There will be nothing more weighty, on the day of resurrection, in the balance of a Mu‘min* than good dis- position. And God hates the shameless, impudent fellow.
—Abu-Darda, AB: TI. Eerie} God has allowed (to man) nothing more hateful to Him than divorce.
—Muharib b. Dathar, AB. BU} The most hateful of (all) lawful things, in the sight of God, is divorce.
—Muharib b. Dathar, AB. Dyisi os O Mu'‘adh! God has created nothing on the face of the earth that is more beloved of Him than the freeing (of slaves); and God has created nothing on the face of the earth that is more hateful to Him than divorce.
—Mu‘adh b. Jabal, DQ.
The woman who seeks divorce from his husband, with- out being forced (to it by his unjust treatment), shall not find the fragrance of paradise.
—Thauban, TI: AB: IB: AH: DA, [ LBS: 1c] The wife of Thabit b. Skammas came to the Prophet, and said, ‘I have no complaint against Thabit in respect of his natural disposition and judgement, but I am averse to infidelity in Islam*: (I cannot love him as my hus- band).’ The Prophet said, ‘Wilt thou then give him back 44 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD his garden?’ She said, ‘Yes.’ Then the Prophet said to Thabit, ‘Accept the garden, and divorce her by a divorcefel S43) There is no divorce and no emancipation under compulsion. —A‘ishah, AB. IB.
An intoxicant is the sum of all sins.1 { —Hudhayfah, RA. is +t ISO") | Drink no intoxicant, for verily, it is at the head of al? filthy actions; and beware of sinning; for, verily, with sin alights the vengeance of God. —Mu‘adh, AH. All intoxicant liquors are forbidden, —‘A‘ishah, BU: MU: AB: TI: NA: MA. The Prophet had the drunkard scourged with forty stripes. —Aliy MU: AB. aga aga No present or gift of a parent, out of all the gifts and presents to a child, is superior to a good liberal education. —Sa‘id b. al-‘As, TI: BA.
That a man give a liberal education to his child, is *“They will ask thee about intoxicants and gambling; say thou, In both there is great sin, and (also) Poa of use for ee but their sin is greater than their use.”—Qur’an, S. 2. 219.
SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 45 ‘etter for him than that he give a large measure of corn in alms. —Jabir b. Samurah, TI.
oc Be Entertain people with their own entertainment. —A‘ishah, AB. frrdgs2. 2] Faith and envy cannot dwell together in the heart of a servant (of God). —Abu-Hurayrah, MU: AB.
fp 18hu.]
Be on your guard against envying others; for verily it eats up goodness like as fire eats up fuel.
—Abu-Hurayrah, AB.
Fiiddes j Envy and jealousy, the two maladies of the peoples who have gone before you, are creeping into you; and these will shave you smooth. I do not say that these will shave your hair, but these will shave the (vestiges of) religion in you. By Him in whose hand stands my life! ye shall never enter paradise unless ye believe; and ye shall not-believe unless ye love one another. Shall I tell you wherewith ye would love one another? Extend your greet: ings freely among yourselves. —Zubayr, TI.
‘He who has with him an excess of carrying animals, let him give it to him who has none; and he who has an ‘excess of provision, let him give it to him who has it not;’ the Prophet also made mention of several other things, so 46 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD that we saw that none of us had a right to anything we had In excess. —Abu-Sa‘id, MU: AB.
A man praised another too much; whereupon the Prophet said ‘Woe to thee! thou hast struck at the neck of thy companion.’ This he repeated thrice, and then said, ‘Whoso would praise his brother in full earnest, let him say, “I take such-and-such a one as such, and God knows him better,’’ and let him not justify any one against God, but say, “I take such-and-such a one as such,” if he knows that in him.’ —Abu-Bakarah, BU: MU: AB.
Ee A man came to the Prophet and said, ‘O thou best of (all) creatures!’ The Prophet said, “That was Abraham.’ —Anas, MU, [ii BBs] I went to the Prophet, and said, ‘I come from Hirah, and have seen the people thereof worshipping their gov- ernor, and thou art more worthy of being worshipped,’ whereupon he said to me, ‘What thinkest thou? wouldst thou worship my grave if thou passed by it?’ I said, ‘No. Then the Prophet said, ‘Do (it) not.’
