The greatest of deeds are three

Aa’isha (radiyAllaahu anha) said:

"The first calamity to befall this Ummah after the demise of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is overeating,because when a nation fills their bellies too much,their bodies become obese,their hearts become weak and their carnal passions get out of control."

[Targheeb wat Tarheeb]

"The battlefield is the heart of man" - Ibn Qayyim Al- Jawziyyah
Uddat as-Sabireen wa Dhakirat ash-Shakireen

"Blessed is he whose own faults keep him from seeing the faults of others."
Ali Ibn abi Talib (r.a)

Dunnun Al Misri said: " The ailment of the body is in sickness and that of the heart is in sins. A delicious meal can not benefit the body when the person is sick and likewise, the heart can not taste the sweetness of worship if it is full of sins."

Hatim Bin Al-A’sim 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 Allah but you still do not watch the words you utter!” 
[Al'Daa Wa Al Dawaa, by Ibn Al-Qayyim]

Al- Shafie rahimahullah said:
'The greatest of deeds are three:"To give generously out of the few what you have , to be devoted to Allah in loneliness and to say the truth in the face of someone who is hoped and feared"'

Taken from " Don't be sad" by Aidh Al Qarni

I swear by Allaah (jalla wa a'la), and His Name I swear and I swear, that if even if your eyes were to melt down from crying in fear of Him and in yearning for Him, and even if you were to live in this world as long as it will last, making constant offering combined with every type of worship in thankfulness towards His Magnificent and countless blessing upon you, it would not be sufficient as a demonstration of gratitude for His guiding you to Islaam!'

– Ali ibn Abi Talib (radiAllaahu anhu)

Maymoon bin Mihran:

"Remembering Allah by your tongue is good, but the best remembrance of Allah is when one remembers Allah when he is doing a sin so he leaves it."

(Jaami' All-'Uloom Wa Al-Hikam 1/252-254)

Ibn Hibban: 

"Where kindness does not benefit, neither does violence."

(ar-Rawdhah, p. 216)

Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya: 

"There is no doubt that enabling women to mix with men is the basis of all calamities and evils, and it is one of the greatest causes of calamity that affects everybody, as well as being one of the causes of corruption in public and private affairs. Mixing of men with women is the cause of a great deal of immoral actions and zina, and it is one of the causes of widespread death and ongoing plagues."

(Al-Turuq al-Hukmiyyah p. 407)

Khalid ibn Ma’dan:

"Whoever seeks praise by going against the truth, Allah will throw it back upon him as blame, and whoever faces blame in order to conform to the truth, Allah will return it as praise for him."

(Al-Dhahabi, Siyar A’lam Al-Nubala' 4/540)

Ibn Taymiyyah (ra) said:" Believer doesn't seek quarrel or revenge, nor does he find blame or fault in others."

Isa Ibn Maryam passed by gathering of Jews who spoke evil words to him to which he responded with kindness. It was said to him, "Why do you reply to their evil with good?" And he answered, "Each person spends from that which he has."


Ibraaheem at Tamimi said: "When a man wrongs me, I pay him back with an act of mercy."


“When people help one another in sin and transgression, they finish by hating each other.”
-Ibn Taymiyyah


A man said to Hasan Al Basri : "Does Ibless sleep?" He said: "If he slept we would have a break !"

Source: Ibn Al Jawzi 'Talbisu Iblees' page 52


'Oh writer! An Angel watches over all you write. Make your writing meaningful for it will eventually return to you and you will be questioned about what you wrote.'
- Ali ibn Abu Talib (radiAllahu anhu)


Imam al-Shafi':

"Seek the response to your du'as when the armies meet, and the prayer is called, and when rain falls"

(al-Umm, al-Sahihah #1469)


'One, who adopts patience, will never be deprived of success though it may take a long time to reach him.'
-Ali ibn Abi Talib


Eesa Ibn Maryam:
"Piety is in three: in speech, in in sight, and in silence. Whoever's speech is not in the remembrance (of Allah) has spoken nonsense. Whoever looks without trying to learn a lesson has forgotten (his true purpose). And whoever's silence is not accompanied with reflection has been heedless" .


