûf al-Karkhî so Ma’rûf said, warning the man about the danger of backbiting: “keep in mind, always, the time when they put pieces of cotton in your eyes, referring to his death”

A man told Amr bin al-’Ubaid: al-Aswârî still backbites you and mentions you with no good , so Amr replied: “You did not fulfill the trust of the man when he let you sit with him since you told us what he said furthermore, you did not fulfill my rights upon you when you told me what I dislike to hear about one of my brothers. However, advise him that death will happen to all of us, the grave will hold us inside and the judgment day will gather us and then Allâh will be the judge between us and he is, truly, the most just wise judge.

Al-Mu’âfî bin Mu’rân once was asked: what do you say of a man who writes poetry? He replied: it is his life so let him waste it if he wishes the way he likes!

Ibn ‘Abbâs (radiy Allâhu ‘ahumâ) said: There is no word that son of Âdam utters without being written, even the pain humming he makes because of his sickness. So when Imâm Ahmad was sick he was told that Tâwûs disliked pain humming of sickness so Imâm Ahmad stopped doing so, although the pain was great.

al-Hasan bin Sâlih said: “We searched into where Wara’ (refers to the status where a person avoid doing what is Halâl fearing that it has a suspicion of Harâm) can be found, and we realized that Wara’ is rarely can be found and if it is found it will be the least of it in tongues”.

‘Abdullâh al-Khaiyâr used to say when he sits with people : “O Allâh save us and protect us and save the believers from the evilness of our tongues”.

Some of the Salaf used to say: “every hour which son of Âdam lived will be viewed and screened to him. And every hour he lived and did not mention or remembered Allâh in that hour, he will weep on himself for wasting such an hour”.

Al-Hasan bin Bashshâr once said: “I observed my tongue for thirty years so that I never uttered a word that require me to apologize for”.

Bishr bin Mansûr once said: “we were once sitting with Aiyûb al-Sakhtiyânî and we talked and backbited others. Consequently, stop it for if I wished to tell you all what I have talked about today I would have done already, but I will not”.

A man once told al-Fudail bin ‘Iyâd: “A man backbited me”. Al-Fudail replied: “He benefited you rather than harmed you” (referring to the fact that he will take from the good deeds of the one who backbited him in judgment day as a result of this).

A man once said to Bakr bin Muhammad: “I was told that you are talking about me behind my back”. Bakr replied: “If I did then you are more precious to me than myself”.

It was narrated that one of known respectable scholars was seen in a dream where he was asked about what happened to him after death. He replied:” “I am not passing through because of a word I said before” he was asked: what was it? He replied: “I said: people need rain badly (because they did not have rain for long time). Because of that word, I was told by Allah: “and what do you know! I know the interest of my slaves and what is beneficial to them”.

‘Abdullah bin Muhammad once said: I was with Imâm Ahmad bin Hanbal when a man told him: O Abû ‘Abdullâh, I have backbited you, please forgive me for what I did. So Imâm Ahmad said: You are forgiven if you do not do it again. After he said that I said to him surprisingly: O Abû ‘Abdullâh you simply forgave him for what he did! He replied to me: “did you not see me conditioning my forgiveness by not doing it ever again?”

Some people came to Ibn Sîrîn and said to him: we backbited you, so forgive us for what we did!! He replied: I will never make lawful what Allâh made unlawful (he indicated that they still need to repent and ask Allâh forgiveness while he himself had forgiven them).

Tawq bin Munbih said: I entered upon Muhammad bin Sîrîn once and when he saw me, he said to me: It seems as if you are in pain and sick, I replied positively saying Yes, I am. He said after, well go see that doctor and ask him to treat you or go see another doctor as he is more expert than him. He immediately said after that : ” I ask Allâh’s forgiveness because of what I have just said for what I said is backbiting in Allâh’s right” (He meant: advising him to see slave of Allâh is a sin as he should have advise him to seek Allâh’s assistance).

It was narrated that al-Hasan was once told that a man has backbited you. He immediately sent that man who backbited him a plate full of dates and sent a message saying: I wanted to reward you for giving me more reward, yet please forgive me as I cannot thank you enough for what you did for me”.

Abû Umâmah al-Bâhilî once said: “In judgment day, the slave of Allâh will be given his book of deeds, where he finds rewards for things he did not do, so he asks: O My Lord, where did I get these deeds? So Allâh replies to him saying:” these are because of the people who backbited you and you did not know about it”.

Some wise men once asked: What is the wisdom behind that at the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) the filthy smell of backbiting was easily distinguished while nowadays we cannot distinguish this filthy smell anymore! He replied: “It is because the filthy smell of backbiting filled our noses, nowadays, so that we know no other smell but that one. The example of this: A man who enters a shop of leather tanner who cannot stay there because of the strong smell while the people who work there, eat, drink and they never even notice that smell because it fills their noses and they are used to that smell, which is the same situation of us nowadays.

‘Abdullâh bin al-Mubârak once said to Sufiân ath-Thawrî : O Abdullâh, how amazing that Abu Hanîfah never backbites anyone so that he never even backbited an enemy of his. Sufiân replied: “He is more reasonable and smart to let his tongue be controlled with what erases his good deeds”.

A man entered upon ‘Umar bin ‘Abdul-’Azîz once and backbited another man. ‘Umar bin ‘Abdul-’Azîz said to this man: if you wish we will investigate what you say so if we find you a liar then you are one of those who Allah said about them {O ye who believe! If a wicked person comes to you with any news, ascertain the truth, lest ye harm people unwittingly and afterwards become full of repentance for what ye have done.} [Verse 6 of Sûrah No. 49] and if you were honest and what you said is true then you are one of those who Allâh said about them: { A slanderer, going about with calumnies,} [Verse 11 of Sûrah No. 68] or you can ask forgiveness. The man replied: I ask forgivenss and will never do it again.

A man came to ‘Abdullâh bin ‘Umar – at the time he was a ruler – and said to him: I heard that someone mentioned me with bad behind my back in front of you. ‘Abdullâh bin ‘Umar said: Yes, it happened. The man said: Let me know what he said so that I defend myself and show you that what was said are lies. ‘Abdullâh bin ‘Umar said: “I dislike uttering evilness about myself by cursing my tongue. Yet, it is enough to know that I did not believe what was said and still joining the relationship between you and me. [Finsihed today: Wednesday: 12 / Jumâdâ al-Âkhirah/ 1428 (June 27, 2007)]

Sufyan ath-Thawri said: “Man’s love for the life of this world is shown in the way he greets people.”[Look at a chaste poor man ... nobody talks to him. People greet him so warily as if fearing that he may pass poverty to them. But see how the people welcome a rich man, even if he does not perform prayer. They stand up with smiling faces, and each one hopes to greet him first. Note the difference between a man who is so great as seen by Allah and another who does not even weigh a mosquito's wing - but this is life.]

Narrated Muhammad ibn Abi Imran, “I heard a man asking Hatim al-Asamm: ‘On what have you based your dependence on Allah?’ He said: ‘On four points: I knew that my sustenance cannot be eaten by someone else and I am assured, I knew that my duty cannot be done by anyone else, so I kept myself busy with that. I knew that death will come suddenly to me, so I prepared myself for it. I knew that wherever I go I am under Allah’s Eye, so I am always shy of Him.’”

Abdullah ibn Mubarak said, “O man! Prepare yourself for the Hereafter, obey Allah to the extent of your need for Him and anger Him to the extent of your patience in Hell.”

Abu Safwan ar-Ru`wini was asked: “What is that life dispraised by Allah in the Qur’an and that the sensible man should avoid?” He said: “Whatever you love in this life seeking worldly benefits is dispraised, and whatever you love seeking benefits in the Hereafter is praised.”

Yahya ibn Mu`adh said, “O how poor is man, if he fears Hell in the same degree of his fearing poverty, then he will enter Paradise.”

Ali ibn Al-Fudayl said: “I heard my father saying to Ibn Al-Mubarak: You order us to renounce the worldly pleasures and to be satisfied with the minimum, whereas you are buying goods, so what is that?” He said: “I do that to protect my face and my honour, and this helps me obey my Rabb.” My father said: “How good is that if realised.”

Al-Hasan said: “How good is life in this world for a believer because he uses it to prepare his provisions for Paradise. And how evil it is for a disbeliever who uses it to prepare his provisions for Hell.”

Shumait ibn `Ajlan used to say: “Two persons are tormented in the life of this world: a rich man who is given a great wealth that keeps him so busy with worldly pleasures, and a poor man who is deprived of such pleasures for which he is longing with a heartbreak.

Yahya ibn Mu`adh said: “The life of this world is a house of deeds and the Hereafter is a house of horrors. Man remains between deeds and horrors until he settles either in Paradise or in Hell.”

If you make intense supplication and the timing of the answer is delayed, do not despair of it. His reply to you is guaranteed; but in the way He chooses, not the way you choose, and at the moment He desires, not the moment you desire. – Ibn Ata’illah Iskandari

An ascetic said: “I know none who has heard of Paradise and Hell, then spends an hour of his life without praying, remembering Allah or doing a good deed.” A man said: “I weep so much.” He said to him: “To laugh and admit your sins is better than to weep and feel proud of your deeds.” The man said: “I need your advice.” He said: “Abandon the life of this world to its people as they have abandoned the Hereafter to its people.”

Al-Hasan said: “How good is life in this world for a believer because he uses it to prepare his provisions for Paradise. And how evil it is for a disbeliever who uses it to prepare his provisions for Hell.”

One of the salaf said: “Beware of the life of this world because its magic is more effective than that of Harut and Marut. The two latter’s separate a man from his wife whereas the life of this world separates a man from his Rabb.”

Abu Dardaa’ (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “Everyone has an imperfection of knowledge and wisdom, if his wealth increases, he becomes so happy though day and night are working hard on destroying his life-span. So what is good of a wealth that increases and a life-span that decreases.”

Al-Hasan al-Basri said: “I am astonished about those people who are ordered to prepare their provisions, then the start of the journey is announced, however they remain unmindful in their vain discussions and fruitless deeds.”

A man came to Sufyan ath-Thawree seeking his advice, and he said to the man: “Work for the sake of this life within the extent of your stay in it, and for the Hereafter within the extent of your stay therein.

Al-Fudayl ibn `Ayyad said: “Man’s fear of Allaah is equal to his knowledge of Him and his renunciation of worldly pleasures is equal to his desire in the Hereafter.”

“How sweet Eman is when it’s beautified with Knowledge. And how sweet Knowledge is when it’s beautified with Implementation. And how sweet Implementation is when it’s beautified with Kindness. The greatest pair of things is Implementation coupled with Kindness.”

“It’s good to leave each day behind, like flowing water, free of sadness. Yesterday is gone and its tale told. Today new seeds are growing.”

“When the world pushes you to your knees, it’s a great time to prostrate.”

“What has he lost who has found you (O Allaah), and what has he found who has lost you (O Allaah).”

“A calamity that makes you turn to Allaah, is better than a blessing which makes you forget the remembrance of Allaah.”

“O Lord, my sins are great, but a small amount of Your forgiveness is greater than them. O Allaah, forgive the greatness of my sins with a little of Your mercy.”

“When you fear the creation, you feel repelled by it and run away from it, but when you fear the Creator, you feel close to Him and run towards Him.”

“When your brother is out of your sight, mention him as you would like him to mention you when you are out of his sight.”

“At the extremity of hardship comes relief and at the tightening of the chains of trials and tribulations comes ease.”

“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.”

“He who has not looked on Sorrow will never see Joy.”

“Life is but a moment, let it be a moment of obedience.”

Fudail Ibn Iyad Said ” One is an evil-doer and thinks himself a good person, ignorant and thinks himself a scholar, greedy and thinks himself generous, stupid and thinks himself intelligent; Your life is short and your hopes are unlimited.”

‘Verily, the one who conquers his desire is stronger than the one who takes over a city alone.”

“Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.”

“Verily my happiness is my Imaan and verily my Iman is in my heart and verily my heart doesn’t belong to anyone but Allaah.”

“When it’s dark, you can see the stars.”

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

“Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become character.
Watch your character, they become destiny.”

“Allaah knows the fraud of the eyes, and all that the breasts conceal” [Quran, Ghâfir (40):19]

‘Abdullâh b. ‘Abbâs – Allâh be pleased with him said; A man is with a group of people when a woman passes. He shows them that he has lowered his gaze from looking at her. But when he sees they are not paying attention, he looks at her. If he fears they will notice, he lowers his gaze, but Allâh has seen in his heart that he wishes he could see her body (private areas). In Hunâd b. Al-Sarî, Al-Zuhd article 1428

Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (radyAllahu`anhu) said, “He who enters the grave without any provisions is as though he wishes to sail the sea without a ship.” An ascetic once said, “The one who sins while laughing, Allaah will make him enter the Fire while crying. And the one who obeys while crying (out of fear of Allaah) Allaah will make him enter Paradise while laughing.”

Ibrahim al-Nakha`i said, “Those who were destroyed before you were destroyed due to three traits – excess in speech, excess in food, and excess in sleep.”

Yahya ibn Mu`adh al-Razi said, “Glad tidings to the one who leaves the dunya before it leaves him, prepares for his grave before he enters it, and pleases his Lord before he meets Him.”

Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “Once, Jibril had promised to visit the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). But, he delayed, and this became difficult for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to handle. Finally, he came out to find Jibril, who complained to him: “We do not enter a home in which there is a picture or a dog.”” [Sahih al-Bukhari’ (5960)]

Abu Hamid al-Ghazzali (may Allaah have Mercy on him) said: “And the heart is also a home. It is the home of the Angels, where they descend, where they reside. Despicable characteristics, such as anger, desires, belittlement, envy, arrogance, self-amazement, etc. are all barking dogs. So, how can the Angels enter such a place while it is crawling with dogs?”

Ibn Jama’ah (may Allaah have Mercy on him) said: “The student of knowledge is to clean his heart out from every bit of blemish, deceit, envy, and bad character in order to condition himself to soak up and memorize knowledge and discover its detailed meanings and hidden treasures. Knowledge is – as some have said – the secret prayer, the worship of the heart, and the inner means of gaining nearness to Allaah. And just as prayer – the worship of the external limbs – is not accepted except with external purification from filth and impurity, likewise, knowledge – the worship of the heart – is not facilitated except if you purify yourself from the filth of low and despicable characteristics and manners.

al-Khatib (may Allaah have Mercy on him) said “The student of knowledge must set aside amusement, useless talk, and low speech when meeting and gathering with others, such as immaturity, laughter, giggling, and excessive joking. It is allowed for him to laugh mildly and rarely in a way that does not exceed the limits of the manner and style of one who is dealing with knowledge. As for constantly doing this, speaking about inappropriate, immature, and childish matters, excessive laughter and joking – this all reduces one’s esteem and manhood. And if you clean your heart out for knowledge, its blessing becomes clear and evident, just like the plot of land that is fertile for agriculture, and in the hadith: “Indeed, and in the body there is a piece of flesh. If it is sound, the rest of the body will be sound. If it is corrupt, the rest of the body will be corrupt. Indeed, it is the heart.” And Sahl: “It is forbidden for any light to enter the heart while it contains anything that Allaah – the Mighty and Majestic – hates.”” Tadhkirat as-Sami’ wal-Mutakallim’

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have Mercy on him) said: “And sins leave ugly, despicable, and harmful effects to the heart and body in this world and the next that none know except Allaah. From them is that one is prevented from knowledge, as knowledge is a light that Allaah places into the heart, and sins put out this light.

When ash-Shafi’i sat in front of Malik to read to him, he was amazed at what he was seeing of ash- Shafi’i’s intelligence, wisdom, and complete understanding and comprehension, saying: “I see that Allaah has placed light in your heart. So, don’t put it out with the darkness of sin.”

Yahya Ibn Mu’aadh Ar-Raazee stated: “This worldly life is the Devil’s intoxicant (Khamr). Whoever is intoxicated by it will not regain consciousness until they are in the ranks of the dead, in a state of regret, among the losers.” In the book ‘Uddah As-Saabireen of Al-Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, p. 349, Daar Ibn Al-Jawzee.

Ibn Al-Qayyim said in the same book, “The intoxicating effect of loving this world is far more potent than the intoxication that results from drinking alcohol by a long way. The one who is intoxicated by this will not gain his senses until he is in the darkness of his grave, and [if he regains his senses] and the effects of this cease while he is living then he will surely appreciate the extent of intoxication that this worldly life can cause and that it is more severe than alcohol…” (p. 349)

Ibn Al-Qayyim said, “Numerous narrations have been transmitted from the rightly guided predecessors where [they have mentioned] that the love of this world is the root of (all) sins and the source of them.” (p. 349)

He said, “The love of this world and leadership is that which has filled the Hellfire with its inhabitants, and the practice of abstinence as it relates to the life of this world and leadership is that which has filled paradise with its inhabitants.” (p. 349)”

Do not let the temporary and little charms of this world distract you and entice you and do not say tomorrow and tomorrow, for indeed you do not know when you will be heading to Allaah.” — Hasan Al Basri

“And verily for everything that a slave loses there is a substitute, but the one who loses Allaah will never find anything to replace Him.” [Related by Ibn al-Qayyim in ad-Dâ' wad-Dawâ Fasl, 49]

“Indeed, what kind of piety is there in a person who witnesses Allaah’s sanctities being violated, his religion abandoned, the Sunnah of His Messenger shunned, and yet remains still with a cold heart and a shut mouth? Such a person is like a dumb Shaytan!” Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (rahimahullah).

Imâm Muhammad bin Sîrîn (rahimahullâh) said: “If you were to find out that your brother has done something bad, then you should look after an excuse for him, if you can’t find an excuse, you should say “He has an excuse.”” (Shu´b-ul-Îmân (6/323) by Imâm al-Bayhaqî)

“Don’t depend too much on anyone in this world because even your own shadow leaves you when you are in darkness.” – Ibn Taymiyyah

‘Ali bin Abi Taalib – may Allaah be pleased with him – said: “Shall I not tell you who the real faqeeh is? He is one who does not make people despair of Allaah’s mercy, yet he does not give them concessions to disobey Allaah. He does not make them feel safe from Allaah’s plan and he does not leave the Qur’aan. There is no good in worship that involves no efforts to gain fiqh, and there is no good in seeking fiqh without seeking a thorough understanding. And there is no good in reading without contemplating.” – Al-Aajurri in Akhlaaq Al-’Ulamaa’ #45, Al-Khateeb in Al-Faqeeh wa Al-Mutafaqqih 2/338-339.

Abu Hurayrah – may Allaah be pleased with him – said: “There is no illness that afflicts me more beloved to me than fever: it enters every part of me and [because of it] Allaah the Mighty and Sublime gives every part of me its share of reward.” Shaykh Al-Albaani’s Saheeh Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 1/198.

It is reported from Al-Hasan Al-Basri – may Allaah have mercy on him – that he said: “It used to be said: it is part of an-Nifaaq (hypocrisy) to be inwardly different from what you are on the outside, to say one thing and do another and to be different in how you enter and how you leave. And the root of an-Nifaaq is lying.”Abu Bakr Al-Kharaa’iti, Masaawee Al-Akhlaaq wa Madhmoomihaa, p62.

A man came to Maymoon bin Mahraan – may Allaah be please with him – to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Maymoon said, “I do not approve of her for you.” The man asked, “Why?” He replied, “Because she loves jewelry and garments.” To this the man said, “Well I have as much of those as she desires.” Maymoon said, “Now I don’t approve of you for her.” Adh-Dhahabi , Siyar A’laam Al-Nubalaa’ in his biography of Maymoon bin Mahraan.

Imaam Maalik Ibn Anas (d.179H) said to ash-Shaafi’ee (d.204H) when the two of them met: “Indeed I see that Allaah has placed a light upon your heart, so do not extinguish it with the darkness of disobedience and sin.”[I’laamul-Muwaqqi’een (4/258) of Ibnul-Qayyim.]

“One should treat money with grace so that it is blessed for him, not take it with greediness and fear that it might be lost. Rather, money should be like using the toilet. You go to it when you need it and never let it reside in your heart.” Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah {Majmu’ Al-Fatawa, vol.10, p.662}

Abu Ubayd Al-Asqalaani said: “I have not seen Abu Ubaidah Al-Khawas laugh for forty years. It was said to him: “Why don’t you laugh?” He said: “How can I laugh while a Muslim is still imprisoned by the Mushrikeen?!”["Sifat Al-Safwah", 2/416].

Bilal bin Sa’d has said: “A brother who remembers you of Allaah when you meet him, is better than a friend who places a dinar in your hand every time you meet him”. ["Hilyatul Awliyaa", 5/225].

Ibn al-Jawzi said; ” How strange! You loose a little from you and you cry. And your whole life is wasting and you’re laughing”

It is reported that ‘Awn b. ‘Abdillâh, the ascetic and jurist, said, “Sit with the repentant, for they have the softest hearts.” Abû Nu’aym, Hilyah Al-Awliyâ` Vol. 2 p192.

Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) said: ”knowledge is more important than food without food the worst that will happen is death, but without knowledge the worst thing that will happen is eternity in the Hellfire.”

Mua’dh ibn Jabal (may Allaah be pleased with him) said ”Knowledge (Ilm) is a comforting friend in times of loneliness, it is the best companion during travels, & it is the inner friend who speaks to you in your privacy”

Ibn Al-Jawzi writes: “Abu Darda (may Allaah be pleased with him) used to sit next to graves and when he was asked about this, he replied, ‘I am sitting amongst those people who remind me of the hereafter and when I leave, they will not backbite me”. [Minhaj Al-Qasideen, 432]

Yahyaa Ibn Mu’aadh said:ا “The night is long don’t shorten it with your sleep and the day is pure so do not make it filthy with your sins.” ["Sifatus-Safwah", 4/94].

Ash-Shafi’ee: “Knowledge is ignorance for the ignorant ones, and ignorance is ignorance for the knowledgeable ones.” (Adab Shar’iyyah 1/2280)

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali has narrated: Maalik Ibnu Dinaar said: “The daughter of Ar-Rabi’u Bnu Khaytham said to her father: “O my father, why don’t you sleep, whilst everyone else is sleeping?” He said: “The Fire of Hell does not allow your father to sleep”. ["At-Takhwief min An-Naar", 37].

The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam said “The one who looks after and works for a widow and for a poor person, is like a warrior fighting for Allaah’s Cause or like a person who fasts during the day and prays all the night.” Narrated Abu Huraira (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam said as above. [Sahih Bukhari]

Ibn al-Qayyim al jawziyyah rehimullah: ”The Shaitan has misled most people by beautifying for them the performance of certain voluntary acts of worship such as voluntary prayers and voluntary fasting while neglecting other obligatory acts of worship such as enjoining the good and eradicating the evil [Da'awah], to the extent that they do not even make the intention of performing them whenever they are able to. Such people are considered by the scholars to be on the bottom of the scale of religion: For the essence of our religion is to perform what Allaah ordered us to do.