The Prophet was among some Muhajirs* and Ansar,* and a camel came and prostrated itself before him. His companions said, ‘O Prophet of God! even the brute beasts SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 47 and trees worship thee; and it is more right that we (also) should worship thee.’ He said, ‘Wordship (God) your Lord, and honour your brother.’ —A‘ishah, AH.
I went along with the deputation of Bani ‘Amir to the Prophet, and said, ‘O Prophet of God! thou art our lord.’ He said, ‘The Lord is God.’ Then we said, “Thou art the most excellent among us, and the greatest in merit.’ The Prophet said, ‘Say ye what ye say, or less than that, but let not Satan carry on commerce between you (by leading you to extravagant things).’
Do not eulogize me as the Christians eulogize the Son of Mary, for verily I am a servant of God; call me then a servant of God and His apostle.
A false evidence is held equal to associating (other Gods) with God. ‘And avoid the abomination of idols, and the speaking of falsehood.”!
—Ayman b. Hazim, AB: TI.
The evidence of an impostor is not admissible, nor of an impostoress, nor of an adulterer, nor of an adulteress, nor of one who bears a grudge against his brother, nor of one who has been punished with scourges, nor of one who 48 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD is experienced in bearing witness, nor of a dependent in favour of the people of the house, nor of one’s relation. —Amru b. Shu‘ayb, AB.; ‘A‘ishah, TI.
Whoso sets a good example in Islam,* shall have a reward thereof, and the reward of him who shall act accord- ing to it after him, without in any way detracting anything from the latter’s reward; and whoso sets a bad example in Islam, shall bear the burden thereof and the burden of him who shall act according to it after him, without in way detracting anything from the latter’s burden.
—Jarir, MU: NA. ee Faith descended at the root of the hearts of men, then came down the Qur’an, and (people) learnt from the ‘Qur’an and from the example (of the Prophet).
—Hudhayfah, BU; MU: TI. [eG ial Certain companions of the Prophet said, ‘We find within ourselves something which one of us would think it a great sin to speak of.’ The Prophet said, ‘Do ye indeed find it to be so (very grievous)?” They said, ‘Yes.’ He said, “That (shows) the purity of faith.’
—Abu-Hurayrah, MU: AB; Cf. Ibni Mas‘ud, MU. ae ail A man asked, ‘O Prophet of God! what is (the mark of) faith?’ The Prophet said, ‘When thy good work gives thee pleasure, and thy evil work grieves thee, thou art a man of faith.” The man said, ‘And what is sin?’ He SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 49 said, ‘When anything smites thee within thyself, forsake it.’ —Abu-Umamah, AH.
I asked the Prophet about the best (part of) faith. He said, ‘That thou love for God, and hate for God, and make thy tongue act in mentioning God, and that thou love for men what thou lovest for thyself, and hate for them what thou hatest for thyself.’
—Mu‘adh b. Jabal, AH.
The best (part) of faith is to say, “There is no God but God,’ and the least of it is to remove all injurious things from the (public) road.
—Abu-Hurayrah, BU: MU. ear sea Three things are at the roof of faith: withholding hands from (injuring) him who says, ‘There is no God but God;’ calling him neither Kafir* for any of his sins, nor turning out from Islam for any out of his works.
—Anas, AB. [ far] There are three things by which any one who possesses these in him shall taste the sweetness of faith, namely, whoever loves God and His apostle more than anything besides them; whoever loves a servant,(of God) only for (the sake of) God; and whoever is averse to return to infidelity after that God has saved him from it even as he would be averse to be flung into the fire (of hell).
—Anas, BU: MU: TI: NA. 4 50 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD [ w2tny Whoso loves for (the sake of) God, and yet becomes an enemy for (the sake of) God, and gives (what he has) for (the sake of) God, and yet withholds for Se sake of) God, he has perfected (his) faith. —Abu-Umamah, AB; Mu‘adh b. Anas, TL.
fy, 218 al Faith is a restraint against all violence; let no Mu‘min* commit violence.
—Abu-Hurayrah, AB.
By Him in whose hand stands my life! no servant (of God really) believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.
