“There is no good in a ruler whose religion does not rule him, and there is no good in an intelligent one whose intellect does not lead him, and there is no good in a scholar whose knowledge does not guide him, and there is no good in a strong one whose justice does not halt him.”

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“From among the various types of poverty are 4 types of poverty: poverty in religion, poverty in intellect, poverty in patience, and poverty in virtue.”

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“You are more in need of benefiting from what you know, then teaching what you are ignorant of.”

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“Do not trust the one whose heart has not been filled with the awareness of Allah (muraqabah); don’t trust him with (the running of) a country, or with an idea, or with an issue, or with wealth. For indeed, you do not know when whims and desires will sway him and he thus deceives you whilst claiming to be reliable and trustworthy.”

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“Take delight in the Divine Decree every time you fail in trying to escape something you dislike; for the sighs of the grieving ones cannot stop the celestial bodies from moving.”

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“Beware of accompanying the foolish one for he will corrupt your intellect. If you are afflicted with his companionship, then do not keep proving (your) intelligence over him, rather test your own intellect time and time again.”

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“If a matter you wished for becomes too difficult for you, and you see that there is goodness in it, then race behind another good; for indeed, the khayr (good) is too numerous for its paths to be counted, and it is too noble to be attained in totality.”

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“The best of teachers is time, and the best stimulus/alert is an enemy, and the worst of drugs is hypocrisy.”

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“Allah created for every person two eyes but most people do not see except from one eye. And He created for every person one tongue and two ears, but most people speak using two tongues and listen with just one ear. And He created for every person two hands; one hand to help himself, and another hand to help others, but most people use only one hand. And He created for every person two legs; one leg to strive with for the world and another leg to strive with for the Hereafter, but most people use only one leg. And He created for every person one heart to carry the concerns of his short life, but he brings upon himself (other) concerns which would overburden many hearts. And He created for every person one life, but he wastes his time as if he has been granted a hundred lives. And Allah has decreed upon every person that he should die only once, but out of ignorance and wretchedness, he is happy to let himself die every day.”

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“Wives are a destiny (or treasure) for husbands in this world, and no matter how much a man tries to make the best choice, his choice of wife will be from the makings of the Decree.”

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