7th century Muslims

"The wealth of a miser is as useless as a pebble."

"Do not let your difficulties fill you with anxiety. It is only in the darkest nights that the stars shine more brilliantly."

"A moment of patience in the moment of anger prevents thousands of moments of regret."

"The weakest man is the one who is able to correct his moral defects, but doesn't take action."

"He who has a thousand friends has not a friend to spare, while he who has one enemy will meet him everywhere."

"The best companion and helper is admirable morals."

"There are so many highly esteemed ones who became miserable and humiliated just because of their bad temper and morals; and humble people who have attained eminence and the highest honors because of good temper and morals."

"Two things cause people to be destroyed: fear of poverty and seeking superiority through pride."

"There is no knowledge and science like pondering and thought; and there is no prosperity and advancement like knowledge and science."

"Associating with the wise and the knowledgeable people adds to the prestige of a person."

"An alert and learned man will take advice from any event."

"There are three signs of a knowledgeable person: knowledge, forbearance and silence."

"When wisdom reaches the pinnacle of perfection, it will suppress the vicious instincts and injurious desires."

"The one from among the Muslims who recites the Qur'an but in the end finds his way to hell, is considerd to be among those that have taken the word of Allah in jest."

"Recitation of the Qur'an without contemplation and thought is futile."

"Allah, the Exalted, gave the angels intellect without desires, He gave the animals desires without intellect, and He gave both to the sons of Adam. So a man whose intellect prevails over his desires is better than the angels, whilst a man whose desire prevails over his intellect is worse than the animals."

"Submission to Allah's Will is the best companion; wisdom is the noblest heritage; theoretical and practical knowledge are the best signs of distinction; deep thinking will present the clearest picture of every problem."

"The mind of a wise man is the safest custody of secrets; cheerfulness is the key to friendship; patience and forbearance will conceal many defects."

"A conceited and self-admiring person is disliked by others; charity and alms are the best remedy for ailments and calamities; one has to account in the next world for the deeds that he has done in this world."

"If you overpower your enemy, then pardon him by way of thankfulness to Allah, for being able to subdue him."

"Unfortunate is he who cannot gain a few sincere friends during his life and more unfortunate is the one who has gained them and then lost them (through his deeds)."

"When some blessings come to you, do not drive them away through thanklessness."

"He who is deserted by friends and relatives will often find help and sympathy from strangers."

"One who rushes madly after inordinate desire, runs the risk of encountering destruction and death."

"Often your utterances and expressions of your face leak out the secrets of your hidden thoughts."

"Hearts of people are like wild beasts. They attach themselves to those who love and train them."

"So long as fortune is favouring you, your defects will remain covered."

"Only he who has the power to punish can pardon."

"Generosity is to help a deserving person without his request, and if you help him after his request, then it is either out of self-respect or to avoid rebuke."

"There is no greater wealth than wisdom, no greater poverty than ignorance; no greater heritage than culture and no greater support than consultation."

"Patience is of two kinds: patience over what pains you, and patience against what you covet."

"Wealth converts a strange land into homeland and poverty turns a native place into a strange land."

"Contentment is the capital which will never diminish."

"Wealth is the fountain head of passions."

"Whoever warns you against sins and vices is like the one who gives you good tidings."

"Tongue is a beast, if it is let loose, it devours."

"O son of Adam, when you see that your Lord, the Glorified, bestows His Favors on you while you disobey Him, you should fear Him (take warning that His Wrath may not turn those very blessings into misfortunes)."

"There are four causes of infidelity and loss of belief in Allah: hankering after whims, a passion to dispute every argument, deviation from truth; and dissension, because whoever hankers after whims does not incline towards truth; whoever keeps on disputing every argument on account of his ignorance, will always remain blind to truth, whoever deviates from truth because of ignorance, will always take good for evil and evil for good and he will always remain intoxicated with misguidance. And whoever makes a breach (with Allah and His Messenger) his path becomes difficult, his affairs will become complicated and his way to salvation will be uncertain. Similarly, doubt has also four aspects absurd reasoning; fear; vacillation and hesitation; and unreasonable surrender to infidelity, because one who has accustomed himself to unreasonable and absurd discussions will never see the Light of Truth and will always live in the darkness of ignorance. One who is afraid to face facts (of life, death and the life after death) will always turn away from ultimate reality, one who allows doubts and uncertainties to vacillate him will always be under the control of Satan and one who surrenders himself to infidelity accepts damnation in both the worlds."

"A virtuous person is better than virtue and a vicious person is worse than vice."

"Recommended prayers cannot attain the pleasures of Allah for you when obligatory prayers are left unattended."

"Value of a man depends upon his courage; his veracity depends upon his self-respect and his chastity depends upon his sense of honor."

"Every breath you take is a step towards death."

"Like your body your mind also gets tired so refresh it by wise sayings."

"Whenever a tradition of the Holy Prophet is related to you, scrutinize it, do not be satisfied with mere verbatim repetition of the same because there are many people who repeat the words containing knowledge but only few ponder over them and try to fully grasp the meaning they convey."

"Anyone who loves us Ahlul Bayt must be ready to face a life of austerity."

"A friend cannot be considered a friend unless he is tested on three occasions: in time of need, behind your back and after your death."

"There is enough light for one who wants to see."

"It is wiser to abstain than to repent."

"Obstinacy will prevent you from a correct decision."

"If two opposite theories are propagated one will be wrong."

"When truth was revealed to me I never doubted it."

"Death is never very far."

"One who forsakes truth earns eternal damnation."

"O son of Adam, if you have collected anything in excess of your actual need, you will act only as its trustee for someone else to use it."

"There are people who worship Allah to gain His Favors, this is the worship of traders; while there are some who worship Him to keep themselves free from His Wrath, this is the worship of slaves; a few who obey Him out' of their sense of gratitude and obligations, this is the worship of free and noble men."

"Through us you got guidance in the darkness and secured high position, and through us you got out of the gloomy night. The ears which do not listen to the cries may become deaf. How can one who remained deaf to the loud cries (of the Qur'an and the Prophet) listen to (my) feeble voice. The heart that has ever palpitated (with fear of Allah) may get peace."

