O you who evaluate the matters, do you know the value of yourself?

Yahya ibn Muadh said:

"The life of this world is the wine of Shaytan, and whoever is intoxicated by it only wakes up once he is amongst the hordes of the dead, lamenting among the losers."

Source: The Purification of the Soul, Page 142

"The wind doesn't blow to make trees dance but to test their roots" -Ali ibn Abi Talib radiallahu anhu

“The servant is never in need of any other thing as much as he is need of guidance to the straight path.”

[Imam Ibn al Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah RahimahuAllah]

"Stay away from mentioning women and food in our gatherings, for I hate a man to constantly describe his private parts and his stomach. It is an aspect of higher conduct and religiousness that a man [sometimes] leaves eating food while he desires it."

Al-Ahnaf b. Qays (Allâh have mercy on him)
Abû Bakr Al-Daynûrî, Al-Mujâlasah wa Jawâhir Al-‘Ilm 3:44, 45.

”…the satisfaction of people is a goal that cannot be attained, so abide strictly by that which rectifies you, for indeed there is no way to [gain] their satisfaction; and know that the one who learns the Qur’an becomes great in the sight of the people; and the one who learns Hadith, his argument is strengthened; and the one who learns Nahw (Arabic grammar) is revered; and the one who learns Arabic, his nature softens; and the one who learns Hisaab (arithmetic), his opinion becomes exalted/great; and the one who learns Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), his standing is elevated; and the foundation of all of that is Taqwa (fearing Allah and being conscious of Him).”

قَالَ الشَّافِعِيُّ: [...] رِضَى النَّاسِ غَايَةٌ لا تُدْرَكُ ، فَعَلَيْكَ بِمَا يُصْلِحُكَ فَالْزَمْهُ ، فَإِنَّهُ لا سَبِيلَ إِلَى رِضَاهُمْ ، وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ جَلَّ فِي عُيونِ النَّاسِ ، وَمَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْحَدِيثَ قَوِيَتْ حُجَّتُهُ ، وَمَنْ تَعَلَّمَ النَّحْوَ هِيبَ ، وَمَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْعَرَبِيَّةَ رَقَّ طَبْعُهُ ، وَمَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْحِسَابَ جَلَّ رَأْيُهُ ، وَمَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْفِقْهَ نَبُلَ قَدْرُهُ ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يُضِرْ نَفْسَهُ لَمْ يَنْفَعْهُ عِلْمُهُ ، وَمِلاكُ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ التَّقْوَى.

– al-Imam ash-Shafi’i, may Allah have mercy upon him
(Hilyat al-Awliyaa’

"Keep yourself busy in remembering your faults so that you have no time to remember the faults of others"
- Imam Sufyan at Thawri rahimahullah

"We have found that the best life is that is accompanied by Patience."- Umar (r.a)

Fudayl ibn Iyad said: "Doing an action for the sake of people is shirk and leaving an action for the sake of people is riya."

Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah:

"O you who evaluate the matters, do you know the value of yourself? The universe was created for your sake."

(al-Fawaa'id, p. 117)

My Lord tests me occasionally, but favors me daily.

- (Urwah ibn Zubair R.A)

Once a pious man was asked, "Teach me how to love Allah," to which he said, "Loving Allah is not brought about by teaching."
- Ibn Qayyim Al Jawziyyah

Ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullah said :
" Whoever becomes accustomed to tasbiḥ before sleeping, will be given energy and strength in performing his worldly and religious duties."

Source: فرائد الفوائد من مجالس العلم

"A staunch friend and true medicine are hard to find, waste not your time."
- Imâm al-Shâfi’î rahimahullah

'Desires make slaves out of kings and patience makes kings out of slaves.'
- Imam Ghazali

"Do not allow your heart to take pleasure with the praises of people, nor be saddened by their condemnation." - Al Ghazali

I saw the ugliness of ignorance and avoided it.”

