A person can never have Taqwa until he controls his tongue

Abdullaah bin Umar said, "The limb that a person most needs to purify is his tongue." - (Abu Nu'aym in his Hilya)


Anas said, "A person can never have Taqwa until he controls his tongue." - (Ibn Sa'd)

''Words are Under Your Control Until You Speak Them, 
But You Come Under Their Control Once You Have Spoken Them'' - [Ali Ibn Abi Thalib (R.A)]

''Many a spoken word is more piercing than an attack.'' - (Ali ibn Abu Talib RA)

'If you ever have time and find yourself in ease, then take advantage of prayer, to draw near to Allah; And if you intend to speak a vain word * Replace it with a tasbih, a word of glorification; Because taking advantage of silence is better than speaking frequently, even if you are eloquent in speech.' -'Abdullah ibn Mubarak.


إملاء الخير خير من السكوت والسكوت خير من إملاء الشر
Speaking what is good is better than silence, and silence is better than speaking evil

ibn Qayyim al-Jauziyyah:

"Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) was the most eloquent speaker of all of Allah's creation. His speech was sweet, comprehensive, and he had the most beautiful way with words. His words captured the hearts and souls. Even his enemies had to admit to this quality."

(Eng Translation of Zad-ul Ma'ad fi Hadyi Khairi-l 'Ibad 1/312)

The Imam(Ibn AlMubarak) Describing The Fearful

The Imam(Ibn AlMubarak) Describing The Fearful
A man asked theImam to describe the fearful. He said:

When the night is darkest, they endure it,
and it travels from them while they are still bowing.

Fear dispelled their sleep, so they stood alert while the people of security
in this world were sleeping peacefully.

While they are prostrating under the cloak the darkness,
their groan pierces their ribs.

They are mute in the day by the length of their silence.
They have tranquillity from their humility.

Whenever a man would see something from his brother that he dislikes

ʻAbdullāh ibn al-Mubārak said,

“Whenever a man would see something from his brother that he dislikes, he would give him orders in private and forbid him in private. Conversely, he would be rewarded for him screening his brother and also rewarded for forbidding evil. As for today, whenever a man sees what he dislikes he angers his brother and unveils his screen.”

(Rawḍat al-ʻUqalāʾ, pg. 197)

The greatest of misfortunes

“The greatest of misfortunes is for a man to know of his shortcomings yet not show any concern or grief over them.”
-Ibn Al-Mubarak

I love the saliheen

“I love the saliheen (pious people) even though I’m not one of them, and I hate the taliheen (evil people) even though I (may be) worse than them.” -Abdullah ibn Mubarak

[Siyaar a'lam an-nubalaa v. 8]

You disobey Allah, and yet you still claim to love Him.

Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak recited:
You disobey Allah, and yet you still claim to love Him.
By Allah, such behaviour is disgusting, by any standard!
You would have obeyed Him had your love been true.
For the lover is always obedient to the Beloved!

Those with deep insight never feel safe from four matters

‎"Those with deep insight never feel safe from four matters: 

A sin committed in the past which they don't know what Allah `azza wa jall has done with it; and a lifespan which remains to unfold, they don't know what lies in it of destruction; and a blessing given to the slave, which could perhaps be a curse and an allure or bait, and misguidance which has been beautified for a person such that he sees it as guidance; and a slip of the heart for a short moment wherein a person's religion is seized away and he does not feel it."

- Ibn al-Mubarak

Abandon looking towards the faults of others..

..Abandon looking towards the faults of others and you shall be guided to seeing your own faults ..' - Ibn Al Mubarak

If you intend to speak a vain word..

‎"If you intend to speak a vain word, replace it with a tasbih."


- Abdullah Ibn Mubarak

‘Is there anyone who will advise us?’

A man once said to Ibn al-Mubarak: ‘Is there anyone who will advise us?’ He replied,‘Rather, is there anyone who will accept the advice?’

How many people carry the Qur’an in the hearts but the Qur’an curses them

Ibn al-Mubarak said:

‘How many people carry the Qur’an in the hearts but the Qur’an curses them from inside their hearts! If the bearer of Qur’an disobeys his Lord, the Qur’an calls him from inside his chest saying, ‘By Allah, you have not carried me (i.e. memorised me) for this! Will you not be shy from your Lord?’

It was said knowledge is three spans

Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd wrote:

فقد قيل: العلم ثلاثة أشبار، من دخل في الشبر الأول، تكبر ومن دخل في الشبر الثانى، تواضع ومن دخل في الشبر الثالث، علم أنه ما يعلم
“It was said knowledge is three spans: Whosoever enters the first span will become arrogant, and whosoever enters the second span will become humble, and whosoever enters the third span will know that he knows nothing”.