"So now, surely this world has turned its back and announced its departure while the next world has appeared forward and proclaimed its approach. Today is the day of preparation while tomorrow is the day of race. The place to proceed to is Paradise while the place of doom is Hell. Is there no one to offer repentance over his faults before his death? Or is there no one to perform virtuous acts before the day of trial?"

"O' my Allah! Sustainer of the high sky and the suspended firmament which Thou hast made a shelter for the night and the day, an orbit for the sun and the moon and a path for the rotating stars, and for populating it Thou hast created a group of Thy angels who do not get weary of worshipping Thee. O' Sustainer of this earth which Thou hast made an abode for people and a place for the movement of insects and beasts and countless other creatures seen and unseen. O' Sustainer of strong mountains which Thou hast made as pegs for the earth and (a means of) support for people. If Thou givest us victory over our enemy, save us from excesses and keep us on the straight path of truth. But if Thou givest them victory over us, then grant us martyrdom and save us from mischief."

"Where are those who protect honour, and those self-respecting persons who defend respectable persons in the time of hardship? Shame is behind you while Paradise is in front of you."

"Allah seeks you to thank Him and assigns to you His affairs. He has allowed time in the limited field (of life) so that you may vie with each other in seeking the reward (of Paradise). Therefore, tight up your girdles and wrap up the skirts. High courage and dinners do not go together. Sleep causes weakness in the big affairs of the day and (its) darkness obliterates the memories of courage."

"During civil disturbance adopt such an attitude that people do not attach any importance to you — they neither burden you with complicated affairs, nor try to derive any advantage out of you."

"Every person who is tempted to go astray, does not deserve punishment."

"Our affairs are attached to the destiny decreed by Allah, even our best plans may lead us to destruction."

"Failures are often the results of timidity and fears; disappointments are the results of bashfulness; hours of leisure pass away like summer-clouds, therefore, do not waste opportunity of doing good."

"When Imam Ali was asked about Faith in Religion, he replied that the structure of faith is supported by four pillars endurance, conviction, justice and jihad."

"Endurance is composed of four attributes: eagerness, fear, piety and anticipation (of death). so whoever is eager for Paradise will ignore temptations; whoever fears the fire of Hell will abstain from sins; whoever practices piety will easily bear the difficulties of life and whoever anticipates death will hasten towards good deeds. Conviction has also four aspects to guard oneself against infatuations of sin; to search for explanation of truth through knowledge; to gain lessons from instructive things and to follow the precedent of the past people, because whoever wants to guard himself against vices and sins will have to search for the true causes of infatuation and the true ways of combating them out and to find those true ways one has to search them with the help of knowledge, whoever gets fully acquainted with various branches of knowledge will take lessons from life and whoever tries to take lessons from life is actually engaged in the study of the causes of rise and fall of previous civilizations. Justice also has four aspects depth of understanding, profoundness of knowledge, fairness of judgment and dearness of mind; because whoever tries his best to understand a problem will have to study it, whoever has the practice of studying the subject he is to deal with, will develop a clear mind and will always come to correct decisions, whoever tries to achieve all this will have to develop ample patience and forbearance and whoever does this has done justice to the cause of religion and has led a life of good repute and fame. Jihad is divided into four branches: to persuade people to be obedient to Allah; to prohibit them from sin and vice; to struggle (in the cause of Allah) sincerely and firmly on all occasions and to detest the vicious. Whoever persuades people to obey the orders of Allah provides strength to the believers; whoever dissuades them from vices and sins humiliates the unbelievers; whoever struggles on all occasions discharges all his obligations and whoever detests the vicious only for the sake of Allah, then Allah will take revenge on his enemies and will be pleased with Him on the Day of Judgment."

"A wise man first thinks and then speaks and a fool speaks first and then thinks."

"A fool's mind is at the mercy of his tongue and a wise man's tongue is under the control of his mind."

"Lack of friends means, stranger in one's own country."

"Not to have a thing is less humiliating than to beg it."

"Do not feel ashamed if the amount of charity is small because to refuse the needy is an act of greater shame."

"To refrain from unlawful and impious source of pleasures is an ornament to the poor and to be thankful for the riches granted is the adornment of wealth."

"If you cannot get things as much as you desire than be contented with what you have."

"An ignorant person will always overdo a thing or neglect it totally."

"The wiser a man is, the less talkative will he be."

"Time wears out bodies, renews hopes, brings death nearer and takes away aspirations. Whoever gets anything from the world lives in anxiety for holding it and whoever loses anything passes his days grieving over the loss."

"Whoever wants to be a leader should educate himself before educating others. Before preaching to others he should first practice himself. Whoever educates himself and improves his own morals is superior to the man who tries to teach and train others."

"Anything which can be counted is finite and will come to an end."

"If matters get mixed up then scrutinize the cause and you will know what the effects will be."

"A man sarcastically started praising Imam Ali, though he had no faith in him and Imam Ali hearing these praises from him said "I am less than what you tell about me but more than what you think about me.""

"Those who have come alive out of a blood-bath live longer and have more children."

"One who imagines himself to be all-knowing will surely suffer on account of his ignorance."

"I appreciate an old man's cautious opinion more than the valor of a young man."

"I wonder at a man who loses hope of salvation when the door of repentance is open for him."

"Nawf bin Fizala Bakali, the famous scholar of the early Islamic days says that one night he was with Imam Ali. In the middle of the night, Imam Ali got up from his bed, looked for sometime at the stars and inquired of Nawf whether he was awake. Nawf said: "I got from my bed replying, "Yes, Amirul Mo'minin (Commander of the Faithful) ! I am awake"."

"Imam Ali said Nawf! Those are the fortunate people who adopt piety as the principle of their lives and are fully attentive to their welfare for the Hereafter. They accept bare earth as the most comfortable bed and water as the most pleasant drink. They adopt the Holy Qur'an and prayers as their guide and protector and like Prophet Jesus Christ (Isa) they forsake the world and its vicious pleasure."

"Nawf! Prophet David (Daud) once got up at such an hour in the night and said this was the hour when prayers of everyone who prayed were accepted except of those who forcibly collected revenues or who were scandal- mongers or were persons in the police force of a despotic regime or were musicians"."