—Anas, BU: MU: TI: NA. ph Eee, ' He has (really) no faith who fulfils not his trust, and he has (really) no religion who fulfils not his promise.
“—Anas, BA: eel.
None of you (really) believes until he holds me dearer to-him than his father and his son and all man- kind. sc . —Anas, BU: MU: NA, i fry2hde J: "i I said, ‘What is Islam*?? The Prophet said, ‘Purity of speech and hospitality.’
SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 51 I said, ‘And what is faith?’ He said, Patience and beneficence.’
I said, ‘Who is the best in (point of) Islam*? He said, ‘He from whose tongue and hands the Muslims* are safe.’
I said, ‘And what is the best (part of) faith?’ He said, ‘A kindly disposition.’
I said, ‘O Prophet of God! what is the best Hijrat*?’ He said, “That thou fly what thy Lord hates.’
I said, ‘And what is the best prayer?’ He said, ‘A long-continued piety.’; There is almsgiving for everything, and the almsgiving for the body is fasting.
—Abu-Hurayrah, IB. bers The Prophet said, ‘O ‘Abdu’llah! I have been told that thou dost fast (all) day and standest up to pray (all) night.’ I said, ‘Yes, O Prophet of God!’ He said, “Then do not do (like that). Keep fast and eat also, stand up (to pray at night), and sleep also; for verily there is a duty on thee to thy body, and verily there is a duty on ' thee to thine eyes, and verily there is a duty on thee to thy people, and verily there is a duty on thee to thy visitors; and nobody has kept fast who (fasted always: (a fast of) three days in every month is (equal to) constant fasting; so fast three days in every month.’ —Abdu'llah b. ‘Amru b. al-‘As, BU: MU: cf. ‘A‘ishah., AB: RA, 7 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD When ye keep fast, oil your face, so that people may not know that ye are fasting. —BU. How many men fast who have nothing of fasting but thirst, and how many men stand up (to pray all night) who have nothing of prayer except keeping awake! —Abu-Hurayrah, DA.
(ieret 1 He who does not abandon the speaking of falsehood and the doing (of things) like that, God has no need of his leaving off his food and his drink. —Abu-Hurayrah, BU.
bees It is no good that ye fast while on a journey. —Jabir, BU: MU: AB: NA. frees *] Verily, God has relieved the traveller of half (his) prayer, and has given him leave to break (his) fast; and He has also given leave in respect thereof to the sick and the woman who gives suck to a child, and to the pregnant woman, when they fear (a harm) to their child.
—Anas b. Malik, AB: TI: NA: IB; cf. ‘Amru b. Umayyah a’d. Damriy, NA.
Whenever the Prophet saw Fatimah (his daughter) he would welcome her, and rising from his seat would kiss SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 53 her, and then taking her by the hand would seat her in his own seat.
—‘A‘ishah, BU.
Whoso has a female child and does not bury her alive, nor holds her in contempt, nor prefers his male child above her, God will make him enter into paradise.
—Ibni ‘Abbas, AB. ieee hae A woman, with her two daughters came to me beg- ging (alms). I found nothing with me except a ripe date which I gave her. She divided the same between her two daughters, and ate not thereof herself; she then went away. Afterwards the Prophet come to me, and I told him of it. He said, ‘Whoso is put to trouble on account of these daughters, and yet treats them well, it shall be to him a protection against the fire (of hell).’
—A‘ishah, BU: MU: TI.
Whoso brings up two girls, so that they reach their age (of strength), shall come on the day of resurrection— I and he together; (here the Prophet put together his two fingers). —Anas, MU.
peter | Whoso brings up two girls, so that they reach their age (o strength), I and he shall enter into paradise to- gether; (here the Prophpet made a sign by putting to- gether two of his fingers).
[ deed. 2] Whoso brings up three daugters or three sisters, or —Anas TI.
5G SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD two sisters or two daugthers, and gives them a liberal education, and treats them well, and gives them in mar- riage, for him is paradise.
[wea Shall I tell you of the best act of charity? (It is to be charitable) to thy daughter who has been returned to thee,t and has none to earn for her except thyself. —Suraqah b. Malik, IB.
—Abu-Sa‘id, AB: TI.
