Do to me, O Allah, what is worthy of Thee; And not what is worthy of me.
- Saadi al-Shiraz
[Gulistan]
People choose the path of their own lives: victor or victim.
You claim your role by the choices you make along the way.
To know oneself is to study oneself in action with another person.
Aim at perfection in everything, though in most things it is unattainable. However, they who aim at it, and persevere, will come much nearer to it than those whose laziness and despondency make them give it up as unattainable.
We should think of those who were famous for their good deeds or their bad deeds; did their fame raise them one single degree in the sight of Allah. Did it win them a reward that they had not already won by their actions during their life?
- Ibn Hazm
[Kitab Al-Akhlaq wa al-Siyar fi Mudawat al-Nufus]
Say the truth even if it may be bitter.
- Prophet Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam)
A man not progressing is not standing still. He is stagnating.
Never break a Muslim�s heart by refusing what he offers you, when you know that anything that comes to you through him is in reality from God, and he is only His powerless and compelled means.
Imam al Haddad
[from 'Book of Assistance']
Pride is concerned with who is right.
Humility is concerned with what is right.
Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.
- Baruch Spinoza (1632�77)
Whoever gives advice to a heedless man is himself in need of advice.
- Saadi al-Shiraz
There is not on the face of the earth—after the Book of Allah — a book which is more sahih than the book of Malik.
- Imam Shafi'i
He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man
- William Shakespeare
While you are alive, your worldy self is like a collector of benefits from Allah's bounties, which come to you from myriads of hands. - Ibn 'Arabi
Every drop of sweat
and every breath we take in life,
if not taken for the sake of Allah,
will lead to regret and sorrow
on the Day of Judgment
- Ibn Al-Qayyim
Intelligence is the shadow of objective truth.
How can the shadow vie with sunshine?
- Jalaluddin al-Rumi
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. If something that is promised does not happen even though the time for it is set, do not doubt the promise!
The Hikam of Ibn 'Ata'llah (with Commentary by Ibn 'Ajiba)
If a gem falls into mud it is still valuable.
If dust ascends to heaven, it remains valueless.
- Saadi al-Shiraz
Repel the thought, for if you don�t, it becomes an idea. So repel the idea, for if you don�t it will become a desire. So fight against that (desire), for if you don�t, it will become a determination and a passion. And if you don�t repel that, it will become an action. And if you don�t replace it with its opposite, it will become a constant habit. So at that point, it will be difficult for you to change it.
- Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah [from al-Fawaa'id]
Truthfulness is composed of justice and courage.
- Ibn Hazm
[Kitab al-Akhlaq wa al-Siyar fi Mudawat al-Nufus]
Remembrance of Allah is certain knowledge of one's belief ('ilm al-iman), immunity from hypocrisy (baraa'at min al-nifaaq), a fortress against Shaytan (Husn min al-shaytaan), and a guarded refuge from the fire (Hirz min al-naar).
- Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam)
Ikhlaas is to forget the vision of creation by constantly looking at the Creator.
- Abu Uthman
In the sea there are countless treasures,
But if you desire safety, it is on the shore.
- Sa'di
The creative spirit demands persistence.
Seeking knowledge at an Young age is like engraving on a stone.
- Hasan al-Basri
Like us many have spoken over this spring, but they were gone in the twinkling of an eye.
We conquered the world with bravery and might, but we did not take it with us to the grave.
- Zahiruddin Muhammad (Babur)
People need comfort.
Some people find it in this, some find it in that and some don't find it at all.
Allah in His infinite Wisdom has designed everything on this planet earth, the universe around and within it to ultimately point to Him. The signs are everywhere.
Everything points to Him.
You just have to look.
The lower self is greedy,
teach it to be content.
"And We shall try you until We test those among you who strive their utmost and persevere in patience"
- Qur'an, 47:31
We should be thankful.
One of the greatest parts of our spiritual path should be thankfulness.
No matter what happens.
No matter what happens.
Your destiny is Allah.
The best provision is piety.
Knowledge is not what is memorised.
Knowledge is what benefits.
- Imam Shafi'
(In other words, that which has results)
By the mercy of God Paradise has eight doors � one of those is the door of repentance, child. All the others are sometimes open, sometimes shut, but the door of repentance is never closed. Come seize the opportunity: the door is open; carry your baggage there at once.
- Jalaluddin al-Rumi
[Mathnawi IV: 2506-2508, 'Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance']
Not wishy-washy, not up and down, don't zig and zag.
Be firm.
Walk straight.
The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) was then taken into Paradise and he reported that he saw in it domes of pearls and it's soil was made of musk
- Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam)
[reported by Anas ibn Malik in Sahih al-Bukhari]
Strain not your eyes toward that which We have given for some pairs among them to enjoy�the flower of this world�s life, that We may thereby put them to the test. Your Lord�s provision is better and more lasting. - Qur'an 20:131
Shaitan is always looking for an opening to get you.
Drive him away with Dhikr.
What hand do you think you will get your book, on the Day of Judgement?
When we look for strength in ourselves, we will be weak.
When we look for strength in Allah, we will be invincible.
How can you Despair?
Despair is when you are not getting anywhere.
Allah has said that He will never let any of our good deeds be lost.
