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This book is a compilation of some of the wise sayings of the prophet (s), of the companions, and of the pious predecessors and ascetics. Reflecting on these wise sayings and heeding these counsels will assist in infusing us with the requisite awareness and fervour to prepare for the Day of Judgement. Verliy, we are all in need of such counsel, for our Day of Judgment begins not when the world ends, but when our life comes to an end - which is indeed imminent - as the Prophet stated
Counsel of Threes.
[1] It has been reported that the Prophet (s) said, "The one who wakes up in the morning and complains about the scarcity of livelihood, it is as though he is complaining against his Lord. The one who wakes up and is sad over the affairs of the dunya, is as though he has woken up angry with Allah. And the one who humbles himself in front of a rich man because of his wealth will have lost two thirds of his Religion."
[2] Abu Bakr al-Siddiq said, "There are three things which can not be attained through another three: wealth with hope, youth with dyeing [the hair], and health with medication."
[3] Umar ibn al-Khattab said, "good interaction with people is half of intelligence, good questioning is half of knowledge, and good planning is half of subsistence."
[4] Uthman ibn Affan said, "the one who leaves the dunya Allah Exalted will love him; and the one who leaves sins, the Angels will love him; and the one who has no craving for the possessions of the Muslims, the Muslims will love him."
Counsel of Nines.
[1] The prophet (s) said, " Allah the Exalted revealed to Musa ibn Imran (Moses) in the Torah that the source of all mistakes are three - arrogance, envy and greed. Another six diseases were born out of these three, and thus they became nine - satiety, excessive sleep, excessive rest, love of wealth, love of praise, and love of leadership."
About the Author:
Abul Fadl Shihab al-Din Ahmad ibn Ali al-Kannani al-Asqalani, better known by the name of Imam Ibn Hajar, was born in Cairo in 773/1372. He bagan his studies at the age of five and completed the memorisation of the Qur'an by the age of nine. A Shafi'i scholar and hadith master, he studied under renowned scholars in Cairo, Yemen and the Hijaz. Known as Shaykh al-Islam, scholars travelled from far away lands to take knowledge from him. Appointed to the position of chief-judge several times, he authored more than fifty works on hadith, history, biography, Quranic exegesis, poetry and Shafi'i jurisprudence; among the most famous of them is his fourteen-volume commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari called Fath al-Bari. He passed away in Cairo in 852/1449.
Publisher: Awakening Publications USA (2004)
Pages: 66 Binding: Paperback
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