Preuss | Verily, God is jealous; and verily the Mu‘min* is also jealous. The jealousy of God is that the Mu‘min* should (at all) come in for what God has forbidden him.
—Abu-Hurayrah, BU: TI. fy 23hc0] When a sin is committed in the land, and he who is present at it is averse (to it), he shall be as he who is absent therefrom; and he who is absent therefrom, but pleased with it, shall be as he who is present at it.
When the children of Israel fell into sin, their learned men forbade them, but they desisted not; then they sat with them, and ate with them, and drank with them; then God struck upon their hearts, one of them upon another, and cursed them through the tongue of David. By Him in whose hand stands my life! unless ye inspire (men) with sympathy due (for the truth), thou shalt have done nothing. —Ibni Mas‘ud, AB: TI.
1 Widowed, divorced, or destitute.
SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 55 Ye shall surely be helped, and ye shall attain great excellence, and ye shall conquer; whoso then among you finds that, let him fear God, and bid what is reasonable, and forbid what is wrong; and whoso tells a lie against me purposely let him find his seat in the fire of hell.
—Ibni Mas‘ud, AB.
Those who have been before you only perished for that when a high-born man among them stole they let him go unpunished, and when the weak among them stole, they stood over him to punish him. By God! if it were Fatimah, the daughter of Muhammad, who stole, I would surely cut off her hands.
—A‘ishah, BU: MU: AB: TI: NA. barego. | Whoso of you sees wrong, let him undo it with his hand; and if he cannot (do it), then let him speak (against it) with his tongue; and if he cannot (do this either), then (let him abhor it) with his heart—and this is the least of faith.
—Tariq b. Shihab, MU: AB: TI: NA.
There has been no prophet whom God raised up among his people before me, but had among his people apostles and companions who received his example and followed his bidding; then, verily, after them, came a generation who said what they did not, and who did what they were bidden not (to do). Whoso then _ strives 56 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD against them with his hand, is a Mu‘min,* and whoso strives against them with his tongue, is (also) a Mu‘min, and whoso strives against them with his heart, is (also) a Mu‘min, but beyond that there is no faith of (the weight of) a grain of mustard seed.: —Ibni Mas‘ud, MU.
[oieei al When people see the wrongdoer, and do not seize him by the hand, God would well-nigh chastise them all alike. There is no people among whom a sin is committed, who have the power to undo (the same), and undo (it) not, but God would well-nigh chastise them all alike.
Parag Pal By Him in whose stands my life bid what is reason- able, and forbid what is wrong, or He will certainly send against you a chastisement from Him; then will ye call on Him, and He will not answer you. —Hudhayfah, TI.
Pe er ‘Help thy brother, the wrong-doing and the wronged,” said the Prophet. ‘I will help him,’ said one, ‘when he is wronged; but how can I help him when he is doing wrong?’ ‘Hinder him from doing wrong’, said the Prophet, ‘and verily that is helping him’. —Anas, BU: TTI.
Let none of you be stupid (enough) to say, ‘I will be with men: if men do good, I will do good, and if they do evil, I will do evil;’ but rather so exercise yourselves SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 57 that if men do good, ye will do good, and if they do evil, ye will avoid doing evil to them. —Hudhayfah, TI.
Verily, it is better that the leader should err on the side of forgiveness rather than that he should err in punishing. —A‘ishah, TI.
rs ae Moses said, ‘O my Lord! who is the most honoured of Thy servants in Thy sight?’ God said, ‘He who pardons when he has the power (to avenge himself).’ —Abu-Hurayrah, BA.
I found this inscribed on the hilt of the Prophet’s sword: ‘Forgive him who wrongs thee; join him who cuts thee off; do good to him who does evil to thee, and speak the truth although it be against thyself.’ —‘Aliy, RA.
A man came to the Prophet, and said, ‘O Prophet of God! how many times should I forgive a servant?’ The Prophet kept silent. The man repeated the question thrice. ‘Forgive thy servant seventy times every day,’ said _the Prophet. —bni ‘Umar, AB: TI.
The Prophet gave me a gift, whereupon I said, ‘Give it to him who is poorer than myself.’ The Prophet said, ‘Take it, and keep it as (thy) wealth, and give alms out of it; for what comes to thee of this wealth whilst thou 58 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD dost not covet (it), nor beg, take it; and what is not (like this), let not thy soul pursue it.’