"I define Islam for you in a way that nobody dared do it before me. Islam means obedience to Allah, obedience to Allah means having sincere faith in Him, such a faith means to believe in His Power, belief in His Power means recognizing and accepting His Majesty, acceptance of His Majesty means fulfilling the obligations laid down by Him and fulfillment of obligations means actions (Therefore, Islam does not mean mere faith, but faith plus deeds)."

"If you understand Allah's Majesty, then you will not attach any importance to the creatures."

"If you want to pray to Allah for better means of subsistence, then first give something in charity"

"When someone is sure of the returns, then he shows generosity."

"Aid (from Allah) is in proportion to the trouble."

"He who practices moderation and frugality will never be threatened with poverty."

"One of the conveniences in life is to have less children."

"Loving one another is half of wisdom."

"Grief is half of old age."

"Grant of patience (from Allah) is in proportion to the extent of calamity you are passing through. If you exhibit fretfulness, irritation, and despair in calamities, then your patience and your exertions are wasted."

"Many persons get nothing out of their fasts but hunger and thirst, many more get nothing out of their night prayers but exertions and sleepless nights. Wise and sagacious persons are praiseworthy even if they do not fast and sleep during the nights."

"Defend your faith (in Allah) with the help of charity. Protect your wealth with the aid of Zakat. Let the prayers guard you from calamities and disasters."

"The first fruit of forbearance is that people will sympathize with you and they will go against the man who offended you arrogantly."

"One who takes account of his shortcomings will always gain by it; one who is unmindful of them will always suffer. One who is afraid of the Day of Judgment, is safe from the Wrath of Allah. One who takes lessons from the events of life, gets vision, one who acquires vision becomes wise and one who attains wisdom achieves knowledge."

"Bear sorrows and calamities patiently, otherwise you will never be happy."

"One who comes into power often oppresses."

"Adversities often bring good qualities to the front."

"If a friend envies you, then he is not a true friend."

"Avarice dulls the faculties of judgment and wisdom."

"Oppression and tyranny are the worse companions for the Hereafter."

"The best deed of a great man is to forgive and forget."

"Silence will create respect and dignity; justice and fairplay will bring more friends; benevolence and charity will enhance prestige and position; courtesy will draw benevolence; service of mankind will secure leadership and good words will overcome powerful enemies."

"A greedy man will always find himself in the shackles of humility."

"Remember that this world which you covet so ardently and attempt to acquire so earnestly, and which sometimes annoys you and sometimes pleases you so much, is neither your home nor a permanent destination. You have not been created for it, nor invited to it as your resting-place. It shall neither remain with you for ever, nor will you remain in it eternally. If it has enticed you away with its charrns, it has also warned and cautioned you of real dangers lurking in its folds. Take account of the warnings it has given you and do not be seduced or deceived by its allurements. Let these warnings frighten you from being too greedy to possess it. Try to advance towards the place where you are invited for eternal bliss and turn your face away from the vicious world."

"Beware! By Allah the son of Abu Quhafah (Abu Bakr) dressed himself with it (the caliphate) and he certainly knew that my position in relation to it was the same as the position of the axis in relation to the hand-mill. The flood water flows down from me and the bird cannot fly upto me. I put a curtain against the caliphate and kept myself detached from it. Then I began to think whether I should assault or endure calmly the blinding darkness of tribulations wherein the grown up are made feeble and the young grow old and the true believer acts under strain till he meets Allah (on his death). I found that endurance thereon was wiser. So I adopted patience although there was pricking in the eye and suffocation (of mortification) in the throat. I watched the plundering of my inheritance till the first one went his way but handed over the Caliphate to Ibn al-Khattab after himself. (Then he quoted al-A`sha's verse): My days are now passed on the camel's back (in difficulty) while there were days (of ease) when I enjoyed the company of Jabir's brother Hayyan. It is strange that during his lifetime he wished to be released from the caliphate but he confirmed it for the other one after his death. No doubt these two shared its udders strictly among themselves. This one put the Caliphate in a tough enclosure where the utterance was haughty and the touch was rough. Mistakes were in plenty and so also the excuses therefore. One in contact with it was like the rider of an unruly camel. If he pulled up its rein the very nostril would be slit, but if he let it loose he would be thrown. Consequently, by Allah people got involved in recklessness, wickedness, unsteadiness and deviation. Nevertheless, I remained patient despite length of period and stiffness of trial, till when he went his way (of death) he put the matter (of Caliphate) in a group and regarded me to be one of them. But good Heavens! what had I to do with this "consultation"? Where was any doubt about me with regard to the first of them that I was now considered akin to these ones? But I remained low when they were low and flew high when they flew high. One of them turned against me because of his hatred and the other got inclined the other way due to his in-law relationship and this thing and that thing, till the third man of these people stood up with heaving breasts between his dung and fodder. With him his children of his grand-father, (Umayyah) also stood up swallowing up Allah's wealth like a camel devouring the foliage of spring, till his rope broke down, his actions finished him and his gluttony brought him down prostrate. At that moment, nothing took me by surprise, but the crowd of people rushing to me. It advanced towards me from every side like the mane of the hyena so much so that Hasan and Husayn were getting crushed and both the ends of my shoulder garment were torn. They collected around me like the herd of sheep and goats. When I took up the reins of government one party broke away and another turned disobedient while the rest began acting wrongfully as if they had not heard the word of Allah saying: That abode in the hereafter, We assign it for those who intend not to exult themselves in the earth, nor (to make) mischief (therein); and the end is (best) for the pious ones. (Qur'an, 28:83) Yes, by Allah, they had heard it and understood it but the world appeared glittering in their eyes and its embellishments seduced them. Behold, by Him who split the grain (to grow) and created living beings, if people had not come to me and supporters had not exhausted the argument and if there had been no pledge of Allah with the learned to the effect that they should not acquiesce in the gluttony of the oppressor and the hunger of the oppressed I would have cast the rope of Caliphate on its own shoulders, and would have given the last one the same treatment as to the first one. Then you would have seen that in my view this world of yours is no better than the sneezing of a goat."

"These are the orders issued by the creature of Allah, Ali, the son Abu Taalib to Maalik, the son of Ashtar when he appointed Maalik as the Governor of Egypt to collect zakat there, to combat the enemies of Islam and Egypt, to work for the welfare of its people and to look after its prosperity."