Ibn-ul-Jawzee: “If a Muhaddith reports a hadeeth the hearer knows, then he is not allowed to interrupt him.”(Adab Shar’iyyah 2/276)

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ”One of you sees a small speck of dirt in the eye of his brother, but fails to see the large piece of dirt in his own eye.”(at-Targhib wat-Tarhib 3/236)

‘Atâ’ narrates that there used to be a young man who used to go to Mother of the Believers ‘Â’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) to ask her questions and she would narrate to him. One day, he came to her to ask her some questions. She said, “Son, have you put into practice what you hear from me yet?” He replied, “No mother, I have not.” So she said, “Son, why do you them seek to increase Allaah’s proof against us and you?!”Al-Khatîb Al-Baghdâdî in Iqtidâ’ Al-’Ilm Al-’……Amal no. 92.

Ibn Hibaan wrote :“It is obliged for the bright person to use his ears twice as much in stead of his tongue and to realize that he has received two ears and just one mouth, so that he will be listening more than that he speaks.” ["Rawdah Al-...Uqala", 1/45].

The lengthy discussion of Ash-Shaykh Al-Albaanee (may Allaah have mercy on him) from “Silsilat ul-Ahaadeeth idh-Dha’eefah wal-Mawdhoo’ah” in proving that the hadeeth of ‘Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him) being the gate of knowledge is a fabricated lie.

It is reported that Sufyân b. ‘Uyainah – Allâh have mercy on him – said, “The intelligent person is not one who merely knows what is good and what is bad. The intelligent person is one who, when he sees what is good, follows it, and when he sees evil, shuns it.” Abû Nu’aym, Hilyah Al-Awliyâ`, Vol. 4 p16.

The Prophet of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said…”There will come a time when holding on to your Iman (belief) would be like holding on to hot coal.” (Al-Tirmidhi)

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Beware of greed, for verily it destroyed those who were before you. They spilled each others blood, and broke their family ties (due to it). And oppression will be darkness’s on the Day of Resurrection.” (Ahmad, Ibn Hibbaan and Al-Bukhaaree in Al-Adab. Albaanee said it is Saheeh in Al-Adab, 470)

“How many of us would be able to overcome our desires and resist the temptation of sin? How many of us even lower our gaze when we look upon something that we are not supposed to? The real prisoner is the one whose heart has been kept away from remembering his Lord, and the real captive is the one who has been captivated by his whims and desires.” [Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah]

Ali Ibn Abi Talib (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: Asceticism [zuhd] is not that you should own nothing, but that nothing should own you”. ["Hadhihi Hiya Zawjati"].

“The sincere hearts and the pious supplications are soldiers which can never be defeated” [Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah] Majmo Al Fatawa 644/28

Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah “The heart is inherently dependent on Allâh in two ways: from the point of view of worship, which is the ultimate goal, and from the point of view of seeking His help and relying upon Him, which are the means to that end. The heart cannot be sound, or succeed, or find joy, or be happy, or feel pleasure, or be good, or be at peace, or find tranquility, except by worshipping its Lord, loving Him and returning to Him. Even if it attains all that it can enjoy of created things, it will not feel at peace or find tranquility, because it has an inherent need for its Lord, for He is the focus of its worship, love and seeking, and this is the only way to attain joy, happiness, pleasure, peace and tranquility. [Al-Uboodiyyah: Being a True Slave of Allâh]

”We used to say that those amongst us with the most Sins, are those who spend their Time talking about the Sins of others.” – Muhammad ibn Sireen (raheemahullah)

Al-Albaanee: “If you have taken knowledge from a scholar from before (In ancient times) via his books, then you can say that you are his student” (Silsila al-Huda wan Noor174)

Ibn Qayyim: “If you knew the true value of yourself, you would never allow yourself to be humiliated by committing sins. Satan refused to bow to you when it refused to bow to your father Adam, so how come you reconciled with it and left us? If there is any love in your heart, it’s effect would appear on your body.” (al-F…awaa’id, p.118)

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Verily the closest people to me are those who fear Allaah (Al-Muttaqoon), whoever they are and wherever they are.” (Ahmad from Mu’aadh ibn Jabal. Graded Saheeh by Albaanee in Saheeh ul-Jaami’, 2012.)

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Verily the people of Paradise will have the deeds of the people of Paradise made easy for them, and verily the people of the Hell Fire will have the deeds of the people of the Hell Fire made easy for them.” (Abu Dawood from ‘Umar. Graded Saheeh by Albaanee in Saheeh ul-Jaami’, 2028.)

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Feeling regret is repentance (Tawbah), and the one who repents from a sin is like one who has no sin.” (At-Tabaraanee in Al-Kabeer, and Abu Nu’aym in Al-Hilyah from Abu Sa’eed Al-Ansaaree. Graded Hasan by Albaanee in Saheeh ul-Jaami’, 6803.)

Al Fudayl ibn ‘Iyaad said, “O Miskeen! You are an evil-doer and you think yourself to be one who does good. You are an ignoramus and you think yourself to be a scholar. You are a miser and you think yourself to be generous. O foolish one! You see that you are intelligent. Your time is short, but your hope is long.”

[Adh-Dhahabi]: I say: Yes, by Allaah, he has spoken the truth. And you are an oppressor and you think yourself to be the one who is oppressed. And you eat what is unlawful and you think that you are cautious and fearful (in this regard). And you are a sinner and you think yourself to be just and upright. And you seek the knowledge (of the religion) for the world, and yet you think that you seek it for Allaah. Source: Siyaar A’laam an-Nubalaa 8/440

Imam al-Hassan Al Basri said: “We laugh and yet – who knows? – perhaps Allaah has looked at some of our works and said: “I will not accept anything from you.” Woe to you, son of Adam! Can you fight Allaah? Whoever disobeys Allaah is fighting Him. By Allaah! I have met seventy veterans of Badr. Most of their garments were wool. Had you seen them you would have said they are crazy, and had they seen the best among you they would have said: “Those people will have no part in the Hereafter.” Had they seen the worst among you they would have said: “Those people do not believe in the Day of Reckoning.” I have seen people for whom this world was cheaper than the dust under their feet. I have seen people the like of whom would come home at night, not finding more than his own portion of food, and yet say: “I shall not put all of this into my belly. I shall certainly give some away for Allaah’s sake.” Then he would give away some of his food in charity, even if he were more in need of it than its recipient.” Narrated from `Alqama ibn Marthad by Abu Nu`aym in Hilya al-Awliya’ (1985 ed. 2:134)

Ibn al-Qayyim: This world is like a shadow, run after it and you will never be able to catch it, turn your back against it and it has no choice but to follow you.

It is reported that a man came to ‘Abdullâh b. Mas’ûd – Allâh be pleased with him – and asked, “Teach me some comprehensive and beneficial words.” He replied, “Worship Allâh and do not associate any partners with Him, and be with the Qur’ân… wherever it is. And whoever comes to you with some truth – whether he is young or old, even if he is hated by you – then accept [that truth]. And whoever comes lying to you – even if he is beloved and close – then reject it from him.” Abû Bakr Al-Kharâ`itî, Masâwî Al-Akhlâq wa Madhmûmihâ p72″

Whenever two men from the companions of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) would meet, they would not leave each other until one of them recited to the other, ‘By the time (Wal-’Asr), verily the human being is in loss.’ Then one of them would give the greeting of Salaam (peace) to the other.” (Graded Saheeh by …Albaanee in As-Saheehah, #2648, and Nuthum ul-Faraa’id, Vol.1, pg.119)

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “The merciful people will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful (Allaah). Be merciful with those in the earth, and the One above the Heavens (Allaah) will be merciful with you.” (Ahmad, Abu Dawood, At-Tirmithee, and Al-Haakim from Ibn ‘Umar. Graded Saheeh by Albaanee in Saheeh ul-Jaami’, 3522.)

Also, Mu’aadh ibn Jabal (may Allaah be pleased with him) said, “There is nothing that is a greater salvation from the punishment of Allaah than the remembrance of Allaah (Thikrullah).” (See As-Saheeh ul-Musnad, Vol.2, pg.144.)

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said,”Shall I not inform you all of what is better than the status of the level (attained from) fasting, praying and charity?” They said, “Of course, O Messenger of Allaah.” He said, “Mending discord between people. And corrupting the harmony between people is the shaver (i.e. it shaves …away the Islamic unity).” (Abu Dawood and At-Tirmithee. Muqbil Al-Waadi’ee said it is Saheeh.)

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “The people should be lead (in prayer) by the one who recites the Qur’an the best among them.” (Ahmad from Anas bin Maalik. Graded Saheeh by Al-Albaanee in Saheeh ul-Jaami’, 8012.)

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Every mild, gentle, easy going person, who is near to the people is forbidden for the Hell Fire.” (Ahmad from Ibn Mas’ood. Graded Saheeh by Albaanee in Saheeh ul-Jaami’, 3135, and As-Saheehah, 938)

One of the great scholars of Islam by the name of Masrook said as he was on his death bed: “There is nothing that remains from that which pleases the hearts except to prostrate with our foreheads in the dust, and nothing do I regret except some time that I wasted wherein I could have prostrated to Allaah!” [Hilyatul Awliya]

The Prophet (SalalahuAlayhiwaSalam) said: “A person who teaches goodness to others while neglecting his own soul is like an oil lamp, which illuminates others while burning itself out.” [At-Tabarani]

Bilal bin Sa’d has said: “A brother who reminds you of Allaah when you meet him, is better than a friend who places a dinar in your hand every time you meet him”. ["Hilyatul Awliyaa", 5/225].

Al-Hasan Al-Basri attended a funeral prayer. When they had buried the dead person he said to a man from the gathering: “Do you think that this dead person would wish to come back to the earth to increase his deeds from dhikr, good actions and istighfaar from his sins?” The man replied, “Yes.” So al-Hasan said, “Then why aren’t we like this dead person?” [Taken from the book al-Hasan al-Basri by Ibn al Jawzee]

Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said: “The reality of this matter that the servant differs in what he asks of knowledge and guidance and of what he seeks to ask. So with remembrance of Allaah and turning towards Him, Allaah guides such a person – as He said: “O My servants! All of you are misguided, except whomsoever I guide. So seek your guidance from me.”

The perfection of Tauhid is found when there remains nothing in the heart except Allaah, the servant is left loving those He loves and what He loves, hating those He hates and What He hates, showing allegiance to those He had allegiance to, showing enmity to those He shows enmity towards, ordering what He orders and prohibiting what He prohibits. [Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah]

“Naturally, the heart is ready to accept guidance, but because of vain desires and wishes it might reject such guidance. In this way, the heart remains a field of struggle between angels and devils until it chooses to side with either. Then, the chosen party settles in the heart, with the heart still having to resist the other party.”Imam ibn Qudaamah al-Maqdisee

‎”Glad tidings to the one who leaves the dunya before it leaves him, prepares for his grave before he enters it, and pleases his lord before he meets Him.” (Yahya bin Muadh)

The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “Pardon others, and you will be pardoned.” (Musannaf of Abdur-Razzaaq, and graded Saheeh by Al-Albaanee in Saheeh ul-Jaami’, Vol. 1, 981, and As-Saheehah, 1456.)

Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar saw a Yemeni man performing Tawâf while carrying his mother on his back. This man said to Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar, “I am like a tame camel for her! I have carried her more than she carried me. Do you think I have paid her back, O Ibn ‘Umar?” Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar replied, “No, not even one contraction!!” (Al-Adab al-Mufrad Bukhârî 1/62)

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “That I walk with my Muslim brother in [fulfilling his] need is dearer to me than being in i`tikaf in the masjid for a month.” [Ibn Abi Dunya, classed as Hasan by al-Albani]

Ad-Dhahabi writes in the biography of Sufyan At-Thawri: “A man said to him: “Advice me”. He said: “Work for this life for as long as you need to reside here. Work for the Hereafter for as long as you need to dwell there["Manaqib Sufyan Al-Thawri", 50].

Yunus bin Abdullah said: “What is the matter with me? When I lose a chicken I feel concerned, but when I miss the prayer (in congregation), it does not grieve me at all?!” ["Hilyat al Awliyaa", 3/19].

Ibn Al-Qayyim said: “Allaah sometimes gives the earth permission to breathe, which is when major earthquakes happen; this makes people feel scared, so they repent, give up sins, pray to Allaah and feel regret [for their sins]. When there had been an earthquake, some of the Salaf said: your Lord is warning you. When Madeenah was struck by an earthquake, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with you) addressed the people and said: if there is another earthquake, I will not stay here with you.” ["Miftah Dar al-Sa'ada", 1/221].

” What is this world but a dream that a sleeper sees his delights in it for a few moments, and then wakes up to face reality ” Hasan Al Basri (ra)

Shaykh Muqbil Ibn Hadi Al-Wadi’ee said; “So let my Enemies say what they will for my Sins are many, and perhaps because of their backbiting and slander My sins will be lightened and instead fall upon their shoulders “

Sa’d b. Abî Waqqâs said: A believer might fall into any [bad] character, except deception and lying. Ibn Abî Shaybah, Kitâb Al-Îmân (Al-Albânî’s edition) no.81

Nasr ibn Mahmood al Balkhee said; Ahmad ibn Harb stated: “I worshiped Allaah for fifty years, I wasn’t able to find the sweetness of worship until I forsook three things: 1. I forsook seeking the acceptance of people, so I was able to speak the truth. 2. I forsook the companionship of the sinner, so I was able to accompany the righteous. 3. I forsook the sweetness of the life of this world, so I was able to find the sweetness of the afterlife. Adh Dhahaabee fee Siyar ‘Alaam an Nubalaa

Muhammad ibn Waasi` used to say, “If sins had an odour then nobody would be able to sit with me.”

Imaam ash-Shaafi`ee said: “O my soul! It is not, except a few days of patience; As if the extent were but a few dreams. O my soul! Pass quickly on through this world; And leave it, for indeed life lies ahead of it.” Ibn Rajab, Fadl `Ilmus-Salaf, p.63

Ibn Taymiyyah said, “Verily, I constantly renew my Islam until this very day, as up to now, I do not consider myself to have ever been a good Muslim.” [Narrated by Ibn al-Qayyim in 'Madaarij as-Saalikin' ; 1/218]

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim : The most precious reward during life is to busy yourself with most suitable and useful matters in their exact and suitable time.

Al-Fudayl ibn Iyyad (Rahimahullaah) said: “Man’s fear of Allaah is equal to his Knowledge of Him and his renunciation of worldly pleasures is equal to his desire in the Hereafter.”

Al-Bayhaqee relates from ‘Aaishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no time in which the son of Aadam does not remember Allaah in it, except that it will be a source of regret for him on the Day of Judgement” authenticated by Shaykh al-Albaanee in Saheehul-Jaami’ (no.5720).

Mu’aadh ibn jabal (may Allaah be pleased with him) relates that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The people of Paradise will not have any regrets except for those moments in which they were not engaged in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allaah.” Refer to Saheehul-Jaami’ (no.5446)

” Every gulp of air that goes out in a cause other than the cause of Allaah (SWT) will turn to sorrow and regret on the Day of Judgment ” Ibn Qayyim Al Jawziyyah

It is reported from Al-Hasan Al-Basrî that he said: The life of this world is made up of three days: yesterday has gone with all that was done; tomorrow, you may never reach; but today is for you so do what you should do today. Al-Bayhaqî, Al-Zuhd Al-Kabîr p197.

Ibn Shubrumah: “I am amazed at the people who take care of themselves by eating food out of fear of dying, yet do not protect themselves from sins out of fear of the Fire”. Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa. – Volume 6, Page 348

“This whole religion (Islam) revolves around knowing the truth and acting by it, and action must be accompanied by patience.” IbnTaymiyyah

“This world is but a moment, so make it a moment of obedience.” AshShaafi’ee

Abû Al-Dardâ` once wrote to Salmân Al-Fârsî:Come to the Holy Land. [Salmân] wrote back, “Verily, the land does not make anyone holy; it is the deeds of a man that make him pure.”

Ibn Hazm once stated a very precise golden. he said, “There are two things that if you do them you will attain the good of this world and the hereafter…[They are] that you bear what you dislike if it is beloved to Allah and you leave what you like if it is disliked by Allah.” [Quoted in al-Bilaali, p128-129]

Al-Fudayl b. ‘Ayyâd said: If you can be unknown, be so; it doesn’t matter if you are not known and it doesn’t matter if you are not praised. It doesn’t matter if you are blameworthy according to the people,what matters is if you are praiseworthy with Allâh the Mighty and Majestic. Al-Bayhaqî, Al-Zuhd Al-Kabîr

Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (d.728H) – rahimahullaah – said: When some people asked Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal that they felt uneasy about criticizing people, he replied: “If I were to remain silent, how would the ignorant masses know the truth from falsehood?” (Majmoo’ul-Fataawaa (28/231-232)

Ka’b Al-Ahbâr – Allâh have mercy on him – said: “I would rather fornicate thrity-three times than consume a dirham of usury while Allâh knows that I knowingly consumed it as usury” Al-Mundhirî states in Al-Targhîb wa Al-Tarhîb

‘Alee ibn al-Hasan ibn Shaqeeq said: I heard ‘Abdullaah ibn al-Mubaarak say: The first step towards (seeking) knowledge is the (sincerity of) intention, then it is listening, then it is understanding (this knowledge), then it is memorising (this knowledge), then it is acting (upon this knowledge), then it is spreading (this knowledge).Jaami’ Bayaan al-’Ilm wa Fadhlihi – Volume 1, Page 118

Wahb b. Munabbih said: “they (predecessors) would split their time into four hours; the first would be to beseech the Lord with actions (do lots of Ibaadah), the second would be holding oneself accountable (evaluate oneself), the third would be spending time with the community teaching, learning, and reminding them of Allah (benefit others), and a fourth hour that one spends fulfilling ones desires from that which is permissible and good to fulfill two purposes: to help fulfill the other three hours and to give the heart relaxation and rest.” [al-Musannaf 'Abd al-Razzaq 22/11].

It is reported that Abû Hurayrah used to say about the house in which the Qur’ân is recited: It becomes spacious for its inhabitants, the good of it becomes plentiful, the angels come to it and the devils leave …it. And the house in which the Qur’ân is not recited becomes cramped for its inhabitants, has little good in it, and the devils come to it.

It is reported that ‘Abdullâh b. Mas’ûd said: The house in which the Qur’ân is not recited is like a derelict house that has no one to maintain it. It is also reported that he said; Verily the emptiest of houses are those that are empty of the Book of Allâh. Ibn Abî Shaybah, Al-Musannaf articles30650, 30645, 30647

It is reported that Abû Bakr Al-Siddîq – Allâh be pleased with him – said, “One of the worst sins is a person taking his sin lightly.” Abû Bakr Al-Daynûrî, Al-Mujâlasah wa Jawâhir Al-‘Ilm article 2318

It is reported that ‘Alî b. Abî Tâlib said, “The servant [of Allâh] should not fear except his sins, and should not hope except in his Lord. The ignorant should not be ashamed to ask, and the knowledgeable shou…ld not be ashamed to say – if he does not know something – ‘Allâh knows best.’ Patience (al-sabr) to faith (Al-Îmân) is like the head to the rest of the body: if the head is cut off, the body will rot. And one who has no patience, has no faith.” Al-Baihaqî, Shu’ab Al-Îmân, Vol.12 p195.

It is reported that Khâlid b. Ma’dân said: There is not a person except he has four eyes: two in his head with which he sees the matters of this worldly life, and two in his heart with which he looks to the matter…s of the hereafter. So if Allâh wants good for his servant, He opens his heart’s eyes, and so he perceives what he has been promised in the unseen world. Thus he is saved from the unseen [punishment] through the unseen [reward for the obedient]. Al-Dhahabî, Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ` 4: 543

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim : If you are afraid of any creature, you will run away from it. When you are afraid of Allah, you will love Him and seek to be close to Him.

Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullah) said : “From the signs that your heart is dead, is when the Munkar (what is hated by Allaah from sins and disobedience) is presented to your heart, that it does not heart your heart. A poet once said : “A wound cannot harm a person who is already dead.”

It is reported that ‘Abdullâh b. Mas’ûd – Allâh be pleased with him – said: If I had ten days left to live, and I knew I would die by the end of them, and I had enough time to get married, I would get married for fear of temptation (fitnah). Sa’îd b. Mansûr, Al-Sunan article 493.

‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul-’Azeez said: “I have never lied since learning that lying adversely affects the liar.” Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa. – Volume 5, Page 121

On the authority of Ibn ‘Umar (radhi-yallaahu ‘anhumaa) who said: I was with the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) when a man from the Ansaar came up to the Messenger of Allaah and greeted him with the salaam and then said…: O Messenger of Allaah which of the believers are the best? He replied: Those who are best in character. Then he asked: Which of the believers are the most intelligent?He relpied: Those who remember death the most, and those who are best prepared for what comes after it. These are the intelligent ones. Declared hasan by Shaykh al-Albaanee in Silsilah al-Ahaadeeth as-Saheehah by virtue of all its different chains of narration.

One of the Salaf said, “Accompanying the good people gives rise to goodness in the heart.” (Min Akhlaaq Us Salaaf)

Ahmad Ibn Harb (rahima hullah) said, “There is nothing better for a Muslim’s heart than to mix with the good people and to watch their actions, while there is nothing more harmful to the heart than mixing with the sinners and watching their actions.” (Min Akhlaaq Us Salaaf)

“Whoever would like to know what his relationship with Allah is, let him look at what people promise him, and what Allah promises him, and see which of the two his heart is more assured of.” Shaqeeq al Balkhee in Hilyat al Awliyaah by al Asbahaanee: 3/375.

Abu adh-Dhiyal said: speaking about knowledge-related matters is from the best of actions, and it is of the same level as dhikr and recitation of the Quran if it is done to repel ignorance, attain the Pleasure of Allah, and discover the reality of its meanings.” [Jami’ Bayan al-’Ilm wa Fadlih’ (1/182)]

Ibn al-Jawzi said: “you should know that the greatest entryway by which Iblis (satan) enters upon the people is via ignorance. He can safely enter upon the ignorant person while he has to enter upon the knowledgeable like a thief. In fact, Iblis has decived many among the worshippers due to their lack of knowledge as most of them are preoccupied with acts of worship and cannot judge matters based on knowledge.” Talbees Iblees.

