Great Throughts Treasury

"Men who are living here are in a dream, and when they die then shall they be awake; for all this world is mere thought – the thought of Him who is the True, whose thought is Truth."

"A man’s work with his hands and every (lawful) business transaction."

"A truthful and trustworthy merchant is associated with the prophets."

"Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad and his successor as head of the Muslim community, advised one of his military commanders: "Do not kill women or children or an aged, infirm person. Do not cut down fruit-bearing trees. Do not destroy an inhabited place.""

"(God will then say) 'O son of Adam, I asked you for food but you did not feed Me.' The person will say: 'My Lord, how could I feed Thee when Thou art the Lord of the worlds?' (God) will say: 'Didn't you know that a servant of Mine asked you for food but you did not feed him, and were you not aware that if you had fed him you would have found him by My side?'"

"A funeral procession once passed in front of the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) and he stood up out of respect. When he was told the person in the coffin was Jewish and not Muslim, he said: "Was it not a living (soul)?""

"Avoid cruelty and injustice...and guard yourselves against miserliness, for this has ruined nations who lived before you."

"Allah has revealed to me that you should adopt humility so that no one oppresses another."

"Anyone who believes in God and the Last Day (of Judgment) should not harm his neighbor. Anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should entertain his guest generously. And anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should say what is good or keep quiet."

"Do not turn away a poor man...even if all you can give is half a date. If you love the poor and bring them near you...God will bring you near Him on the Day of Resurrection."

"And also: "There was a merchant who would lend to the people, and whenever his debtor wasin difficult circumstances, he would say to his employees, 'Forgive him so that God may forgive us.' So, God forgave him.""

"Anas bin Malik related that: "(Even the humblest) maid servant of Madina would take the Prophet's hand and take him to any place (for the redress of her grievances).""

"By his good character, a believer will attain the degree of one who prays during the night and fasts during the day."

"God does not judge you according to your bodies and appearances, but He looks into your hearts and observes your deeds."

"Each one of you should save himself from the fire by giving even half of a date (in charity). And if you do not find a half date, then (by saying) a pleasant word (to your brethren)."

"Happy is the man who avoids dissension, but how fine is the man who is afflicted and shows endurance."

"He who has been a ruler over ten people will be brought shackled on the Day of Resurrection, until the justice (by which he ruled) loosens his chains or tyranny brings him to destruction."

"It is a fine thing when a believer praises and thanks God if good comes to him, and praises God and shows endurance if smitten by affliction. The believer is rewarded for (every good action), even for the morsel he raises to his wife's mouth."

"In the name of God, I put my trust in God. O God, I seek refuge in Thee lest I stray or be led astray or cause injustice or suffer injustice or do wrong or have wrong done to me!"

"It is better for any of you to carry a load of firewood on his own back than to beg from someone else."

"It is better for a leader to make a mistake in forgiving than to make a mistake in punishing."

"It is better for any of you to carry a load of firewood on his own back than begging from someone else."

"Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded."

"Sometimes I enter prayer and I intend to prolong it, but then I hear a child crying, and I shorten my prayer thinking of the distress of the child's mother."

"Righteousness is good morality, and wrongdoing is that which wavers in your soul and which you dislike people finding out about."

"Seven kinds of people will be sheltered under the shade of God on the Day of Judgment...They are: a just ruler, a young man who passed his youth in the worship and service of God...one whose heart is attached to the mosque...two people who love each other for the sake of God...a man who is invited to sin...but declines, saying 'I fear God'...one who spends his charity in secret, without making a show...and one who remembers God in solitude so that his eyes overflow."

"The example of a believer is like a fresh tender plant; from whichever direction the wind blows, it bends the plant. But when the wind dies down, (it) straightens up again."

"The man asked 'Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?' The Prophet said, 'Your mother.' The man said. 'Who is next?' The Prophet said, 'Your mother.' The man further said, 'Who is next?' The Prophet said, 'Your mother.' The man asked for the fourth time, 'Who is next?' The Prophet said, 'Your father.'"

"The first to be summoned to Paradise on the Day of Resurrection will be those who praise God in prosperity and adversity."

"The Prophet also said: "A truthful and trustworthy merchant is associated with the prophets.""

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once saw the corpse of a woman who had been killed in a military action, and he disapproved of it and forbade the killing of women and children."

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said to one of his companions: "Son, if you are able, keep your heart… free from malice toward anyone.""

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once told his wife: "Avoid Cruelty and injustice..and guard yourselves against miserliness, for this has ruined nations who lived before you.""

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once asked Bilal to join in his morning meal. Bilala declined the invitation because he was fast . The Prophet then replied: "We are eating our provision and Bilal's superior provision is in Paradise. Did you know, Bilal, that...the angels ask forgiveness for (someone who is fasting) as long as people eat beside him?""

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said "(God) has revealed to me that you should adopt humility so that no one oppresses another.""

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once told his wife: "Do not turn away a poor man..even if all you can give is half a date. If you love the poor and bring them near you...GOD will bring you near HIM on the Day of Resurrection.""

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said "Anyone who believes in God and the Last Day (of Judgment) should not harm his neighbor. Anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should entertain his guest generously. And anyone who believes in God and the Last Day should say what is good or keep quiet.""

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said "Avoid jealousy, for it destroys good deeds as fire destroys wood.""

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said "A believer may achieve the status of one who regularly fasts (for religious reasons) during the day and spends the night in prayer, through his good manners.""

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said "Fasting is not (just abstaining) from eating and drinking, but also from vain speech and foul language. If one of you is being cursed or annoyed, he should say: 'I am fasting, I am fasting.' ""

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said "If you are given health and security from evil in this world and the next, you have attained felicity.""

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said "No companion of mine should tell me anything bad about another person. For when I meet you, I would like my heart to be clean (unbiased.)""

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said "Whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping for a reward from God, all his previous sins will be forgiven.""

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said "That which is lawful is clear, and that which is unlawful is also quite clear. Between these two is that which is ambiguous, which most people do not know. One who avoids the doubtful safeguards his faith and his honor.""

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "(Each one) of you should save himself from the fire by giving even half of a date (in charity). And if you do not find a half date, then (you can do it through saying) a pleasant word (to your brethern).""

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "A believing man should not hate a believing woman. If he dislikes one of her characteristics, he will be pleased with another.""

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "A man has sinned enough if he neglects to feed those in need.""

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "(God) will (question a person) on the Day of Resurrection (saying)): 'O son of Adam, I was sick but you did not visit Me.' The person will say: 'O my Lord, how could I visit Thee when Thou art the Lord of the worlds?' Thereupon (God) will say: 'Didn't you know that a servant of Mine was sick but you did not visit him, and were you not aware that if you had visited him, you would have found Me by him?'"

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Every believer who consoles his brother in distress will be dressed by God in an apparel of honor on the Day of Resurrection.""

"The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "Do you know who will go first on the Day of Resurrection to the shade of God...Those who when given what is right accept it, when asked for something give freely and who judge in favor of others as they do for themselves.""