"Do not feel ashamed to forgive and forget."

"Do not hurry over punishments and do not be pleased and do not be proud of your power to punish."

"Do not get angry and lose your temper quickly over the mistakes and failures of those over whom you rule. On the contrary, be patient and sympathetic with them."

"Anger and desire of vengeance are not going to be of much help to you in your administration."

"Never say to yourself, "I am their Lord, their ruler and all in all over them and that I must be obeyed submissively and humbly" because such a thought will unbalance your mind, will make you vain and arrogant, will weaken your faith in religion and will make you seek support of any power other than that of Allah."

"If you ever feel any pride or vanity on account of your sway and rule over your subjects then think of the supreme sway and rule of the Lord over the Universe, the extent of His creations, the supremacy of His Might and Glory, His Power to do things which you cannot even dream of doing and His control over you which is more dominating than that which you can ever achieve over anything around you. Such thoughts will cure your mental weakness, will keep you away from vanity and rebellion (against Allah), will reduce your arrogance and haughtiness and will take you back to the sanity which you had foolishly deserted... Try carefully to realize that a ruler can create goodwill in the minds of his subjects and can make them faithful and sincere to him only when he is kind and considerate to them, when he reduces their troubles, when he does not oppress them and when he never asks for things which are beyond their power. These are the principles which you should keep in mind and act upon"."

"Maalik! You must create in your mind kindness, compassion and love for your subjects. Do not behave towards them as if you are a voracious and ravenous beast and as if your success lies in devouring them. Remember, Maalik, that amongst your subjects there are two kinds of people: those who have the same religion as you have; they are brothers to you, and those who have religions other than that of yours, they are human beings like you. Men of either category suffer from the same weaknesses and disabilities that human beings are inclined to, they commit sins, indulge in vices either intentionally or foolishly and unintentionally without realizing the enormity of their deeds. Let your mercy and compassion come to their rescue and help in the same way and to the same extent that you expect Allah to show mercy and forgiveness to you."

"Being ungrateful for a blessing causes it to be taken away."

"There is no capital more useful than intellect and wisdom, and there is no indigence more injurious than ignorance and unawareness."

"Books are the gardens of scholars."

"To whatever extent a person's knowledge increases, his attention will be turned more towards his soul."

"Reciter and listener of the Qur'an are alike in prize and reward."

"Understanding the knowledge and wisdom of the Qur'an is by far, higher than memorizing."

"The character of the Commander of the Faithful (a.s.)(Ali bin Abu-Talib) was exceptional from birth to martyrdom. He was born inside the Ka'bah - which was unparalleled before his birth and remained unparalleled thereafter. And he was martyred while he was praying in the mosque. The Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) spent all the time between these two points in jihad, patience for the sake of God, acquiring knowledge and insight, and moving on the path of divine satisfaction. Early in his childhood, the hand of divine acumen gave Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) to the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.). The Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) was only six years old when the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) brought him to his own house from the house of Abi Talib. The Commander of the Faithful (a.s.) was educated by the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.)."

"Ali is acclaimed as the "Father of Sufism". Most of the Sufi orders claim their descent from Ali. According to Ali Hajjweri, the rank of Ali is very high in the line up of Sufism. According to Junayd of Baghdad, Ali is the Shaykh as regards the principles and practices of Sufism. … The roots of Sufism lie embedded in Islam itself. There are numerous passages in the Holy Quran which are of a mystical character. The Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be on him) himself displayed mystical inclinations and he very often retired to the cave of Hirah for the purpose of devotions, meditation and contemplation. The Holy Prophet was recipient of two types of revelations, one embodied in the Holy Quran, and the other that illuminated his heart. The former was meant for all, the latter for a selected few whose hearts could be illuminated with the Divine Light. The knowledge of the Holy Prophet was thus book knowledge (ilm-i-Safina), and heart knowledge (ilm-i-Sina). Ali got this heart knowledge from the Holy Prophet."

"“O Ali! You are to me as Aaron was to Moses, except that no prophet will come after me.”"

"“No new Muslim has surpassed Ali in zeal and virtue. He united the merits of a poet, a soldier, and a saint; his rationality still inspires in a collection of moral and religious sayings; And every enemy, in the battles of tongue or sword, was subdued by his eloquence and courage. From the first hour of his mission to the last funeral, the Prophet was never abandoned by a generous friend who was happy to call him his brother, his successor, and his faithful Aaron.”"

"“With a keen intellect, warm in influence, and trustworthy in friendship, he was from childhood the devotee of the Prophet in heart and soul. Simple, quiet, and unambitious, it was more a strain than a desire when, after a few days, he gained the rule of half the Muslim world.”"

"“The last will of the Prophet of Islam was not carried out; because he had appointed Ali as his successor, while after his death, some chose Abu Bakr"

"“A brilliant mind... full of fiery influence and boldness. There was something chivalrous about him; brave as a lion; but with the kindness, truth and love worthy of Christian chivalry... His martyrdom was due to the severity of his justice.""

"“In my opinion, Ali was the first Arab who came into contact with the universal spirit and entered into dialogue with it. He was martyred because of his greatness and died while praying between his lips. The Arabs did not recognize his value until they learned among their Persian neighbors some of the differences between sand and precious stones."

"There has not been a more ascetic than Ali in the world."

""Ali made the past forget and put the future in difficulty." [About knowing him]"

"People have made his character and method a means of blaming the caliphs."

"He is the foster-child of the Messenger of Allah and his educated son. Ali is a great jurist whose opinion, from the perspective of those seeking the light of truth, is the most correct opinion of the people. He is the leader and master of the ascetics before and after him."

""He never worshipped idols; therefore, the Sunnis also call him "May Allah have honored his face." In addition, he was given the privilege of breaking idols. God knows how difficult it would have been for those who had worshipped idols for years and had made many appeals to their idols if they had been ordered to break them, and how they would have refused!"

