Trust In God
The Countless Blessings of God
Ibn Asakir records this saying of Abu Darda: “He who fails to realize that God has blessed him, not only with regard to food and drink, but in many other ways, has understood but little; such a man stands on the brink of eternal damnation.”
(HILYAT AL-AULIYA)
Devotion to God: food for the soul
The Prophet Muhammad is recorded as having said: “When I pass the night in vigil, I have a Sustainer and a Nourisher to provide me with food and drink.”
Constant fear of God
The second Caliph of Islam, Umar ibn Khattab once wrote a letter to Abu Musa Ash’ari, offering him this advice: “Remain ever in fear of God; and learn the Book of God, for it is the source of all knowledge; for weary hearts, it is the freshness of spring.
(AL-DHAHAK)
No limit to God’s mercy
Muhammad ibn Kaab al Qurazi records this saying of Ali ibn Abu Talib: “Once God has opened the gates to thanksgiving, He will not close the gates to abundance. When God opens the gate to prayer, He will not close the gates to acceptance of it. And if He throws wide the gates to repentance, He will never close them to forgiveness.
(IBN MAJAH, SUNAN)
All power is in the hands of God
The Prophet sent Dhamam ibn Thalabah to the latter’s own tribe-Banu Saad ibn Bakr-with instructions to tell them about the monotheism of Islam. Dhamam then came before his people and urged them to renounce idol worship. “How wicked the worship of Lat and Uzzah,” he said, Lat and Uzzah being the names of the idols of saints that his people worshipped. They warned him not to speak in this way; he would fall a prey to leprosy or madness; he should be careful. Dhamam’s answer to them was: “Woe betide you! By God, there is nothing that Lat or Uzzah can do to anyone by way of good or evil.
(IBN HISHAM, AL-SIRAH AL-NABA WIYYAH)
Everything happens through
the instrumentality of God
When it was suggested to Ali ibn Abu Talib, the fourth Caliph, that he should have a bodyguard, he said, “Man’s destiny is his bodyguard.” According to one account, he said, “One who does not realize that whatever befell him was inescapable and that whatever escaped him was beyond his grasp, has not experienced true faith.”
(ABU DAWUD, SUNAN)
Even the most ordinary
things are great blessings
This statement is attributed to Aishah: “Whenever a servant of God drinks plain water and then has no difficulty in either digesting or discharging it, it is his duty to thank God for it.”
(IBN ASAKIR)
Islam: a practical guide to daily living
Hamid Ibn Abdul Rahman ibn Auf relates how a man came to the Prophet and said to him, “Please give me some words of wisdom by which my daily living may be guided; but not too many, lest I fail to remember them.” The Prophet’s answer to him was: “Do not become angry.”
(MALIK, MUWATTA)
Meet your Lord with a clean record.
A certain individual once wrote to Abdullah ibn Umar to ask him what true knowledge was. The latter replied that there was more to true knowledge than could be written about in a letter, but that, very briefly, he would ask him, if it was possible, to refrain from besmirching the honour of Muslims, spilling their blood or seizing their property; to develop a firm attachment for the Muslim community, and only then to go and meet his God.
It is only under stress that a man appears in his true colours
“It is only in moments of anger that forbearance can come to the fore.”
(IBN ABDUL BARR)
Being content with what God ordains
Anas records the Prophet as repeating these words of AI-mighty God: “Certain of my servants are firm in their faith either because of poverty or because of affluence; because of sickness or because of health. Were I to reverse the conditions of their lives, their faith would be shaken to its very foundations. Certain of my servants seek to serve me in particular ways. This I prevent, lest pride taint their worship. I know what is in the hearts of My servants, and I ordain their affairs accordingly. “
(AL-TABARANI)