It is not lawful for a man to make a gift or to grant a donation, and then retract the same, unless it be a parent in the matter of what he or she has given to his or her child. He who retracts his gift or donation is like the dog who licks up his own vomit.
God says: I am with the thought of My © servant concerning Me; and I am with him when he remembers Me and when he remembers Me within himself, I remem- ber him within Myself; and if he remembers Me in pub- lic, I remember him in a public better than themselves.
—Abu-Hurayrah, BU: MU: TI.
God says: Whoso comes with a good work, shall have ten like to it, and I will also give more; and whoso comes with an evil work, the reward thereof is evil like to it, and I also pardon; and whoso draws near to Me a span, I draw near to him a yard; and if he draw near to Me a yard, I draw near to him a fathom; and if he come ‘to Me walking, I come to him running; and whoso comes to Me with an earth full of sins, but associates nothing with Me, I come to him with an equal front of forgiveness.
—Abu-Dharr, MU; cf. Abu-Hurayrah, BU: MU: TI. fe: 4D oa ' God. will say to him who will be the best among the SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 59 people of (hell) fire in respect of torment, ‘If thou hadst all the world, wouldst thou redeem thyself thereby?’ The man will say, ‘Yes.’ God will say, ‘But I desired of thee an easier thing than this even while thou wast in the loins of Adam, namely, that thou do not associate (any one) with Me, and I will not make thee enter into (hell) fire, and I will make thee enter into paradise; but thou didst refuse.’ —Anas, BU: MU.
God says: My servant continues to draw near to Me by voluntary services, so that I love him; and when J love him, I become his hearing whereby he hears, and his sight whereby he sees, and his hands wherewith he seizes, and his feet wherewith he walks. And if he asks of Me, I give him, and if he betakes himself to Me, I ngs him refuge. —Abu-Hurayrah BU. [25u yj God says: O my servants! I have forbidden Myself wrong, and have made the same unlawful among you; do not ye then wrong one another. O my servants! all of you will go astray unless he whom I guide aright; ask ‘ guidance of Me then, and I will guide you aright. O my servants! ye are, all of you, hungry, unless he whom I feed; so ask food of Me, I will give you food. O My servants! ye are, all of you, naked, unless he whom I clothe; so ask cloth of Me, I will give you clothes. O My servants! ye do sin at night and in the day, and I pardon 60 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD all sins; ask pardon of Me then, I will pardon you. O My servants! ye can never come up (to Me) to hurt Me, nor can ye come up (to Me) to benefit. O My servants! if your former and latter generations, and your men, civili- zed and uncivilized, were according to the most pious heart of any one man among you, that would not add any- thing to My Kingdom. O My servants! if your former and latter generations and your men, civilized and uncivilized, were according to the most wicked heart of any one mar among you, that would not detract any thing from My Kingdom. O My servants! if your former and latter generations, and your men, civilized and uncivilized, stand in any one vast plain and ask Me, and I give to every man what he asks, that would not detract anything from what I have with Me, except what a needle detracts when it enters into the ocean. O My servants! I only count these your works for you, then will I give you fully your reward. Whoso then finds good, let him thank God Almighty, and whoso finds anything beside that, let him not blame any but himself. —Abu-Idris al-Khaulaniy, MU: TI.
porZegsery If ye rely upon God as He ought to be relied upon, He will provide you as He provides the birds: they go out empty and hungry in the morning and come back big-bellied at eventide. —Umar, TI.