Ibn Al-Qayyim : The servant has a Lord that he will stand in front of and a house that he will live in, so he must seek the pleasure of Allah before meeting Him and he should furnish his house before moving into it. Loosing time is harder than death, as loosing time keeps you away from Allah and the Hereafter, while dea…th keeps you away from worldly life and people.

It is reported that Imâm Al-Shâfi’î said: When I see a man from the Adherents of Hadîth, it is as if I have seen the Prophet – Allâh’s peace and blessings be upon him – alive. Al-Khatîb Al-Baghdâdî, Sharaf Ashâb Al-Hadîth article 85.

It is reported that ‘Awn b. ‘Abdillâh said: Those before you used to give to their worldly affairs what was left over from their pursuit of the hereafter. But today, you give to the matters of the hereafter the left-overs from your pursuit of worldly affairs. Abû Nu’aym, Hilyat Al-Awliyâ` 10:242.

Ali Ibn Hussain (Radiyallahu anhu) would become pale on making ablution. He would then be asked, “What comes over you while you make Wudhu’?” He would reply, “Do you realize whom I am going to stand in front of?”

Imaam Muhammad bin Seereen (rahimahullaah) said: “If you were to find out that your brother has done something bad, then you should look after an excuse for him, if you can’t find an excuse, you should say “He has an excuse.”” (Shu’b-ul-Imaan (6/323) by Imaam al-Bayhaqee)

Muhammad ibn Mubashshir al-Karmeenee said: ((Muhammad ibn Salaam al-Baykandee’s pen broke whilst in the gathering of a Shaykh, so he announced “a pen for a deenaar”, whereby pens began to fall upon him (from all directions).)) Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa. – Volume 10, Page 629

Ibn Hazm (rahima-hullaah) said: “There is nothing more harmful to the branches of knowledge and its people than those who enter themselves into it and they are not from its people. They are ignorant and yet they think they have knowledge, they cause corruption whilst thinking they are correcting the affairs”. at Ta’aalam… wa Atharuhu ‘alal Fikr wal Kitaab pg 7

It is reported that Anas b. Mâlik said: If a woman passes in front of you, lower your eyes until she has passed by. (Ibn Abî Al-Dunyâ, Kitâb Al-Wara’ article 72.)

It is reported that Imâm Al-Awzâ’î said: At the time of Fajr, or a while before it, the Salaf would be as if birds were sitting on their heads: (still ) concentrating on themselves [and their worship], so much so …that even if one of their closest friends came to them after having been parted from them, they would not notice him. They would remain in this state until just before sunrise. Then, they would meet each other and sit in the circles. The first thing they would discuss is the matter of their afterlife and what would become of them in the hereafter. Then they would begin the circles of Quran and Fiqh study. Ibn ‘Asâkir, Târîkh Dimishq 35:184, 185.

It is reported that Al-Hasan Al-Basrî said: The intelligent person’s tongue is behind his heart: when he wants to speak, he first thinks. If [his words] will be in his favor, he says them, and if they will be against him, he does not speak. And the ignorant person’s heart is behind his tongue…: when he merely thinks of saying something, he says it, whether it is for or against him. Abû Bakr Al-Daynûrî, Al-Mujâlasah wa Jawâhir Al-’Ilm article 2049.

A fire once broke out in a house where ‘Alî b. Husayn was prostrate in prayer. He didn’t raise his head until the fire went out. When asked about this he said: The other Fire kept my mind busy. Al-Dhahabî in Siyar …A’lâm Al-Nubalâ’ under the biography of ‘Alî b. Husayn Zayn Al-‘Âbidîn. ‘Alî b. Husayn, known as Zayn Al-‘Âbidîn for his devout worship, was the great-grandson of the Prophet – Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. He was the only surviving son of Husayn, son of ‘Ali b. Abî Tâlib – Allah be please with them.

It is reported that ‘Alî b. Husayn – Allâh have mercy on him – said, “Tawbah is only through action, and turning back from what has been done. Tawbah is not by mere speech.” Ibn Abî Al-Dunyâ, Al-Tawbah article 57.

Do You Want To Be Wise? The Prophet Muhammed (Salla Allahu Alyhe Wa Sallam) Said “There Is Not A Son Of Adam Except That He Has Wisdom In His Head That Is In The Hand Of An Angel. So If He Becomes Humble, It Is Said To The Angel ‘Raise His Wisdom And If He Becomes Arrogant It Is Said To The Angel Throw Away His Wisdom”…. (Saheeh al-Jaami as-Sagheer wa Ziyaadatuh)

The Prophet Muhammed (Salla Allahu Alyhe Wa Sallam) Said “Whoever Wishes To Know What Allaah Has Prepared For Him, Then He Should Look At What He Has Prepared For Allaah.” (Saheeh al-Jaami as-Sagheer wa Ziyaadatuh) It is reported on the authority of Al-Wakî’ b. Al-Jarrâh

We went out one Eid with Sufyân Al-Thawrî and he said, “The first thing we will do on this day of ours is to lower our gaze.” Ibn Abî Al-Dunyâ, Kitâb Al-Wara’ article 66.

It is reported that Hassân b. Abî Sinân – Allâh have mercy on him – went out one Eid and when he returned home his wife said, “How many beautiful women have you looked at today?” After she kept asking him, he said, “Woe to you! I have looked at nothing but my toe from when I went out to when I returned to you.” Ibn Abî …Al-Dunyâ, Kitâb Al-Wara’ article 68.

Shaykh al-Islam [Ibn Taymiyah] said: “We do not mean by Ahl al-Hadeeth only those who study it, write it down or narrate it, rather we mean anyone who takes care to memorize it, understand it and follow it, both inwardly and outwardly. The same may be said of “Ahl al-Qur’aan” (the people of the Qur’aan)

Ibn Taymiyyah said in Majmoo Fatawa: “The more the servant loves his master(Allah),The less he will love other objects and they will decrease in number.The less the servant loves his master(Allah),the more he will love other objects and they will increase in number.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah) said: “There is no comparison between one who has knowledge and one who does not, just as there is no comparison between the living and the dead, and one who hears and one who is deaf, and one who can see and one who is blind” (kitabul ilm)

Shaykh Muqbil rahamullah said: “Amongst the (people) are those who discard the sayings (of the salaf) completely and say: “They are men and we are men.” Yes this is correct; they are men just as we are men, but the difference between us and them is like the difference [in distance] between the heavens and Earth!” (Al Ajwibah As Sadeedah)

Imaam Muhammad bin Abee Sulaymaan (rahimahullaah) said: “I dreamed about my father and in the dream I said to him “Father, what has Allaah done to you?” He answered: “He has forgiven me.” I then said: “Because of what?” He then answered: “Because I allways used to write “Salla Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam” for the prophet …in every Hadeeth” (Sharaf Ashhaab-il-Hadeeth, p. 60, by Imaam al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee)

Imam ash-Shafii: When the foolish one speaks, do not reply to him, for better than a response (to him) is silence, and if you speak to him you have aided him, and if you left him (with no reply) in extreme sadness he dies. siyar nuabala ad Dhabi

ibn Rajab: “Some of the Salaf used to ask Allaah for everything while they were praying such as salt for the dough and grass for the sheep.” (al-Jami’, p. 276)

Maalik ibn Anas (radhi-yallaahu ‘anhu) said: ((Whoever does not love knowledge, then there is no good in him; So there should not be any acquaintence between you and him, and nor any friendship)). al-Khateeb in al-Faqeeh wal-Mutafaqqih – Volume 1, Page 15;

“By Allaah, knowledge has not died, nor have the scholars, all praise is due to Allaah; The Committee of Major Scholars [remains], there is goodness and blessing in them and to Allaah belongs all praise, our brothers in ash Sham, and our brothers in Yemen. The world is full of senior students of knowledge who will fill… this void and all praise is due to Allaah, so the people of falsehood should not rejoice.”

Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “When a woman leaves her home, the Shaytaan follows her with his sight. A woman is closest to her Lord’s face when she is in her home.” (at-Tawhid 1/40 by Ibn Khuzaymah. Saheeh acc. ibn Khuzaymah and Ibn Hibban)

‘Abdullaah bin al-Mubaarak: “The one who rejects one of the letters of the Qur’aan, has rejected all of it (I.e the entire Qur’aan). The one who says; “I don’t believe in these words.” has made himself guilty of Kufr (disbelief).” (‘Aqeedat-us-Salaf wa Ashaab-ul-Hadeeth p. 18)

“A person never ceases to be knowledgeable as long as he continues to study. But when he leaves seeking knowledge, and thinks he is sufficed with what he has learnt ; Then he is in the most ignorant situation he has ever been…” Sa’eed ibn Al-Jubayr (rahimahullaah) Source : Majmoo’ Sharh Muhaddhab 1/56

al-Awzaa’ee said:((Whoever stands the night in prayer, Allaah will make easy for him his standing on the Day of Judgment))Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa. – Volume 7, Page 119

Ash-Shaafi’ee: “Four things strengthen the intellect: To avoid superfluous speech, to use Siwaak, to sit with righteous people and to sit with the scholars.” (al-Aadaab ash-Shar’iyyah (3/30))

‘Ataa. said:((‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul-‘Azeez used to gather the fuqahaa. every night and they would (all) remember death, the Day of Judgment and the Hereafter and then they would weep)). Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa. – Volume 5, Page 138

Acquire knowledge because doing so is good. Seeking it is worship. Reviewing it is glorifying Allah. Researching it is jihad. Teaching it to the ignorant is charity. Serving the scholars is a way of drawing near to Allah because knowledge is the path of ascension to the stations of Paradise. It is a companion in isolat…ion and a comrade in distant lands. It speaks to you in solitude..

Ibn Mas’ood, radiallaahu ‘anhu, said: “True knowledge is not measured in relationship to how much you memorize and then narrate, but rather, true knowledge is an expression of piety [protecting oneself from what Allah prohibited and acting upon what He mandated].”Also, “Study and act upon what you learn.” [Related by Abu Na'eem]

az-Zuhri:”The one who seeks all knowledge at once will lose all knowledge at once. Rather take step by step by the days and the nights.” (Jami’ Bayan-il-’ilm 1/206)

Ibn Qayyim: “Obedience is light, disobedience is darkness, the bigger the darkness is, the more confused one is. At last one falls into innovations and misguidance without noticing it.” (ad-Da’, p.66)

Ibn-ul-Qayyim: “When I was in Makkah and couldn’t find a doctor, I instead read al-Faatihah over a glass of Zamzam-water several times. I thereafter drank it and noticed how I became all well.” (at-Tibb an-Nabawi, p.164)

Shaykh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah: “When abu Bakr ibn abit-Tayyib was about to meet the Christian’s King in Constantinople, the Christians feared that he would not make Sujood (for the King), therefore, they made him walk through a little door (so that he bows down). He (rahimahullâh) understood what they wanted, thereupon… he walked in to the King with his ass before.” (al-Minhaj 2/56)

Adh-Dhahabee: “Az-Zuhri memorised the Qur’aan in 80 nights.” (at-Tadhkirah 1/137)

Al-Albaanee: “I don’t know of anyone who is more knowledgeable in Hadeeth than Ibn Hajar after him.” (SHN 325)

Imâm Zayn ud-Dîn bin Rajab al Hanbalî: “The Imaam used to read 200 verses in every Rak’ah, so that they at last started to lean on sticks because of the long standing.”(Lataaif-ul-Ma´aarif, p. 235)

Ibn Qudaamah al-Maqdisee: “The caller to prayer shall not read the Iqaamah before the Imaam has given him the permission. Bilaal used to ask the prophet (sallâ Allâhu ´alayhi wa sallam) for permission before he read the Iqaamah.” (al-Mughnee (2/73))

Al-Albaanee: “When the person has stopped saying the du3a (supplication) in Tashhahud (sitting after the second and fourth unit of prayer or third for maghrib) behind the Emaam, then he is to stop moving his finger (I.e. up and down as is done in Tashhahud). (Silsilat-ul-Hudaa wan-Noor, 51)

Al-Albaanee: “That the Jamaa’ah says “Aameen” before the Emaam is an error which exists everywhere, even in Makkah and Madeenah.” (Silsila al-Huda wan Noor 331)

al-Albaanee: “An unlearned who answers questions cant only say “Its allowed” or “Not”, rather he must mention the scholar who says it.” (SHN 333)

As-suyyuti (rahimahullaah) said: “When one provides Daleel (proof) from the Qur’aan, he should read it directly without seeking protection from Shaytaan first, this is how the Prophet, Sahaaba and the tabi’un did” (Al-hawi 1/297)

‎’Ubaydullâh bin Ja’far: “If a person speaks and he gets fond of his speech, then he should be quiet. And if he is quiet and becomes fond of his quietness, then he should speak.” (at-Tadhkirah 1/155)

Imam Ibn Rajab (rahimahullâh): “Eid is not for the one who wears new clothes. Eid is for the one whose obedience rises. Eid is not for the one with beautiful clothes and fine means of transport, Eid is for the one whose sins are forgiven.” [al-Lata´if, p. 371]

Al-Hasan al-Basree: “The one who does not fear hypocrisy is a hypocrite.” (al-Jami’, p. 528)

Imâm Ahmad: “If a person delivers Salaam to you from someone, then it is recommended to answer: ‘Alayka wa ‘Alayhi salaam.’ (Aadaab ush-Sharee’ah 1/475)

Ibn Abi Haatim: “We where in Egypt for 7 months and under the days we sat with the scholars, and under the nights we wrote and studied. One day we bought a fish to eat it, just before we were about to cook it, a lecture had begun. For 3 days, we went between the scholars and the fish was about to become old, in the end …we eat it raw and said: “knowledge is not attained with a rested body.” (at-Tadhkirah 3/38)

Abd-ul-’Azeez Ibn Baaz (rahimahullaah) said: “I have not seen anyone under the surface of the sky with more knowledge of the Hadeeth in our current time than the likes of the great scholar, Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaanee.” (Fatâwâ of shaykh al-Albânî, p.12)

The Prophet, alayhis-salam: “The best deed is to make your brother happy, pay his debt or give him bread to eat.” (Al-Asbahani 1/214 – good acc. al-Albaanee)

‘Umar (r.a.): “Remind yourselves often about the Fire (Hell), for certainly it’s heat is high and its bottom is deep and its weapon is iron.” (at-Takhweef min-an-Naar p. 61)

Fu’aad Ibn ‘Abdul-’azeez ash-Shulhoob: “No matter how careful you are, and no matter what you think to the contrary, an evil companion will have a negative impact on your character, and that is only one of the ways he will harm you.” (Ibid, as above)

Ibn Taymiyyah: “One should not read the Qur’aan loudly if the people are performing voluntary prayer so that they are distracted.” (Adab Shar’iyyah 2/455)

Luqman: “Dear son! Sit with the scholars. Allaah gives life to hearts with wisdom the same way he gives the dead earth life with rain.” (Jami’ Bayan-il-’ilm 1/211)

Nu’aym bin Hammad: “Ibn-ul-Mubarak was asked for how long one should seek knowledge. He answered: “Until death.” (Jami’ Bayan-il-’ilm 1/192)

Ash-Sha’bi: “We are not knowledgeable, the knowledgeable are those who act upon their knowledge.” (at-Tadhkirah 1/120)

The Messenger (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said, “Whoever revives a Sunnah from my Sunnah and the people practise it, s/he will have the same reward of those who practise it without their reward diminishing…” [Sunan ibn Maajah (209)].

Al-Albanee: “The foundation of the intellect is in the Heart. However, this does not mean that it has no connection with the brain.” (SHN 229)

Abu-Darda’: “The health is the richness of the body.” (al-Jami’, p. 297)

Fu’aad Ibn ‘Abdul-’azeez ash-Shulhoob: “One of the ways of increasing love between brothers and of removing rancor from their hearts is for them to give gifts to one another.” (The book of manners, p.429)

The student of knowledge should not mix except with those who he can benefit or can benefit from. If he is offered friendship of one who will waste his time, will not benefit him, will not benefit from him & will not assist him in reaching his objective, he should politely end the relationship from the start before it …progresses to something deeper ‘Repelling something is easier than removing it’Source: Quote by sheikh Raslan taken from Manners of the knowledge seeker

Muhammad ibn sareen said: “I have never envied anyone over anything: if a person is going to be in the Fire, how could I envy him over some worldly matter when he is destined for the Fire?! And if he is going to Paradise, how could I be envious of a man of Paradise with whom Allâh tabâraka wa ta’âlâ is pleased?!” Musli…m said, “We have never heard anything better than this from the words of Ibn Sîrîn.”Abû Bakr Al-Daynûrî, Al-Mujâlasah wa Jawâhir Al-‘Ilm article 2931

Hamdun bin Ahmad said: The speech of our pious predecessors is more beneficial than our speech because they spoke for the honor of Islam, for the salvation of the soul, & for the pleasure of Allah. However, we speak to honor ourselves, to seek out the world, & to please creation”Source: Gems & Jewels by Abdul-Malik Mujahid

Abdullah b. Mas’ûd said: The believer sees his sins as if he is sitting at the foot of a mountain fearing that it might fall on him, while the sinner (fâjir) sees his sins as a fly that lands on his nose, he just waves it away. Al-Bukhârî, Al-Sahîh, The Book of Supplications, Chapter on Taw…bah.

Ibn Hajr quotes in his commentary, Fath Al-Bârî:Ibn Abî Jumrah said, “The reason for this [fear] is that the heart of a believer is illuminated; so when he sees from himself something that goes against what he illuminates his heart with, i…t is very distressing to him. The wisdom behind giving the example of a mountain is that a person might find some way to escape from other dangers, but if a mountain falls on a person he does not survive. In short, the believer is dominated by fear (of Allah) due to the strength of îmân he has; he does not therefore feel falsely secure about being punished because of his sins. This is the way of the Muslim: he always fears and checks on himself, his good deeds are little to him and he fears even the small bad deeds he has done.”

Abu Al-’Âliyah reports that a man once asked ‘Ubay b. Ka’b – Allah be pleased with him – for advice. He said: Take the Book of Allah as your leader (imâm) and be pleased with it as a judge and ruler. It is what your Messenger left amongst yo…u. It will be an intercessor for you. It is to be obeyed. It is a witness never doubted. In it is a mention of you and those before you, and judgment for whatever happens amongst you. And in it is news about you and whatever will come after you.Al-Dhahabî in Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ’, in the biography of ‘Ubay b. Ka’b

“The most hated speech to Allah is when a man says to another man, “Fear Allah!” and he replies “worry about your own self!” {Authenticated by Shaykh Albanee Silsilated Ahaadeth saheeh #2598}

‎”How beautiful Knowledge is, better than gold and money, better than beautiful women, better than worldly possessions, Allah willing we will seek Knowledge until we die.” [Muqbil bin Haadee al-Waad'iee]

Ali ibn Abu Talib (ra) said, “Among deeds, there are four that are most difficult to adorn oneself with: 1) Forgiveness when Angry; 2) Generosity in hard times; 3) Chastity when alone; And 4) Speaking the truth to the one that fears it”

Abd-Allah ibn Amr (ra) said: “whoever lives in the land of the non-Arabs & celebrates their New Year, their festivals & imitates them will be gathered with them on the day of Rusurrection”

Ibn Taymiyyah’s commentary: This implies that the one who joins in with them in these matters is a kaafir or that doing this is a major sin that will doom one to hell. Source: Iqtidaa al-siraat al mustaqeem by Taymiyyah p183

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The nearest of you to me on the Day of Judgement will be the one who is best in character.” (Bukhari)

Ibn Al-Mubarak said, “Mukhlid Ibn al-Husayn once said to me, ‘We are more in need of acquiring adab than learning Hadith’.

Al-Imaam al-Hasan Al-Basree said, “Whoever is looking for a role model should pattern the Companions. Among this nation they had the most pious hearts, the soundest knowledge, the least hypocrites among them, the best guidance & best situation. Allaah chose them to be Muhammad’s Companions & establish His …religion, so recognize their virtue & follow their footsteps. Verily they were upon clear guidance”‎[Collected by Ibn 'Abdil-Barr in Jaami'u Bayaanil-'Elmi wa Fadhlihi (no.1810) & Silsalah Saheehah of Imaam al-Albaanee(no.2648).]

Ibn Taymiyyah (rahamahullah) said: “Imitating them (the kufaar) in their festivals implies that one is pleased with their false beliefs and practices and gives them the hope that they may have the opportunity to humiliate & mislead the weak”Iqtidaa al-siraat al mustaqeem by Ibn Taymiyyah

Ibn-ul-Qayyim rahameehullah said: “To wish the Kaafir a happy holiday, is like congratulating him because he is worshiping the cross.” (ahkam ahl-idh-dhimmah 1/441)

“Whatever Allah has decreed for His believing slave is a blessing even if that is in the form of withholding; it is a favor even if that is in the form of a trial, and the calamity decreed by him is fair even if it is painful” Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah {Madarij al-Salikeen, 4/215.}

Rasulullah (SAW) explained: If one of you were to be stabbed in the head with a piece of iron it would be better for him than if he were to touch a woman whom it is not permissible for him to touch.” (Reported by al-Tabaraani; see also Saheeh al-Jaami, 5045)

Sheikh Uthaymeen Rahimahullah mentions: “If backbiting of the layman ranks amongst the major sins, then backbiting of the scholar is much greater. This is because the effects of backbiting of the scholar does not rest at him only, rather it rests upon him and that which he possesses in knowledge of the Sharee’ah.”Kitaa…bul-’Ilm

Habib bin al-Jilaab said, I asked Abdullaah bin Mubaarak “What’s the best thing a human being can be gifted with?” He replied “A deep understanding” I said if not that? He replied “Good manners” I said if not that? He replied “A caring brother” I said if not that? He replied …”Long silence” I said if not that? He replied “An early death” [Siyaar Alaam Nubalaa]

Ibn Qayyum Al-Jawaziye (rhm) said: Every type of knowledge & Action which does not increase the strength of imaan (faith) & yaqeen (certainty) has been corrupted by Ar-Riya (showing-off) Al Fawaid

“The Righteous Salaf Were As Fearful Of Their Good Deeds Being Squandered, Or Not Being Accepted, As The Present Generation Is Certain That Their Neglect Would Be Forgiven.” Al-Hasan Al-Basree.

