Table of Contents

• Purpose, Belief, Worship, and One’s End
• True Guidance, Moral Clarity, and Obedience
• Ethics, Self-Discipline, and Mercy
• Faith in Practice, Moral Discipline, and Human Dignity
• Worship, Dependence, Charity, and Divine Justice
• Deeds, Discipline, and Devotion
• Purifying the Heart, Protecting Rights, and Brotherhood
• Service, Intention, and Love of Allah
• Worldly Detachment and Turning to Allah

Purpose, Belief, Worship, and One’s End

(١) «إنَّمَا الأَعمالُ بالنِّيَّاتِ، وإنَّما لِكُلِّ امرئٍ ما نَوَى، فَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى دُنْيَا يُصِيبُهَا أَوْ إِلَى امْرَأَةٍ يَنْكِحُهَا، فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى مَا هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِ.» (٢) الإِيمَانُ: «أنْ تُؤمِنَ باللهِ، وملائِكَته وكُتُبِه، ورُسُله، واليَومَ الآخِرِ، وتُؤْمِنَ بالقَدرِ خَيرِهِ وشَرِّهِ.» وَالإِحْسَانُ: «أنْ تَعبُدَ الله كَأَنَّكَ تَراهُ، فإنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَراهُ، فإنَّهُ يَراكَ.» (٣) «بُنِيَ الإِسْلاَمُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ: شَهَادَةِ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ، وَإِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ، وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ، وَالْحَجِّ، وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ.» (٤) «فَوَالَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ غَيْرُهُ، إِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ لَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ حَتَّى مَا يَكُونَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهَا إِلاَّ ذِرَاعٌ فَيَسْبِقُ عَلَيْهِ الْكِتَابُ فَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ النَّارِ فَيَدْخُلُهَا. وَإِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ لَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ النَّارِ حَتَّى مَا يَكُونَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهَا إِلاَّ ذِرَاعٌ فَيَسْبِقُ عَلَيْهِ الْكِتَابُ فَيَعْمَلُ بِعَمَلِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فَيَدْخُلُهَا.»

(1) "Actions are ˹judged only˺ by intentions, and each person will have only what he intended. So whoever had emigrated for ˹the sake of˺ worldly benefits or for ˹the sake of˺ marrying a woman, then the ˹due˺ of his emigration ˹is earned for˺ or what he emigrated for." (2) "Iman is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, and to believe in divine decree, its good and its evil… and Ihsan is to worship Allah as though you see Him, for if you do not see Him, He surely sees you." (3) "Islam is built upon five: bearing witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing prayer, giving zakah, performing pilgrimage, and fasting Ramadan." (4) "By the One besides whom there is no deity, one of you may perform the deeds of the people of Jannah until there is only an arm’s length between him and it, then what is written overtakes him and he acts with the deeds of the people of the Fire and enters it; and one of you may perform the deeds of the people of the Fire until there is only an arm’s length between him and it, then what is written overtakes him and he acts with the deeds of the people of Paradise and enters it."

True Guidance, Moral Clarity, and Obedience

(٥) «مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي أَمْرِنَا هَذَا مَا لَيْسَ فِيهِ فَهُوَ رَدٌّ.» (٦) «إِنَّ الْحَلاَلَ بَيِّنٌ وَإِنَّ الْحَرَامَ بَيِّنٌ، وَبَيْنَهُمَا مُشْتَبِهَاتٌ لاَ يَعْلَمُهُنَّ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ، فَمَنِ اتَّقَى الشُّبُهَاتِ اسْتَبْرَأَ لِدِينِهِ وَعِرْضِهِ. وَمَنْ وَقَعَ فِي الشُّبُهَاتِ وَقَعَ فِي الْحَرَامِ كَالرَّاعِي يَرْعَى حَوْلَ الْحِمَى يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَرْتَعَ فِيهِ. أَلاَ وَإِنَّ لِكُلِّ مَلِكٍ حِمًى. أَلاَ وَإِنَّ حِمَى اللَّهِ مَحَارِمُهُ. أَلاَ وَإِنَّ فِي الْجَسَدِ مُضْغَةً إِذَا صَلَحَتْ صَلَحَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ، وَإِذَا فَسَدَتْ فَسَدَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ. أَلاَ وَهِيَ الْقَلْبُ.» (٧) «الدِّينُ النَّصِيحَةُ … لِلَّهِ وَلِكِتَابِهِ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِأَئِمَّةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَعَامَّتِهِمْ.» (٨) «أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَشْهَدُوا أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ. فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ، عَصَمُوا مِنِّي دِمَاءَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ إِلاَّ بِحَقِّ الإِسْلاَمِ، وَحِسَابُهُمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ.» (٩) «مَا نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْهُ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ وَمَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِهِ فَافْعَلُوا مِنْهُ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ، فَإِنَّمَا أَهْلَكَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ كَثْرَةُ مَسَائِلِهِمْ وَاخْتِلاَفُهُمْ عَلَى أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ.»

