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

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]

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 -

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]

“Have taqwa of Allah, and have a truthful tongue.

Imam Sufyan At Thawree said :
“Have taqwa of Allah, and have a truthful tongue. Have sincerity and do deeds of various nature without there being any deception or treachery therein. Indeed Allah sees you although you cannot see Him, and He is with you wherever you may be, and nothing of your affairs is hidden to Him. Do not be deceitful to Allah lest He returns that to you, for indeed, whoever attempts to deceive Allah, He will deceive him (i.e. make his plot turn back to him), and remove his faith from him whilst his soul does not feel it… Perfect your inner reality and Allah shall perfect your outer reality. Rectify what is between you and Allah, and Allah shall rectify what lies between you and the people.”

Hasan Al Basri would reproach his soul

O you who believe, why do you saythat which you do not do? يأيها الذين آمنوا لم تقولون ما لا تفعلون |
This verse elicits unease from the believers, specifically those onthe forefronts of daʿwah [i.e. Muslim bloggers, lecturers, `imāms, deen-zealots].Our voices project religiosity, though often we are mired in our own spiritualdiseases: Insincerity. Tainted intentions. Laziness in worship. Arrogance.Temptation. So when he recited this verse, `Imām al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī wouldreproach his soul…

‘Iyyāka Naʻbud averts riyāʼ (showing off)

Ibn al-Qayyim states, “I would often hear Shaykh al-Islām ibn Taymīyyah (may Allāh sanctify his soul) say, ‘Iyyāka Naʻbud averts riyāʼ (showing off, ostentation) and Iyyāka Nastaʻīn averts arrogance.’”
(Madārij al-Sālikīn)

"The intention is what distinguishes

Abdullah Aal-Bassam:

"The intention is what distinguishes an act of worship from a habit."

(Taysir Al-Allam, Vol. 1 pg. 24)

Allah has created you free

إن الله تعالى خلقك حرّاً فكن حرّاً كما خلقك، اعمل لله ودع الناس عنك.

Allah has created you free, therefore be free the way He has created you, work solely for Allah and stop trying to please people.”

- Imam Al Shafie

tongue is not sincere the heart cannot be sincere

“As long as the heart is not honest, the faith of a servant cannot be sincere. As long as the tongue is not sincere the heart cannot be sincere.” 

[Ahmed b. Hanbal, Musnad, III/198]

Sincerity is a secret between Allah and His servant

'Sincerity is a secret between Allah and His servant which not even the angels know so as to record it, nor does satan know so as to corrupt it, nor is the desire aware so as to influence it.'

-Junaid Al-Baghdadi

They have not moved except for the ake of Allah

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali mentions,

وَيَلْزَمُ مِنْ صَلَاحِ حَرَكَاتِ الْقَلْبِ صَلَاحُ حَرَكَاتِ الْجَوَارِحِ، فَإِذَا كَانَ الْقَلْبُ صَالِحًا لَيْسَ فِيهِ إِلَّا إِرَادَةُ اللَّهِ وَإِرَادَةُ مَا يُرِيدُهُ لَمْ تَنْبَعِثِ الْجَوَارِحُ إِلَّا فِيمَا يُرِيدُهُ اللَّهُ، فَسَارَعَتْ إِلَى مَا فِيهِ رِضَاهُ، وَكَفَّتْ عَمَّا يَكْرَهُهُ، وَعَمَّا يَخْشَى أَنْ يَكُونَ مِمَّا يَكْرَهُهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَتَيَقَّنْ ذَلِكَ.

“Soundness of the actions of the heart causes soundness of the actions of the limbs. If the heart is sound, and desires nothing except Allah and what He desires, the limbs will do nothing except what Allah desires. They will hurry to what pleases Him, and halt from what He hates, and what one fears that He might hate, even if he is not sure of it.

قَالَ الْحَسَنُ: مَا ضَرَبْتُ بِبَصَرِي، وَلَا نَطَقْتُ بِلِسَانِي، وَلَا بِطَشْتُ بِيَدِي، وَلَا نَهَضْتُ عَلَى قَدَمِي حَتَّى أَنْظُرَ عَلَى طَاعَةٍ أَوْ عَلَى مَعْصِيَةٍ؟ فَإِنْ كَانَتْ طَاعَتُهُ تَقَدَّمَتْ، وَإِنْ كَانَتْ مَعْصِيَةً تَأَخَّرَتْ.
وَقَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ الْبَلْخِيُّ: مَا خَطَوْتُ مُنْذُ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً خُطْوَةً لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ.
وَقِيلَ لِدَاوُدَ الطَّائِيِّ: لَوْ تَنَحَّيْتَ مِنَ الظِّلِّ إِلَى الشَّمْسِ، فَقَالَ: هَذِهِ خُطًى لَا أَدْرِي كَيْفَ تُكْتَبُ.

al-Hasan said, “I have not looked with my eyes, nor pronounced with my tongue, nor beaten with my hand, nor risen to my feet until I see whether it is for obedience or disobedience. If it is out of obedience, then I proceed, and if for disobedience, I hold back.”