Ibn Rajab: “The winter is the believers spring, where he walks around in the garden of obedience. The days are short and cold so that one can fast easily and the nights are long so that one can sleep well and pray the night prayer as well.”
(Lata’if-ul-Ma’arif, p. 435)

Al Hassan al-Basree (rahimahullaah): “Few deeds done according to the Sunnah is better than many deeds done according to Bid’ah.” (Jami´ bayanil ´ilm 2/372)

al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah: “To say “saddaqa Allaah-ul-´Adheem” After having read the Qur’aan is Bida’ (innovation).” ["al-Bid'u wal-Muhdathaat wa maa laa Asla lahu p. 571; Fataawaa al-Lajnah ad-Daaimah lil-Buhûth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa. - Fatwaa # 3303"]

Ibn al-Majishoon said: “I heard Maalik say, ‘ Whoever introduces an innovation into Islam thinking that it is good is implying that Muhammad betrayed his mission, because Allah (SWT) says: “So, whatever was not part of the religion on that day, cannot be part of the religion today.’” Al-I’tisaam by Imam Ash-Shaatibi.

Abd ar-Rahman ibn Nasir as-Sa’di: “Laziness against the Salaah is a sign that the heart does not long after Allâh.” (Taysir ul Karim p. 211)

Sufyaan Ath-Thawri said: Safety is that you dont desire to be known.(As-Siyar: 7/257)

The Prophet (saw) has said: “Whoever guides [another] to a good deed will get a reward similar to the one who performs it.” [Saheeh Muslim]

Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (Rahimahullah) said: In this world, man finds remembrance of Allaah, praising Him and worshipping him, a delight that is incomparable to anything else. (Minhaj as-Sunnah, 5/389)

Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said: The objective of asceticism (Zuhd) is to leave all that harms the servants Hereafter and the objective of worship is to do all that will benefit his Hereafter. (Majmoo-ul-Fataawaa, 14/458)

ibn Hazam al-Andalusee Rahimahullah mentions: “When you compare yourself with others in matters of wealth, position, and health, you should look at people less favoured than yourself. When you compare yourself with others in matters of religion, knowledge and virtue, look at people who are better than yourself.” (al-Akhlaaq was-Siyar)

It is reported that before his death, Abû Mûsâ Al-Asharî Allah be please with him used to exert himself intensely in worship. It was said to him, If only you would slow down and go easy on yourself. He replied, When steeds are let loose and come close to the end of their course they finish by giving it all they have, and what remains of my life is less than that. (Siyar Alâm Al-Nubalâ)

BAKR IBN ABDULLAH AL MUZANI said: If you see someone older than you then respect him saying, He has beaten me to Islam and righteous action. If you see someone younger than you then respect him saying to yourself, I have beaten him in sins. If the people honour you then say, that is from the grace of Allah, but I do not deserve it. If they degrade you then say, this happened as a consequence of a previous sin. If you throw a pebble at your neighbours dog, then you have harmed him.

IMAAM ASH SHAFI’ said: Never do I argue with a man with a desire to hear him say what is wrong, or to expose him and win victory over him. Whenever I face an opponent in debate I silently pray – O Lord, help him so that truth may flow from his heart and on his tongue, and so that if truth is on my side, he may follow me; and if truth be on his side, I may follow him.

Ibn Qayyim said: “Man consists of the mind of an angel, the lust of an animal, and the fancy of Satan. One of them will prevail. If you could overcome your fancy and lust, you will be in a rank that is higher than an angel. And if your fancy and lust beat you, you will be in a rank that is less than a dog.” (al-Fawaa’id, p.121)

‘Abdullaah bin Al-Mu’taz said: “Knowledge without action is like a tree without fruit.” and he also said: “The knowledge of a hypocrite is in his speech, while the knowledge of a believer is in his actions.”

Umar ibn ‘Abdul ‘Azîz (rahimahullâh) was advised, “O ‘Umar, beware of being the ally of Allâh in open, while being His enemy in secret. If one’s nature in open and secret do not equate then he is a hypocrite, and the hypocrites occupy the lowest level in Hellfire.”

Sufyân ath-Thawrî (rahimahullâh) said, “We met a people who loved it when it was said to them, Fear Allâh the Most High. Today you find that people only become annoyed at this.”

Fudayl ibn ‘Iyâd (rahimahullâh) said, “Beggars are such good people! They carry our provision to the Afterlife without payment until they place it on the scale in front of Allâh the Most High.”

The example of knowledge that is not acted upon is like that of treasure that is not spent’

Abû Mâlik al-Ash`arî relates:I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say: There will be a group of my people who will make permissible for themselves adultery, pure silk, intoxicants and musical instruments. [Sahîh al-Bukhârî]

‘Abdullaah bin Al-Mu’taz said: “Knowledge without action is like a tree without fruit.” And he also said: “The knowledge of a hypocrite is in his speech, while the knowledge of a believer is in his actions.”

Ibn Mas’ud radiyallahu ‘anhu once said, “The believer will not attain comfort until he meets Allaah.”

“O son of Adam! Your mother gave birth to you while you were weeping, while those around you were laughing in joy.Work for the day, the day you die, that you may be laughing in joy then, while they will be weeping for you.” (Poetry)

Thaabit al Bunaani rahimahullah once said: “Tuba (a tree in Paradise) for he who remembers the hour of death, and verily, if a slave remembers death often, then the effect of this remembrance will appear in his actions.”

Hasan Al Basri rahimahullah stated, “The soul of the son of Adam will depart this life with three sorrows: for not having his fill, for not reaching what he hoped for and for not preparing well for what he is going to face.”

He also said, “I have never seen a certainty closer to being doubted than people versus death. They are certain it will strike them, yet, they ignore its imminence. I have never seen truth that is closer to falsehood than that demonstrated by their statement, ‘We seek Paradise’ yet, they ignore seeking its path.”

Ammar bin Yasir radiyallahu ‘anhu said, “Death is enough as a reminder, certainty is enough as wealth and performing acts of worship is sufficient as a job.”

Silah bin Ashyam rahimahullah once said, “Let death be your slogan, for this way, you will not care if you reached the morning while weathly or having difficulty in this life.”

Haarith bin Idrees rahimahullaah said, “I said to Daawood At-Taa’i, ‘Advise me’, and he said, ‘Know that soldiers of death are in wait for you.’”

Abu Dardaa radhiAllaahu ‘anhu said, “I like poverty, in modesty to my Lord; I like death, in anticipation to my Lord; and I like illness, as an eraser for my sins.”

Mutarrif bin Abdullah said, “Death has spoiled the life of those who indulge in delight, so seek a delight (in Paradise) that does not end by death.”

Utbah was once given an advice: “Remember death often, for if you had abundant wealth, it will make it seem little, and if you have little wealth, it will make it seem substantial.”

Ar-Rabee’ bin Khuthaim said, “Remember that (death) which you have never tasted before and will only taste once”

The Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhe wa sallam was reported to have said: “Every person who dies will feel sorry. If the deceased was a good-doer, he will be sorry that he did not perfom more good, and if he was an evil-doer, he will feel sorry he did not desist evil.”

Hasan al Basri rahimahullah wept when he was dying and said, “A weak soul, but a tremendous calamity to come. Certainly, we are all for Allaah and to Him shall be our return.”‘

Ibn ‘Abbas radiyallahu ‘anhumaa narrated that ‘Umar radiyallahu ‘anhu came to the Messenger of Allaah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, who was reclining on a woven mat that left its marks on his side. ‘Umar said, ‘Why not get a more comfortable mat that this one, O Allaah’s Prophet?’ The Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam said,

“What do I have to do with this life? Verily, my example in this life is the example of a traveler who went on a journey during a summer day, took shelter under a tree during a part of a day, then went on and left it.”

Abu Haazim said, “Trade of the Hereafter is not sought after, and whatever is left of it, is about to finish! As a result, no part of it, minor or major will remain. Moreover, if one is prevented from doing good actions, all what he has left is sorrow and grief for this loss, wishing he could go back to a condition that allows him to work good deeds but wishing that will not avail him.”

Once, Hasan al Basri rahimahullah passed by a man who was laughing and asked him, “O my nephew! Have you safely passed over the siraat? He said, ‘No’. Hasan al Basri asked, ‘Have you received news that you will end up in Paradise or Hell?’ He said, ‘No’. Hasan al Basri asked him, ‘Why do you laugh then, may Allah save you, while the matter ahead is horrifying?’ That man was never seen laughing until he died.”

‘Umar radiyallahu ‘anhu used to say repeatedly, “Remember the fire often, for its heat is intense, its bottom is far down and its bars (of torment) are made of iron.”

Salamah bin Dinaar said, “Abandon every matter because of which you hate to meet death, for this way, it will not make a difference to you if you die anytime.”

Abu Darda radiyallahu ‘anhu said, “When you remember the dead, consider yourself one of them.”

Caliph Al Muntasir said at the time of death, when he was wished well, “All will happen except being well! Life has gone away and the Hereafter has come.”

‘Umar bin Abdul ‘Azeez rahimahullah used to say, “If remembrance of death departed from my heart for an hour, my heart would be corrupted.”

How can we feel safe when Al-Faaruq, ‘Umar radiyallahu ‘anhu said, “If I have the earth’s fill of gold and silver, I would ransom myself with it. How can I feel safe knowing the horror that is still to come and before knowing the true news (about my final destination)?” Also, after ‘Umar was stabbed, he asked his son to place his cheek on the ground and he did. ‘Umar radiyallahu ‘anhu wept until some mud stuck to his eyes. He was weeping and saying, “Woe to me, and woe to my mother, if my Lord did not bestow His mercy on me.”

‘Umar bin Abdul ‘Azeez said, “If it was not for fear that it might be an innovation in the religion, I would have vowed not to feel happy for anything in this life, until I see how the faces of the messengers of my Lord will look like upon death. Also, I would not like that death is made easy for me, for it is the last stance for which the believer receives reward.”

Zainab bint Jahsh radiyallahu ‘anhumaa said when she was dying, “I have prepared my own shroud, so if ‘Umar sent another shroud for me, give away one of them!”

Mutarrif bin Abdullah said, “If I knew when my life would end, I fear that I would lose my mind. Allah has granted His slaves the favour of forgetting death, otherwise, they would not enjoy life or erect marketplaces.”

35 Statements From the Salaf Regarding Sincerity

1 – Bishr al-Haafi said: “That I seek the world with a wind instrument is more beloved to me than that I seek it with my Deen.”

2 – Ibraaheem an-Nakha’i said: “When Shaytaan comes to you while you are in prayer and says: ‘You are showing off,’ make it longer.”
3 – One of the Salaf said: “Direct me to an action by which I will never cease to be performing for Allaah the Exalted.” It was said to him: “Always intend good, because you will never cease to be performing even if you do not perform any actions. The intention is made even in the absence of any actions. Whoever intended to pray at night and then slept, the reward for what he intended will be written for him.”

4 – One of them said: “I love that I have an intention for every single thing; even my eat, drink and sleep.”

5 – It was said to Sahl: “What is the hardest thing for the soul (to achieve)?” He said: “Sincerity, when there is no other desire in it.”

6 – Ya’qoob al-Makfoof said: “The sincere person is the one who hides his good deeds just like he hides his evil deeds.”
7 – One of them wrote to his brother: “Make your intention sincere in all of your actions, and little action will suffice you.”
8 – Ayyoob as-Sakhtiyaani said: “Purifying the intention is harder than all other actions for those who act.”

9 – Yahyaa bin Mu’aadh said: “Sincerity separates good actions from faults like the separation of milk from dung and blood.”

10 – as-Soosi said: “What Allaah desires from the actions of His creation is sincerity and nothing else.”

11 – al-Junayd said: “To Allaah belong servants who understand, and when they understand they act, and when they act they make their actions sincere. Their recalling of sincerity at the time of doing righteousness is what accumulates the greatest good for them.”

12 – Hawshab used to cry and say: “My name has reached the large Mosque (meaning, the people will know who I am)!”

13 – as-Soosi said: “Sincerity is to lose the vision of sincerity in oneself.”
14 – One of them said: “Whoever sees sincerity in his sincerity, his sincerity is itself in need of sincerity. The destruction of every sincere person lies in his sincerity to the extent that he sees sincerity in himself. When he abandons seeing sincerity in himself he will be sincere and purified.”

15 – Abu ‘Uthmaan said: “Sincerity is to forget about the creation by constantly looking at the Creator (in terms of gaining admiration for your deeds).”

16 – Ibraaheem bin Adham said: “The one who loves fame is not truthful to Allaah.”

17 – Sufyaan ath-Thawri said: “They (the Salaf) used to hate fame and reputation due to wearing nice garments because eyes would stretch towards them.”

18 – Na’eem bin Hammaad said: “‘Abdullaah ibn al-Mubaarak frequently used to sit in his house for long periods of time, so it was said to him: ‘Don’t you feel lonely and isolated?’ He said: ‘How can I feel isolated while I am with the Prophet (saw)?’.”

19 – Ja’far bin Hayyaan said: “The foundations of these actions are the intentions. Indeed a man reaches with his intentions a position he does not reach with his actions.”

20 – One of the people of wisdom used to say: “When a man is speaking in a gathering and his speech amazes him, let be silent. When he keeps silent and his silence amazes, him let him speak.”

21 – Mutraf bin ‘Abdullaah ash-Shakheer said: “That I spend the night sleeping and wake up remorseful is more loved to me than that I spend the night standing in prayer and wake up in admiration.”

22 – an-Nu’maan bin Qays said: “I never saw ‘Abeedah performing any voluntary prayers in the mosque of al-Hayy.”

23 – ‘Ali said: “The one who shows off has three charactersistics: he is lazy when by himself, he is lively and energetic when with others and he increases in his actions when he is praised and decreases in them when he is criticised.”

24 – al-Hasan said: “The one who shows off desires to overcome what Allaah has decreed for him. He is an evil person who desires to inform the people that he is righteous in order to hear what they would say. He has obtained a position of vileness and wickedness from his Lord. It is therefore essential for the hearts of the believers to recognise him.”

25 – Sahl bin ‘Abdullaah said: “There is nothing which is tougher upon the soul than acheiving sincerity. How many times have I tried to remove the inclination to show off from my heart except that it sprouted in a different colour?”

26 – Ibn Mas’ood said: “Do not learn knowledge for three reasons: to amaze and confound the foolish, to argue with the learned and to make people’s faces turn towards you. Rather, seek what is with Allaah with your hearts and actions, since only that will remain and whatever is besides it will go.”

27 – Abu Sulaymaan ad-Daarini said: “Glad tidings for the one who took a single step desiring nothing but the face of Allaah by it.”
28 – Some of the Salaf said: “Whoever had a single instance in his lifetime which was purely and sincerely for the sake of Allaah – the Exalted – will be saved, and this is due to the greatness of sincerity.”

29 – Abu Sulaymaan ad-Daarini said: “When the servant is sincere, the inclination to show off and the many whisperings (of the Devils) are cut off from him.”

30 – It has also been said: “Sincerity is that the servants inward and outward actions are equal. Riyaa’ is when the outward appearance is better than the inner self and truthfulness in one’s sincerity iswhen the inner self is better cultivated and more flourishing than the outward appearance.”

31 – Some of the Salaf have said: “Sincerity is that you do not seek a witness over your action besidesAllaah or one who gives reward besides Him.”

32 – Makhool said: “Never does a servant maintain sincerity for forty days in succession except that the streams of wisdom from his heart appear on his tongue.”

33 – ‘Adiyy ibn Haatim said: “The people destined for the Fire will be ordered towards Paradiseuntil they come close to it and smell its fragrance, see its palaces and what Allaah has prepared in it for its people. Then an announcement will be made that they be turned away from it. There will be no portion for them in it. They will return in loss and ruin just like the ones before them. Then they will say: ‘O our Lord! If you had entered us into the Fire before You showed us what You have shown us from Your reward and what You have prepared for your friends and allies, it would have been easier upon us.’ Then the Exalted will say: ‘This is what I intended with you. When you used to be alone you would combat me (or show boldness to Me) with grave sins and when you used to meet people you would meet them with humility. You would show to the people other than that which you used to give Me from your hearts. You feared people but you did not fear Me. You honored the people but you did not honor Me, you abandoned actions for the people but you did not abandon them for Me. This day, will I make you taste a tormenting punishment as well as prevent you from receiving that reward.”

34 – It has been said: “The damage caused to every servant lies in his being pleased with himself.Whoever looks at his soul and sees something in it which he deems to be good has caused its destruction. And whoever does not suspect his soul at every single moment is one who is deceived.”
35 – Ibn al-Qayyim said: “Sincerity is the unification of one’s wish and intent.”

[Collected by Shaykh Husayn al-'Awaa'ishah from 'Ihyaa' 'Uloom ud-Deen' of al-Ghazaali, 'Mukhtasar Minhaaj ul-Qaasideen' of Ibn Qudaamah and 'az-Zuhd' of 'Abdullaah Ibn al-Mubaarak]

Best of the Best

Below, from a choice of hundreds of narrations from our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), you can find 100 hadîth, in no particular order of merit, detailing ways on exactly how to become the best, how to have the most excellent characteristics, what really will prove most beneficial for us to know, what really are the greatest things to think about and hope for and indeed, how to become the most beloved of people to our Magnificent Creator, Allaah, the Most High.

No more subjectivity, no more empty statements; just the divine criteria of what really is the best as developed by the very best himself, Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). So go on, don’t be ordinary. Don’t be common. Don’t be typical …
Be the best.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us:

1. “The best of the Muslims is he from whose hand and tongue the Muslims are safe.” [Muslim]

2. “The best of people are those with the most excellent character.” [Tabarâni, Sahîh]

3. “The best of people are those that bring most benefit to the rest of mankind.” [Dâraqutni, Hasan]

4. “The best of people are those who are best in fulfilling [rights].” [Ibn Mâjah, Sahîh]

5. “The best of people during fitnah is a man who takes up the reins of his horse pursuing the enemies of Allaah, causing them fear yet they make him fearful too, or a man who secludes himself in the desert fulfilling the rights of Allaah upon him.” [Hâkim, Sahîh]

6. “The best of mankind is my generation, then those that follow them and then those that follow them. Then there shall come a people after them who will become avaricious, who will love gluttony, and who will give witness before they are asked for it.” [Tirmidhî, Sahîh]

7. “The best of people are those who live longest and excel in their deeds, whereas the worst of people are those who live longest and corrupt their deeds.” [Tirmidhî, Sahîh]

8. “The best of women are those that please him [her husband] when he sees her, obeys him when she is commanded, and who does not secretly betray him with regards to herself and her money in that which he dislikes.” [Ahmad, Sahîh]

9. “The best of women are those that please you when you see them, obey you when commanded, and who safeguard themselves and your money in your absence.” [Tabarâni, Sahîh]

10. “The best of marriages are the easiest ones.” [Abu Dâwûd, Sahîh]

11. “The best of your dates is the Borniyyû date; it expels disease yet does not contain any disease itself.” [Hâkim, Hasan]

12. “The best of your garments are those which are white; shroud your dead in them and clothe your living with them. The best of that which you apply to your eyelids is antimony causing the eyelashes to grow and sharpening the eyesight.” [Ibn Hibbân, Sahîh]

13. “The best quality of your religion is scrupulousness.” [Hâkim, Sahîh]

14. “The best of your religion is that which is easiest.” [Ahmad, Sahîh]

15. “The best of the prayer lines for men are the first rows, the worst being the final rows. The best of the prayer lines for women are the final rows and the worst are the first rows.” [Muslim]

16. “The best prayers for women are those performed in the most secluded parts of their houses.” [Ibn Khuzaymah, Sahîh]

17. “The best of you in Islam are those who are most excellent in character as long as you deeply understand the religion.” [Ahmad, Sahîh]

18. “The best of you are the best of you in fulfilling [rights].” [Ahmad, Sahîh]

19. “The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best of you to my family.” [Tirmidhî, Sahîh]

20. “The best of you are my generation, then those that follow them and then those that follow them. Then there shall come after them a people who will betray and be untrustworthy, will give witness even though they have not been asked to, will make vows yet will not fulfil them and obesity will appear amongst them.” [Bukhâri]

21. “The best of you are those who feed others and return greetings.” [Abu Ya'lâ, Hasan]

22. “The best of you is he from whom good is anticipated and safety from his evil is assured; the worst of you is he from whom nothing good is expected and one is not safe from his evil.” [Tirmidhî, Sahîh]

23. “The best thing mankind has been given is excellent character.” [Hâkim, Sahîh]

24. “The best of that which you treat yourself with is cupping.” [Hâkim, Sahîh]

25. “The best of journeys undertaken are to this Mosque of mine and the Ancient House.” [Ahmad, Sahîh]

26. “The best of which man can leave behind for himself are three: a righteous child who supplicates for him, an ongoing charity whose reward continues to reach him and knowledge which others benefit from after him.” [Ibn Hibbân, Hasan]

27. “The best Mosques for women are the most secluded parts of their houses.” [Bayhaqi, Sahîh]

28. “The best of the world’s women are four: Maryum bint ‘Imrân, Khadîjah bint Khuwaylid, Fâtimah bint Muhammad and Âsiyah the wife of Fir’awn.” [Ahmad, Sahîh]

29. “The best of days that you should perform cupping are the 17th, 19th and 21st of the month. I did not pass a single gathering of angels on the night of Isrâ’ except that they would say to me, ‘O Muhammad, perform cupping!’” [Ahmad, Sahîh]

30. “The best day on which the Sun has risen is Friday; on it Âdam was created, on it Âdam was made to enter Paradise and on it he was expelled. The Hour will not be established except on Friday.” [Muslim]

31. “Verily, the best of perfume for men is that which is strong in smell and light in colour, and the best of perfume for women is that which is strong in colour and light in smell.” [Tirmidhî, Sahîh]

32. “The most beloved of religions according to Allaah the Most High is the ‘easy and flexible religion.’” [Ahmad, Hasan]

33. “The most beloved of deeds according to Allaah are the continuous ones, even if they are little.” [Agreed upon]

34. “The most beloved of names according to Allaah are ‘Abd Allaah, ‘Abd’l-Rahmân and Hârith.” [Abu Ya'lâ, Sahîh]

35. “The most beloved of deeds according to Allaah are the prayer in its right time, then to treat the parents in an excellent manner, and then Jihâd in the path of Allaah.” [Agreed upon]

36. “The most beloved of deeds according to Allaah is that you die and yet your tongue is still moist from the remembrance of Allaah.” [Ibn Hibbân, Hasan]

37. “The most beloved words according to Allaah the Most High are four: Subhânallaah, Alhamdulillâh, Lâ ilâha illallah and Allaahu Akbar; there is no problem with which one you start with.” [Muslim]

38. “The most beloved of speech according to Allaah is when the servant says, ‘Subhânallahi wa bihamdihî’ [How Transcendent is Allaah and we praise him!].” [Muslim]

39. “The most beloved of speech according to Allaah the Most High is that which Allaah chose for his Angels: Subhâna Rabbî wa bihamdihî, Subhâna Rabbî wa bihamdihî, Subhâna Rabbî wa bihamdihî.” [Tirmidhî, Sahîh]