Abu Darda (ra) said:
" To reproach your brother for something is better than to lose him altogether"


Umar Ibn al-Khattaab:

"Whoever tries to claim something that is not theirs in order to impress others, Allah will disgrace them"

('Ilaam v2 p 432)


Imam ash-Shaafi'ee (rahimahullah) said:
" Increase in worship before your responsibilities increase. Then you won't have time to worship as much. " [Siyar v. 10 p. 49]



"There is no laughter except that it is eventually followed up with weeping." - Ibn Sirin (ra)


Imaam Ash-Shafi’ee said to Yoonus bin Abdil-A‘laa:

“O Aboo Moosa, know that pleasing all people is an unattainable goal and there is no way to be completely safe from them. Therefore, see where your righteous benefit lies, and adhere by it; and leave people and all they indulge in.”

[Al-‘Uzlah, Page 79]

One, who adopts patience,

'One, who adopts patience, will never be deprived of success though it may take a long time to reach him.'
-Ali ibn Abi Talib

Beautiful patience

"Beautiful patience is patience without any panic." -Mujâhid

Whoever follows patience, success will follow him

It was said : " Whoever follows patience, success will follow him"

Luqman's advice to his son

Luqman's advice to his son

The Qur’ân contains ten precious advices Luqmân offered his son. Following is the list of this advice offered to Muslim parents, that they may communicate them to their children, family and members of society that they may implement them. If this valuable advise is followed and implemented then we will all be on the straight Path leading to Paradise. Luqmân himself summed up in a few words the way to succeed in this life and on the Day of Judgement.

1. Luqmân warns his son against the greatest injustice man can do. Allâh said that Luqmân said:

"O my son! Join not in worship others with Allâh. Verily, joining others in worship with Allâh is a great injustice indeed." [31:13]

Luqmân calls his son: "My Son". To do so catches his son's attention so that he may listen carefully to his father . Then he calls his son's attention to Tawhid. " Shirk," Luqmân said:" Is a great injustice indeed ".

Therefore, the one who associates others with Allâh in worship does injustice to Allâh, the owner and Creator of the universe. A great injustice is also done to the Mushrik by his own sellf as he subjects himself to Allâh's anger and eternal punishment in Hell.

2. Luqmân reminds his son of the rights of his parents on him,

"and We have enjoined on man to be dutiful and good to his parents. His mother bore him upon weakness and hardship" [31:14]

He describes hardships mothers face bearing children.

"And his weaning is in two years, give thanks to Me and to your parents. Unto Me is the final destination." [ 31:14]

Luqmân mentions the total dependence of infants on their mothers for two years. Thank Allâh, and then your parents . In not, then the final destination is to Allâh.

"And if they both strive with you to make you join in worship with me others that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not, but behave with them in the world kindly." [31:15]

Luqmân tells his son that if the parents are Mushrikîn, then do not follow their way: Allâh's right comes first by far. Even so. for as long as the live, treat your Mushrik parents with kindness.

3. Luqmân then describes some of Allâh's Might.

"O my son! If it be equal to the weight of a grain of mustard seed, and tough it be as a rock, or in the Heavens or the earth, Allâh will bring it forth. Verily Allâh is subtle in bringing out that grain, well aware of its place." [31:16]

Allâh's Knowledge is so perfect that the existence of anything, big or small, is acknowledged and controlled by Him. Luqmân tries to impress his son reminding him of Allâh's absolute control over His kingdom. Such might and power must not be challenged or ignored by anyone.

4. A great advice to Luqman's son is to establish regular prayer, on time and with the best possible performance,

"O my son! Offer prayer perfectly." [31:17]

Prayer is the direct connection between a Muslim and his Creator. Parents must take great care to teach and call upon their children to establish prayer.

5. Luqmân advises his son to "enjoin (people) for good, and forbid from evil." [31:17]

If every Muslim observe this duty , then evil and mischief will have no place in Muslim society.