(5) "Whoever introduces into this matter of ours (i.e. religion of Islam) something that does not belong to it, it is rejected." (6) "The lawful is clear and the unlawful is clear, and between them are matters that are doubtful, unknown to many people. Whoever avoids doubtful matters has safeguarded his religion and his honor, and whoever falls into doubtful matters falls into the unlawful, like a shepherd grazing near a protected boundary who is likely to trespass into it. Indeed, every king has a protected domain, and indeed the protected domain of Allah is His prohibitions. Truly, in the body there is a morsel of flesh: if it is sound, the entire body is sound, and if it is corrupt, the entire body is corrupt. Truly, it is the heart." (7) The religion is sincerity: to Allah, to His Book, to His Messenger, to the leaders of the Muslims, and to their common people." (8) "I have been commanded to fight the people until they testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish prayer, and give zakah; if they do that, they protect from me their blood and their wealth except by the right of Islam, and their reckoning is with Allah." (9) "Whatever I have forbidden you from, avoid it, and whatever I have commanded you to do, do of it what you are able; for those before you were destroyed only because of their excessive questioning and their disagreement with their prophets."

Ethics, Self-Discipline, and Mercy

(١٠) «أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ طَيِّبٌ، لاَ يَقْبَلُ إِلاَّ طَيِّبًا۔ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بِمَا أَمَرَ بِهِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ» (١١) «دَعْ مَا يَرِيبُكَ إِلَى مَا لَا يَرِيبُكَ.» (١٢) «مِنْ حُسْنِ إِسْلاَمِ الْمَرْءِ تَرْكُهُ مَا لاَ يَعْنِيهِ.» (١٣) «لا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى يُحِبَّ لأَخِيهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ.» (١٤) «لَا يَحِلُّ دَمُ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ إِلَّا بِإِحْدَى ثَلَاثٍ: النَّفْسُ بِالنَّفْسِ وَالثَّيِّبُ الزَّانِي وَالتَّارِكُ دِينَهُ الْمُفَارِقُ» (١٥) «مَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ، فَلْيَقُلْ خَيْرًا أَوْ لِيَصْمُتْ، وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيُكْرِمْ جَارَهُ، وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ فَلْيُكْرِمْ ضَيْفَهُ.» (١٦) «لاَ تَغْضَبْ.» (١٧) «إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الإِحْسَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ: فَإِذَا قَتَلْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الْقِتْلَةَ، وَإِذَا ذَبَحْتُمْ فَأَحْسِنُوا الذَّبْحَ، وَلْيُحِدَّ أَحَدُكُمْ شَفْرَتَهُ فَلْيُرِحْ ذَبِيحَتَهُ.»

(10) "O people, Allah is pure and accepts only what is pure, and Allah has commanded the believers with what He commanded the messengers." (11) "Leave that which causes you doubt for that which does not cause you doubt." (12) "From the excellence of a person’s Islam is his leaving what does not concern him." (13) "None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." (14) "The blood of a Muslim is not lawful except in one of three cases: a life for a life, a previously married adulterer, or one who abandons his religion and separates from the community." (15) "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent; whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him honor his neighbor; and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him honor his guest." (16) "Do not get angry." (17) "Allah has prescribed excellence in all things. So when you kill, kill with excellence; and when you slaughter, slaughter with excellence. Let one of you sharpen his blade and spare suffering to the animal he slaughters."

