Sayings: Learning -- Prayer

• Learning

  He dieth not who giveth life to learning.

  Whoso honoreth the learned, honoreth me.

  The Messenger of God was asked, "What is the greatest vice of man?" He said, "You must not ask me about vice, but ask about virtue;" and he repeated this three times, after which he said, "Know ye! The worst of men is a bad learned man, and a good learned man is the best."

  Verily god doth not taketh away knowledge from the hands of His servants; but taketh it by taking away the learned; so that when no learned men remain, the ignorant will be placed at the head of affairs. Causes will be submitted to their decision, they will pass sentence without knowledge, will err themselves, and lead others into error.

  An hour's contemplation is better than a year's adoration.

  Philosophy is the stray camel of the Faithful, take hold of it wherever ye come across it.

  Go in quest of knowledge even unto China.

  Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.

  The knowledge from which no benefit is derived is like a treasure from which no charity is bestowed in the way of the Lord.

  Do you know what sappeth the foundation of Islam, and ruineth it? The errors of the learned destroy it, the disputations of the hypocrite, and the orders of kings who have lost the road.

  To spend more time in learning is better than spending more time praying; the support of religion is abstinence. It is better to teach knowledge one hour in the night than to pray all night.

  Whoever seeketh knowledge and findeth it, will get two rewards; one of them the reward for desiring it, and the other for attaining it; therefore, even if he do not attain it, for him is one reward.

  That person who shall die while he is studying, in order to revive the knowledge of religion, will be only one degree inferior to the prophets.

  One learned man is harder on the devil than a thousand ignorant worshippers.

  The pursuit of knowledge is a divine commandment for every Muslim; and to waste knowledge on those who are unworthy of it is like putting pearls, jewels, and gold on the necks of swine.

  That person who shall pursue the path of knowledge, God will direct him to the path of Paradise; and verily the superiority of a learned man over an ignorant worshipper is like that of the full moon over all the stars.

  He who knoweth his own self, knoweth God.

  Verily the best of God's servants are just and learned kings; and verily the worst are bad and ignorant kings.

  To listen to the words of the learned, and to instil into others the lessons of science, is better than religious exercises.

  The ink of the scholar is more holy than the blood of the martyr.

  He who leaveth home in search of knowledge, walketh in the path of God.

  One hour's meditation on the work of the Creator is better than seventy years of prayer.

  God hath treasuries beneath the Throne, the keys whereof are the tongues of poets.

  The acquisition of knowledge is a duty incumbent one every Muslim, male and female.

  Acquire knowledge. It enableth its posessor to distinguish right from wrong; it lighteth the way to Heave; it is our friend in the desert, our society in solitude, our companion when friendless; it guideth us to happiness; it sustaineth us in misery; it is an ornament among friends, and an armour against enemies.

  With knowledge man riseth to the heights of goodness and to a noble position, associateth with sovereigns in this world, and attaineth to the perfection of happiness in the next.

  Learn to know thyself.

  The calamity of knowledge is forgetfulness; and to waste knowledge is to speak of it to the unworthy.

  Who are the learned? They who practise what they know.

  Index

• Man's Growth

  The son of Man groweth and with him grow two things - the love of wealth and love of long life.

  "Who is the best man?" Muhammad replied, "He is the best man whose life is long and whose actions are good." "Then who is the worst man?" "He whose life is long and whose actions are bad.

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• Marriage

  Marriage is incumbent on all who possess the ability.

  A woman may be married by four qualifications: one on account of her money; another, on account of the nobility of her pedigree; another on account of her beauty; the fourth, on account of her virtue. Therefore, look out for a woman that hath virtue: but if you do it from any other consideration, your hands be rubbed in dirt.

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• Meanness

  Shall I tell you the very worst among you? Those who eat alone, and whip the slaves, and give to nobody.

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• Mishaps

  Whatever mishap may befall you, it is on account of something which you have done.

  No misfortune or vexation befalleth a servant of God, small or great, but on account of his faults committed: and most of these God forgiveth.

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• Modesty

  True modesty is the source of all virtues.

  Modesty and chastity are parts of the Faith.

  Meekness and modesty are two branches of Iman; and vain talking and embellishing are two branches of hypocrisy.

  All kinds of modesty are best.

  Index

• Monopolies

  Monopoly is unlawful in Islam.

  The holder of a monopoly is a sinner and an offender.

  The bringers of grain to the city to sell at a cheap rate gain immense advantage by it, and those who keepeth back grain in order to sell at a high rate is cursed.