40. “The most beloved of people according to Allaah is he who brings most benefit, and the most beloved of deeds according to Allaah the Mighty, the Magnificent, is that you bring happiness to a fellow Muslim, or relieve him of distress, or pay off his debt or stave away hunger from him. It is more beloved to me that I walk with my brother Muslim in his time of need than I stay secluded in the mosque for a month. Whoever holds back his anger, Allaah will cover his faults and whoever suppresses his fury while being able to execute it, Allaah will fill his heart with satisfaction on the Day of Standing. Whoever walks with his brother Muslim in need until he establishes that for him, Allaah will establish his feet firmly on the day when all feet shall slip. Indeed, bad character ruins deeds just as vinegar ruins honey.” [Tabarâni, Hasan]

41. “The most beloved of people to me is ‘Â’ishah and from the men, Abu Bakr.” [Agreed upon]

42. “The best of people in recitation are those who when they recite, you see that they fear Allaah.” [Bayhaqi, Sahîh]

43. “The best of your leaders are those that you love and they love you, you supplicate for them and they supplicate for you. The worst of your leaders are those that you hate and they hate you, you curse them and they curse you.” [Muslim]

44. “The best of you are those who are best in paying off their debts.” [Tahâwi, Sahîh]

45. “The best of you are those with the longest lives and most excellent character.” [Bazzâr, Sahîh]

46. “The best of you are those with the longest lives and best in action.” [Hâkim, Sahîh]

47. “The best of you are those with the softest shoulders during prayer.” [Bayhaqi, Hasan]

48. “The best of you are those who are best to their wives.” [Tirmidhî, Sahîh]

49. “The best of you are those who are best to their families.” [Tabarâni, Sahîh]

50. “The best of you during the ‘Period of Ignorance’ are the best of you in Islam as long as they deeply understand the religion.” [Bukhâri]

51. “The best of you are those who learn the Qur’ân and teach it.” [Dârimi, Sahîh]

52. “The best of companions according to Allaah are those who are best to their companion and the best of neighbours according to Allaah are those that are best to their neighbour.” [Tirmidhî, Sahîh]

53. “The best of places are the Mosques and the worst of places are the markets.” [Tabarâni, Hasan]

54. “The best supplication on the Day of ‘Arafah and the best thing that I and the Prophets before me ever said was, ‘Lâ ilâha illAllaah wahdahû lâ sharîka lahû, lahû’l-mulk wa lahû’l-hamd wa huwa ‘alâ kulli shay’in Qadîr.’” [Tirmidhî, Hasan]

55. “The best of provision is that which suffices.” [Ahmad in 'Zuhd', Hasan]

56. “The best testimony is when one gives it before he is asked to do so.” [Tabarâni, Sahîh]

57. “The best of dowries are the easiest.” [Hâkim, Sahîh]

58. “The best of charity is that which still leaves you self-sufficient for the upper hand is better than the lower hand; start with those you are responsible for.” [Tabarâni, Sahîh]

59. “The best of gatherings are those that are most open.” [Abu Dâwûd, Sahîh]

60. “The most beloved deed according to Allaah is to have faith in Allaah, then to maintain the ties of kinship, and then to command to good and forbid the wrong. The most abhorrent of deeds according to Allaah is to associate partners with Him, then to cut the ties of kinship.” [Abu Ya'lâ, Hasan]

61. “The most beloved Jihâd according to Allaah is that a word of truth be spoken to a tyrant ruler.” [Tabarâni, Hasan]

62. “The most beloved word according to me is that which is most truthful.” [Bukhâri]

63. “The most beloved fast according to Allaah is the fast of Dâwûd; he would fast every alternate day. The most beloved prayer according to Allaah is the prayer of Dâwûd; he would sleep half the night, stand a third and then sleep for a sixth.” [Agreed upon]

64. “The most beloved dish according to Allaah is that which most hands feed from.” [Ibn Hibbân, Hasan]

65. “The most beloved servant of Allaah is he who is most beneficial to his dependents.” [Zawâ'id al-Zuhd, Hasan]

66. “The best of earnings is that of the labourer as long as he tries his best.” [Ahmad, Hasan]

67. “The best of all deeds is to have faith in Allaah alone, then Jihâd and then an accepted Hajj; they surpass all other deeds like the distance between the rising and setting of the Sun.” [Ahmad, Sahîh]

68. “The best of all deeds is the Prayer at its earliest time.” [Tirmidhî, Sahîh]

69. “The best of all deeds is the Prayer in its right time, to treat the Parents honourably and Jihâd in the path of Allaah.” [al-Khatîb, Sahîh]

70. “The best of all deeds is that you bring happiness to your Muslim brother, pay off his debt or feed him bread.” [Ibn Adiyy, Hasan]

71. “The best of faith is patience and magnanimity.” [Ahmad, Sahîh]

72. “The best of days according to Allaah is Friday.” [Bayhaqi, Sahîh]

73. “The best of Jihâd is that man strives against his soul and desires.” [Daylami, Sahîh]

74. “The best Hajj is that with the most raised voices and flowing blood.” [Tirmidhî, Hasan]

75. “The best of supplications is that of on the Day of ‘Arafah, and the best thing that was said by myself and the Prophets before me was, “Lâ ilâha illallah wahdahû lâ sharîka lahû.” [There is nothing worthy of worship except Allaah alone, He has no partners.] [Mâlik, Hasan]

76. “The best of dinars are: the dinâr spent by a man upon his dependents, the dinâr spent by a man upon his horse in the path of Allaah and the dinâr spent by a man upon his companions in the path of Allaah, the Mighty, the Magnificent.” [Muslim]

77. “The best word of remembrance is: Lâ ilâha illallah and the best supplication is: Alhamdulillâh.” [Tirmidhî, Hasan]

78. “The best word of remembrance is: Lâ ilâha illallah and the best [expression of giving] thanks is: Alhamdulillâh.” [Baghawi, Hasan]

79. “The best of hours are those deep in the latter part of the night.” [Tabarâni, Sahîh]

80. “The best of all martyrs are those who fight in the front line; they do not turn their faces away until they are killed. They will be rolling around in the highest rooms of Paradise, their Lord laughing at them – when your Lord laughs at a servant, there is no accounting for him.” [Ahmad, Sahîh]

81. “The best of all martyrs is he whose blood is shed and whose horse is slaughtered.” [Tabarâni, Sahîh]

82. “The best of all charity is the shade of a canopy [provided] in the path of Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent, to gift ones servant in the path of Allaah and to gift ones she-camel in the path of Allaah.” [Ahmad, Hasan]

83. “The best of all charity is that which is given to the relative that harbours enmity against you.” [Ahmad, Sahîh]

84. “The best of all charity is that you give it while you are healthy and desirous [of that money], hoping to become wealthy but fearing poverty. Don’t delay until you are about to breathe your last and then you say, ‘This is for ‘so and so’ and this is for ‘so and so”, for indeed, it has already been written that ‘so and so’ would receive that.” [Abu Dâwûd, Sahîh]

85. “The best of all charity is when the one with little strives to give; start with those you are responsible for.” [Hâkim, Sahîh]

86. “The best charity is to provide water.” [Ibn Mâjah, Hasan]

87. “The best prayer after the obligatory ones is the prayer in the depth of the night, and the best fast after the month of Ramadhân is the month of Allaah, Muharram.” [Muslim]

88. “The best prayer is the prayer of the man in his home except for the obligatory prayer.” [Nasâ'î, Sahîh]

89. “The best prayer is that with the longest standing.” [Muslim]

90. “The best of all prayers according to Allaah is the Friday morning prayer in congregation.” [Ibn Nu'aym, Sahîh]

91. “The best fast is the fast of my brother Dâwûd; he would fast every alternate day and he would never flee [the battlefront] when the armies would meet.” [Tirmidhî, Sahîh]

92. “The best of all fasts after Ramadhân is in the month that you call Muharram.” [Nasâ'î, Sahîh]

93. “The best of all worship is supplication.” [Hâkim, Sahîh]

94. “The best deed is the prayer in its right time and Jihâd in the path of Allaah.” [Bayhaqi, Sahîh]

95. “The best of the Qur’ân is: “Alhamdulillâhi Rabb’l-’Âlamîn”. [Hâkim, Sahîh]

96. “The best of earnings is a blessed sale and that which a man earns with his hands.” [Ahmad, Sahîh]

97. “The best of the Believers is the most excellent of them in character.” [Ibn Mâjah, Sahîh]

98. “The best of the Believers with respect to Islam is the one from whose hand and tongue the Muslims are safe; and the best of the Believers with respect to Îmân are the most excellent of them in character; and the best of those who migrate is he who migrates from that which Allaah the Most High has prohibited; and the best of Jihâd is when one strives against his soul for the sake of Allaah, the Mighty, the Magnificent.” [Tabarâni, Sahîh]

99. “The best of mankind is the believer between two honourable persons.” [Tabarâni, Sahîh]

100. “The best of all days in the world are the ten days [of Dhul Hijjah].” [Bazzâr, Sahîh]

For forty years, the Adhan was never called but Sa`id bin al-Musayyab radhiallahu `anhu was in the mosque before it was called. [Tabaqat al Hanabilah 1/141, Hilyat al Awliya 2/163, Sifat as Safwah 2/80]

‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) became unconscious after he was stabbed, and according to Al Miswar bin Makhramah, it was said: “Nothing would wake him up except the call to prayer, if he is still alive.” They said to him, “The prayer has finished, O Chief of the Faithful!” He woke up and said, “The prayer, by Allaah! Verily, there is no share in Islam for whoever abandons the prayer.” He performed the prayer while his wound was bleeding. [Sifat as Safwah 2/131, As Siyar 5/220]

After ar-Rabi` bin Khaytham became partially paralyzed, he used to go to the mosque helped by two men. He was told:

“O Abu Yazid! You have been given permission to pray at home.” He said, “You have said the truth, but I heard the caller heard, ‘Hayya `ala al-Falah (Come to success)’, and I thought that whoever hears this call should answer it even by crawling.” [Hilyat al Awliya 2/113]

Adi bin Hatim, radhiallahu `anhu, said: “Every time the prayer time falls, it falls while I am eager for it and ready to perform it (i.e. having wudu).” [Az Zuhd by Ahmad, p. 249]

Abu Bakr bin Abdullah al Muzani said: “Who is like you, O son of Adam? Whenever you wish, you use water to make Ablution, go to the place for worship and thus enter the presence of your Lord (i.e. start praying) without a translator or a barrier between you and Him!” [Al Bidayah wa an Nihayah 9/256]

Abu Rajaa al `Ataridi, “Nothing that I leave behind grieves me, except that I used to bow down on my face five times a day before my Lord, the Exalted and Most Honored.” [Hilyat al Awliya 2/306]

Abu Al Aliyah said, “I would travel for days to meet a man and the first thing I would notice about him is his prayer. If he would establish the prayer perfectly and on time, I would stay with him and hear the knowledge he had. If I found him to be careless concerning the prayer, I would leave him and say to myself that for things other than the prayer, he would be even more careless.”

When Ali bin Al Husain used to perform Wudu, his color would change. His family asked him why this happened to him every time he performed Ablution, he sid, “Do you know before Whom I am about to stand (in prayer)?”

Yazid bin Abdullah was asked, “Should we make a roof for our mosque?” He said, “Purify your hearts and your mosque will be sufficient for you.” [Hilyat al Awliya 2/312]

Adi bin Hatim, radhiallahu `anhu said, “Ever since I became Muslim, I always made sure to have Wudu when the Adhan is called.” [As Siyar 3/160]

Ubayd bin Ja`far said, “I never saw my uncle Bishr bin Masnur miss the first takbir, and whenever any person stood up in our mosque to ask people for help, my uncle gave him something.” [Sifat as Safwah 3/376]

Ibn Sama`ah said, “For forty years, I only missed Takbir Tahrimah when my mother died.” [As Siyar 10/646]

“If you know of a man’s disinterests in Takbir Tahrimah, then wash your hands of him.” [As Siyar 5/65, Sifat as Safwah 3/88]

Sufyan bin `Uyaynah, “Honoring the prayer includes coming before the Iqamah is recited.” [Sifat as Safwah 2/235]

Maymun bin Mahran came to the mosque late and when he was told that the people had already finished the prayer, he said, “We all belong to Allaah and to Him shall be our return! I prefer the congregational prayer to being the governor of Iraq.” [Mukashafat al Qulub p 364]

Yunus bin Abdullah said, “What is the matter with me? When I lose a chicken I feel concerned, but when I miss the prayer in congregation, it does not grieve me.” [Hilyat al Awliya, 3/19]

`Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said, while standing on the podium, “A man might have white hair in Islam (i.e. reaches in old age while Muslim), yet has not completed even one prayer for Allaah, the Exalted!” He was asked, “Why is that?” He said, “He does not perfect the prayer’s required Khushu`, solemness and attending to Allaah with his heart.” [Al-Ihya 10/202]

Hammad bin Salamah said, “I have never stood up for prayer without imagining that Jahannam is before my eyes.” [Tadhkirat al Huffadh 1/219]

Mu`adh bin Jabal advised his son, “My son! Pray the prayer of he who is just about to leave and imagine that you might not be able to pray ever again. Know that the believer dies between two good deeds, one that he performed and one that he intended to perform later on.” [Sifat as Safwah 1/496]

Bakr al Muzani said, “If you want your prayer to be of benefit to you, say to yourself, ‘I might not have a chance to perform another prayer.’”[Jami` al `Ulum wal Hikam, p 466.]

Shubrumah said, “We accompanied Karz al Harithi on a journey. Whenever he wanted to set camp in an area, he used to scan it with his eyes and when he found a good piece of land that he liked, he would go to it and pray there until it was time to leave.” [Sifat as Safwah 3/120]

Al Qasim bin Muhammad said, “Whenever I went out in the morning, I used to visit `Aishah radhiallahu `anha (his aunt and the wife of the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) and greet her. One day I found her performing Ad Duha prayer, reciting this Ayah repeatedly, crying and invoking Allaah: ‘So Allaah has been gracious to us, and has saved us from the torment of the Fire.’ (52:27) I stood there until I felt bored, so I left and went to the market to do something and said to myself that when I finish what I have to do, I will go back (to `Aishah radhiallahu `anha). When I finished and went back to her, I found her still standing in prayer, reciting the same Ayah, crying and invoking Allaah.’” [Al Ihya 4/436]

Maymun bin Hayyan said, “I never saw Muslim bin Yasar turning his head while praying, whether the prayer was short or long. Once, a part of the mosque came down and the noise caused fear to the people who were in the market, while he was in the mosque, did not fear nor even turn his head and kept praying.” [Az Zuhd by Imam Ahmad p 359]

“I accompanied `Ata bin Rabah for eighteen years. When he became old and weak, he used to stand in prayer and read close to two hundred Ayat from Surat al Baqarah while standing in such firmness that no part of him would move.” [As Siyar 5/87, Sifat as Safwah 2/213]

Abu Bakr bin Aiyash said, “If you saw Habib bin Abu Thabit while in Sujud, you would think that he had died because of his long prostration.” [As Siyar 5/291]

Ali bin Al Fudayl said, “I saw ath-Thawri went into Sujud while praying, and I performed Tawaf around the House seven times before he raised his head from Sujud.” [As Siyar 7/277]

Uthman bin Abi Dahrash said, “I never performed a prayer without invoking Allaah afterwards to forgive me for falling into shortcomings in the way I performed it.” [Tarikhu Baghdad 13/207]

Mu`awiyah bin Murrah, “I lived during the time of seventy of the Companions of Muhammad, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, and had they lived among you today, they would not recognize any of your acts except the Adhan!” [Hilyat al Awliya 2/299]

Moreover, Maymun bin Mahran said, “If a man from the Salaf was resurrected among you today, he would only recognize your Qiblah.”

When Hatim al Asamm was asked about his prayer, he said, “When it is near the time of prayer, I perform a perfect Wudu and go to where I am going to pray and sit down there until I become fully attentive to what I am about to do. I then stand up and pray, imagining that the Ka`bah is in front of my eyes, Paradise to my right, Hellfire to my left and the Angel of Death behind me. I imagine that it is the last prayer I am about to perform, stand up in hope (in Allaah, His Paradise and rewards) and fear (from Allaah’s torment in Hellfire) and recite the Takbir while having full attention. I recite the Qur’an calmly, make Ruku` humbly, go into Sujud with Khushu and then sit on my left leg, with the left food laid on the floor and the right food raised up, all the while praying with sincerity. Afterwards, I do not know (nor feel certain) if that prayer was accepted from me!” [Al Ihya 1/179]

One of the Salaf said, “O son of Adam! You need your share in this life, but need your share in the Hereafter even more. If you took care of your share in this life, then you will lose your share in the Hereafter and are soon bound to lose your share in this life too. If you took care of your share in the Hereafter, you will also win your full share in this life with ease.” [Fada'il adh Dhikr by ibn al Jawzi p. 19]

Talq bin Habib said, “Allaah’s Rights are greater than the slave’s capacity and ability to fulfill them. Therefore, reach the morning in a state of repentance and reach the night in a state of repentance.”

During his Caliphate, ‘Umar radi Allaahu anhu set out for Ash-Shaam with Abu Ubaydah. On this journey, they came upon a deep creek, which they needed to cross. So ‘Umar took off his sandals and carried them on his shoulders. Then he took the reign of the camel and began plowing through the water. Seeing the khalifah of the Muslims in this state, Abu Ubaydah radi Allaahu anhu felt saddened and said, “I fear that the people of the village will think you without honor.”

‘Umar replied, “Oh Abu Ubaydah, if only someone less knowledgeable then you made such a statement. We were of the most disgraced of people, and Allaah granted us honor with this Islam. Now, whenever we seek honor in other than that which Allaah honored us with, Allaah shall disgrace us (once again).”

Take note of the words of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) on the occasion of the death of his son, Ibraahim:

‘Our eyes are filled with tears, our hearts with grief, but we say nothing with our lips except that which pleases Allaah…. Verily, to Allaah we belong, and to Him we return.’ (Bukhaari)

“And to Allaah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth….” (Surah Aal-Imraan:180)

“The kingdom of the heavens and the earth and everything in them belongs to Allaah. He has power over all things.” ( Surat al-Ma’ida: 120)

‘Say: ‘To Allaah belongs the East and the West…’ (Surah al-Baqarah:142)

‘Ali ibn Abee Taalib (radhiAllaahu’anhu) said, “The people who are most learned about Allaah are those who respect most the people of Laa ilaaha illallaah (there is none worthy of worship except Allaah).”

Bakr ibn ‘Abdullaah al-Muzani (rahimahullaah) said, “If you see someone older than you, then respect him saying, “He has beaten me to Islaam and righteous action.” If you see someone younger than you, then respect him saying to yourself, “I have beaten him in sins.” If the people honour you then say, “That is from the grace of Allaah, but I do not deserve it.” If they degrade you then say, “This happened as a consequence of a previous sin.” If you throw a pebble at your neighbour’s dog, then you have harmed him.”

“He who enters the grave without provisions (good deeds), has, as if, he started swimming across the ocean without a vessel.” [Abu Bakr - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“Worldy honour is derived from riches and the honour of the Hereafter is derived from the performance of good deeds.” ['Umar - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“Absorption in worldly affairs breeds darkness in the heart, and absorption in the affairs of the next world enkindles light in the heart.” ['Uthmaan - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“He who seeks knowledge of religion (Islaam), Paradise seeks him, and he who seeks deeds of vice, Hell seeks him.” ['Ali - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“There are three things that cannot be acquired by means of three other things: riches by means of desire, youth by means of khejab (dye of beard) and health by means of medicine.” [Abu Bakr - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“To maintain nice relations with the people is half of intelligence, nice questioning is half of knowledge, and nice domestic arrangements is half of the management of livelihood.” ['Umar - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“Allaah the Exalted loves him who forgoes worldly life, the Angels love him who rejects the vices, and the Muslims love him who gives up greediness in respect of the Muslims.” ['Uthmaan - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“Be a good man to Allaah and a bad man to yourself (desires); and be one of the commoners among the people.” ['Ali - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“Give alms to anybody you like and become his master, beg from anybody you wish and become his captive, and you may remain self-dependent if you like so that you may be an equal to others.” ['Ali - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“A great many people proceed towards evils on account of receipt of blessings, many people are ruined by praise, and many a man is deceived by Allah’s protection (in concealing vices).” [Ibn Mas'ood - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“Perform well those (things) that have been made compulsory for you, you will then be amongst the distinguished devotees. Refrain from those (things) that have been prohibited, you will then be amongst the distinguished pious men. Be content with those things that are allotted to you by Allaah, you will then be amongst the richest.” [Ibn Mas'ood - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

He was asked, “Which of the days is the best?” He replied, “The day of congregation (Jumu’ah).” He was again asked, “Which of the months is the best?” He replied, “The month of Ramadaan.” He was again asked, “Which of the deeds is the best?” He replied, “To punctually establish the five daily prayers.” [Ibn Abbaas - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“He who has no manners has no knowledge; he who has no patience has no Deen, and he who has no piety has no nearness to Allaah for him.” [al-Hasan al-Basri - rahimahullaah]

“Those who were destroyed in the past, were surely destroyed because of three bad habits: Wasting time in useless talks, excessive eating, and excessive sleeping.” [Ibraheem An-Nakha'ee - rahimahullaah]

“Rectify three things by three other things till you become amongst the faithful (mu`min): Pride by modesty, greed by contentment in a little, and envy by listening to advice.” [Maalik ibn Dinar - rahimahullaah]

“There are four types of oceans. Passions are the ocean of sins, the self (nafs) is the ocean of lust, death is the ocean of life, and the grave is the ocean of distress.” ['Umar - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“There are four things with which Allaah is pleased – the external side of them is blessing and the inner side of them is compulsion. It is a blessing to associate with the pious servants (salihoon) of Allaah, but it is a compulsion to follow them (in deeds). It is a blessing to recite the Qur`aan, but it is compulsory to act according to it. It is a blessing to visit a grave, but it is a compulsion to make provisions for it. It is a blessing to take care of the sick, but it is a compulsion to take a lesson from it.” ['Umar - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“By Allaah! Whenever I endure any adversity I gain four blessings of Allaah in exchange. The first of them is, when the adversity is not caused by my sin (virtue is earned). The second, when the adversity is not greater than my sin (virtue is earned). The third, when I am not deprived of contentment (virtue is earned). And the fourth, I hope for virtues thereby.” ['Umar - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“I have got the taste of worship (‘ibadat) in four things – firstly in the discharge of the compulsory duties (faraid) prescribed by Allaah; secondly in abstaining from the things forbidden (haram) by Allaah; thirdly in enjoining performance of good deeds in the hope of earning virtues; and fourthly in prohibiting evil deeds in fear of the curse of Allaah.” ['Uthmaan - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“Whoever desires Paradise, proceeds towards goodness; whoever fears Hell, refrains from the impulses of passions; whoever believes firmly in death, detests wordly life; and whoever recognises the worldly life, the trials and tribulations (of life) become slight for him.” ['Ali - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“Both religion and the world will exist so long as four things continue to exist – so long as the rich will not be miserly in spending in the path of Allaah; so long as the learned will perform deeds in accordance with the knowledge acquired; so long as the ignorant will not display obstinacy and pride in what they do not know; and so long as the poor will not sell their Hereafter in exchange for the worldly life.” ['Ali - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“Four things are exceedingly difficult – to forgive while angry, to give alms during want, to abstain from sins in solitude, and to speak the truth before the person from whom may come fear or favour.” ['Ali - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“Four things produce darkness in the heart – to take excess meals recklessly, to bear company with the oppressors, to forget past sins, and to keep lofty desire. And four things produce light in the heart – to keep the stomach hungry for fear of sins, to keep company with the righteous (salihoon), to remember the past sins, and to curtail desires.” ['Ibn Mas'ood - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

Quoted from ‘Abdullaah ibn al-Mubaarak (rahimahullaah) – amongst the four essential advices derived from ahadeeth: “DO NOT ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE THAT DOES NOT BENEFIT YOU.”