Faith in Practice, Moral Discipline, and Human Dignity

(١٨) «اتَّقِ اللَّهَ حَيْثُمَا كُنْتَ، وَأَتْبِعِ السَّيِّئَةَ الْحَسَنَةَ تَمْحُهَا، وَخَالِقِ النَّاسَ بِخُلُقٍ حَسَنٍ.» (١٩) «احْفَظِ اللَّهَ يَحْفَظْكَ، احْفَظِ اللَّهَ تَجِدْهُ تُجَاهَكَ، إِذَا سَأَلْتَ فَاسْأَلِ اللَّهَ، وَإِذَا اسْتَعَنْتَ فَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ۔ وَاعْلَمْ، أَنَّ الأُمَّةَ لَوِ اجْتَمَعَتْ عَلَى أَنْ يَنْفَعُوكَ بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَنْفَعُوكَ إِلاَّ بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ لَكَ، وَلَوِ اجْتَمَعُوا عَلَى أَنْ يَضُرُّوكَ بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَضُرُّوكَ إِلاَّ بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ: رُفِعَتِ الأَقْلاَمُ وَجَفَّتِ الصُّحُفُ.» (٢٠) «إِذَا لَمْ تَسْتَحِي فَاصْنَعْ مَا شِئْتَ.» (٢١) «قُلْ: آمَنْتُ بِاللَّهِ فَاسْتَقِمْ.» (٢٢) أَنَّ رَجُلاً سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ: أَرَأَيْتَ إِذَا صَلَّيْتُ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْمَكْتُوبَاتِ، وَصُمْتُ رَمَضَانَ، وَأَحْلَلْتُ الْحَلاَلَ، وَحَرَّمْتُ الْحَرَامَ، وَلَمْ أَزِدْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ شَيْئًا أَأَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ۔»

(18) "Fear Allah wherever you are, follow up a bad deed with a good one and it will erase it, and treat people with good character." (19) Safeguard Allah and He will safeguard you; safeguard Allah and you will find Him before you. When you ask, ask Allah, and when you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that if the entire nation were to gather to benefit you with something, they would not benefit you except with what Allah has already written for you; and if they were to gather to harm you with something, they would not harm you except with what Allah has already written against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried." (20) "If you feel no shame, then do as you wish." (21) "Say, 'I believe in Allah,' then remain steadfast." (22) A man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: 'Tell me, if I perform the prescribed prayers, fast Ramadan, treat what is lawful as lawful and what is unlawful as unlawful, and do not add anything beyond that, will I enter Paradise?' He ﷺ said: "Yes."

Worship, Dependence, Charity, and Divine Justice

(٢٣) «الطُّهُورُ شَطْرُ الإِيمَانِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ تَمْلأُ الْمِيزَانَ، وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ تَمْلآنِ مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ، وَالصَّلاَةُ نُورٌ، وَالصَّدَقَةُ بُرْهَانٌ، وَالصَّبْرُ ضِيَاءٌ، وَالْقُرْآنُ حُجَّةٌ لَكَ أَوْ عَلَيْكَ. كُلُّ النَّاسِ يَغْدُو فَبَائِعٌ نَفْسَهُ فَمُعْتِقُهَا أَوْ مُوبِقُهَا. (٢٤) عَنِ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَنَّهُ قَالَ: «يَا عِبَادِي إِنِّي حَرَّمْتُ الظُّلْمَ عَلَى نَفْسِي، وَجَعَلْتُهُ بَيْنَكُمْ مُحَرَّمًا، فَلاَ تَظَالَمُوا۔ يَا عِبَادِي كُلُّكُمْ ضَالٌّ إِلاَّ مَنْ هَدَيْتُهُ، فَاسْتَهْدُونِي أَهْدِكُمْ۔ يَا عِبَادِي كُلُّكُمْ جَائِعٌ إِلاَّ مَنْ أَطْعَمْتُهُ، فَاسْتَطْعِمُونِي أُطْعِمْكُمْ. يَا عِبَادِي كُلُّكُمْ عَارٍ إِلاَّ مَنْ كَسَوْتُهُ، فَاسْتَكْسُونِي أَكْسُكُمْ. يَا عِبَادِي إِنَّكُمْ تُخْطِئُونَ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَأَنَا أَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا فَاسْتَغْفِرُونِي أَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ. يَا عِبَادِي إِنَّكُمْ لَنْ تَبْلُغُوا ضَرِّي فَتَضُرُّونِي وَلَنْ تَبْلُغُوا نَفْعِي فَتَنْفَعُونِي۔ يَا عِبَادِي لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى أَتْقَى قَلْبِ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ مِنْكُمْ، مَا زَادَ ذَلِكَ فِي مُلْكِي شَيْئًا۔ يَا عِبَادِي لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى أَفْجَرِ قَلْبِ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ، مَا نَقَصَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ مُلْكِي شَيْئًا۔ يَا عِبَادِي لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ قَامُوا فِي صَعِيدٍ وَاحِدٍ فَسَأَلُونِي فَأَعْطَيْتُ كُلَّ إِنْسَانٍ مَسْأَلَتَهُ، مَا نَقَصَ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا عِنْدِي إِلاَّ كَمَا يَنْقُصُ الْمِخْيَطُ إِذَا أُدْخِلَ الْبَحْرَ. يَا عِبَادِي إِنَّمَا هِيَ أَعْمَالُكُمْ أُحْصِيهَا لَكُمْ ثُمَّ أُوَفِّيكُمْ إِيَّاهَا، فَمَنْ وَجَدَ خَيْرًا فَلْيَحْمَدِ اللَّهَ وَمَنْ وَجَدَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ فَلاَ يَلُومَنَّ إِلاَّ نَفْسَهُ.» (٢٥) «إِنَّ بِكُلِّ تَسْبِيحَةٍ صَدَقَةً وَكُلِّ تَكْبِيرَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ وَكُلِّ تَحْمِيدَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ وَكُلِّ تَهْلِيلَةٍ صَدَقَةٌ وَأَمْرٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ صَدَقَةٌ وَنَهْىٌ عَنْ مُنْكَرٍ صَدَقَةٌ وَفِي بُضْعِ أَحَدِكُمْ صَدَقَةٌ… أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ وَضَعَهَا فِي حَرَامٍ أَكَانَ عَلَيْهِ فِيهَا وِزْرٌ فَكَذَلِكَ إِذَا وَضَعَهَا فِي الْحَلاَلِ كَانَ لَهُ أَجْرٌ»