["Hilyat Talib-ul-Ilm", 41


the one who shows off has 3 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 decrease in them when he is criticised"[az-Zuhd of A. Ibn al-Mubaarak by Ali(ra)].

"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" Mua’dh ibn Jabal (RA)

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."

Imam Ahmad's saying:

الناس أحوج إلى العلم منهم إلى الطعام و الشراب ، لأن الطعام والشراب يحتاج إليه في اليوم مرة أو مرتين ، والعلم يحتاج إليه في كل وقت
“People need knowledge more than they need food and drink, because they need food and drink two or three times a day, but they need knowledge all the time.”

["Majmu' Al-Zawaid", 1/201].

A believer plants a palm tree

When someone offends me, i think it's a gift from Allah. He (swt ) is teaching me humility" Ibn Taymiyyah (ra)

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!”


Shaykhul- Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said:"If every time two Muslims have a dispute they part ways as a consequence, then no affection or brotherhood will remain among Muslims!" (Majmoo' al-Fatawaa Vol. 24, page 173)

"Do not think about how small the sin is, but think about who you have just disobeyed"
Ibn Al-Mubaarak, Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqaa`iq Vol.1 pg.150.

If you ever have time and find yourself in ease, then take advantage of praye

Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak - rahimahullaah - said:
"If you ever have time and find yourself in ease, then take advantage of prayer, to draw near to Allah; If you ever wish to speak ill a word of falsehood, then instead put in its place, a word of glorification; Because taking advantage of silence is better than speaking frequently, even if you are eloquent in speech."

Ibn Al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah - rahimahullaah - said:

“Get yourself out of this limited world of diseases to the wide world of the hereafter, which has what the eyes have never seen. Nothing is impossible there, and love is not lost. O you who sold yourself for the sake of something that will cause you suffering and pain, and which will also lose its beauty, you sold the most precious item for the cheapest price, as if you neither knew the value of the goods nor the meanness of the price. Wait until you come on the Day of mutual loss and gain and you will discover the injustice of this contract. “There is no God but Allah” is something that Allah is buying. Its price is Paradise, and the Messenger is its agent, and you will be pleased to part with a small part of this worldly life to obtain it. The part you lose is a small part of something that as a whole is not worth a mosquito’s wing.”

Shaykh Al-Islam ibn Taymiyyah says, regarding the Allies of Allah:
"The allies of Allah do not have any special appearance with which they differ from other people. They have no special dress other than just being permissible dress, and are not distinguished by shaving of hair, or cutting it short, or braiding it, as long as it is within the permissible. Thus it has been said: "So many truthful believers in rough dress, and so many apostates in beautiful cloaks." Rather, the allies of Allah are to be found in all categories of the nation of Muhammad, except for the fact that they may not be found among the people of blatant innovations (bid'a) and moral corruption. They are found among people of the Qur'an, scholars, just as they are found among the fighters of jihad with weapons, and they are found among the businessmen, the manufacturers, and the farmers."
Taken From: The Criterion Between the Allies of the Merciful and the Allies of the Devil, pg. 37

Imam al-Hassan Al Basri said: "We laugh and yet – who knows? – perhaps Allah 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 Allah? Whoever disobeys Allah is fighting Him. By Allah! 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 Allah’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).

"None in this age will amass wealth except those having five traits of character: high hopes, abnormal greediness, excessive miserliness, lack of fearing Allah, and forgetfulness of the coming world " Sufyaan Ath Thawree

What is the matter with me? When I lose a chicken I feel concerned

Ibn Taymiyah said:

أجعلت محتسباً على الفتوى؟ فقلت له يكون على الخبازين والطباخين محتسب ولا يكون على الفتوى محتسب؟

“Some of them said to me: “You placed someone to supervise the issuing of Fatwas?” I said: “The bakers and cooks have someone overseeing them, yet there should not be anyone to oversee Fatwas?!”

["Ilaam al-Muwaqien", 4/166].

Al-Qurtubi al-Maliki said:
“Our scholars have said that ransoming the prisoners with money is wajib (obligatory), even if one dirham does not remain in the Islamic Treasury”.

["Al-Jaami li Ahkam Al-Qur'an", 2/26].

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].

Ibn Mas’ud said:

“And how many people intended good, but did nothing of it?”

["Al-Daarimi", 204].

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].

Abdullaah Ibn Mubarak said:“And how often it is that a small action is made great by its intention, and a great action is made small by its intention"

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali narrated:
It was related that a man said to Haatim al Asam: “You are a non-Arab who cannot speak fluently, but no one has debated you except that you silenced him, so how do you defeat your opponents?” He said: “With three: I am pleased when my opponent is correct, I am sad when he is incorrect, and I preserve my tongue from saying anything that offends him.” Imaam Ahmad stated: “What a wise man he is.”