""I do not know which of you has visited Najaf, the house of the Commander of the Faithful in Kufa is behind the Kufa Mosque near the Dar al-Marah; I have entered that house; It is about one hundred to one hundred and fifty meters, it had two or three small rooms, at that time Ali had absolute power, from this house he ruled a country that was perhaps ten times the size of your Iran… Even though he was the ruler, the Imam would come to the market of Kufa…”"

"“Ali ibn Abi Talib is the spokesman of the word of God and his heart is alert and aware of it.”"

"“O world, what would happen if you gathered all your forces and again manifested a personality like Ali with that reason, heart, tongue and sword?”"

"Two groups were in love with Ali's way, one was wise and pure-hearted, and the other was good-hearted and full of taste. Ali ibn Abi Talib was a martyr of his own greatness. He passed away while prayer was flowing on his tongue and his heart was filled with the desire for God. The Arab people did not understand the truth of his position until a group of people from their neighboring country (Iran) arose, distinguished this precious gem from the stone, and recognized him."

"The most complete gift of God is a life based on knowledge."

"The innumerable fools have made the learned very scarce."

"The learned man understands the ignorant for he was once ignorant for he was once ignorant himself."

"The ignorant man does not understand the learned for he has never been learned himself."

"Knowledge gives life to the soul."

"To respect the learned is to respect God."

"Knowledge creates fear of God."

"Practice makes knowledge perfect."

"To teach is to learn."

"Honesty is Divine language."

"To fulfill promises is the highest form of integrity."

"Truth means conformity of speech with the Divine mode of working."

"Friendship is impossible with a liar."

"Misrepresentation spoils narration."

"Lying spoils news."

"Enemity is the occupation of fools."

"One's obedience to God is proportionate to one's wisdom."

"To fight against one's own desires is highest wisdom."

"The wise aim at perfection."

"The foolish aim at wealth."

"To separate oneself from things of time and to connect oneself with things of eternity is highest wisdom."

"He is really wise whose actions reflect his words."

"Humility is the product of knowledge."

"Self-conceit poisons the mind."

"Self-conceit impedes progress."

"Pride mars greatness."

"Humility is one of the nets spread by real greatness."

"Boasting issues from small minds."

"Do not share the knowledge with which you have been blessed with everyone in general, as you do with some people in particular; and know that there are some men in whom Allah, may He he glorified, has placed hidden secrets, which they are forbidden to reveal. Remember the reply of the righteous slave to Moses when he said to him: 'May I follow you so that you can teach me what you know about what is right?' He replied: 'Surely you will not be able to be patient with me. How can you be patient about something which you do not understand?'."

"When a dead person is placed in his grave, four kinds of fire will cover him, but then the prayer will come and put one of them out, and the fast will come and put another one of them out, and then charity will come and put another one out, and knowledge will come and put the forth one out, and it will say : ' If I had come sooner, I would a have put all of them out, and given you delight for I am with you now, and you'll not see anything else distressing."

"A person's intellect becomes apparent through his dealings, and a man's character is known by the way he exercises authority. The intellect is a king and characteristics are its subjects, so if it is weak in governing them, disorder takes place. The intellect is better than desire, for the intellect makes you a king over your destiny, and desire makes you a slave of your destiny. The intellect is a natural disposition which learns from experience. The intellect is what arrives at what is correct through reasoning, and recognizes what has not yet happened through what has already taken place. Use your intellect to understand something when you hear about it-the intellect that examines, that is, and not just the intellect that repeats what it hears, for surely there are many who repeat the knowledge that they hear, and there are few who examine it. The one who has an intellect longs to be like the righteous people so that he can be of one of them, and he loves them so that he can be united with them in his love, even if he falls short in emulating their actions. The one who has an intellect does not openly display it except in one of two situations: when he is furthest away from seeking something in the world, and when he is furthest away from abandoning it. Surely hated adversity has final objectives in which it will inevitably end, so the one who has an intellect should try to sleep over it until this happens, for surely any attempt to stop it before it has come to an end will only intensify that hated diversity even more. The first opinion of the person of intellect is the last opinion of an ignorant person. The one who has an intellect finds harshness of life amongst persons of intellect more agreeable than a life of ease amongst the foolish."

"Take the good speech from whoever said it even if his practice was not accordingly."

"The parable of a man greedy of this world is the parable of the silk worm: the more it winds the thread round itself the farther it becomes from salvation, until it dies of grief."

"Being sociable and affable with people brings kindness and friendship."

"There is no strength higher than overcoming carnal desire."

"How beautiful it is when goodness succeeds badness; and how unappealing it is when evil succeeds goodness."

"Learn knowledge and science from him who teaches it, even if he doesn't practice what he preaches."

"There is no pain worse than ignorance and lack of intelligence."

"Opposition of one's desires is the sign of the highest level of wisdom in a human being."

"On the Day of Judgement, God will interrogate people according to the wisdom he has granted them."

"Knowledge and science is the fruit of paradise; in times of threat it is one's ally, in exile it keeps one company, and in solitude it is one's intimate friend and companion."

"The person who teaches one chapter of guidance to the people will have a reward similar to all those who would act upon it, and nothing would be lessened or subtracted from the reward of those who practise it; and the one who teaches a chapter of misguidance, he will have the burden similar to each one who acts upon it, and nothing will be lessened from their burden of sin."

"The virtue of knowledge is more lovable with Allah than the virtue of worship. The best (thing) in your religion is piety."

"Consider the world as an abode where in you have dropped down for an hour, then you have got to leave it and go ahead; or (suppose it is) like the wealth which you lay hands upon in a dream and become over-joyed and glad. Then you wake up to find yourself empty handed."

"Whoevers tongue utters the truth, his practise becomes purified; and the one whose intention is decent and good, his sustenance increases; and whoever adopts good attitude and decent behavior with his family, his life span lengthens."

"Three things destroy a man: considering his own deeds to be really great, forgetting the sins that have been committed, considering his own opinion to be the highest."

"Fasting is a shield against (hell) fire. Charity and dole remove and finish sin, as does the remembrance of God in the midnight."

"The scholar whose knowledge is made use of and benefited from, is worthier and more virtuous than seventy thousand worshippers and adorers."

"Beware of sluggishness, annoyance and impatience, since they are the keys of all the evils. The person who commits sluggishness and slackness never at all discharges any rights (obligations); and the one who gets annoyed and restless, does never at all remain patient over the right (God's decree on him)."