(23) "Purification is half of faith, ˹saying˺ 'al-hamdu lillah' fills the scale, and ˹saying˺ 'subhan Allah' and 'al-hamdu lillah' fill what is between the heavens and the earth. Prayer is nur, charity is proof, patience is intense illumination, and the Quran is either an argument for you or against you. Every person goes out in the morning selling his own soul, either freeing it or destroying it." (24) That Allah ﷻ said: "O My servants, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and made it forbidden among you, so do not oppress one another. O My servants, all of you are astray except those whom I guide, so seek guidance from Me and I will guide you. O My servants, all of you are hungry except those whom I feed, so ask Me for food and I will feed you. O My servants, all of you are unclothed except those whom I clothe, so ask Me for clothing and I will clothe you. O My servants, you commit sins by night and by day, and I forgive all sins, so seek My forgiveness and I will forgive you. O My servants, you will never reach My harm to harm Me, nor will you reach My benefit to benefit Me. O My servants, if the first of you and the last of you, your humans and your jinn, were all to be as God-fearing as the most God-fearing heart of any one man among you, that would not increase My dominion in anything. And if they were all to be as wicked as the most wicked heart of any one man among you, that would not decrease My dominion in anything. O My servants, if the first of you and the last of you, your humans and your jinn, were to stand in one place and ask Me, and I gave each person what he asked, that would not diminish what I have any more than a needle diminishes the sea when dipped into it. O My servants, it is only your deeds that I record for you, then I will fully repay you for them." (25) "Whoever finds goodness, let him praise Allah, and whoever finds other than that, let him blame none but himself."

