Inspiration from Past & Present

June 2, 2010

Humility Towards Your Mother

‘Abdullah b. Aun set two slaves free because once, when his mother called him, he raised his voice above hers.

Adh-Dhahabi, Siyar a’laam an-Nubalaa: 6/366

(Read on pg 63, Abdul Aziz ibn Nasir al-Jalil and Baha Addin ibn Fatah Aqeel, Wisdom of the Wise. Al-Firdous Ltd. London:2002 .)

May 24, 2010

Calling Without Action

مثل الداعي بلا عمل مثل الرامي بلا وتر

The caller without action is like an archer without a bowstring.

—Wahb b. Munabbih [d 110H]

Ibn Ḥajar’s Fatḥ al-Bārī.

May 23, 2010

Be a Person That People Long For

Meet people in such a way that if you die, they weep for you, and if you live, they should long for you.

—’Ali b. Abi Tālib

May 15, 2010

Time: Your Capital

You should structure your time, arrange your regular devotions, and assign each function a set period of time during which it is given first priority but which it does not overstep. For if you abandon yourself to neglect and purposelessness, as the cattle do, and just do anything that may occur to you at any time it happens to occur to you, most of your time will be wasted. Your time is your life, and your life is your capital; it is the basis of your transactions [with God], and the means to attain to everlasting felicity, in the proximity of God the Exalted. Each of your breaths is a priceless  jewel, and when it passes away it never returns.

—Abū Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī [d. 505H/1111CE]

(Ihya Ulum ad-Din)

(Read on pg 14, Khurram Murad, In the Early Hours. Revival Publications. UK: 2007.)