"Indeed, the most terrifically sorry of all the people on the day of resurrection, will be the servant who defines and shows the way of justice to the people, while he himself opposes it."

"Being religious equals being extremely loving, and being extremely loving equals being religious."

"Goodness to parents, and paying visits to ones own relatives, will ease the accounting on the Day of Judgement."

"Indeed, when a man earns wealth from a haraam (prohibited source) - neither Hajj, nor Umra, nor strengthening of his blood kinship, is ever at all accepted or approved. By God, Almighty."

"Indeed, faithful is the one who - when pleased and glad, his pleasure does not make him enter into sin and falsehood; and when unhappy and angry, his anger does not oust him from the world of righteousness; and when he gains power, his power does not make him commit excess, nor opression, nor make him go for a thing upon which he does not have any right."

"Two kinds of my community have no share in Islam. (They are): the extremists and the fatalists."

"There is no servant except that there exists a white spot upon his heart. So when he commits a sin, a black spot arises into that white spot. Then when he repents, this black spot moves away. But if he continues on committing sins, the blackness of this spot increases till such time that it overwhelms and overrides the whiteness. When the whiteness is all covered over (by the blackness), the owner of it (the heart) does never at all return towards beneficence and goodness. And This is what God means when he says: "Nay! rather, what they used to do has become like a rust upon their hearts." (Qur'an, 83:14)"

"There are three hinges out of the completion of values, of this world and the here-after:"

"I admonish you regarding five things:"

"By Allah no one is our Shī‘ah except that he has piety for God and obeys him. They (the Shī‘ah) are not known and recognized except for their humility, modesty, fear of God, trustworthiness, plenty of remembrance of God, fasting, service, kindness to the parents, looking after the poor neighbours and afflicted people, mentioning them with nothing except goodness and beneficence; and they are the trustees for their tribes in all the affairs."

"The person who loves for the sake of God, and detests and despises for the sake of God, and gives for the sake of God, is among those whose faith has achieved completion."

"The believer does not spend an expense more lovable with Allah than saying the truth during consent and anger."

"Whoever has three qualities or one of them will be in the shade of the throne of Allah: He should treat people with justice. He should do nothing unless he knows whether it pleases or angers Allah. He should seek no fault in his Muslim brother until he frees himself from that fault. For when he frees himself from a fault, he finds another fault in him. It is enough for the person that his own self diverts him from the people."

"Submit to Islam and be safe. Or agree to the payment of the Jizya (tax), and you and your people will be under our protection, else you will have only yourself to blame for the consequences, for I bring the men who desire death as ardently as you desire life."

"In the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful. This is what Khalid ibn-al-Walid would grant to the inhabitants of Damascus if he enters therein: he promises to give them security for their lives, property and churches. Their city wall shall not be demolished, neither shall any Moslem be quartered in their houses. Thereunto we give to them the pact of Allah and the protection of His Prophet, the caliphs and the believers. So long as they pay the poll tax, nothing but good shall befall them."

"Khalid is the Sword of God."

"What an excellent servant of God: Khalid ibn Walid, one of the swords of Allah, unleashed against the unbelievers."

"He is a master of war; a friend of death. He has the dash of a lion and the patience of a cat"

"O Umar, keep your tongue off Khalid. I shall not sheathe the sword that God has drawn against the infidels."

"O People of Madinah ! Your lion has attacked another lion and overpowered him. Women can no longer bear sons like Khalid."

"Women will no longer be able to give birth to the likes of Khalid bin Al-Waleed."

"I know more about Khalid than anyone else, no man is luckier than he. No man is his equal in war. No people face Khalid in battle, be they strong or weak, but are defeated. Take my advice and make peace with him."

"By Allah, I shall destroy the Romans and the friends of Satan with Khalid bin Al Walid."

"Is the standard of this army a black one? Is the commander of this army a tall, powerfully built, broad shouldered man with a large beard and a few pock marks on his face? Then beware of fighting this army."

"He neither slept nor let others sleep, and nothing was concealed from him."

"Khalid is truly the commander. May Allah have mercy upon Abu Bakr, He was a better judge of men than I have been."

"You have done; And no man has done as you have done. But it is not people who do; It is Allah who does"

"O Khalid! By Allah, you are honorable in my eyes, and you are dear to me. You will not have cause to complain of me after this day."

"I have not dismissed Khalid because of my anger or because of any dishonesty on his part, but because people glorified him and were misled. I feared that people would rely on him. I want them to know that it is Allah who does all things; and there should be no mischief in the land."

"Have women ever stopped mourning for anyone like Khalid?"

"Let the women say what they will about Abu Sulaiman (Khalid), for they do not lie, Over the likes of Abu Sulaiman weep those who weep."

"You were better than a million men, When the faces of men were downcast, Brave? You were braver than the tiger, Generous? You were more generous than The unstoppable deluge flowing between mountains."

"The fiercest and most successful of the Arabian warriors."

"For those who practise tyranny and deprive others of their rights, I will be harsh and stern, but for those who follow the law, I will be most soft and tender."

"I will be harsh and stern against the aggressor, but I will be a pillar of strength for the weak. I will not calm down until I will put one cheek of a tyrant on the ground and the other under my feet, and for the poor and weak, I will put my cheek on the ground."

"Remember, I have not appointed you as commanders and tyrants over the people. I have sent you as leaders instead, so that the people may follow your example. Give the Muslims their rights and do not beat them lest they become abused. Do not praise them unduly, lest they fall into the error of conceit. Do not keep your doors shut in their faces, lest the more powerful of them eat up the weaker ones. And do not behave as if you were superior to them, for that is tyranny over them."

"I know that you are just a stone and that you can neither do any harm nor give benefit. Had I not seen Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allâh be upon him) kissing you, I would not have kissed you."