Deeds, Discipline, and Devotion

(٢٦) «كُلُّ سُلاَمَى مِنَ النَّاسِ عَلَيْهِ صَدَقَةٌ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ تَطْلُعُ فِيهِ الشَّمْسُ. تَعْدِلُ بَيْنَ الاِثْنَيْنِ صَدَقَةٌ، وَتُعِينُ الرَّجُلَ فِي دَابَّتِهِ فَتَحْمِلُهُ عَلَيْهَا أَوْ تَرْفَعُ لَهُ عَلَيْهَا مَتَاعَهُ صَدَقَةٌ، وَالْكَلِمَةُ الطَّيِّبَةُ صَدَقَةٌ، وَكُلُّ خَطْوَةٍ تَمْشِيهَا إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ صَدَقَةٌ، وَتُمِيطُ الأَذَى عَنِ الطَّرِيقِ صَدَقَةٌ.» (٢٧) «الْبِرُّ حُسْنُ الْخُلُقِ وَالإِثْمُ مَا حَاكَ فِي صَدْرِكَ وَكَرِهْتَ أَنْ يَطَّلِعَ عَلَيْهِ النَّاسُ.»(٢٨) «أُوصِيكُمْ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَالسَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ وَإِنْ عَبْدًا حَبَشِيًّا فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَعِشْ مِنْكُمْ بَعْدِي فَسَيَرَى اخْتِلاَفًا كَثِيرًا فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِسُنَّتِي وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الْمَهْدِيِّينَ الرَّاشِدِينَ تَمَسَّكُوا بِهَا وَعَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَمُحْدَثَاتِ الأُمُورِ فَإِنَّ كُلَّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ وَكُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلاَلَةٌ.» (٢٩) «أَلاَ أَدُلُّكَ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ الْخَيْرِ؟ الصَّوْمُ جُنَّةٌ، وَالصَّدَقَةُ تُطْفِئُ الْخَطِيئَةَ كَمَا يُطْفِئُ الْمَاءُ النَّارَ، وَصَلاَةُ الرَّجُلِ مِنْ جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ… أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكَ بِرَأْسِ الأَمْرِ كُلِّهِ وَعَمُودِهِ وَذِرْوَةِ سَنَامِهِ؟… رَأْسُ الأَمْرِ الإِسْلاَمُ وَعَمُودُهُ الصَّلاَةُ وَذِرْوَةُ سَنَامِهِ الْجِهَادُ. أَلاَ أُخْبِرُكَ بِمَلاَكِ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ؟… [فَأَخَذَ بِلِسَانِهِ] كُفَّ عَلَيْكَ هَذَا… وَهَلْ يَكُبُّ النَّاسَ فِي النَّارِ عَلَى وُجُوهِهِمْ إِلاَّ حَصَائِدُ أَلْسِنَتِهِمْ؟» (٣٠) «إِنَّ اللهَ فَرَضَ فَرَائِضَ فَلَا تُضَيِّعُوهَا، وَنَهَى عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ فَلَا تَنْتَهِكُوهَا، وَحَدَّ حُدُودًا فَلَا تَعْتَدُوهَا، وَغَفَلَ عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ مِنْ غَيْرِ نِسْيَانٍ فَلَا تَبْحَثُوا عَنْهَا»

(26) "Every joint of a person owes charity each day the sun rises. Reconciling between two people is charity. Helping a man with his mount by lifting him onto it or raising his belongings onto it is charity. A good word is charity. Every step you take toward prayer is charity. Removing harm from the road is charity." (27) "Righteousness is ˹exhibiting˺ good character, and sin is what troubles your heart, and you dislike that people become aware of it." (28) "I advise you to fear Allah, to listen and obey even if an Abyssinian servant is appointed over you. Whoever lives among you after me will see much conflict. So adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided successors; cling to it and bite onto it with your molars. Beware of newly invented matters, for every innovation is misguidance." (29) "Shall I not guide you to the gates of ˹gaining˺ goodness? Fasting is a shield, charity extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire, and a man’s prayer in the depths of the night… Shall I not inform you of the head of the matter, its pillar, and the peak of its summit? The head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is prayer, and the peak of its summit is striving in the path of Allah. Shall I not tell you what holds all of that together? [He took hold of his tongue and said:] Restrain this. And is it anything other than the harvests of their tongues that throw people on their faces into the Fire?" (30) "Allah has prescribed obligations, so do not neglect them; He has forbidden matters, so do not violate them; He has set limits, so do not transgress them; and He has remained silent about certain matters out of mercy, not forgetfulness, so do not pursue them."

Purifying the Heart, Protecting Rights, and Brotherhood

(٣١) «ازْهَدْ فِي الدُّنْيَا يُحِبَّكَ اللَّهُ، وَازْهَدْ فِيمَا فِي أَيْدِي النَّاسِ يُحِبُّوكَ.» (٣٢) «لاَ ضَرَرَ وَلاَ ضِرَارَ» (٣٣) «لَوْ يُعْطَى النَّاسُ بِدَعْوَاهُمْ لَادَّعَى رِجَالٌ أَمْوَالَ قَوْمٍ وَدِمَاءَهُمْ وَلَكِنَّ الْبَيِّنَةَ عَلَى الْمُدَّعِي وَالْيَمِينَ عَلَى مَنْ أَنْكَرَ» (٣٤) «مَنْ رَأَى مِنْكُمْ مُنْكَرًا فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِقَلْبِهِ وَذَلِكَ أَضْعَفُ الإِيمَانِ۔» (٣٥) «لاَ تَحَاسَدُوا وَلاَ تَنَاجَشُوا وَلاَ تَبَاغَضُوا وَلاَ تَدَابَرُوا، وَلاَ يَبِعْ بَعْضُكُمْ عَلَى بَيْعِ بَعْضٍ، وَكُونُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ إِخْوَانًا، الْمُسْلِمُ أَخُو الْمُسْلِمِ لاَ يَظْلِمُهُ وَلاَ يَخْذُلُهُ وَلاَ يَحْقِرُهُ، التَّقْوَى هَا هُنَا [وَيُشِيرُ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ] بِحَسْبِ امْرِئٍ مِنَ الشَّرِّ أَنْ يَحْقِرَ أَخَاهُ الْمُسْلِمَ، كُلُّ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ حَرَامٌ دَمُهُ وَمَالُهُ وَعِرْضُهُ.»

