Great Throughts Treasury

"A man’s first charity should be to his own family."

"A man’s true wealth is the good he does in this world."

"Actions will be judged according to intentions."

"Charity is incumbent on each person every day. Charity is assisting anyone, moving and carrying their wares, saying a good word. Every step one takes walking to prayer is charity; showing the way is charity."

"Die before ye die."

"He who is not loving to God’s creatures and to his own children, God will not be loving to him."

"God does not look at your ledger figures or your wealth; he looks at your deeds."

"Four things support the world: the learning of the wise, the justice of the great, the prayers of the good, and the valor of the brave."

"Learn to know thyself. Who knows himself, know his Lord."

"Keep yourselves away from envy; because it eateth up and taketh away good actions, like as fire eateth up and burneth wood."

"No one eats better food than that which he eats from the work of his hands."

"Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave."

"The best Islam is to feed the hungry and to greet those whom you know – and those whom you do not know."

"The best of all alms is that which the right hand giveth and the left hand knoweth not of."

"Marriage is half the tradition. [The other half is patience.]"

"No man is a true believer unless he desireth for his brother that which he desireth for himself."

"People sleep, and when they die, they wake."

"The heart of the old is always young in two things, in love for the world and length of hope."

"The grave is the first stage of the journey into eternity."

"The ink of the scholar is more sacred [holy] than the blood of the martyr."

"The most excellent jihad [holy war, inner struggle that transforms your character] is that for the conquest of the self."

"The worst of scholars is he who visits princes, and the best of princes is he who visits scholars."

"There are two benefits, of which the generality of men are losers, and of which they do not know the value, health and leisure."

"There is no refuge from God but in Him."

"There are two blessings which most people misuse – health and leisure."

"Wheresoe’er ye turn, there is the Face of God."

"To do unto all men as you would wish to have done unto you, and to reject for others what you would reject for yourself."

"Who are learned? They who practice what they know."

"Whoever believes in God and the hereafter should not injure his neighbor and should honor his guest."

"He is not of us who is not affectionate to the little ones, and does not respect the old; and he is not of us, who does not order which is lawful, and prohibits that which is unlawful."

"Do you know what is better than charity and fasting and prayer? It is keeping peace and good relations between people, as quarrels and bad feelings destroy mankind."

"A Muslim who meets with others and shares their burdens is better than one who lives a life of seclusion and contemplation."

"To overcome evil with good is good, to resist evil by evil is evil."

"Much silence and a good disposition, there are no two things better than these."

"The best richness is the richness of the soul."

"God is One, and liketh unity."

"All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. You know that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer for your deeds. So beware, do not astray from the path of righteousness after I am gone."

"Even as the fingers of the two hands are equal, so are human beings equal to one another. No one has any right, nor any preference to claim over another. You are brothers."

"All doings are built on intentions,and every man will be rewarded or punished (for his work) according to his intention."

"Do not betray, do not be excessive, do not kill a newborn child."

"Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to people."

"People, beware of injustice, for injustice shall be darkness on the Day of Judgment."

"The ink of scholars (used in writing) is weighed on the Day of Judgement with the blood of martyrs and the ink of scholars outweighs the blood of martyrs."

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

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

"Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first."

"The love of the world is the root of all evil."

"This world is a prison for the Faithful, but a Paradise for unbelievers."

"Strive always to excel in virtue and truth."

"Feed the hungry and visit a sick person, and free the captive, if he be unjustly confined. Assist any person oppressed, whether Muslim or non-Muslim."