6. After the useful advice he offered his son, Luqmân recommended patience in implementing them, and in all matters of life,

"And bear with patience whatever befalls you. Verily, these are some of the important commandments ordered by Allâh with no exemption." [31:17]

Patience is a righteous act ordered, and rewarded by Allâh.

7. Arrogance is an attribute of Allâh alone and not for man.

The Creator and Owner of the universe is the only One who deserves to be Arrogant. Allâh threatens arrogant people with punishment in Hellfire. Luqmân said:

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

8. To be moderate is a great attitude anyone can possess,

"Nor walk in insolence through the earth. Verily Allâh likes not each arrogant boaster." [31:18]

Allâh does not like that man is arrogant and proud of themselves.

9. To be moderate in walking and talking is also one of Luqman's advises to his son, "And be moderate (or show no insolence) in walking." [31:19]

Islâm offers a code of conduct in every aspect of life. Even the way Muslims walk and talk are regulated. Islam offers guidelines in this regard that will produce the best behavior and generate respect.

10. Luqmân reminds his son that being harsh while talking will liken his voice to the braying of a donkey. Shouting does not win hearts, rather , it will offend and alienate people,

"And lower your voice. Verily the harshest of all voices is the voice (braying] of an ass!!" [31:19]

Other words of wisdom from Luqman (not narrated in the Quran) [ibn Katheer]

Other words of wisdom from Luqman (not narrated in the Quran) [ibn Katheer]

Luqman on being granted respect and honor
Narrated Ibn Wahb: I was told by ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Ayyash Al-Fityani after’ Umar, the freed slave of ‘Afrah as saying: “A man came to Luqman, the wise and asked: Are you Luqman? Are you the slave of so and so? He said: “Yes!” The man said: You are the black shepherd! Luqman said: As for my black color, it is obviously apparent, so what makes you so astonished? The man said: You became frequently visited by the people who pleasingly accept your judgments! Luqman said: 0 cousin! If you do what I am telling you, you will be like this. The man said: What is it? Luqman said: Lowering my gaze, watching my tongue, eating what is lawful, keeping my chastity, undertaking my promises, fulfilling my commitments, being hospitable to guests, respecting my neighbors, and discarding what does not concern me. All these made me the one you are looking at.” 

Luqman on the value of Wisdom
Narrated Damurah after As-Sariy Ibn Yahia as saying: Luqman said to his son: “O my son! Verily, wisdom has brought the indigent to the courts of kings. ”

Luqman on propagating wisdom to others and to take it seriously when given by others
I was told by my father after ‘Amr Ibn ‘Uthman after Damurah Ibn Hafs Ibn ‘Umar as saying: “Luqman placed a bag of mustards beside him and started to advise his son, giving him with every piece of advice a mustard till it all ran out. He said: O my son! I gave you advice that if a mountain was given, it would split………”
Luqman on the need to have a pleasing tongue and sound heart
Yazid Ibn Hamn and Waki’ told us after Abul AShhab after Khalid Ar-Rab’i as saying: “Luqman was an Ethiopian slave who worked as a carpenter. One day, his master ordered him to slaughter a goat and bring him the most pleasant and delicious two parts thereof. Luqman did so and brought him the tongue and heart. The master asked: Did not you find anything more pleasant than these? Luqman said: No! After a while, the master ordered him to slaughter a goat and to throw the most malignant two parts thereof. Luqman slaughtered the goat and threw the tongue and heart. The master exclaimed and said: I ordered you to bring me the most delicious parts thereof and you brought me the tongue and heart, and I ordered you to throwaway the most malignant parts thereof and you threw the tongue and heart, how can this be? Luqman said: Nothing can be more pleasing than these if they were good, and nothing can be more malicious than these if they were malignant.”

Luqman on “Speech is silver and slince is golden”

Luqman said to his son: “O my son! I have never regretted because of keeping silent. If words are silver, silence is golden.”