(31) "Renounce the world and Allah will love you; renounce what is in the hands of people and they will love you." (32) In the religion "There is to be no causing harm nor reciprocating harm." (33) "If people were given according to what they claim, men would claim the wealth and lives of others; rather, proof is required from the claimant, and an oath is upon the one who denies." (34) "Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; if he is unable, then with his tongue; and if he is unable, then with his heart, and that is the weakest of faith." (35) "Do not envy one another, do not artificially inflate prices, do not hate one another, do not turn away from one another, and do not undercut one another in trade. Be servants of Allah as brothers. The Muslim is the brother of a Muslim: he does not wrong him, abandon him, or belittle him. God-consciousness is here, [he said while pointing to his chest three times.] It is sufficient evil for a person to look down upon his Muslim brother. All of a Muslim is sacred to another Muslim: his blood, his wealth, and his honor."

Service, Intention, and Love of Allah

(٣٦) «مَنْ نَفَّسَ عَنْ مُؤْمِنٍ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ الدُّنْيَا، نَفَّسَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ كُرْبَةً مِنْ كُرَبِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ. وَمَنْ يَسَّرَ عَلَى مُعْسِرٍ، يَسَّرَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ، وَمَنْ سَتَرَ مُسْلِمًا، سَتَرَهُ اللَّهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ، وَاللَّهُ فِي عَوْنِ الْعَبْدِ مَا كَانَ الْعَبْدُ فِي عَوْنِ أَخِيهِ. وَمَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَلْتَمِسُ فِيهِ عِلْمًا، سَهَّلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِهِ طَرِيقًا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ، وَمَا اجْتَمَعَ قَوْمٌ فِي بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوتِ اللَّهِ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَيَتَدَارَسُونَهُ بَيْنَهُمْ، إِلاَّ نَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ السَّكِينَةُ، وَغَشِيَتْهُمُ الرَّحْمَةُ، وَحَفَّتْهُمُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ، وَذَكَرَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِيمَنْ عِنْدَهُ. وَمَنْ بَطَّأَ بِهِ عَمَلُهُ لَمْ يُسْرِعْ بِهِ نَسَبُهُ۔» (٣٧) «إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الْحَسَنَاتِ وَالسَّيِّئَاتِ، ثُمَّ بَيَّنَ ذَلِكَ: فَمَنْ هَمَّ بِحَسَنَةٍ فَلَمْ يَعْمَلْهَا كَتَبَهَا اللَّهُ لَهُ عِنْدَهُ حَسَنَةً كَامِلَةً، فَإِنْ هُوَ هَمَّ بِهَا فَعَمِلَهَا كَتَبَهَا اللَّهُ لَهُ عِنْدَهُ عَشْرَ حَسَنَاتٍ إِلَى سَبْعِمِائَةِ ضِعْفٍ إِلَى أَضْعَافٍ كَثِيرَةٍ، وَمَنْ هَمَّ بِسَيِّئَةٍ فَلَمْ يَعْمَلْهَا كَتَبَهَا اللَّهُ لَهُ عِنْدَهُ حَسَنَةً كَامِلَةً، فَإِنْ هُوَ هَمَّ بِهَا فَعَمِلَهَا كَتَبَهَا اللَّهُ لَهُ سَيِّئَةً وَاحِدَةً.» (٣٨) «إِنَّ اللَّهَ قَالَ: مَنْ عَادَى لِي وَلِيًّا فَقَدْ آذَنْتُهُ بِالْحَرْبِ، وَمَا تَقَرَّبَ إِلَىَّ عَبْدِي بِشَىْءٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَىَّ مِمَّا افْتَرَضْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَمَا يَزَالُ عَبْدِي يَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَىَّ بِالنَّوَافِلِ حَتَّى أُحِبَّهُ فَإِذَا أَحْبَبْتُهُ كُنْتُ سَمْعَهُ الَّذِي يَسْمَعُ بِهِ وَبَصَرَهُ الَّذِي يُبْصِرُ بِهِ وَيَدَهُ الَّتِي يَبْطُشُ بِهَا وَرِجْلَهُ الَّتِي يَمْشِي بِهَا وَإِنْ سَأَلَنِي لأُعْطِيَنَّهُ وَلَئِنِ اسْتَعَاذَنِي لأُعِيذَنَّهُ وَمَا تَرَدَّدْتُ عَنْ شَىْءٍ أَنَا فَاعِلُهُ تَرَدُّدِي عَنْ نَفْسِ الْمُؤْمِنِ يَكْرَهُ الْمَوْتَ وَأَنَا أَكْرَهُ مَسَاءَتَهُ.» (٣٩) «إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَجَاوَزَ عَنْ أُمَّتِي الْخَطَأَ وَالنِّسْيَانَ وَمَا اسْتُكْرِهُوا عَلَيْهِ.»