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• Mothers

  Heaven lieth at the feet of mothers.

  "O Messenger of God! Verily I have done a great crime; is there any act by which I may repent?" He said, "Have you a mother?" "No," said the questioner. "Have you an aunt?" asked Muhammad. He said, "Yes, I have." Muhammad said, "Go, do good to her, and your crime will be pardoned."

  I and a woman whose color and cheeks shall have become black from toiling in the sun shall be near to one another in the next world as my two fingers; and that is a handsome widow, whose color and cheeks shall have become black in bringing up her family.

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• Muhammad The Prophet

  I am no more than man; when I order you anything respecting religion, receive it; and when I order you anything about the affairs of the world, then I am nothing more than man.

  Convey to other persons none of my words, except those ye know of a surety.

  'Aishah said, "A party of Jews asked permission to go to Muhammad, and said, 'Death upon you.' And I answered their insult by saying, 'Rather upon you be death and curse.' Then Muhammad said, 'Be mild O Aishah! and make a point of being kind, and withold thyself from speaking harshly.' I said, 'Did you not hear what they said?' He said, 'Verily, I do always say,' "Be the same to you."'

  Verily my heart is veiled with melancholy and sadness for my followers; and verily I ask pardon of God one hundred times daily.

  Zaid, Muhammad's servant, said, "I served Lord Muhammad ten years, and he never said 'Uff,' to me; and never said, 'Why did you do so?' and never said, 'Why did you not do so?'"

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• Muhammad The Prophet's Kindness

  Once Muhammad was distributing meat in Jiranah; and behold a woman came close to him, and he spread his garment for her to sit upon. When people saw such respect paid to this woman, they asked who she was; and those present said, "This is his nurse."

  When anyone was sick Muhammad used to rub his hands upon the sick person's body, saying, "O Lord of mankind! Take away this pain, and give health; for Thou art the giver of health: there is no health bu Thine, that health which leaveth no sickness."

  Index

• Muhammad The Prophet's Mission

  Kais b. Sal said: "I came to Hirah, and saw the inhabitants worshipping their chief; and I said, 'Verily the Apostle of God is worthy of being worshipped.' Then I came to the Apostle and said, 'I saw the people of Hirah worshipping the chief of their tribe, and you are most worthy of being worshipped.' Then Muhammad said to me, 'Tell me, if you should pass by my grave, would you worship it?' I said, 'No.' And He said, 'Worship not me.'"

  The Apostle was in the midst of a crowd of his companions, and a camel came and prostrated itself before him. They said, "O Apostle of God! Beasts and trees worship thee; then it is meet for us to whorship thee." Muhammad said, "Worship God, and you may honor your brother, that is me."

  When the ambassadors of Bani Amir went to Muhammad, they said, "You are our master." He said, "God is your master." Then they said, "You are most excellent of the highest degree." And when He heard this He said, "Say so, or less, and do not exceed reasonable bounds in praise."

  Muhammad slep upon a mat, and got up very marked on the body by it: and someone said, "O Messenger of God! If thou hadst ordered me, I would have spread a soft bed for thee." Lord Muhammad said, "What business have I with the world? I am a man on horseback, who standeth under the shade of a tree, then leaveth it."

  To the light I have attained and in the light I live.

  It was said to the Rasul, "O Messenger of God! Curse the infidels." Muhammad said, "I am not sent for this; nor was I sent but as mercy to mankind."

  Kais b. Sal said: "I came to Hirah, and saw the inhabitants worshipping their chief; and I said, 'Verily the Apostle of God is worthy of being worshipped.' Then I came to the Apostle and said, 'I saw the people of Hirah worshipping the chief of their tribe, and you are most worthy of being worshipped.' Then Muhammad said to me, 'Tell me, if you should pass by my grave, would you worship it?' I said, 'No.' And He said, 'Worship not me.'"

  The Apostle was in the midst of a crowd of his companions, and a camel came and prostrated itself before him. They said, "O Apostle of God! Beasts and trees worship thee; then it is meet for us to whorship thee." Muhammad said, "Worship God, and you may honor your brother, that is me."

  When the ambassadors of Bani Amir went to Muhammad, they said, "You are our master." He said, "God is your master." Thenthey said, "You are most excellent of the highest degree." And when He heard this He said, "Say so, or less, and do not exceed reasonable bounds in praise."