"I advise you to fear Allah alone, with no partner of associate. I advise you to treat the first Muhâjireen well and acknowledge their seniority. I advise you to treat the Ansār well, and show approval of those among them who do well, and forgive those among them who make mistakes. I advise you to treat the people of the outlying regions well, for they are a shield against the enemy and conduits of fay; do not take anything from them except that which is surplus to their needs. I advise you to treat the people of the desert well, for they are the original Arabs and the protectors of Islam. Take from the surplus of their wealth and give it to their poor. I advise you to treat ahl adh-dhīmmah well, to defend them against their enemies and not burden them with more than they can bear if they fulfill their duties towards the believers or pay the Jizyāh with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued. I advise you to fear Allah and fear His wrath, lest you do anything wrong. I advise you to fear Allah with regard to the people, but do not fear the people with regard to Allah. I advise you to treat the people justly, and to devote yourself to looking after them and protecting them against their enemies. Do not show any favour to the rich over the poor. That will be better for your spiritual well being and will help to reduce your burden of sin, and it will be better for your Hereafter, until you meet the One Who knows what is in your heart. I instruct you to be strict with regard to the commands of Allah, His sacred limits and disobedience with all people, both relatives and others. Do not show any mercy to anyone until you have settled the score with him according to his offence. Treat all people as equal, and do not worry about who is as fault or fear the blame of the blamers. Beware of showing favouritism among the believers with regard to the fay that Allah has put you in charge of, lest that lead to injustice. Keep away from that. You are in a position between this world and the Hereafter. If you conduct your affairs justly in this world and refrain from indulgence, that will earn you faith and divine pleasure. I advise you not to let yourself or anyone else do wrong to ahl al-dhimmah. I advise you sincerely to seek thereby the Countenance of Allah and the Hereafter. I have chosen advice for you that I would offer to myself or my son. If you do as I have advised you and follow my instructions, you will have gained a great deal. If you don not accept it or pay attention to it, and do not handle your affairs in the way that pleases Allah, that will be a shortcoming on your part and you will have failed to be sincere, because whims and desires are the same and the cause of sin is Iblīs, who calls man to everything that will lead to his doom. He misguided the generations who came before you and led them to Hell, what a terrible abode. What a bad deal it is for a man to take the enemy of Allah as his friend, who calls him to disobey Allah. Adhere to the truth, strive hard to reach it and admonish yourself. I urge you by Allah to show mercy to the Muslims, honour their elderly, show compassion to their young ones and respect the knowledgeable ones among them. Do not harm them or humiliate them, and do not keep the fay for yourself lest you anger them. Do not deprive them of their stipends when they become due, thus making them poor. Do not keep them away on campaigns for so long that they end up having no children. Do not allow wealth to circulate only among the rich. Do not close your door to the people or allow the strong to oppress the weak. This is my advice to you, as Allah is my witness, and I greet you with peace."

"Whoever saw Ibn al-Khattāb (Umar) would realize that he was created to support Islam. by Allah, he was intelligent and wise, and of a unique nature."

"When you mention Umar, then the atmosphere in a gathering becomes good."

"If Umar dies, Islam will be weakened. I would not like to have all that the sun rises and sets over return for surviving after Umar is gone."

"Umar had become the second of the ‘Rightly Guided’ (Rashidun) caliphs in 634, when Abu Bakr died. Around fifty-three years old, he was famous for his physical strength, stubbornness, and literacy. Although he did not lead Muslim armies in person, he was an outstandingly competent commander-in-chief, able to dictate military strategy hundreds of miles from Medina, trusting his generals to find the most effective means to achieve the wider goals of the expanding Islamic state. As caliph he carefully curated his public image: on entering Jerusalem to take possession of the city from the patriarch Sophronius, he appeared in ragged clothes, dirty from his long journey, so that his humble appearance would contrast pointedly with the churchman’s finery."

"The conduct of the Commander of the Believers, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattâb, in Jerusalem (Bayt al-Maqdis) proves how kindly the Arab conquerors dealt with the conquered peoples, the opposite of what was done by the Crusaders in Jerusalem many centuries later. ‘Umar entered the city in the company of only a small number of Muslims and asked Patriarch Safronius to accompany him in his tour to the holy sites. He granted safety to its people and gave them a pledge of respect for their churches and property and prohibited Muslims to perform their rites in their synagogues."

"Yet the abstinence and humility of Omar were not inferior to the virtues of Abubeker: his food consisted of barley bread or dates; his drink was water; he preached in a gown that was torn or tattered in twelve places; and the Persian satrap, who paid his homage to the conqueror, found him asleep among the beggars on the steps of the mosch of Medina."

"Muhammad ibn Umar Waqidi and others have said, “Umar asked Ali for the hand of his daughter, Umm Kulthum, in marriage. Ali replied that she had not yet attained the age (of puberty).”Umar replied: “By Allah, this is not true. You do not want her to marry me. If she is underage, send her to me.” Thus, Ali called Umm Kulthum, they prepared her and made her up. Then he asked for a piece of cloth which he folded and handed over to Umm Kulthum telling her to take the garment to Amirul Mu‘meneen and tell him: “My father has sent me to you instructing me to convey you his greetings and said that if you liked the garment, take it or else, return it!” When Umm Kulthum went to Umar, the latter said: “May Allah bless you and your father, I like it.” Umm Kulthum returned to his father and said: “He did not unfold the garment, but just looked at me!” Then Ali married her to Umar and she bore him a child named Zaid."

"I will lose a brother. Would that death had deprived me of life today! My mother Fatimah is dead, and my father Ali Ibn Abi Tālib, and my brother Hasan ibn Ali. O! You are the successor of those who have passed away and the guardian of those who remain!"

"By my father and mother, O Abū 'Abdallāh (i.e., Husayn ibn Ali)! You have exposed yourself to death. May God accept my life for yours!"

"O my grief! Your life will be violently wrenched from you and that is more wounding to my heart and harsher to my soul."

"By God! You are a liar! By God! You are too lowly born! Such a thing is not for you, nor for him. No, by God! God would only let you do that if you left our faith and professed belief in another religion. You, your father and your grand-father have been guided by the religion of God, the religion of my father, the religion of my brother and my grand-father. You, a commander who has authority, are vilifying unjustly and oppress with your authority."

"No one does a good deed but Allah will make it show on him."

"If our hearts were truly pure, we would never have our fill of the words of your Lord."

"No one conceals something in his heart, but Allah causes it to be seen on his face or in a slip of the tongue."

"Things may be achieved by means of authority that cannot be achieved by means of the Quran."

