As-salamu `alaykum wa rahmatullah

‘Four things reveal the true nature of a man: Travelling, imprisonment, illness and arguments.’

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‘Do not let fear enslave you lest you become like those who feared Shaytan (Satan) and ended up worshipping him!’

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‘Whoever is kept busy from performing today’s deeds because he’s busy planning for tomorrow, is a wise fool.’

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‘Do not abandon your brother for his errors, even though they may be many, for indeed there will come a time when you will find no-one but him (to help you).’

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‘Oppression is of three types: A person’s oppression of his own self in that he does not advise it well, a person’s oppression of his Ummah in that he does not serve it, and a person’s oppression with regards to the great reality in that he does not know his Lord: “Indeed, Shirk is a great oppression.” [Luqman: 13]

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‘Beware of harming the weaker ones, lest someone stronger than you harms you.’

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‘Humbleness raises the heads of men whilst arrogance lowers them.’

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‘The fact that you speak about yourself so much proves that you are uncomfortable with yourself!’

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‘If the hearts of the Muslims pronounced the takbir (i.e. saying ‘God is the greatest’) as much as their tongues do on ‘Eid, then the face of history would have changed. If they always gathered as much as they do for Salat al-‘Eid, then they would have defeated the enemy legions. If their souls embraced as much as their hands shake one another, then they would have been able to deal with their differences. If their souls smiled as much as their lips do, then they would have been with the people of the heavens. If they sacrificed their ego and selfishness as much as they sacrificed their animals, then all of their days would have been ‘Eid. And if they had worn the garments of good character like they wear the best of clothes, then they would have been the most beautiful nation on the face of this earth.’

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‘Whoever takes care of his health during his years of youth will not be affected by (the problems of) old age, even if he were to live for a hundred years!’

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‘Do not hasten to leadership. If you are worthy of it, then your era shall bring you out for it, but if you are not worthy of it, then it’s good that your shortcomings will not be revealed.’

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‘Believing in the truth even if it’s by taqlid (following), is true knowledge. Denying the truth even it’s through deep thinking, is really ignorance.’

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‘The fox said to the lion after it caused the lion to fall into a ditch and thought he would perish, “I will expose your weakness to the rest of the animal kingdom.” So the lion laughed and said, “Whatever you do, I shall remain as a lion, and you shall remain as a fox.”’

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‘Beliefs are strengthened by struggles, and they are weakened by (continuous) success.’

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‘Whoever tastes the sweetness of Truth, every hardship on his path becomes easy for him.’

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‘Indeed, Allah has armies that protect you and fight for you, from amongst them are: your good deeds.’

From the book: هكذا علمتني الحياة by Dr. Mustafa al-Suba’i