“I looked at all friends and did not find a better friend than safeguarding the tongue. I thought about all the dresses but did not find a better dress than piety. I thought about all sorts of wealth but did not find a better wealth than contentment in a little. I thought of all sorts of good deeds but did not find a better deed than offering good advice. I looked at all types of sustenance but did not find a better sustenance than patience.” ['Umar - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“Five are the marks of Allaah-fearing people. They do not associate with people other than those with whom they can maintain terms on a religious basis; they restrain their private parts and their tongues; when they make any large temporal gain, they take it as a curse, and when they gain even a little piety, they consider it precious; they do not eat to their full even of what is permitted for fear that anything forbidden might be mixed with it, they consider all people pious and pardoned, but consider themselves as sinners.” ['Uthmaan - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“Had there not been five bad qualities, all the people would have been righteous. Contentment with ignorance; love for worldly life; miserliness inspite of much wealth; ostentation in (good) deeds; and pride in their own intelligence.” ['Ali - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“Whoever does five things is fortunate in this world and in the Hereafter. Reciting Laa ilaaha illallaah Muhammadur-Rasoolullaah; Inna lillaahi wa inaa ilaihi raaji’oon when any mishap befalls them; saying laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa billaahil ’azeem - alhumdulillaahi rabbil alameen when any gift is bestowed upon them; saying bismillaahir-rahmaanir-raheem when beginning any work; and saying astaghfirullaahil ’azeem wa atoobu ilaihi when any sin is noticed.” ['Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-Aas - radhiAllaahu 'anhu]

“None in this age will amass wealth except those having five traits of character. High hopes; abnormal greediness; excessive miserliness, lack of fearing Allaah; and forgetfulness of the coming world.” ['Sufyan ath-Thawree - rahimahullaah]

Ismaa’eel ibn Zakariya described Habeeb ibn Muhammad, who was a neighbour of his. He said: “Every evening I heard him weeping and every morning I heard him weeping, so I went to his wife and said: ‘What is the matter with him? He weeps in the evening and he weeps in the morning!’ She said to me: ‘By Allaah, when evening comes he fears that he will not live till morning and when morning comes he fears that he will not live till evening.’”

The salaf used to weep and grieve a great deal. When Yazeed al-Raqaashi was criticized for weeping a great deal and it was said to him, “If the Fire had been created exclusively for you, you would not weep more than this,” he said: “Has the Fire been created for anyone other than me and my companions and brothers among the jinn and mankind?”

When ‘Ata’ al-Sulaymi was asked: “What is this grief?” he said: “Woe to you! Death is close at hand, the grave is my house, on the Day of Resurrection I will stand and my path is over a bridge across Hell, and I do not know what will become of me.”

Faddalah ibn Sayfi used to weep a great deal. A man entered upon him when he was weeping and said to his wife: “What is the matter with him?” She said: “He says that he wants to undertake a long journey and he does not have proper provision for it.”

One night al-Hasan woke up weeping, and he disturbed the other people in the house with his weeping. They asked him what was the matter and he said: “I remembered a sin that I committed and I wept.”

It was narrated that Tameem al-Daari (may Allaah be pleased with him) recited this verse (interpretation of the meaning): “Or do those who earn evil deeds think that We shall hold them equal with those who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds” [al-Jaathiyah 45:21] and he started repeating it and weeping until morning came.

Hudhayfah (may Allaah be pleased with him) used to weep intensely, and it was said to him: “Why are you weeping?” He said: “I do not know what is ahead of me – Divine pleasure or divine wrath.”

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) passed by al-Hijr (the land of the people of Thamood) he said: “Do not enter the dwellings of those who wronged themselves, lest what befell them befall you, unless you are weeping.” Then the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) covered his head and walked quickly until he had left the valley. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 3380; Muslim, 2980.

Al-Nawawi included this hadeeth in a chapter entitled “Weeping and feeling fear when passing by the graves of the wrongdoers and the places where they were killed, and expressing one’s need of Allaah, and being careful not to be negligent in that.” Riyaadh al-Saaliheen, p. 373.

It was narrated that al-‘Irbaad ibn Saariyah (may Allaah be pleased with him), who was one of those who used to weep, said: “The Messenger of Allaah delivered a deeply moving speech at which our eyes began to overflow and our hearts melted.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2676; Abu Dawood, 4607; Ibn Maajah, 42; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.

“As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our paths” [al-‘Ankaboot 29:69]

“O feet of patience, keep going, for what remains is only a little. Remember the sweetness of worship, then the bitterness of striving will become easier for you.” (al-Fawaa’id)

“Go out to the field of struggle and strive to sow seeds. Irrigate the tree of regret with the water of tears…” (Badaa’i’ al-Fawaa’id, 3/742)

“It was said: Love is sincerity in striving to obey the commands of Allaah and pure sincerity in following the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).” (Tareeq al-Hijratayn, 1/460)

“Whoever gives up striving completely, his religious motives will become weak and his motive to follow his desires will become strong, but when he trains himself to go against his desires, he can defeat them whenever he wants.” (‘Uddat al-Saabireen, 1/46)

The believer who is striving knows that goodness will remain and will prevail, no matter how intense the darkness, how great the calamity, how prevalent and widespread the evil and how many limits are transgressed. And Allaah is the One Whose help we seek.

_______________________________________________________________

In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, The most Merciful

It is reported about Bishr al-Haafee that he said: That I seek the world with a wind instrument is more loved by me than that I seek it with the deen.

It is reported from Ibraheem an-Nakha’ee that he said: When Shaytaan comes to you whilst you are engaged in prayer and says: You are showing off, increase it in length.

One of the salaf said: Direct me to an action by which I will never cease to be performing for Allaah the Exalted. It was said to him: (Always) intend good because you will never cease to be performing even if you do not do any actions. The intention performs even in the absence of any actions. Whoever intended to pray at night and then slept, the reward for what he intended will be written for him.

One of them said: I love that I have an intention for every single thing until my food, drink and sleep.

It was said to Sahl: What is the hardest thing for the soul (to achieve)? He said: Sincerity, when there is no other desire in it.

It is reported from Ya’qoob al-Makfoof that he said: The sincere person is the one who hides his good deeds just like he hides his evil deeds.

One of them wrote to his brother: Make your intention sincere in all of your actions and little action will suffice you.

It is reported from Ayyoob as-Sakhtiyaanee that he said: Purifying the intention is harder than all other actions for those who act.

It is reported from Yahyaa bin Mu’aadh that he said: Ikhlaas separates (good) actions from faults like the separation of milk from dung and blood.

It is reported from as-Soosee that he said: What Allaah desires from the actions of His creation is Ikhlaas and nothing else.

It is reported from al-Junaid that he said: To Allaah belong servants who understand, and when they understand they act and when they act they make (their action) sincere. Their recalling of Ikhlaas at the time of doing righteousness is what accumulates the greatest (good for them).

It is reported about Hawshab that he used to cry and say: My name has reached the large mosque. (2)

It is reported from as-Soosee that he said: Ikhlaas is to lose the vision of Ikhlaas (in oneself).

One of them said: Whoever sees sincerity in his sincerity, his sincerity is itself in need of sincerity. The destruction of every sincere person lies in his sincerity, (he is destroyed) to the extent that he sees sincerity in himself. When he abandons seeing sincerity in himself he will be sincere and purified.

It is reported from Abu Uthmaan that he said: Ikhlaas is to forget the vision of creation by constantly looking at the Creator.

It is reported from Ibraheem bin Adham that he said: He is not truthful to Allaah who loves fame.

It is reported from ath-Thawree that he said: They used to hate fame and reputation due to wearing nice garments so that eyes would stretch towards them.

Ibn al-Jawzee reports from al-Hasan that he said: I was with Ibn al-Mubaarak one day and we came to a watering place. The people were drinking from it and Ibn al-Mubaarak came closer in order to get a drink. The people did not know him and shoved and pushed him. When he came out he said: Life is but this, meaning we are not known nor are we respected.

It is reported from Na’eem bin Hammaad that he said: Abdullaah ibn al-Mubaarak frequently used to sit in his house for long periods of time so it was said to him: Do you not feel lonely and isolated? He said: How can I feel isolated while I am with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

It is reported from Ibn al-Mubaarak that he said: I heard Ja’far bin Hayyaan say: The foundations of these actions are the intentions. Indeed a man reaches with his intentions a position he does not reach with his actions.

One of the people of wisdom used to say: When a man is speaking in a gathering and his speech amazes him let be silent and when he keeps silent and his silence amazes him let him speak.

It is reported from Mutraf bin Abdullaah ash-Shakheer that he said: That I spend the night sleeping and wake up remorseful is more loved to me than that I spend the night standing (in prayer) and wake up in admiration.

It is reported from an-Nu’maan bin Qais that he said: I never saw Abeedah (rh) performing any voluntary prayers in the mosque of al-Hayy.

It is reported from Alee (radhiAllaahu’anhu) that he said: The one who shows off has three characteristics: He is lazy when by himself, he is lively and energetic when with others and he increases in his actions when he is praised and decreases in them when he is criticised.

It is reported from Al-Hasan (may Allaah have mercy on him) that he said: The one who shows off desires to overcome what Allaah has decreed for him. He is an evil person who desires to inform the people that he is righteous in order to hear what they would say. He has obtained a position of vileness and wickedness from his Lord. It is therefore essential for the hearts of the believers to recognise him.

It is reported from Sahl bin Abdullaah (may Allaah have mercy on him) that he said: There is nothing which is tougher upon the soul than (achieving) Ikhlaas. How many times have I tried to remove riyaa’ from my heart except that it sprouted in a different colour (i.e. in a different form).

It is reported from Ibn Mas’ood (radhiAllaahu’anhu) that he said: Do not learn knowledge for three (things): To amaze and confound the foolish, to argue with the learned and to make peoples faces turn towards you. (But) seek what is with Allaah with your hearts and actions, since only that will remain and whatever is besides it will go.

It is reported from Abu Sulaimaan ad-Daarinee (may Allaah have mercy on him) that he said: Toobaa (the tree in Paradise) for the one who took a single step desiring nothing but the face of Allaah by it.

Some of the salaf said: Whoever had a single instance in his lifetime which was purely and sincerely for the sake of Allaah the Exalted will be saved, and this is due to the greatness of Ikhlaas.

It is reported from Abu Sulaimaan ad-Daarinee (may Allaah have mercy on him) that he said: When the servant is sincere, riyaa’ and the many whisperings (of the shayaateen) are cut off from him.

It has also been said: Ikhlaas is that the servants inward and outward actions are equal. Riyaa’ is when the outward appearance is better than the inner self and truthfulness in one’s sincerity is when the inner self is better cultivated and more flourishing than the outward appearance.

Some of the salaf have said: Ikhlaas is that you do not seek a witness over your action besides Allaah and nor one who gives reward besides Him.

It is reported from Makhool (may Allaah have mercy on him) that he said: Never does a servant maintain sincerity for forty days in succession except that the streams of wisdom from his heart appear on his tongue.

It is reported from Adiyy ibn Haatim that he said: The people destined for the Fire will be ordered (to come) towards Paradise until they come close to it and smell its fragrance, see its palaces and what Allaah has prepared in it for its people. Then an announcement will be made (to the angels) that they be turned away from it. There will be no portion for them in it. They will return in loss and ruin just like the ones before them (who were also commanded likewise). Then they will say: O our Lord. If you had entered us into the Fire before You showed us what You have shown us from Your reward and what You have prepared for you friends and allies it would have been easier upon us. Then the Exalted will say: This is what I intended with you. When you used to be alone you would combat me (or show boldness to Me) with grave sins and when you used to meet people you would meet them with humility. You would show to the people other than that which you used to give Me from your hearts. You feared people but you did not fear Me. You honoured the people but you did not honour Me, you abandoned (actions) for the people but you did not abandon for Me. This day (therefore), will I make you taste a tormenting punishment along with your prevention from receiving that reward.

It has been said: The damage (caused) to every servant lies in his being pleased with himself. Whoever looks at his soul and sees something in it which he deems to be good has caused its destruction. And whoever does not suspect his soul at every single moment is one who is deceived.

Ibn al-Qayyim (mayAllaah have mercy on him) said: Ikhlaas is the Tawheed of one’s wish/intent.

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Notes

1 The sayings have been taken from Ihyaa Uloom id-Deen of al-Ghazaalee, Mukhtasir Minhaaj il-Qaasideen of Ibn Qudaamah and Kitaab uz-Zuhd of Ibn al-Mubaarak. [TN] The author said, “I have quoted these statements without knowing their authenticity and it is allowable for a Muslim to take from what has been narrated from the Salaf without verification if the particular statement is in agreement with the Book and the Sunnah.

2 i.e. he disliked to be known out of humility and that people should mention him for fear of fame and repute.

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from “From the Characteristics of the Salaf”

Ibrâhîm at-Taymi (rahimahullâh) would say, “The sincerely devoted one is he who conceals his good deeds like he conceals his bad ones.”

Once ‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul ‘Azîz (rahimahullâh) was advised, “O ‘Umar, beware of being the ally of Allaah in open, while being His enemy in secret. If one’s nature in open and secret do not equate then he is a hypocrite, and the hypocrites occupy the lowest level in Hellfire.”

It was asked by one of them, “Beware of hypocritical fear!” On being asked, “What is hypocritical fear?” he replied, “When your body is seen fearing whereas you heart is not fearing.”

One of them said, “Accompanying the righteous people gives rise to righteousness in the heart.”

Ahmad ibn Harb (rahimahullâh) said, “There is nothing more beneficial to a Muslim’s heart than to mix with the righteous and to watch their actions, while nothing is more harmful to the heart than mixing with the sinners and watching their actions.”

One of the Salaf said, “If it can be that no one beats you to Allaah, then do so.”

Turâb an-Nakhshabî (rahimahullâh) would say, “If a person resolved to leave sinning, Allaah would send him reinforcements from all sides. What indicates the blackness of the heart are three: Not to find an escape from sinning, nor a place for obedience to occur, nor a haven for the sermon that warns.”

One of them said, “If the only quality of obedience was light appearing on the face and its radiance, love in the heart, strength in the limbs, security of the soul (nafs),… all these would have been enough for leaving sins. And if sins only produce ugliness in the face, darkness in the heart and fear over the soul, then all this would have been enough for leaving sins. For both the obedient and disobedient Allaah has left indications and signs to please one and make the other sorrowful.”

Qatâdah was asked, “Which person has the highest standing?” He replied, “The most abundant in his pardon.”

One of the Salaf said, “I disobey Allaah to find its effect in the way my animal behaves and my wife.”

‘Alî ibn Abî Tâlib (radiyAllaahu ‘anhu) said, “What contents a person is five things. For his wife to be agreeable, his children to be loyal, his brothers to be pious, his neighbours righteous, and his provisions in his Lord.”

Ahmad ibn Harb (rahimahullâh) would say, “If six mannerisms are gathered in a woman, her goodness is perfected: Guarding the five prayers, yielding to her husband, pleasing her Lord, guarding her tongue from backbiting and gossip, forsaking worldly possessions, and being patient following a tragedy.”

Sufyân ath-Thawrî (rahimahullâh) said, “Do not seek leadership except after fighting the soul (i.e., fighting your desires and self) for seventy years.”

Bakr ibn ‘Abdullâh al-Muzanî (rahimahullâh) said, “If you see someone older than you then respect him saying, ‘He has beaten me to Islâm and righteous action.’ If you see someone younger than you then respect him saying to yourself, ‘I have beaten him in sins.’ If the people honour you then say, ‘That is from the grace of Allâah, but I do not deserve it.’ If they degrade you then say , ‘This happened as a consequence of a previous sin.’ If you throw a pebble at your neighbor’s dog, then you have harmed him.”

Mutarrif ibn ‘Abdullâh (rahimahullâh) would say, “I am not surprised at the one who is destroyed, how he was destroyed, but am amazed at the one who was saved, how he was saved, and Allâah never granted a blessing greater than the gift of Islâm.”

Yahyâ ibn Mu‘âdh (rahimahullâh) gathered the characteristics of the believers in one of his essays as follows, “It is to be full of modesty, and to be harmless too. To be full of goodness and not to be corrupt. For the tongue to be truthful, for the words to be little and to be plentiful in good action. To have little slip-ups and not to be excessive. To be good to one’s relatives, building closeness between them. To be dignified and grateful. To be full of contentment if Allâah restricted some provision. To be forbearing and friendly to his brothers. To be compassionate and chaste. Not to curse, swear, insult, backbite, nor to gossip. Not to be hasty, envious, hateful, arrogant nor vain. Not to lean towards worldliness, nor to extend long hopes and wishes. Not to sleep too much nor to be absent-mined, nor to show-off nor be hypocritical. Not to be selfish, but to be soft and cheerful, nor servile. Loving for only the sake of Allâah, being pleased for His sake and being angry for His sake. His provision is taqwâ (reverential fear of Allâah). His worries are what will happen to him in the Afterlife. His friends remind him. His beloved is His Protector and Master. His struggle is for Afterlife.”

Fudayl ibn ‘Iyâd (rahimahullâh) said, “A believer plants a palm tree and fears that thorns will grow. The hypocrites plant thorns expecting ripe dates to grow!”

Mâlik ibn Dînâr (rahimahullâh) said, “Whoever proposed to the world, then the world would not be satisfied until he gave up his Deen as dowry.”

Fudayl ibn ‘Iyâd (rahimahullâh) said, “If you remember the creation (gossip about such and such a person), then remember Allâah the Most High. Remembering Him is the medicine for remembering His creation.”

Yahyâ ibn Mu‘âdh (rahimahullâh) said, “Renew your hearts with the remembrance of Allâah because it rushes into forgetfulness.”

Ka‘b al-Ahbâr (rahimahullâh) said, “I prefer to weep out of the fear of Allâah [even] with only one tear drop falling from my eyes than the spend a mountain of gold with an ungracious heart.”

‘Alî (radiyAllâhu ‘anhu) would say, “The signs of the righteous are a pale complexion, bleary eyes, lips shriveling from their hunger, weeping, and wakefulness in prayer at night.”

Mâlik ibn Dînâr (rahimahullâh) said, “Beware of the sorcerer who enchant the hearts of the scholars distracting them from Allâah the Most High, i.e., the world. Its nature is uglier than the magic Hârût and Mârût came with, since their magic separated a man from his wife, whereas the world separates a slave from his Master.”

‘Abdullâh ibn Mubârak (rahimahullâh) would say, “The world is the believer’s prison. The best action in the prison is patience and control of one’s anger. The believer has no country in the world, His land will be there tomorrow in the Afterlife.” [The aim (and Allâah knows best) is that the believer does not aspire for the world as evidenced in the statement of the Most High: That Home of the Hereafter We shall give to those who intend not high-handedness or mischief on earth: and the end is (best) for the righteous. {Sûrah Qasas: (28):83} But Allâah will elevate him in this world and the Hereafter and give him honour in this world as for the Hereafter.]

One of the Salaf used to say, “If you want to be close to Allâah then put an iron wall between yourself and your desires.”

Abû Muslim al-Khawlânî (rahimahullâh) said, “Many people live amongst the people just with their knowledge, destroying their souls”, i.e., with vanity and egoism.

Abû Hâzim (rahimahullâh) said, “The scholars of our time have been content with speech and with no practise! The Salaf used to practice but not speak. After them the people practised and spoke being followed by a people who spoke but did not practice. There will come a time when people will not speak nor practise.”

Sufyân ath-Thawrî (rahimahullâh) said, “Whoever’s knowledge makes him weep, then he is a scholar (‘âlim). Allâah the Most High said, ‘Verily those who were given knowledge before it, when it is recited to them they fall down on their faces in humble prostration.’ [Sûrah Banî Isrâ’îl (17):107] He also said, ‘When the verses (âyât) of Ar-Rahmân (The Most Merciful) is recited to them they fall in prostration weeping.’ ” [Sûratul-Maryam (19):58]

One of the Salaf said, “If one of you do not wish to fulfil his brother’s needs by sharing his worries or by making invocations (du‘â) then do not ask – How are things? – because it is considered hypocrisy.”

Abû Bakr as-Siddîq (radiyAllâhu ‘anhu) was asked, “How are you this morning?” He replied, “This morning I enter as a lowly slave to a magnificent Lord. I enter the morning commanded by His command.”

Imam ash-Shâfi‘î (rahimahullâh) was asked, “How are you this morning?” He replied, “This morning I have entered eating my Lord’s provision but not fulfilling true gratitude towards Him.”

Mâlik ibn Dînâr (rahimahullâh) was asked, “How are you this morning?” He replied, “I enter the morning with my remaining age diminishing and my sins increasing.”

Fudayl ibn ‘Iyâd (rahimahullâh) said, “If Iblîs conquers the son Âdam with one of the three [things] he says: I will not seek anything else from him – 1) being fond of himself, 2) deeming his deeds to be plentiful, and 3) forgetfulness of his sins.”

Al-Hasan (rahimahullâh) said, “If shaytân saw you consistently obeying Allâah he will seek you time and time again. If he sees your consistency he grows weary of you and rejects you. If you changed, however, each and every time, then he begins to have hope in you.”

Sahl at-Tustarî (rahimahullâh) said, “Gratitude to Allâah is not to disobey Him with His favours. The whole body is from the favours of Allâah and His giving, so do not disobey Him with any of it.”