The hand of God holds all: expending ails Him not: SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 61 He expends night and day. In His hand is the balance which He presses and raises. —Abu-Hurayrah, BU: MU. Verily, God sleeps not, and it is not fit for Him to sleep: He presses (the balance) down and raises it; to Him is taken up the work of the night before the work of the day, and the work of the day before the work of the night. His veil is Light; were He to remove it, the brightness of His Face would surely burn (all) His rela- tion so far as His sight extends. —Abu-Musa, MU. Be Zoo | There is none more patient at the hurtful things which he hears than God: they call (some) His son, and yet He keeps them safe and provides them ( in life). —Abu-Musa al-Ash‘ariy, BU: MU. [eae God says to His angels, ‘When a servant of Mine resolves to do an evil deed, do not write it down until he has done it; then write it down against him as one (sin); but if he leave it for My sake, write down for him a good deed; and when he resolves upon a good deed, and does not do it, write down for him a good deed, but if he do it, write down for him ten to seven hundred good deeds” —Abu-Hurayrah, BU: MU: TI. Whoso bears witness that there is no God but God, 62 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD his heart being sure of it, give him the glad tidings of paradise. —Abu-Hurayrah, MU. Two things are certain: whoever dies while he as- sociates anything with God, shall enter the fire (of hell); and whoever dies, not associating anything with God, shall enter paradise. —Jabir b. ‘Abdu’llah al-Ansariy, MU. The best of sayings is, “There is no God but God!’ —Abu-Hurayrah, BU: MU: AB: TI: NA. f, 2G0i.a The key of paradise is the bearing witness that there is no God but God. —Mu‘adh b. Jabal, AH. Pees ee I said, ‘O Prophet of God! who will be the most fortunate among men to obtain thy intercession on the day of resurrection?’ The Prophet said, “The most for- tunate among men to obtain my intercession on the day of resurrection will be he who says, “There is no God but God,” with the purity of his heart.’ —Abu-Hurayrah, BU. Li mlb ail Whoever says, “There is no God but God,’ and believes not in what is served beside God, God has made his wealth and his blood inviolate, and his account (devolves) upon God the Most High. —Tariq al-Ashja‘iy, MU.
SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 63 There is no servant (of God) who says, ‘There is no God but God!’ and then dies on it, but will enter paradise. —Abu-Dharr, BU: MU.
Dost thou know, O Mu‘adh! what is the right of God against His servants, and what is the right of the servants. (of God) against God? Verily, the right of God against His servants is that they serve Him, and not associate anything with Him; and the right of the servants (of God) against God is, that He punish not him who associates.
nothing with Him. —Mu‘adh, BU: MU. yonon | Whoso dies while he knows that there is no God but God, will enter paradise. —Uthman b. ‘Affan, MU.
The best of actions is to love for (the sake of) God, and yet hate for (the sake of) God.
—Abu-Dharr, AB. be gny ssl God accepts only what is good.
—Abu-Hurayrah, BU: MU.
Verily, men will follow you, and verily men will come to you from (all) quarters of the earth to understand re- ligion; so when they come to you, enjoin goodness upon them.
64 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD (All) creation is the family of God, and the most beloved of (all) creation to God is he who does good to His! family. —Anas and ‘Abdu'llah, BA.
po 27Gas4 O Abu-Dharr! treat not with contempt anything good, -although it be to meet thy brother with an open coun- tenance.
—Abu-Dharr, BU: MU:TI: cf. Jabir, TI: AH. fai2ilea] And, verily, it is an act of goodness that thou meet thy ‘brother with an open countenance, and that thou pour water out of thy bucket into thy brother’s vessel.
—Jabir, TI. (PRS Te, 28 Once upon a time a man walked in the streets and found the branch of a tree full of thorns lying on the road, which he threw away; whereupon God was thankful to him and pardoned him (his sins).
—Abu-Hurayrah, BU: MU: AB: TI: MA.
Feed the hungry, visit the sick, and free the captive. —Abu-Musa, BU: AB.
i Riad Whoso makes a gift of milk or money (to the poor), -or guides the misguided and the blind into the way, shall thave (a reward) like that of a man who frees a captive.
Bara‘, TI.
“Or; his, SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 65 iene} God will say on the day of resurrection, ‘O son of ‘Man! I was sick, and thou didst not visit Me;’ the man will say, “O my Lord! how could I visit Thee when Thou art the Lord of all the world?’ God will say, ‘Didst thou not know that such an one of My servants, was sick, and thou didst not visit him? Didst thou not know that if ‘thou hadst visited him, thou hadst surely found Me with him?’ God will say, “O son of Man! I asked food of thee, and thou didst not feed Me.’ The man will say, ‘O my Lord! how could I feed Thee when Thou art the Lord of all the world?’ God will say, ‘Didst thou not know that such an one of My servants asked food of thee, and thou didst not feed him? Didst thou not know that it thou hadst fed him, thou wouldst surely have found that with Me?’ God will say, ‘O son of Man! I asked drink of thee, and thou didst not give Me to drink.’ The man will say, ‘O my Lord! how could I give the to drink when Thou art the Lord of all the world?’ God will say, “Such an one of My servants asked drink of thee, and thou didst not give him to drink; verily, if thou hadst given him to drink, thou hadst surely found that with -Me.’ ; —Abu-Hurayrah, MU.