Luqman on the need to have kindness, mercy and love for others

Abu Mu’awiyah told us after Hisham Ibn ‘Urwah after his father as saying: “Wisdom dictates: O my son: Let your speech be good and your face be smiling, you will be more loved by the people than those who give them provisions.” And, he said: “It is stated in the wisdom -or the Torah – : “Kindness is the head of wisdom.” And, he said: “It is stated in the Torah: “As you show mercy (to others), mercy will be shown to you.”

Luqman on giving

And, he said: “It is stated in the wisdom: “You will gain what you give (or, harvest what you grow).”

Luqman on friendships
And, he said: “It is stated in the wisdom: “Love your friend and the friend of your father.”
Luqman on patience, knowledge, and goodness

`Abdur Razzaq told us after Mu’amir after Ayyub after Abu Qulabah as saying: Luqman was once asked: Who is the best one in terms of patience? He said: It is the one who practices no harm after observing patience. Those who asked him said: Who is the best one in terms of knowledge? He said: It is he who adds to his own knowledge through the knowledge of others. They asked: Who is the best from among the whole people? He said: It is the wealthy. They said: Is it the one who has properties and riches? He said: No! But, it is the one if whose good was sought, he would not hold it back or prevent it. And, it is the one who does not need anything from others.
Luqman on the need to keep good company and to consult scholars
‘Abdullah Ibn Ahmed said: I was told by Al-Hakam Ibn Abu Zuhair Ibn Musa after Al-Faraj Ibn Fudalah after Abu Sa’id as saying: Luqman said to his son: “O my son! Let only the pious men eat your food, and consult the scholars over your affairs.”
Finally, wisdom in matters is one of the blessings that Allah grants to His creation. The Almighty says in the Quran: “He grants Hikmah to whom He pleases, and he, to whom Hikmah is granted, is indeed granted abundant good. But none remember (will receive admonition) except men of understanding.” (Quran: Al-Baqara: 269)
Note: Hikmah here refers to “Wisdom

'Patience is that the heart does not feel anger towards

'Patience is that the heart does not feel anger towards that which is decided and that the mouth does not complain.'
-Ibn Qayyim Al Jawziyyah (al-'Uddah, p. 156)

If you are afflicted by a calamity and you are a patient

Some of the salaf said : 
“If you are afflicted by a calamity and you are a patient, then your calamity is one. But if you are not patient, then your calamity is doubled – losing the reward and losing the beloved one, the Hereafter (Paradis

e).”

This saying of some of the Salaf is in relation to what Allaah سبحانه وتعالى mentions in Surah al-Hajj, verse 11:

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَى حَرْفٍ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انقَلَبَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةَ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَانُ الْمُبِينُ

{And among mankind is he who worships Allaah as it were upon the edge (i.e. in doubt): if good befalls him, he is content therewith; but if a trial befalls him he turns back on his face (i.e. reverts to disbelief after embracing Islaam). He loses both this world and the Hereafter. That is the evident loss.} [Al-Hajj 22:11]

“Beautiful Patience”

“Beautiful Patience”

Allah SWT tells us in surat al ma3rij:
فَاصْبِرْ صَبْرًا جَمِيلًا
Therefore [O Believer] endure all adversity with beautiful patience.And this is a fi3l amr.. a command for us from Allah, so we must learn its meaning and try to practise it.The phrase sabrun jameel is most famous from the saying of Sayidna Yaqoob alayhi salam upon hearing the news of his son Yusuf, as told in Surah Yusuf:
فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى مَا تَصِفُونَ
But [as for myself,] patience in adversity is most goodly [in the sight of God]; and it is to God [alone] that I pray to give me strength to bear the misfortune which you have described to me.”
Here some explanations are given as to the meaning of “sabrun jameel” and what makes it different than just any normal bit of sabr or low level of sabr:Mujahid said: “Beautiful Patience is patience without any panic.”Amr bin Qays said “Beautiful Patience means to be content with adversity and to surrender to the will of Allah.”Yunus bin Yazid said: “I asked Rabiah bin Abdurrahman: ‘What is the ultimate of patience?’ He said “to be outwardly the same at the time of affliction as one was the day before it struck.” [this does not mean that a person does not or should not feel pain or anguish: patience in this instance means that one refrains from panicking and complaining.]Commenting on the meaning of beautiful patience, Qiyas bin al Hajjaj said “the person who is suffering from some afflictions should behave in such a way that nobody is able to distinguish him from others.”
- From Ibn Qayyim’s “Patience and Gratitude”

رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا

Our Lord, Pour out patience onto us!