Mujâhid and Makhûl (rahimahumullâh) used to say about the statement of Allâah, “Then you will be asked that Day about the enjoyment” [Sûratut-Takâthur (102):8], “Indeed this is the cool drink, the shelter of a home, the satisfaction of one’s belly, the perfection of one’s features, and joy of sleep.”

‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul ‘Azîz (rahimahullâh) used to say, “None can reach the station of taqwâ until he possesses neither action nor words that can be exposed to his embarrassment either in this world or the Hereafter.” He was once asked, “When does the worshipper reach the peak of taqwâ?” He replied, “If he put all his thoughts and desires in his heart on a plate and then wandered around in the market, he should not feel ashamed of anything there.” He would frequently say, “The sign of the muttaqî (pious person) is to bridle oneself from speaking just like one in ihrâm bridles himself from speaking. The muttaqî need to be a scholar of the Sharî‘ah, all of it, otherwise he leaves taqwâ without realising.”

Abû Dardâ (radiyAllâhu ‘anhu) said, “From the completion of taqwâ is that the slave fears from his Lord even with regards to things the weight of an atom.”

Abû Hurayrah (radiyAllâhu ‘anhu) was asked about taqwâ. He said, “It is a road full of thorns. One who walks it needs to have extreme patience.”

Sufyân ath-Thawrî (rahimahullâh) said, “We met a people who loved it when it was said to them, Fear Allâah the Most High. Today you find that people only become annoyed at this.”

From the statements of the Amîrul-Mu’minîn ‘Alî (radhiAllâhu ‘anhu), “The tallness of the slave ends at the age of twenty-two. His intelligence reaches its peak at twenty-eight. What is after that until the end of his life is just test and affliction.”

Qatâdah (rahimahullâh) would say, “Men are of three types: A man, half a man and no man. The man is the one from whose opinion and intelligence there is benefit. The half man is the one who questions the intelligent and practices according to their opinion. The no man is the one who has no intelligence nor opinion nor does he ask anyone else.”

Sufyân ibn ‘Uyaynah (rahimahullâh) said, “The most nimble of creatures still have need of a voice. The cleverest women still need to have a husband, and the cleverest man still needs to consult wise men.”

Wahb ibn Munabbih (rahimahullâh) said, “Whoever claims to be intelligent but his attention is not geared towards the Afterlife, then he is a liar.”

One of the Salaf said, “Wisdom is kindled by four things: sorrow after sins, readiness for death, emptiness of the stomach, and accompanying the forsakers of this world.”

Ash-Shâfi‘î (rahimahullâh) said, “Whoever spread gossip for you spreads gossip against you. Whoever relates tales to you will tell tales about you. Whoever when you please him says about you what is not in you, when you anger him will say about you what is not in you.”

Fudayl ibn ‘Iyâd (rahimahullâh) said, “Whoever’s admonition is much, his friends will be few.”

Ibrâhîm an-Nakhâ‘î (rahimahullâh) said, “Whoever reflects will find that the noblest and most dignified person of every gathering is the one who is most silent, because silence beautifies the scholar and conceals the faults of the ignorant.”

Ma‘rûf al-Kirakhî (rahimahullâh) said, “A person speaking about unnecessary things is [indication] from Allâah abandoning him.”

Shignî ibn Mâtî’ al-Asbahî (rahimahullâh) said, “Whoever’s speech increased, his mistakes [also] increased.”

Sufyân ath-Thawrî (rahimahullâh) said, “When your brother is out of your sight, mention him as you would like him to mention you when you are out of his sight.”

One of the Salaf said, “One of you might see his own faults but he still loves himself. He then hates his Muslim brother on suspicion. So where is the logic?”

Ash-Sha‘bî (rahimahullâh) would say, “Whoever sought the mistakes of his brothers is left with no friends.”

Sufyân ath-Thawrî (rahimahullâh) used to be overjoyed if he saw a beggar at his door saying, “Welcome to the one who has come to wash my sins.”

Fudayl ibn ‘Iyâd (rahimahullâh) said, “Beggars are such good people! They carry our provision to the Afterlife without payment until they place it on the scale in front of Allâah the Most High.”

Rabî‘ ibn Khuthaym (rahimahullâh) said, “No one should isolate himself in worship except after studying the religion deeply, because Imâm Mâlik used to say: Study deeply and then seclude yourself.”

It was said, “Secluding oneself from the general public is from the completeness of morals.”

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The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), whom you love and whose Seerah you love, says: “My delight has been made in prayer.” Narrated by al-Nasaa’i (3940); classed as hasan by al-Haafiz ibn Hajar in al-Talkhees al-Habeer (3/116) and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa’i.

How can the believer agree to miss out on this goodness and these blessings?

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

Alas! How can a person spend his time and live his life deprived of smelling this fragrance, and leave this world as he entered it without having tasted the best that it has to offer, and having lived in it like a dumb animal, departing from it like one who is bankrupt. He lived a life of helplessness, he died a death of sadness and his resurrection will be loss and regret. O Allaah, to You be praise, to You we complain, You are the One Whose help we seek, You we ask for aid, in You we put our trust, and there is no power and no strength except with You. [Tareeq al-Hijratayn (p. 327)]

A wise man said: “Nothing brings hope but good deeds.” You will never escape the trap of despair into which the shaytaan has caused you to fall unless you start to strive and try to commit yourself to righteousness, even if you fall short at the beginning.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“and never give up hope of Allaah’s Mercy. Certainly no one despairs of Allaah’s Mercy, except the people who disbelieve” [Yoosuf 12:87]

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

Sins generate more sins, and one leads to another, until they overpower a man and he finds it difficult to repent from that. As one of the earlier generation said: One of the punishments of bad deeds is more bad deeds, and one of the rewards of good deeds is more good deeds. [Al-Jawaab al-Kaafi (p. 36)]

Mutarraf ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn al-Shakheer said: “The goodness of a deed is related to the goodness of the heart, and the goodness of the heart is related to the goodness of the intention.”

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The degree to which a person is helped and aided by Allaah depends on the degree of his intention, drive, aim and hopes. Help from Allaah comes to people in proportion to their drive, intention, hopes and fears, and failure comes to them in like manner.”

A man asked Tameem ibn Aws al-Daari (may Allaah be pleased with him), ‘How do you pray at night?’ He got very angry and said, ‘By Allaah, one rak’ah that I pray in secret in the small hours of the night is more beloved to me than praying the whole night long and then telling people about it.’

Ayyoob al-Sakhtiyaani used to spend the entire night in prayer, then when dawn approached, he would go back to bed and lie down, and when dawn came, he would raise his voice as if he had just woken up.

Yahyaa ibn Mu’aadh said: “The medicine of the heart is five things: reading Qur’aan and pondering the meaning, having an empty stomach, praying at night (qiyaam al-layl), beseeching Allaah at the time of suhoor, and keeping company with righteous people.”

Studying how the salaf and righteous people practised qiyaam al-layl and adhered to it. The salaf used to enjoy qiyaam al-layl and rejoice greatly in doing it. ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Wahb said: “Every type of pleasure is enjoyed only once, except for acts of worship, which are enjoyed three times: when you do it, when you remember it, and when you are given the reward for it.”

Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir said: “There is nothing left of the joys of this life except three: qiyaam al-layl, meeting one’s brothers in faith, and praying in congregation.”

Thaabit al-Banaani said: “There is nothing I enjoy more than qiyaam al-layl.”

Yazeed al-Riqaashi said: “A lot of tahajjud brings delight to the worshippers, and a lot of thirst (i.e., fasting), brings joy when they meet Allaah.”

Mukhallad ibn Husayn said: “I never woke up at night except I saw Ibraaheem ibn Adham remembering Allaah and praying, and this made me depressed, so I consoled myself with this aayah (interpretation of the meaning): ‘…That is the Grace of Allaahm which He bestows on whom He pleases. And Allaah is the Owner of Great Bounty’ [al-Hadeed 54:21].”

Abu ‘Aasim al-Nabeel said: “Abu Haneefah used to be called al-Watad (pole or pillar) because he prayed so much.”

Al-Qaasim ibn Ma’een said: “Abu Haneefah spent an entire night in qiyaam reciting this aayah (interpretation of the meaning): ‘Nay, but the Hour is their appointed time (for their full recompense), and the Hour will be more grievous and more bitter’ [al-Qamar 54:46], repeating it and weeping, beseeching Allaah until morning came.”

Ibraaheem ibn Shammaas said: “I used to see Ahmad ibn Hanbal staying up at night to pray when he was a young man.”

Abu Bakr al-Marwadhi said: “I was with Imaam Ahmad for nearly four months in the army, and he never stopped praying qiyaam at night or reading Qur’aan during the day, and I never knew when he completed the Qur’aan, because he kept that secret.”

Imaam al-Bukhaari used to pray qiyaam and tahajjud at night until the time of suhoor, and he would read between a half and a third of the Qur’aan, and complete it at suhoor every third night.

Al-‘Allaamah Ibn ‘Abd al-Haadi said, describing the qiyaam of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah: “At night he would keep away from people, and spend that time only with his Lord, beseeching Him continually and reciting Qur’aan, repeating different kinds of acts of worship by night and by day. When he began to pray, his body would start to tremble, leaning to the left and right.”

Ibn Rajab said concerning his shaykh Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim: “He was a man of worship, tahajjud and lengthy prayers. I have never seen his equal in worship and knowledge of the Qur’aan, hadeeth and principles of faith.”

Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar said, describing his shaykh al-Haafiz al-‘Iraaqi: “I stayed with him, and I never saw him forsake qiyaam al-layl: it was like a habit for him.”

Hafsah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) went to bed, he would put his right hand under his right cheek.” (Reported by al-Tabaraani, Saheeh al-Jaami’, 4523).

Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “There is a reason for his lying on his right side, which is that the heart is located on the left, so if a person lays on his left side, he will sleep too deeply, because the heart’s position will be too comfortable, but if he sleeps on his right side, he will not be too settled, so he won’t sleep deeply.”

Ibn Raafi’ said: “ ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) used to wave his stick at the people when darkness fell, and would say, ‘Get up and go, may Allaah help you to pray qiyaam at night!’”

‘Ali ibn Bakkaar (may Allaah have mercy on him) used to have a slave-woman who would spread out his bed for him, and he would touch it with his hand and say: “By Allaah, you are good, and by Allaah you are cool, but by Allaah I will not rest on you tonight.” Then he would get up and pray qiyaam until Fajr.

Ibraaheem ibn Adham said: “If you are sleeping at night, and running about during the day, and always committing sin, how can you earn the pleasure of the One Who is directing your affairs?”

Imaam Ibn Battaal said: “Allaah has promised through His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) that whoever wakes up from his sleep pronouncing words of Tawheed, submitting to His sovereignty, recognizing His blessings by praising Him, exalting Him above that which does not befit Him by glorifying Him (saying ‘Subhaan Allaah’), submitting to Him by magnifying Him (saying ‘Allaahu akbar’) and admitting one’s utter dependence upon His help, then if he makes du’aa’ it will be answered, and if he prays his prayer will be accepted. Everyone who hears this hadeeth should apply it and make the most of it, and make his intention sincerely for his Lord, may He be glorified and exalted.”

Ishaaq ibn ‘Abd-Allaah said: “Taking a nap is one of the deeds of good people. It revitalizes the heart and helps one to pray qiyaam al-layl.”

Al-Hasan al-Basri passed by a group of people in the marketplace in the middle of the day, and heard the racket they were making. He said, “Do these people take a nap?” It was said to him, “No.” He said, “I think their nights must be bad.”

Sufyaan al-Thawri said: “You should eat little, so that you will be able to pray qiyaam al-layl.”

Ma’qal ibn Habeeb saw some people eating a lot, and said, ‘I do not think that our companions want to pray qiyaam al-layl.”

Wahb ibn Munbih said: “There is no son of Adam dearer to his shaytaan than the one who eats and sleeps a lot.”

Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir said: “I struggled against my own self for forty years until it became right.”

Thaabit al-Banaani said: “I struggled for twenty years to make myself pray qiyaam al-layl, and I enjoyed it (qiyaam al-layl) for twenty years.”

‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azeez said: “The best of deeds are those which we force ourselves to do.”

‘Abd-Allaah ibn al-Mubaarak said: “The souls of righteous people in the past used to push them to do good deeds, but our souls do not do what we want them to do except by force, so we have to force them.”

Qutaadah said: “O son of Adam, if you do not want to do any good except when you have the energy for it, then your nature is more inclined towards boredom and laziness. The true believer is the one who pushes himself.”

A man said to Ibraaheem ibn Adham, “I cannot pray qiyaam al-layl, so tell me the cure for this.” He said, “Do not commit sin during the day, and He will help you to stand before Him at night, for your standing before Him at night is one of the greatest honours, and the sinner does not deserve that honour.”

A man said to al-Hasan al-Basri: “”O Abu Sa’eed, I sleep in good health, and I love to pray qiyaam al-layl, and I prepare water with which to purify myself, so why can I not get up?” Al-Hasan said: “Your sins are restricting you.” He said, may Allaah have mercy on him, “The slave who commits a sin will be denied the opportunity to pray qiyaam at night and to fast during the day.”

Al-Fudayl ibn ‘Ayaad said: “If you cannot pray qiyaam al-layl, or fast during the day, know that you are indeed deprived and restricted, chained by your sins.”

Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim said: “If the slave is responsible and accountable for everything, even his hearing, sight and innermost thoughts, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning), ‘…Verily, the hearing, and the sight, and the heart of each of you will be questioned by Allaah’ [al-Isra’ 17:36], then he should check on himself before he is brought to account.”

Abu’l-Darda’ (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “Pray two rak’ahs in the darkness of the night for the darkness of the grave.” Ahmad ibn Harb said: “I am astonished at people who know that the delights of Paradise lie above them and the horrors of Hell lie beneath them. How can they sleep in between them?”

When ‘Umar ibn Dharr saw that night had come, he would say: “Night has come, and night has dignity, and Allaah is most deserving of reverence.”

al-Fudayl ibn ‘Ayaad said: “I met some people who feel ashamed before Allaah to sleep for too long in the depths of the night. Such a person may be resting on his side, and when he moves, he says to himself, ‘This is not your right. Get up and take your share of the Hereafter.’”

Al-Hasan said: “We do not know of any deed more difficult than the struggle to stay up at night or to spend money.” It was said to him, “Why do the mutahajjadeen (those who pray Tahajjud at night) have the most beautiful faces?” He said, “Because they spend time alone with the Most Merciful, so He adorns them with some of His light.”

The women of the salaf also used to strive to pray qiyaam al-layl with energy and determination. Where are the women of our own age when it comes to such great deeds? ‘Urwah ibn al-Zubayr said: “I came to ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) one day to greet her, and I found her praying and reciting the aayah (interpretation of the meaning), ‘But Allaah has been gracious to us, and has saved us from the torment of the Fire’ [al-Toor 52:27], repeating it and weeping. I waited for her, but I got bored of waiting, so I went to the market for some things I needed, then I came back to ‘Aa’ishah, and she was still praying and reciting this aayah and weeping.”

Mu’aadhah al-‘Adawiyyah, one of the righteous Taabi’aat spent her wedding night, along with her husband Silah ibn Ashyam, praying until Fajr. When her husband and son were killed in the land of jihaad, she would spend the whole night in prayer, worshipping and beseeching Allaah, and she would sleep during the day. If she felt sleepy whilst she was praying at night, she would tell herself: “O soul, there is plenty of sleep ahead of you.”

When Habeebah al-‘Adawiyyah prayed ‘Ishaa’, she would stand on the roof of her house, wearing her chemise and khimaar (i.e., covered in proper Islamic dress), then she would say, “O my God, the stars have come out, people have gone to sleep, and kings have closed their doors, but Your door is open. Every lover is alone with his lover, but here I am standing before You.” Then she would start to pray and talk to her Lord until the time of suhoor. When the time of suhoor came, she would say, “O Allaah, this night is ending, the day is coming, and I wish I knew whether you have accepted this night (of worship) from me, so that I could congratulate myself, or if it has been rejected, so that I might console myself.”

‘Amrah, the wife of Habeeb al-‘Ajami, prayed qiyaam al-layl one night whilst her husband was asleep. When the time for suhoor came, and her husband was still asleep, she woke him up and said to him, “Get up, my master, for the night has gone, the day has come and ahead of you lies a long road with little provision, and a small group of righteous people who have gone before us, and we are still here.”

Imaam al-Awzaa”ee said, “Patiently restrict yourselves to the sunnah, stop where the people stopped, say what they said, avoid what they avoided. Take to the path of the salaf, for indeed what was sufficient for them was sufficient for you.” [Al-Hujjah of Ismail Abu Fadhl (6/A-B)]

Al-Hasan al-Basree (rahima-hullaah) said: Seeking knowledge when one is young, is like etching on a stone [In other words, the knowledge which one memorises when one is young will be so strong in one's memory, that it is as if it had been etched on a stone, wAllaahu A'lam!]. (Mabaahith fee Ahkaam al-Fatwa – Page 28)

Al Fudail Ibn ‘Iyaad said;

Do not feel lonely on the paths of guidance just because few people travel them, and do not be deceived by the abundance of destroyed travelers [on the paths of misguidance].(The Book of Manners by Fu’ad Ibn ‘Abdul-’Azeez Ash-Shulhoob, Page 31)

Laqit ibn Sabrah (radiyaAllahu ’anhu) reported that the Prophet (saw) said:

“Verily, our Lord ‘azawajal laughs at the despair that His servants feel, even though His Help is so close!”

So Laqit said,

“O Messenger of Allah – may my mother and father be given as your ransom – and does our Lord laugh?”

The Prophet sallaAllahu ’alayhi wasallam replied,

“Yes!”

Laqit said,

“In that case, we will never give up hope of receiving good from a Lord that laughs!”

[Ibn Majah in his Muqaddimah]

Imâm ashShâfi’î (d.204H) – rahimahullâh – said:

“Whosoever loves that Allâah should open-up his heart for him and grant light to him, then let him abandon speech about that which does not concern him, and abandon sins and turn away from acts of disobedience. Then there will be between him and Allâah a hidden treasure of good actions. So if this is done, then Allâah will open up such knowledge for him that will preoccupy him. And indeed in death is the greatest pre-occupation.” (Related by al-Bayhaqî in Manâqiush-Shâfi’î (2/171)

Al-Fudayl ‘ibn ‘Iyaad at-Tameemee said: If you are unable to perform Qiyaam al-Layl (pray during the night), and fast during the day, then know that you are deprived, shackled by your sins. (Mawaa’ith lil-Imaam al-Fudayl ‘ibn ‘Iyaad. Compiled by Saalih Ahmad ash-Shaamee. al-Maktab al-Islaamee; First Edition 1998/1419 A.H. Reference of quote: Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa’ (8/435)

Imaam al-Barbahaaree (rahima-hullaah) mentions: From the Sunnah is that you do not help anyone in disobedience to Allaah, whether they be parents or any of the creation. There is no obedience to a human in disobedience to Allaah an dno one is to be loved for that (i.e. disobedience to Allaah). Rather, all of that is to be hated for (the sake of) Allaah, the Blessed and Most High. ( Sharhus-Sunnah - Imaam al-Barbahaaree)

Sufyaan ath-Thowree said:

It is befitting for a man to encourage his child in (seeking) knowledge, for certainly he is responsible for him. (Siyar A’laam an-Nubalaa. – Volume 7, Page 273)

Habib Ibn al-Jallab said:

” I asked Ibn al-Mubarak: whats the best thing given to a human being?

He said: an instinctive mind. I said: if not? he said: nice politeness.

I said: if not? he said: a humane brother who make him feel happy.

I said: if not? he said: a long silence. I said: if not? he said:

An urgent death. ” (Siyar A’lam An-Nubala’ (8/397)

Abu ‘Abdillaah Muhammad bin ‘Abdil-Waahid bin Muhammad bin Ja’far informed us: Muhammad bin al-’Abbas informed us: Ahmad bin Sa’eed As-Soosee narrated to us: ‘Abbaas bin Muhammad narrated to us, saying: Yahyaa bin Ma’een would recite this verse (of poetry):

“If you are lacking provisions, you will not find

any provision quite like that of righteous actions.”