Prophet ‘Isa ‘alayhi sallam was asked,
“Who was your tutor?”
He replied,
“No one, I saw the ugliness of ignorance and avoided it.”
- Imam al-Ghazali rahimahu Llah in Ihya, 3/63 -

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

"I fear the day when the disbelievers are proud of their falsehood

"I fear the day when the disbelievers are proud of their falsehood, and the Muslims are shy of their faith."
Umar ibn al-Khattab (Radi Allah Anhu)

The best form of speech

"Beware that their emit from your tongue a saying which will count against you on the Day of Judgement. Make sure that your tongue is continuously articulating the truth or that it remains silent as the Messenger of Allah said, "whosoever believes in Allah and the Last Day then let him speak only good or remain silent" (Bukhari)."
Muhammad ibn Saalih al-'Uthaymeen 

"The best form of speech is that in which a little removes the need to say more, and the meaning is self evident in the words."
Ibn Abbas

"Your tongue is like a horse. If you take care of it, it takes care of you; if you treat it badly, it treats you badly." -Arabic proverb

"I found true seclusion to be in the solitude of the tongue." 
-Wuhayb ibn Al Ward

'The one speaks (much) waits for Fitnah to occur whilst the one who is silent waits for Mercy to descend" -
Yazid ibn Abi Habib
Source: Jami' Bayan al-Ilm wa Fadhlihi

The Salaf On Being Overweight

The Salaf On Being Overweight 

Observe & Take Heed O Muslims! 

• Having a big stomach: you're disabled:

Ibn Rajab: "Some scholars said: If you have a big stomach, you should consider yourself disabled until you become slim." (al-Jami', p. 519)

• Criticized for his big stomach just as he is done for his sins:

Salamah bin Sa'id: "A person is criticized for his big stomach just as he is criticized for his sins." (al-Jami', p. 519)

• Eat less!

Abu 'Imran al-Juni: "The one who wants to have an enlightened heart should eat a little." (al-Jami', p. 519)

Sufyan ath-Thawri: "If you want to feel well and sleep a little, you should eat little." (al-Jami', p. 520)

Ali Ibn Abi Talib (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said (regarding the Qur'an):

Ali Ibn Abi Talib (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said (regarding the Qur'an):

“In the Book of Allah there are stories of those who came before you, foretelling what will happen after you and rulings on issues between you. It is serious and not in jest. Whoever among the tyrants neglects it, Allah will destroy him, whoever seeks guidance in anything else, Allah will send him astray. It is a strong rope, thewise reminder, the Straight Path. It is the Book that whims and desires cannot distort and tongues cannot mispronounce. Its wonders never end, and the scholars never tire of it. Whoever quotes it speaks the truth, whoever acts upon it will be rewarded, whoever judges according to it will be just, and whoever calls people to it, will be guided to a Straight Path.”

Source: Ali Ibn Abi Talib (Radhi Allahu Anhu) by Dr Ali M. Sallabi Page 92

Whatever is not done by the permission of Allah will not happen

Ibn Taymiyyah:

"Whatever is not done by the permission of Allah will not happen, and what is not done for the sake of Allah will not benefit or remain. "

(Al-Hadiyyah Fi Mawa'ith Al-Imam Ibn Taymmiyah, Pg. 25)

O my son, sit with the scholars

Luqmān said to his son, “O my son, sit with the scholars, crowd them at the knees! For indeed, hearts come to life with words of wisdom just like the dead earth comes back to life with the downpour of rain.”
— Luqmān al-Ḥakīm (Mukhtaṣar Iḥyāʼ ʻUlūm ad-Dīn, by Imām al-Ghazzālī )

"There is not a person except he has four eyes

Khalid ibn Ma’dan:

"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 matters of the hereafter. So if Allah 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-Dhahabi, Siyar A'lam Al-Nubala' 4/543)

There is no laughter

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

Whoever tries to claim something that is not theirs

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)

Do not (pretend to) be the Walee (friend) of Allaah publicly,

Imaam al-Auzaa`ee said:I heard Bilaal ibn Sa`d saying:

“Do not (pretend to) be the Walee (friend) of Allaah publicly, while being an enemy to Him secretly.” 

[al-Hilyah (5/228)]

know that pleasing all people is an unattainable goal

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]

When a man wrongs me

Ibraheem at-Tamimi once said:
"When a man wrongs me, i pay him back with an act of mercy"

Piety is in three: in speech, in in sight, and in silence

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" .

Whoever follows patience, success will follow him

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

ncrease in worship before your responsibilities increase.

ash-Shaafi'ee (rahimahullaah): 

Increase in worship before your responsibilities increase. Then you won't have time to worship as much. 

[Siyar v. 10 p. 49]

The one speaks (much) waits for Fitnah to occur

'The one speaks (much) waits for Fitnah to occur whilst the one who is silent waits for Mercy to descend" - Yazid ibn Abi Habib

Source: Jami' Bayan al-Ilm wa Fadhlihi

My son, do not let your past carelessness make you lose hope

Ibn-ul-Jawzee advised his son (the misguided one):
 "My son, do not let your past carelessness make you lose hope of achieving good, for many people have come back to wakefulness after long sleep."
'Laft al-Kabid ila Naseehah al-Walad'