  Muhammad slep upon a mat, and got up very marked on the body by it: and someone said, "O Messenger of God! If thou hadst ordered me, I would have spread a soft bed for thee." Lord Muhammad said, "What business have I with the world? I am a man on horseback, who standeth under the shade of a tree, then leaveth it."

  To the light I have attained and in the light I live.

  It was said to the Rasul, "O Messenger of God! Curse the infidels." Muhammad said, "I am not sent for this; nor was I sent but as mercy to mankind."

  Index

• Muhammad The Prophet's Prayers

  Muhammad used to say after making the profession of faith, "O Lord I supplicate Thee for firmness in faith, and inclination towards the straight path, and for Thine aid in being grateful to Thee, and in adoring Thee in every good way; and I supplicate Thee for an innocent heart which shall not incline to wickednes and for a true tongue. I supplicate Thee to guide me to all which Thou knowest to be virtuous and to preserve me from al which Thou knowest to be vicious. I supplicate Thee to forgive me my faults for Thou knowest them all.

  When the Messenger of God entered a place of worship he said, "O God! Pardon my sins, and open for me the gates of Thy compassion," and on leaving he would repeat the same.

  O Lord grant to me the love of Thee; grant that I love those that love Thee; grant that I may do the deed than win Thy love; make thy love dearer to me than self, family and wealth.

  O Lord! I make my complaint unto thee, of my feebleness, the vanity of my efforts. I am insignificant in the sight of men, O Thou Most Merciful! Lord of the weak! Thou aret my Lord! Forsake me not. Leave me not a prey to strangers, nor to mine enemies. If Thou art not displeased, I am safe. I seek refuge in the light of Thy countenance, by which all darkness is dispelled, and peace cometh in the Here and Hereafter. Solve Thou my difficulties as it pleaseth Thee. There is no power, no strength, save in Thee.

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• Neighborliness

  The best of persons in God's sight is the best amongst his friends; and the best of neighbors near God is the best person in his own neighborhood.

  A Muslim who mixeth with people and putteth up with their inconveniences, is better than one who doth not mix with them, and bear with patience.

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

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• Omens

  Of my disciples who will enter Paradise are those who do not use shells (do not consult oracles), and are not influenced by omens, like the people of Ignorance, and who put their whole trust in God.

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• Orphans

  I and the guardian of orphans (whether the orphan be of his near or distant relations, or of strangers) will be in one place in the next world; like my two fingers, nearly touching each other.

  The best Muslim house is that in which is an orphan, who is benefited; and the worst Muslim house is that in which an orphan is ill-treated.

  Index

• Parents

  Heaven lieth at the feet of mothers.

  God's pleasure is in a father's pleasure; and God's displeasure is in a father's displeasure.

  He who wisheth to enter Paradise at the best door must please his father and mother.

  A man is bound to do good to his parents, although they may have injured him.

  There is no child, a doer of good to his parents, who looketh on them with kindness and affection, but God will grant with every look the rewards for an approved pilgrimage.

  Index

• Peacemaking

  Shall I not inform you of a better act than fasting, alms, and prayers? Making peace between one another: enmity and malice tear up heavenly rewards by the roots.

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• Poetry

  Some poetry is dressed in knowledge and art.

  The truest words spoken by any poet are those of Labid: "Know that everything is vanity save God."

  God hath treasures beneath the Throne, the keys whereof are the tongues of poets.

  Some poetry containeth much wisdom.

  Index

• Poverty

  Poverty is my pride.

  Poverty may well become a cause of infidelity.

  O Lord! Keep me alive a poor man, and let me die poor; and raise me amongst the poor.

  O Aishah! Do not turn the poor away, without giving them, if but half a date.

  Seek for my satisfaction in that of the poor and needy.

  A man came to Muhammad and said, "Verily I love you." He replied, "Look to what you say." And the man said, "By God! I love you,"and repeated the same twice. Lord Muhammad said, "If you are sincere, then prepare yourself for poverty: for poverty reacheth him who loveth me quicker than a torrent reacheth the sea.

  Index

• Prayer

  Prayer is the miraj (union with, or annihilation in, the Divine Essence by means of continual upward progress) of the Faithful.

  The Lord doth not regard a prayer in which the heart doth not accompany the body.

  He whom prayer preventeth not from wrongdoing and evil, increaseth in naught save in remoteness from the Lord.

  The key of Paradise is Prayer, and the key of prayer is ablution.

  Say your prayers standing; but if you are not able, sitting; and if unable, on your sides.

  Index

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