Too much criticism leads to hate and bad behaviour.

'Ali Bin Abi Talib: "Do not criticize too much. Too much criticism leads to hate and bad behaviour. 
-[ar-Rawdhah, p.182]

The intelligent one must avoid envy

Abū Ḥātim (Ibn Ḥibbān) said,
”The intelligent one must avoid envy in every circumstance, for indeed the least of jealousy is being displeased with the Decree and wishing for the opposite of what Allāh, the Most High, has decreed for His slaves, and thereafter the heart being wrapped in wanting to see the blessing removed from the Muslim. The soul of the envier never finds rest and his body never finds relaxation unless he sees the blessing removed from his brother. But how impossible is that! How impossible that the Decree should aid the envier and what is in his inner self.”
(Rawḍat al-ʻUqalāʾ)

Ibn Masud on Quran

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

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…

I am not able to appreciate.”

“I would rather be able to appreciate things I can not have than to have things I am not able to appreciate.”
-Ibn Hazm al-Andalusi

‘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)

Whoever seeks a brother without faults..

Fudayl Ibn ‘Iyaad:

“Whoever seeks a brother without faults would never have a brother to be his friend.”

(Rawdatul ‘Uqaalaa, p. 169)

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)

watching my tongue

Ibn Wahb narrates that Luqman’s answer to the question about what had raised his status that people came to him for advice was: 
“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 then advises his son to be moderate in his walking: “And be moderate (or show no insolence) in your walking, and lower your voice,” i.e., if you talk, do not raise your voice very loudly because the braying of the donkey is the harshest of all voices

“O my son! I have never regretted keeping silent. If words are silver, silence is golden” (told by Hasan after Al-Junaid after Sufyan).

“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.” · (narrated by Abu Mu’awiyah after Hisham Ibn ‘Urwah).

· Yazid Ibn Hamn and Waki’ told us after Abul Ashab about 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 from it. Luqman brought him the tongue and heart. The master asked: “Didn’t you find anything more pleasant than these?” Luqman said: “No!” After a while, the master ordered him to slaughter a goat and to throw away two of the most malignant parts. Luqman slaughtered the goat and threw away the tongue and heart. The master exclaimed and said: “I ordered you to bring me the most delicious parts and you brought me the tongue and heart, and I ordered you to throw away the most malignant parts and you threw away the tongue and heart, how can this be?” Luqman said:“Nothing can be more pleasing than these if they are good and nothing can be more malicious than these if they are malignant.”Taken from: “Stories of the Prophet” by Ibn Kathir