"Concern with this world is darkness in the heart, but concern with the Hereafter is light in the heart."

"It is sufficient for you that the one who envies you is distressed at the time of your joy."

"Everything has something to undermine it, and every blessing has something to diminish it. The thing that undermines this religion and diminishes this blessing is those who criticize a great deal and those who stab in the back; they show you what you want to see and they conceal that which you dislike. They are wicked like ostiches."

"O people, the first day is difficult but if I live I shall deliver a proper speech."

"Enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil. No believer should subject himself to humiliation, for I will be with the weak against the strong so long as he has been wronged, Insha'Allah"

"I have been given a responsibility and I have accepted it. Verily I am a follower (of the Sunnah and not an innovator. I promise you that in addition to following the Book of Allah (Quran) and the Sunnah of His Prophet (Muhammad), I will do three other things: following the example of those who came before me with regard to what you have agreed upon and decided, and what is decided by good people openly, and not interfering with you except when a hadd punishment is required. This world is tempting and it makes itself attractive to people, so that many people, so that many people are inclined towards it. Do not be content with this world and do not put your trust in it, for it is not trustworthy. Understand that these worldly temptations will not go away unless you ignore them."

"Allah has commanded rulers to be shepherds; He did not command them to be money-collectors. The attitude of the earliest leaders of this Ummah was that of shepherds, not money-collectors. Soon you will find your leaders becoming money-collectors, not shepherds. Once that happens, there will be no more modesty, trustworthiness or honesty. The best way of running the people's affairs is to examine the Muslims' situation, find out what their dues are and give them to them, and take from them what is due from them. Then go to ahl al-dhimmah and give them what is due to them and take from them what is due from them. Then confront the enemy and seek to defeat them by means of sincerity."

"You are the guardians of the Muslims and their shield. Umar gave you a particular mission which is not hidden from us, rather it is known to everyone. I do not want to hear that any one of you has changed the deal, lest Allah replace you with someone else. So watch what you do and I shall try my best to fulfill the mission that Allah has enjoyed on me."

"By God! If any of the Arabs other than you were to say that to me, while he was in the same situation as you, I would not leave him without mentioning his mother's being deprived of him. I would say it whoever he might be. But, by God, there is no way for me to mention your mother except by saying the best things possible."

"I have not been ordered to fight you. I have only been ordered not to leave you until I bring you to al-Kufah. If you refuse to do that, then take any road that will neither brng you into al-Kufah nor take you back to Madina, and let that be a compromise between us; I shall write to Ibn Ziyad. You write to Yazīd ibn Mu‘āwiya if you wish to write to him, or to ʿUbayd Allāh ibn Ziyād if you wish. Perhaps God will cause something to happen that will relieve me from beingtroubled in any way by your affair. Therefore, take this road here and bear to the left of the road to al-ʿUdhayb and al-Qādīsiyyāh."

"Family of al-Zubayr, if you give yourselves up willingly for me, we shall be people of a distinuished house among the Arabs. We shall have been extirpated for the Sake of God, but no calamity will have afflicated us. And now, O family of al-Zubayr, let sword blows not frighten you. Whenever I have been present at a battle field, I have been carried away wounded from among the slain; and I have found the treatment of sword wounds to be worse than the pain of the sword's blow. Guard your swords as you guard faces. I know of no man who ever broke his sword and saved his life. If a man loses his sword, he is a defenseless as a woman. Pay no attention to the glittering swords; let each man engage his adversary. Let no question about me distract you, and do not say, Where is Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr? But if anyone asks about me, I am in the front ranks."

"Hannad ibn Sari (may Allah be pleased with him) ..... Narrated Ata (may Allah be pleased with him). He said: The Kaaba was burnt down during the reign of Yazid ibn Muawiyah - when the Syrian army was fighting in Makkah (63 AH) and that is what happened to the Kaaba. When the people arrived during the Hajj (Hajj/Pilgrimage) season, ‘Abdullah ibn Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) left the Kaaba in this state. His intention was to incite the people or to inspire them to fight against the Syrians. When the people gathered, he said: O people! Give me advice about the Kaaba. Should I demolish it and rebuild it completely, or should I repair only the damaged parts? Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "A thought has occurred to me that you should repair only the damaged parts and leave the Kaaba and its stones in the condition in which they were when the people embraced Islam and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was sent." Ibn Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "If one of you has a house that is burnt down, he will not be relieved until he repairs it. So how can the House of your Lord be left in such a dilapidated condition? I will seek refuge with my Lord for three days. Then I will take a final decision." After three days, he firmly decided to demolish the Kaaba and rebuild it. The people feared that the first person to climb to the roof of the Kaaba would be subjected to a heavenly wrath. Finally, a man climbed to the roof of the Kaaba (to demolish the roof) and threw a stone down. When the people saw that he was not in any danger, they followed him and demolished the Kaaba and razed it to the ground. Then Ibn Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) erected some pillars and hung curtains on them. Finally, the walls of the Kaaba were raised. Ibn Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I heard Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) say that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "If the people had not abandoned disbelief a short time ago and I did not have the means to rebuild the Kaaba, I would have included five yards of Al-Hajar (Hatim) in the Kaaba and built two doors for the people to enter and exit." Ibn Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Now I have enough money to build it and there is no fear of any opposition from the people." Al-Rabee' said, "Then he included five yards of Hatim in the Kaaba." So it was built on the (old) foundation on which Abraham (peace be upon him) had built it, and the people looked at it. A wall was built on this foundation. The length of the Kaaba was eighteen yards. When it was extended, it was increased by another ten yards, as it was short, and two gates were built for it, one for entry and the other for exit. When Ibn Zubair (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyred, Hajjaj (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote to ‘Abdul Malik ibn Marwan. He also said that Ibn Zubair had built (the Kaaba) on that foundation [which was the foundation of Abraham (peace be upon him)] and the trustworthy people of Makkah (Makkah) had verified it. ‘Abdul Malik wrote to him and sent him saying that we do not need to accuse Ibn Zubair of anything. Leave what he has extended in length, and break down what he has extended towards Hatim and restore it to its original state. And close the (new) door that he has opened. Then Hajjaj broke it down and rebuilt it on its old foundation."