(36) "Whoever relieves a believer of a hardship from the hardships of this world, Allah will relieve him of a hardship from the hardships of the Day of Resurrection. Whoever makes things easy for one in difficulty, Allah will make things easy for him in this world and the Hereafter. Whoever conceals a Muslim, Allah will conceal him in this world and the Hereafter. Allah continues to aid the servant so long as the servant aids his brother. Whoever follows a path seeking knowledge, Allah will make easy for him a path to Paradise. No people gather in a house from the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, except that tranquility descends upon them, mercy envelops them, the angels surround them, and Allah mentions them among those who are with Him. And whoever is slowed by his deeds will not be hastened forward by his lineage." (37) "Allah has recorded good deeds and bad deeds, then clarified that: whoever intends a good deed but does not do it, Allah records it for him as a complete good deed; if he intends it and does it, Allah records it for him as ten good deeds up to seven hundred times, or many times more. Whoever intends an evil deed but does not do it, Allah records it for him as a complete good deed; but if he intends it and does it, Allah records it as a single bad deed." (38) "Allah ﷻ said: Whoever shows enmity to a close ally of Mine, I declare war upon him. My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than what I have made obligatory upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me through voluntary acts until I love him. When I love him, I become his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks. If he asks Me, I will surely give him, and if he seeks refuge in Me, I will surely grant him refuge. I do not hesitate about anything I do as I hesitate about taking the soul of the believer: he dislikes death, and I dislike causing him distress." (39) "Allah has pardoned my community for mistakes, forgetfulness, and what they do when they are ˹oppressively˺ forced to do it."

Worldly Detachment and Turning to Allah

(٤٠) «كُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَأَنَّكَ غَرِيبٌ أَوْ عَابِرُ سَبِيلٍ.» (٤١) «لا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى يَكُونَ هَوَاهُ تَبَعًا لِمَا جِئْتُ بِهِ۔» (٤٢) «قَالَ اللَّهُ: يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ إِنَّكَ مَا دَعَوْتَنِي وَرَجَوْتَنِي، غَفَرْتُ لَكَ عَلَى مَا كَانَ فِيكَ وَلاَ أُبَالِي؛ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ لَوْ بَلَغَتْ ذُنُوبُكَ عَنَانَ السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ اسْتَغْفَرْتَنِي، غَفَرْتُ لَكَ وَلاَ أُبَالِي؛ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ إِنَّكَ لَوْ أَتَيْتَنِي بِقُرَابِ الأَرْضِ خَطَايَا ثُمَّ لَقِيتَنِي لاَ تُشْرِكُ بِي شَيْئًا، لأَتَيْتُكَ بِقُرَابِهَا مَغْفِرَةً.»

(40) "Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a traveler passing through." (41) "None of you truly believes until his desires follow what I have brought." (42) "Allah says: O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and place your hope in Me, I will forgive you for whatever you have done, and I do not mind. O son of Adam, if your sins were to reach the clouds of the sky and then you sought My forgiveness, I would forgive you, and I do not mind. O son of Adam, if you were to come to Me with sins nearly filling the earth, then meet Me without associating anything with Me, I would come to you with forgiveness nearly filling it."