Whoso seeks refuge for God, give him refuge; and whoso asks for God, give him; and whoso calls on you, respond to him; and whoso does good to you, return the same to him; and if ye do not find anything to return 5 66 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD to him, pray (to God) for him, until ye see that ye have made (him) an ample return, —Abni ‘Umar, AB: NA: AH. Know that the man who lends his she-camel to the people of a family, who milk her every morning and evening, shall, verily, have a great reward. —Abu-Hurayrah, MU. ef Jo There is not one of you but his Lord will speak to him, and there shall be no interpreter between him and God; and he shall look to his right, and he shall see no other than what he has sent on before (him), and he shall look to his left, and he shall see no other than what he has sent on before (him); and he shall look before him, and shall see no other than the fire (of hell) which shall meet his face. So fear the fire (of hell), although it be by giving a ripe date (in alms); and whoso finds not (even this to give), then let him save himself by a good word. —Adiy b. Hatim, BU: MU: TI: NA. fu2T9 4 Nothing keeps away the decree (of God) except prayer, and nothing increases the life (of man) exoept goodness; and man is only denied the provisions (of life) because of sins upon which he falls. —Thauban, IB. Good thoughts are (parts) of good worship. _ —Abu-Hurayrah, AB: AH.
SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 67 ‘Be straightforward, and draw near (to God), hie to the golden mean, and preach and act, but know that none of you shall be saved by works merely,’ said the Prophet, ‘And neither thou, O Prophet of God?’ He said, ‘Neither myself; unless that God cover me with mercy from Him- self,’ —Abu-Hurayrah, BU: MU; cf. Jabir, MU.
If a servant (of God) fell upon his face from the day of his birth until he died, being weak from old age, in the obedience of God, He will despair him for that on the day of resurrection, and he shall wish that he could return to the world, so that he could have more of reward and recompense.
If the Mu‘min* knew what punishment there is with God (for what wrong he has done), none would long for His paradise; and if the Kafir* knew what mercy there is with God, none would despair of His paradise.
—Abu-Hurayrah, BU: MU, The Prophet said, ‘When God desires good for (His) ‘servant, He makes him do good.’ It was asked, ‘And how does He make him work, O Prophet of God?’ He said, ‘He assists him in Be penny good works before his death.’ —Anas, TI.
I sete ‘O Prophet of God! tell me what is the ae 68 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD of God in him whom He likes, and what is His mark in him whom He does not like.’ The Prophet said, ‘How dost thou find thyself, O Zayd?’ I said, ‘I love good and the doer thereof; and if I have the power to do it, I hasten thereto; and if I miss the same, I grieve it, and weep over it’ “Then,’ said the Prophet, ‘that is the mark of God in him whom He likes; and if He had chosen thee for anything beside that, He would have prepared thee He who is not thankful to men is not thankful to God. —Abu-Sa‘id, TI. re rile | Verily, the grave is the first stage of the (many) stages of the hereafter. —Uthman, TI: IB.
Not a day passes but the grave says: “I am the strange dwelling, I am the lonely dwelling, I am the dwelling of dust, I am the dwelling full of worms.’
—Abu-Sa‘id, TI. (See. 4 Visit the graves, for verily these will make you indifferent to the world and remind you of the hereafter. —Ibni Mas‘ud, IB.
The Prophet visited the grave of his mother, and wept, and made those who were around him weep, and said, ‘I asked permission of my Lord that I may ask SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 69 pardon for her, but.it was not permitted me; and I asked permission of Him to visit her grave; which He has per- mitted me. Visit the graves then; for these will remind (you) of death.’ —Abu-Hurayrah, MU.