( Iqtidhaa-ul-’Ilm al-’Amal of Khateeb al-Baghdaadee)

Al-Hasan bin Abee Bakr informed us, saying: Di’laj bin Ahmad narrated to us, saying: Muhammad bin ‘Alee bin Zayd reported to us: Sa’eed bin Mansoor narrated to us: Al-Haarith bin ‘Ubayd Al-Iyaadee narrated to us: Maalik bin Deenaar narrated to us that Abud-Dardaa (radhiyAllaahu ’Anahu) said:

“Verily, the most dreaded thing that I fear for myself is that it be said to me: ‘O ‘Uwaymir, did you have knowledge?’ And so I will respond ‘Yes.’ Then it will be said to me: ‘So what deeds did you do based on your knowledge?’” (Iqtidhaa-ul-’Ilm al-’Amal of Khateeb al-Baghdaadee)

Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Rizq and ‘Ali bin Ahmad bin ‘Umaar al-Muqri both said: Ja’far bin Muhammad al-Khaldee informed us” Ibraaheem bin Nasr al-Mansoori narrated to us: Ibraaheem bin Bashaar narrated to me: Yusuuf bin Asbaat narrated to me: Muhammad bin Samurah as-Saa’ih wrote the following letter to me:

“O brother! Beware of letting procrastination take control of you and letting it take a firm root in your heart, for indeed it is the cause for fatigue and wasting (of time). Due to it, aspirations are cut short and appointed times are not met. If you allow this to happen you have let it free you from your resolutions, and in effect, take you over. And reclaim your body from the lethargy that overtook you. But when it returns back to you, your soul will not benefit from your body. And hasten, my brother, for indeed you are being hastened. And rush, for indeed you are being rushed. And be serious, for indeed, the matter is serious. Awaken from your sleep, and snap out of your heedlessness. And remember what you have left behind, what you fell short in, what you neglected, what crimes you committed and what deeds you did, for indeed that is recorded and you will be held accountable for it. So it is as if the matter has come upon you all of a sudden and so you are (either) happy at what you have put forth for it or remorseful for what you have neglected.” (Iqtidhaa-ul-’Ilm al-’Amal of Khateeb al-Baghdaadee)

Sufyan ath-Thawri said: “Man’s love for the life of this world is shown in the way he greets people.” [Look at a chaste poor man ... nobody talks to him. People greet him so warily as if fearing that he may pass poverty to them. But see how the people welcome a rich man, even if he does not perform prayer. They stand up with smiling faces, and each one hopes to greet him first. Note the difference between a man who is as great as seen by Allah and another who does not even weigh a mosquito's wing - but this is life.] [Abdul Malik Ali-Qasim from "The Life of This World Is a Transient Shade"]

`Abdullah ibn Mubarak said, “O man! Prepare yourself for the Hereafter, obey Allah to the extent of your need for Him and anger Him to the extent of your patience in Hell.” [Abdul Malik Ali-Qasim from "The Life of This World Is a Transient Shade"]

Yahya ibn Mu`adh said, “O how poor is man, if he fears Hell in the same degree of his fearing poverty, then he will enter Paradise.” [Abdul Malik Ali-Qasim from "The Life of This World Is a Transient Shade"]

Yahya ibn Mu`adh said: “The life of this world is a house of deeds and the Hereafter is a house of horrors. Man remains between deeds and horrors until he settles either in Paradise or in Hell.” [Abdul Malik Ali-Qasim from "The Life of This World Is a Transient Shade"]

Abu Dardaa’ said: “Everyone has an imperfection of knowledge and wisdom, if his wealth increases, he becomes so happy though day and night are working hard on destroying his life-span. So what is good of a wealth that increases and a life-span that decreases.” [Abdul Malik Ali-Qasim from "The Life of This World Is a Transient Shade"]

A man came to Sufyan ath-Thawree seeking his advice, and he said to the man: “Work for the sake of this life within the extent of your stay in it, and for the Hereafter within the extent of your stay therein.” [Abdul Malik Ali-Qasim from "The Life of This World Is a Transient Shade"]

Al-Fudayl ibn `Ayyad said: “Man’s fear of Allah is equal to his knowledge of Him and his renunciation of worldly pleasures is equal to his desire in the Hereafter.” [Abdul Malik Ali-Qasim from "The Life of This World Is a Transient Shade"]

Salman ibn Dinar said: “What you love to have with you in the Hereafter you should advance today, and what you hate to have with you, you should abandon today.” [Abdul Malik Ali-Qasim from "The Life of This World Is a Transient Shade"]

A poet said: “Don’t seek anything other than contentment, because therein is the bliss and the comfort of your body. Then consider the case of a person who possesses the whole world, can he take with him in the grave more than cotton and a shroud?” [Abdul Malik Ali-Qasim from "The Life of This World Is a Transient Shade"]

Ataa al Khurasani said: “I don’t advise you to mind your life’s affairs because I know that you are covetous to do so, but I advise you to mind the affairs of the Hereafter. Take from this temporary home to the eternal one. Consider this life as something that you have left, I swear by Allah you will leave it. Consider death as something that you have tasted, I swear by Allah you will taste it. And consider the Hereafter as a home that you have visited, I swear by Allah you will be there.” [Abdul Malik Ali-Qasim from "The Life of This World Is a Transient Shade"]

Dhu’n-Noon al-Misri said: “The ailment of the body is in sickness and that of the heart is in sins. A delicious meal cannot benefit the body when the person is sick and likewise, the heart cannot taste the sweetness of worship if it is full of sins.” [Abdul Malik Ali-Qasim from "The Life of This World Is a Transient Shade"]

Ash-Shafi`i said: “The greatest of deeds are three: To give generously out of the few that you have, to be devoted to Allah in loneliness and to say the truth in the face of someone who is hoped and feared.” [Abdul Malik Ali-Qasim from "The Life of This World Is a Transient Shade"]

`Ali ibn Abi Talib said: “Whoever has the following six characteristics does all that is required to make him enter Paradise and avoid Hell: to know Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala and obey him, to know Satan and disobey him, to know the truth and follow it, to know the falsehood and avoid it, to know the life of this world and renounce it, and to know the Hereafter and seek it.” [Abdul Malik Ali-Qasim from "The Life of This World Is a Transient Shade"]

Ibrahim al-Ash`ath said: I heard al-Fudayl saying: “Man’s fear of Allah is equal to his knowledge of Him, and his renunciation of the life of this world is equal to his desire of the Hereafter. Whoever acts according to what he knows, Allah will make him successful in what he doesn’t know. And whoever is ill-tempered disgraces his honour, religion and generosity.” [Abdul Malik Ali-Qasim from "The Life of This World Is a Transient Shade"]

Narrated Dirar ibn Murrah: Iblis said: “If I am successful in persuading man to do three things, then that will be all I need: to make forget his sins, to regard his good deeds as too many, and to be proud of his opinion.” [Abdul Malik Ali-Qasim from "The Life of This World Is a Transient Shade"]

Wahib ibn al-Ward said: “Do not insult Satan explicitly whereas you take him clandestinely as a friend.” [Abdul Malik Ali-Qasim from "The Life of This World Is a Transient Shade"]

Narrated Anas Ibn `Ayyad, “I saw Safwan Ibn Salim, and had it been said to him: ‘Tomorrow is the Day of Resurrection’, he would have not needed to perform an additional act of worship.” [Abdul Malik Ali-Qasim from "The Life of This World Is a Transient Shade"]

Ibrahim ibn Adham was asked: “How are you?” He said: “We patch the life of this world by tearing from our religion, so neither our religion remains nor what we patch. Blessed is he who prefers Allah, his Rabb and renounces the life of this world for what he expects as reward in the Hereafter.” [Abdul Malik Ali-Qasim from "The Life of This World Is a Transient Shade"]

Abu Bakr al-Maruthi said: I visited Ahmad ibn Hanbal one morning and said to him: ”How are you?” He answered: “How is the one whose Rabb requires to perform his duties, whose Prophet requires to flow the Sunnah, the two angels require that he rectifies his deeds, his human self requires him to follow its desires, Satan requires him to commit evil deeds, the angel of death requires him to give his life and his children require him to satisfy their needs.” [Abdul Malik Ali-Qasim from "The Life of This World Is a Transient Shade"]

A man said to Al Fudayl ibn `Ayyad: “How are you?” He replied: “If you are asking about the life of this world, it has diverted us from the right path and sent us in many directions.” [Abdul Malik Ali-Qasim from "The Life of This World Is a Transient Shade"]

“Whoever goes right, then he goes right only for the benefit of his ownself. And whoever goes stray, then he goes astray to his own loss…” [al-Isra’ 17:15]

“This Qur’an can either be your blessed reward, or it can become your unwieldy burden on the Day of Reckoning. Follow the Qur’an, and do not let the Qur’an follow you! For whosoever follows the Qur’an, it will lead him to the heavenly gardens of paradise, and whosoever is followed by the Qur’an, it will chase him and impel him until it shoves him into the abyss of hell-fire.” [Abu Moosa al-Ash`ari, (radhiallahu `anhu) Narrated in Hilyat ul Awliyaa of Abu Nu`aim]

Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, may Allah have mercy on him, narrated that Anas ibn Malik, radhiallahu `anhu, said: “We once traveled with Abu Musa al-Ash`ari, radhiallahu `anhu, and during our journey, he heard people discussing the path with a great lucidity and intellectual input, using the most eloquent and stylistic expressions. Abu Musa looked towards me and said in dismay, ‘What happened to me O Anas? Why do people’s talking in such manner depresses me? Let’s go somewhere else and remember our Lord, for the sharp tongues of these (intellectuals) can even gnaw apart food that is hard to chew on.’”

As we moved on, Abu Musa added, “O Anas! Do you know what obstructs people from seeking the hereafter and hinders their perseverance and pursuit of its promise?” Anas replied: “I guess wantonness and Satan will do that!” Abu Musa replied: “Nay, I swear by Allah, it is not that, but it is their attachment to the ephemeral pleasures of this world that attracts them to such a degree, making the permanent comfort of the hereafter seem distant in their minds; and yet, even if they were to behold its physical form and examine its trueness, they will still be adamant in their pursuit of the pleasures of this world, and they will not waiver or relinquish their attachment to it, nor will they turn back to the straight path.” [Abu Moosa al-Ash`ari, (radhiallahu `anhu) Narrated in Hilyat ul Awliyaa of Abu Nu`aim]

“What destroyed earlier nations and lead to their annihilation was nothing but their love for the Dinar and Dirham, and it will unfailingly do the same to you.” [Abu Moosa al-Ash`ari, (radhiallahu `anhu) Narrated in Hilyat ul Awliyaa of Abu Nu`aim]

“The heart is the seat of emotions and temperaments, and thus it is called qual in Arabic, because of its constant motion and change of temperament. In fact, the parable of the heart is like that of a drifting feather in a desert, the lightest breeze moves it around.” [Abu Moosa al-Ash`ari, (radhiallahu `anhu) Narrated in Hilyat ul Awliyaa of Abu Nu`aim]

Al-Hasan al-Basree said, “If you see a man competing with you with regard to this world then compete with him concerning the Hereafter.” Wuhayb ibn al-Ward said, “If you are able to make sure that no one precedes you in hastening towards Allaah then do so.” [Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali Excerpted from, "The Evil of Craving for Wealth and Status" © 1995 al-Hidaayah]

Muhammad ibn Yoosuf al-Asbahaanee, the worshipper, said, “If a person hears of another person or knows of another person who is more obedient to Allaah than him, then that should grieve him.” [Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali Excerpted from, "The Evil of Craving for Wealth and Status" © 1995 al-Hidaayah]

Someone else said, “If a man hears or knows of another man who is more obedient to Allaah than himself and this causes his heart to break – then this is not a case of vanity.” [Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali Excerpted from, "The Evil of Craving for Wealth and Status" © 1995 al-Hidaayah]

Likewise someone said, “In accordance with your fear of Allaah the creation will fear you, and in accordance with your love of Him the creation will love you, and in accordance with your preoccupation with Allaah the creation will be occupied in carrying out that which you are preoccupied from.” [Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali Excerpted from, "The Evil of Craving for Wealth and Status" © 1995 al-Hidaayah]

Muhammad ibn Waasi` used to say, “If sins had an odour then nobody would be able to sit with me.” [Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali Excerpted from, "The Evil of Craving for Wealth and Status" © 1995 al-Hidaayah]

`Umar ibn `Abdul-`Azeez …once wrote in a letter…”And do not praise anyone for this except Allaah, since if He abandoned me to my own devices I would be just like the others.” [Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali Excerpted from, "The Evil of Craving for Wealth and Status" © 1995 al-Hidaayah]

Abu Hilal said, “When al-Hasan finished his hadith, he would say, ‘O Allah, you see our hearts full of idolatry, pride, hypocrisy, showing-off, reputation, doubt and uncertainty in your deen. 0 Turner of hearts, make our hearts firm in Your deen and make our deen Straight Islam!”‘ [Sayings of Al-Hasan Al-Basree by Imam Muhammad ibn Sa`d Excerpted from The Men of Madina, Volume 1 © 1997 A. Bewley]

‘Umara ibn Mihran said that al-Hasan was asked, “Why do you not visit the rulers and command them to the correct and forbid them the incorrect?” He replied, “‘Thee believer should not waste himself. Their swords precede our tongues when we speak. They speak thus with their swords.” And he made a striking gesture with his hand.

‘Umara said, “I did not see anyone whose words are in harmony with his actions except al-Hasan.” [Sayings of Al-Hasan Al-Basree by Imam Muhammad ibn Sa`d Excerpted from The Men of Madina, Volume 1 © 1997 A. Bewley]

It is related that al-Hasan said, “When a young man is devout, we do not recognise him by his speech. We recognise him by his actions. That is beneficial knowledge.” [Sayings of Al-Hasan Al-Basree by Imam Muhammad ibn Sa`d Excerpted from The Men of Madina, Volume 1 © 1997 A. Bewley]

‘Umara said that al-Hasan told him that he disliked voices trilling when reciting the Qur’an. [Sayings of Al-Hasan Al-Basree by Imam Muhammad ibn Sa`d Excerpted from The Men of Madina, Volume 1 © 1997 A. Bewley]

Ar-Rabi’ ibn Subayh said, “Al-Hasan disliked being praised to his face. If invocation was made for him, that delighted him.” [Sayings of Al-Hasan Al-Basree by Imam Muhammad ibn Sa`d Excerpted from The Men of Madina, Volume 1 © 1997 A. Bewley]

Ghalib al-Qattan said, “I brought al-Hasan a letter from ‘Abdu’l-Malik ibn Abi Bashir and he said, ‘Read it.’ So I read it and there was a supplication in it. Al-Hasan said, ‘Many a true brother of yours was not actually born of your mother.”‘ [Sayings of Al-Hasan Al-Basree by Imam Muhammad ibn Sa`d Excerpted from The Men of Madina, Volume 1 © 1997 A. Bewley]

It is related that ‘Imran ibn Khalid al-Khuza’i said that a man told him, “Matar asked al-Hasan about a question and said, ‘The fuqaha’ oppose you.’ He said, ‘May your mother be bereaved, Matar! Do you see a faqih at all? Do you know what a faqih is? The scrupulous ascetic faqih is the one who does not care about who is above him nor mock the one below him, and who does not accept ephemeral rubbish in exchange for the knowledge which Allah has taught him.”‘ [Sayings of Al-Hasan Al-Basree by Imam Muhammad ibn Sa`d Excerpted from The Men of Madina, Volume 1 © 1997 A. Bewley]

It is related that when al-Hasan saw a funeral, he would say, “Praise belongs to Allah who has not made me part of that which is snatched away.” He said, “He would not relate anything that day.” [Sayings of Al-Hasan Al-Basree by Imam Muhammad ibn Sa`d Excerpted from The Men of Madina, Volume 1 © 1997 A. Bewley]

“Deeds without sincerity are like a traveler who carries in his water-jug dirt. The carrying of it burdens him and it brings no benefit.” [Ibnul Qayyim –(rahimahullaah)]

And whenever you give your word, say the truth [al-An’aam 6:152]

And seek help in patience and prayer [al-Baqarah 2:45]

And speak good to people [al-Baqarah 2:83]

And fulfil the Covenant of Allaah when you have covenanted [al-Nahl 16:91]

Verily! Allaah commands that you should render back the trusts to those to whom they are due [al-Nisa’ 4:58]

And let not your hand be tied (like a miser) to your neck, nor stretch it forth to its utmost reach (like a spendthrift) [al-Isra’ 17:29]

Eat and drink, but waste not by extravagance [al-A’raaf 7:31]

And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is al-taqwa (piety, righteousness) [al-Baqarah 2:197]

And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty) [al-Talaaq 65:2]

And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him [al-Talaaq 65:3]

He who obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allaah [al-Nisa’ 4:80]

By no means shall you attain al-birr (righteousness) until you spend (in Allaah’s cause) of that which you love [Aal ‘Imraan 3:92]

Allaah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of Affairs (for us) [Aal ‘Imraan 3:171]

And walk not on the earth with conceit and arrogance [al-Isra’ 17:37]

And turn not your face away from men with pride [Luqmaan 31:18]

And be moderate (or show no arrogance) in your walking, and lower your voice [Luqmaan 31:19]

And give not a thing in order to have more (or consider not your deeds of obedience to Allaah as a favour to Allaah) [al-Muddaththir 74:6]

“Pay attention to Allaah and He will pay attention to you.”

“If you feel no shame, then do as you wish.”

“Make sure your food is good (halaal and bought with halaal earnings), and you will be one whose prayers are answered.”

“Fear Allaah wherever you may be.”

“Follow up a bad deed with a good deed, to cancel it out.”

“Mix with people with a good attitude.”

“Keep away from prohibited things and you will be the best of worshippers.”

“Be content with what Allaah has given you, and you will be the richest of people.”

“Love for other people what you love for yourself.”

“Do not laugh too much, for excessive laughter deadens the heart.”

“Wrongdoing will be multiple darkness on the Day of Resurrection.”

“Fear Allaah and treat all your children fairly.”

“Fear the Fire, even if by giving half a date (in charity).”

“Fear the prayer of the oppressed.”

“The thing that weighs most heavily in the balance (of good deeds) is a good attitude.”

“Deliberation is from Allaah, haste is from Shaytaan.”

“The less your wealth, the less you will be called to account for.”

“Do not become angry, and Paradise will be yours.”

“The most beloved of deeds to Allaah is the one that is continuous, even if it is little.”

“The most beloved of places to Allaah are the mosques.”

“The most hated of places to Allaah are the marketplaces.”

“The most beloved of food to Allaah is that which is touched by many hands (i.e., shared among many people).”

“The most beloved of speech to Allaah is that a person should say, ‘Subhaan Allaah wa bi hamdih (Glory and praise be to Allaah)’.”

“The most beloved of people to Allaah is the one who is most helpful.”

“The most beloved deed to Allaah is making a Muslim happy.”

“Whoever restrains his anger, Allaah will conceal his faults.”

“A bad attitude spoils a good deed just as vinegar spoils honey.”

“The most beloved of people to Allaah are those who have the best attitudes.”

“Beware of this world, for it is sweet and tempting.”

“Control your tongue.”

“Trim your moustaches and let your beards grow.”

“Give back the things you have been entrusted with to the person who entrusted them to you.”

“Do not betray the one who betrays you.”

“Pray to Allaah and be confident of a response.”

“Cheer people up, do not put them off.”

“Make things easy for people, not difficult.”

“Eat with your right hand and eat from what is in front of you.”

“If Allaah gives you wealth, let the blessing of Allaah be seen on you.”

“If someone who is distinguished among his own people comes to you, then honour him.”

“If one with whose religion and character you are pleased comes to you (to seek your daughter’s hand in marriage), then marry (your daughter) to him.”

“If Allaah wills good to the people of a household, He guides them to be gentle.”

“If you do something bad, follow it by doing something good.”

“If you feel uncomfortable about something, then leave it alone.”

“If you judge (between people), then judge fairly.”

“If you enter a house, greet the inhabitants with salaam.”

“If you are reminded of Allaah, stop what you are doing (of sin).”

“If Allaah sends you some provision without you looking forward to it or asking others for it, then take it.”

“If you ask Allaah for anything, then ask Him for al-Firdaws (the highest level of Paradise).”

“If your good deeds please you and your bad deeds upset you, then you are a mu’min (believer).”

“If you hear the call to prayer, then respond to the one who is calling you to Allaah.”

“If you hear the call to prayer, then say something like the muezzin says.”

“If any one of you becomes angry, let him keep silent.”

“If a man becomes angry and says ‘A’oodhu Billaah (I seek refuge with Allaah),’ his anger will cease.”

“If a man says ‘Ya seedi (sir)’ to a munaafiq (hypocrite), he earns the wrath of his Lord.”

“When you stand up to pray, pray as if it is your last prayer.”

“When you get dressed and when you do wudoo’, start on the right.”

“When any one of you meets his brother, let him greet him with salaam.”

“Remember death when you are praying.”

“Show mercy towards those who are on earth so that the One Who is in heaven will show mercy to you.”

“Renounce pleasure in worldly things and Allaah will love you.”

“Show disinterest in what people have and people will love you.”

“Feel properly shy and modest before Allaah.”

Protect “the head and what does through it (thoughts and ideas).”

Protect “the stomach and what goes into it.”

“Seek help in whatever you do by being discreet.”

“Everyone who is given a blessing will be envied.”

“No one can keep their wudoo’ except a believer.”

“The worst thief among people is the one who steals from his prayer, by not doing rukoo’ and sujood properly.”

“Intercede and you will be rewarded.”

“The most grateful of people to Allaah are those who are most grateful to other people.”

The trouble with beauty is feelings of superiority.

The trouble with generosity is extravagance.

The trouble with noble descent is pride.

The trouble with knowledge is forgetfulness.

“Give to the one who denied you.”

“Uphold ties with the one who cuts you off.”

“Forgive the one who does you wrong.”

May Allaah have mercy on the person who said “Good” and was rewarded or who remained silent and was safe.

Wine is the key to all evil.

The one who is more daring in giving fatwas is more deserving of Hell.

Love the poor and mix with them.

It is better to err in forgiving than to err in punishment.

Do not judge between people when you are angry.

If you want to count the faults of anyone else, count your own faults instead.

If you commit a sin, say “Astaghfir-Allaah (I ask Allaah for forgiveness).”

If you are given a blessing, say, “Al-Hamdu Lillaah (praise be to Allaah).”

If some disaster befalls you, say, “Innaa Lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji’oon (Truly, to Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return).”

Seek rizq (provision) by giving charity

“Give food to others and speak good.”

“Seek a response to du’aa’s when the iqaamah for prayer is given and when rain is falling.”

The people with the longest necks on the Day of Resurrection will be the muezzins.

“Worship Allaah as if you see Him.”

“The most helpless of people are those who cannot make du’aa’.”

“The most miserly of people are those who are stingy with their salaams (i.e., do not greet others).”

“Pay the hired worker his wages before his sweat dries.”

“Tie up (your camel) [i.e., take the necessary precautions], and put your trust in Allaah.”

“Make the most of your life before your death.”

Make the most of “your health before your sickness.”

Make the most of “your free time before you become busy.”

Make the most of “your wealth before you become poor.”

Make the most of “your youth before you become old.”

“The best of dhikr is ‘La ilaaha ill-Allaah.’”

“The best of sadaqah (charity) is that given by one who has little.”

“The upper hand (the one that gives) is better than the lower hand (the one that takes).”

The best of earnings is a good sale.

“The best of the believers is one who is best in attitude.”

“The best of the muhaajireen is the one who forsakes (hajara) that which Allaah has prohibited.”

“The best type of jihaad is the jihaad of the one who strives against his own self (jihaad al-nafs) for the sake of Allaah.”

“Read the Qur’aan throughout every month.”

“Read the Qur’aan, for it will come and intercede for its readers on the Day of Resurrection.”

“Pray for Allaah to keep you safe and sound.”

“Most of the sins committed by the son of Adam are sins of the tongue.”

“Repeat often ‘Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa billaah (there is no power or strength except with Allaah)’, for it is from the treasure of Paradise.”

“Always remember the destroyer of joy (physical pleasure): death.”

“Lower your gaze and guard your private parts.”

“There is no goodness in the one who is not friendly or likeable.”

“Stay with her (the mother), for Paradise is under her feet.”

“Keep saying ‘Yaa Dhaa’l-jalaali wa’l-ikraam (O Possessor of Glory and Honour)’” i.e., keep repeating it persistently.

“Islam cancels out what came before it (of sins).”

“Every bid’ah (innovation) is a going astray and every going astray will end in Hell.”

“Control your tongue, let your house be enough for you, and weep for your sins.”

“(Take care of) your mother, then your mother, then your mother, then your father, then other relatives in order of closeness.”

“Feed the poor and pat the head of the orphan (i.e., show compassion).”

““The one who points the way to good deeds is like the one who does them.”

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Monday 19 August 2013

Dawah quotes .. lets ponder

Dawah – For The Sake of Allaah

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