["Al-Farq bayn al-Nasiha wa'l-Ta'yir"].

Ibn Taymiyah said:
“A scholar who abandons what he has learnt from the Quran and Sunnah and follows a ruler who does not rule in accordance with the teaching of Allah and His Messenger (SAWS) is an apostate and a disbeliever who deserves punishment in this world and the hereafter”.
["Fatawa Ibn Taymiyyah", 35/373]

The knowledge of a hypocrite is in his speech

It was said to Ibn Al-Mubarak: “What is the best that man has been given?” He said: “The honour of intellect”. It was said: “And if he doesn’t have that?” He said: “A good character”. They said: “And if he doesn’t have that?” He said: “A righteous companion to give him advice”. They said: “And if not that?” He said: “Long periods of silence which he observes”. They said: “And if not that?” Abdullah Ibn Mubarak replied: “Then a quick death! (mawt al-aajil!)”

["Rawdat Al-Uqalaa", 1/2].


Younus Bin Ubayd said:
“I know one hundred virtues, and I don’t know whether I posses even one of them”.

["Tahzib Al-Kamal", 32/524].


Abu Ad-Dardaa said: “You will not become an aalim (scholar) until you become a mut’alim (student) and you will not become a muta’alim (student) until you act upon the knowledge you posses”.

["Iqtidaa-u al'ilmi al'amal", 29].


Ibn Al-Jawzi writes:
“Abu Darda 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].

Abdu Allaah ben Al-Mu’taz said:
“The knowledge of a hypocrite is in his speech, while the knowledge of a believer is in his actions" 

["Iqtidaa-u al'ilmi al'amal", 38].

I studied adab (manners) for thirty years

Ibn al-Mubarak said, "I studied adab (manners) for thirty years and I studied knowledge for twenty years."

Truthful was the poet when he said, "Knowledge is beauty and silence is salvation, if you speak, then do not be excessive; If I ever regretted my silence just once, then I have indeed regretted my speech a lot more."

"When it comes to my provisions, I rely upon Allah, my Creator; And I know with certainty that He will no doubt provide for me. Whatever’s in my due, will not pass me by, Even if it were to be in the depths of the sea. Allah the Exalted will bring it forth by His Grace, Even if I were to remain silent over it. So, what can a soul feel sorrow over, When the Most Merciful has set the provisions of the creation?" Imam ash Shafie

Do not think about how small the sin is

Al-­Hasan al-­Basree - rahimahullaah – said:

“Eemaan (faith) is not outer decoration, nor mere hope. Rather it is what settles in the heart and what is affirmed by actions. Whoever spoke good, but did not act righteously, then Allaah throws it back upon his saying. Whoever spoke good and acted righteously, Allaah raises up the actions.

This is because Allaah - the Most High – says:
‘To Him ascend all goodly words, and righteous actions raise it’.” 
Iqtidaa‘ul-­’Ilmil-­’Aml | Al Khateeb Al Baghdaadee

Bilaal ibn Sa'd – May Allaah  have mercy on him – said: 


Do not think about how small the sin is, but think about who you have just disobeyed. 


Ibn Al-Mubaarak, Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqaa`iq Vol.1 pg.150.

And beware of the opinions of men, even if they beautify it for you with speech.

Al-Fudayl said: Ibn al-Mubaarak said :

"I have not seen any wealth which I despise more than that of a person of innovation and he said: 'O Allah do not let any innovator give me anything so that my heart should love him." 
Imaam Aboo ’Amr ’Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn ’Amr al-Awzaa’ee [d.179H]: 

“Stick to the aathaar of those who have preceded (man salaf), even if the people reject you. And beware of the opinions of men, even if they beautify it for you with speech. So the affair is young and you are upon a Straight Path with regards to it.”
Shaykh-ul-Islaam ibn Taymiyyah: 

“Whoever deviates from the Madhhab and Tafseer of the Sahaaba and Tabi’een to that which opposes it then he has erred in that rather (he has) innovated." 

I go and sit with the Sahâbah and the Tâbi’în

It was once said to ‘Abdullah b. Al-Mubârak, “After you have prayed with us you don’t sit with us?” He replied, “I go and sit with the Sahâbah and the Tâbi’în.” We said, “And how can you sit with the Sahâbah and Tâbi’în (when they have all passed away)?” He replied, “I go and read the knowledge I have collected, I find their narrations and deeds. What would I do with you? You sit around backbiting people.”

Al-Dhahabî, Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ` in his biography of ‘Abdullah b. Al-Mubârak.