Muhammad b. al-Fadl al-Balkhi said, “I have not taken a step during the last forty years for other than [the sake] of Allah, the Exalted and Glorified.“
Further, it was said to Dawud at-Ta’i when he went from the shade into the sun, “This is a mistake for which I am not sure how it will be recorded.”

فَهَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمُ لَمَّا صَلَحَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ، فَلَمْ يَبْقَ فِيهَا إِرَادَةٌ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، صَلَحَتْ جَوَارِحُهُمْ، فَلَمْ تَتَحَرَّكْ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، وَبِمَا فِيهِ رِضَاهُ، وَاللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَعْلَمُ.

Those are a people that when their hearts were sound and for whom no desire for other than Allah remained, the actions of their limbs also became sound, and they did not move except for the sake of Allah, the Exalted and Glorified, and for what pleased Him. And Allah Knows Best.”

(Jami’ al-‘Uloom wa’l-Hikam, vol. 1, pg. 213-214)

"A sincere adviser does not have enmity

Ibn Al-Qayyim:

"A sincere adviser does not have enmity to you if you do not accept his advice."

(Ar-Rooh, Page: 233)
Ibn Hazm:

"If you advise someone on the condition that they have to accept it, then you are an oppressor."

(Al-Akhlaq Wa As-Siyar 110)
Ali Al-Halabi:

"A good intention does not make falsehood into truth or misguidance to guidance."

(Sharh Al-Ba'ith Al-Hathith tape 1 side B)

No servant of Allah mends what is between him and Allah,

Abu Hazim Salamah bin Dinar:

"No servant of Allah mends what is between him and Allah, except that Allah mends what is between him and other servants. And he does not spoil what is between him and Allah, except that Allah spoils what is between him and the servants of Allah. Working for the sake of ones face is easier than working for the sake of all faces. For if you work for the sake of that Face [the Face of Allah], all faces will turn to you. But if you spoil it, all faces will the detest you."

(Abu Nu'aym, al-Hilya 3/239)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 said In Al Fawa'id]"One of the consequences of sinning is that they take away the shyness which is the life of the heart and the source to all good.'
- Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah'A learned man who doesn’t restrain his passions is like a blind man holding a torch, he guides others but not himself.'
-Shaykh Sa’diSufyân 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.”“If a sin is committed in private, it only harms the one who does it, but if it is committed in public and no one objects and changes it, it will harm everyone!” 

— Umar ibn Al-Khattaab RadiAllahu Anhu'The real journey is when the world’s dimension is rolled away from you so that you see the Hereafter closer to you than yourself.'
-Ibn Ata’Allah“My Lord, how gentle You are with me in spite of my great ignorance, and how merciful You are with me in spite of my ugly deeds”

-Ibn Ata’Allah“One who loves for people to speak good of him, [while unconcerned about how he stands with God], has attained neither true God Consciousness nor sincerity in religion”
- Ibrahim bin Adham“Whosoever loves that Allâh 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 Allâh a hidden treasure of good actions. So if this is done, then Allâh will open up such knowledge for him that will pre¬occupy him. And indeed in death is the greatest pre-occupation.”

-Imaam Shaafi Rahimahullah [Related by al-Bayhaqî in Manâqiush-Shâfi’î (2/171)]

How can the public gaze be of any importance

'How can the public gaze be of any importance when the gaze of Allah is upon you? Leave aside the way of the public and try to see that of God.'

Ibn Ata’Allah al-Iskandari

If you fear becoming deluded and impressed by your deeds

“If you fear becoming deluded and impressed by your deeds then remember whose pleasure you are seeking, and the joy (paradise) in which you want to be, and what punishment you fear. Whoever thinks about these things will diminish his deeds.” – Imam Shafi’i

The believer hides the faults of others

“The believer hides the faults of others and gives sincere advice whereas the wicked evil embarrass and disgrace others.”
— Fudayl ibn ‘Iyaad

Speak the truth even if it is against yourself

Luqmaan said to his son “Speak the truth even if it is against yourself and do not care about who is getting angry”

— [Aadab ush-Share’ah 1/74]

If you correct your hidden deeds..

" If you correct your hidden deeds subsequently Allah will correct your outward deeds."

 - Ibn Taymiyyah ' Al fatawa 3/277