[ee ad Take care! those who were before you took the graves of their prophets and their righteous men for places of worship, Beware! do not ye take the graves for places of worship; I forbid you that. ~ Om —Jundub, MU.
y "agar 1 Sit not upon graves, nor pray towards them. —Abu-Marthad al-Ghanawiy, MU: oe ee O God! make not my grave an idol to be worshipped; severe the wrath of God upon the people who take the graves of their prophets for places of worship! —‘Ata‘ b. Yasar, MA.
Pee y Verily, greed is poverty, and having no hope is rich- ness; a man when he has nothing to hope for is independent. —Umar, RA.
No two hungry wolves sent into a herd of sheep have wrought more ruin to them than the greed of a man for wealth and dignity to his religion.
If the son of Man had two vast plains full of wealth he would yet long for a third, and nothing fills the inner- Ka‘b b. Malik, TI: DA.
70 SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD most part of the son of Man but dust. —Ibni ‘Abbas, BU: MU. a!
Man has not filled a worse vesel than (his) belly. A few mouthfuls suffice the son of Man to keep his vigour steady; and if it cannot be helped, then let there be onc- third of food, one-third of drink, and one-third of breath (in thy belly).
The best of your leaders are those whom ye lové and who love you, for whom ye pray, and who pray for you; and the worst of your leaders are, those whom ye hate, and who hate you, whom ye curse, and who curse you.
Verily, the most beloved of men in the sight of God on the day of resurrection, and the nearest of them to God in respect of seat, will be the just leader; and verily the most hated of men in the sight of God on the day of resurrection, and the most severely punished, and the farthest of them from Him in respect of seat, will be the tyrannical leader. —Abu-Sa‘id, TI; cf. ‘Umar b. al-Khattab, BA.
O God! he who is made a guardian over the affairs of my people in anything, and becomes troublesome to them, be Thou troublesome to him; and whoso is made a guardian over the affairs of my people in anything, and is kind to them, be Thou kind to him. _ —A‘ishah, Mu.
SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 71 f Sor | There is no governor who rules (his) Muslim sub- jects and dies, having also played false with them, but God will forbid him paradise. —Ma‘qil b. Yasar, BU: MU. The worst of governors is the cruel herdsman. —A‘idh b. ‘Amru, MU. The tyrant shall not enter into paradise. —Ugbah b. ‘Amir, AB: AH: DA, When the governor seeks for suspicion among (his). people, he brings ruin upon them. —Abu-Umamah, AB. f. pus | When thou dost follow up the vices of (thy) people, thou wilt bring ruin upon them.
Verily, a monarch is God’s shadow upon the earth: all God’s servants who are wronged take refuge in him; then. when he does justice, he has a reward (with God), and upon (his) subjects is (enjoined) gratitude; but when he _is tyrannical, upon him is (his) sin, and upon (his) sub- jects is (enjdined) patient perseverance.
—Mu‘awiyah, BA.
—Ibni ‘Umar, BA. [sory O my child! I have heard the Prophet of God say that, verily, the worst of shepherds is the tyrant. ; —Ma‘qal b. Yasar, MU.
72: SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD The best of jihad* is of him who speaks a just word before a tyrannical authority.
—Abu-Sa‘id, TI: AB: IB; Tariq b. Shihab, NA: AH. God says: I am God—there is no God besides Me: I am the King of (all) kingdom, and the King of (all) kings; the hearts of kings are in My hands; and verily when My servants obey Me, I change the hearts of their kings to them with mercy and kindness; and verily when My servants sin against Me, I change their hearts with anger and chastisement, and they inflict the direst punish- ments upon them; do not then occupy yourselves with cursing (your) kings, rather occupy yourselves with the remembrance (of Me) and humility (towards Me), that I may suffice you against your kings. —Abu-Darda, NA. [310 “7 wecssing Ye will presently see after me exploits and affairs which ye will hate. They said, ‘What then do ye bid us do, O Prophet of God?’ The Prophet said, ‘Give them» their due, and ask God for your due.’ —Ibni Mas‘ud, BU: MU.
dire hae As ye will be, so will be those who shalJl be put in command oyer you. —Yahya b. Hashim, from Yunus b. Abu-Ishaq, from his father, BA. The Prophet gave a boy the option to go with bial father or his mother; the boy preferred going with his SAYINGS OF MUHAMMAD 73