Aameen

These people hid their deeds

“These people hid their deeds so Allaah the Most High hid for them that which no eye has seen and no ear has heard.”
~ Al-Hasan al-Basri Rahimaullah ~

Al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
“Do not resent the calamities that come and the disasters that occur, for perhaps in something that you dislike will be your salvation, and perhaps in something that you prefer will be your doom.

”'Oh feet pf 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.'

- Ibn Qayyiim Al Jawziyyah"

To speak less is wisdom, to eat less is healthy, and to mingle less with the people is safe and serene."
- Umar ibn Al-Khattab.

"Know that hearing and eyesight are two open doors, whatever enters through them reaches the heart. How many a thing does a man see or hear, which he should not have, but that once they have entered the heart, it proves difficult to remove them?”
- Imām al-Ḥaddād.Shaikh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله said:

“Verily the strength of (Prophet) Yusuf عليه السلام and his love for Allaah, and his sincerity towards Allaah, and his fear of Allaah were stronger than the beauty of the wife of the Azeez and her charms and his love for her.”-[Majmoo’ al-Fataawaa (10/602)]An aspirant traversed a long distance to meet the famous Tabi'ee - Uways al Qarni.

When this man finally reached him, Uways al Qarni made a very profound statement:

"If you seek Allaah, then why do you seek me and if you dont seek Him, then what is left between you and me!"

Be sure, there is something waiting for you..

"Be sure, there is something waiting for you, after much patience, to astonish you to a degree that you forget the bitterness of the pain." - Ali ibn abi Talib.

O my soul! It is not, except a few days of patience

Ibn Rajab – rahimahullaah – said: (1)


ولا بد للمؤمن من صبر قليل حتى يصل به إلى راحة طويلة…



…and it’s incumbent upon the believer to have a little patience in order to reach by way of it to a lengthy rest.



فإن جزع ولم يصبر فهو كما قال ابن المبارك

من صبر فما أقل ما يصبر ومن جزع فما أقل ما يتمتع



If he gets impatient then he is,
as has been said by Ibn al-Mubaarak:


Whoever exercises patience,
then how little is the patience he will have to exercise.
And whoever is impatient,
then how little is the enjoyment he will have.



:وكان الإمام الشافعي رحمه اللَه ينشد



يا نَـفـسُ مــا هِـــيَ إلاّ صَـــبـــرُ أَيّامِ

كَــأَنَّ مُـدَّتَــهـــا أَضــغــاثُ أَحــلامِ

يا نَـفْـسُ جـــوزي عَـنِ الـدُنــيا مُـبـادِرَةً

وَخَــلِّ عَـنـهـا فَـإِنَّ الـعَـيشَ قُــدامـــي


al-Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee – rahimahullaah -used to recite (the following verses of poetry):



“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.” (2)

______________________

(1) From Ibn Rajab al-Hanbalee’s book “Fadl ‘ilm as-Salaf” - The Excellence of the Salaf’s Knowledge.

(2) Translation of ash-Shaafi’ee’s – rahimahullaah – poem is taken from an article titled “The Yearning of the Pious for Paradise” –
al-Istiqaamah Magazine, Issue #2, Safar 1417 A.H.

,,you must first be patient with what you hate

'To get what you love, you must first be patient with what you hate.' - Imam al-Ghazali

till even patience tires of my patience

“I’ll be patient, till even patience tires of my patience.” - Ali ibn Abi Taalib

“Patience is that the heart does not feel anger

“Patience is that the heart does not feel anger towards that which is destined and that the mouth does not complain.”
— Ibn-ul-Qayyim (rahimullaah) [al-‘Uddah, p. 156]