Forty Hadith on Mindfulness
Angels الملائكة, Character الأخلاق, Day of Resurrection يوم القيامة, Death الموت, Excellence الإحسان, Hereafter الآخرة, Humility التواضع, Manners الأدب, Mindfulness المراقبة, Modesty الحياء, Patience الصبر, Remembrance الذكر, Repentance التوبة, Satan الشيطان, Supplication الدعاء, Virtue الفضيلة
In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

Hadith 1
Excellence and Mindfulness الإِحسَان والمُرَاقَبَة

Umar ibn al-Khattab reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

الْإِحْسَان أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ

Excellence is to worship Allah as if you see Him, for if you do not see Him, He surely sees you.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 8, Grade: Sahih

And the Prophet said:

اعْبُدِ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ وَاعْدُدْ نَفْسَكَ مِنَ الْمَوْتَى وَاذْكُرِ اللَّهَ عِنْدَ كُلِّ حَجَرٍ وَشَجَرٍ وَإِذَا عَمِلْتَ السَّيِّئَةَ فَاعْمَلْ بِجَنْبِهَا حَسَنَةً السِّرُّ بِالسِّرِّ وَالْعَلَانِيَةُ بِالْعَلَانِيَةِ

Worship Allah as if you can see Him and prepare yourself for death. Remember Allah by every rock and tree. If you commit a bad deed, accompany it with a good deed, secretly for a secret deed and publicly for a public deed.

Source: Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah 34325, Grade: Hasan li ghayrihi

Al-Qushayri commented on this tradition, writing:

المراقبة علم العبد باطلاع الرب سبحانه وتعالى عَلَيْهِ واستدامته لِهَذَا العلم مراقبة لربه وَهَذَا أصل كُل خير لَهُ ولا يكاد يصل إِلَى هذه الرتبة إلا بَعْد فراغه من المحاسبة … فيعلم أَنَّهُ سبحانه عَلَيْهِ رقيب ومن قلبه قريب يعلم أحواله ويرى أفعاله ويسمع أقواله

Mindfulness is the knowledge of a servant that the Almighty Lord is aware of him. Persistence in this knowledge is ‘mindfulness’ of one’s Lord. This is the origin of every virtue. One can hardly achieve this rank unless he exhausts himself in self-discipline… So he knows that his Almighty Lord is watchful over him and is close to his heart. He knows his inner-states, He sees his actions, and He hears his words.

Source: al-Risālat al-Qushayrīyah 1/329

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Hadith 2
Wayfaring السُّلُوك

Abu Darda reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

مَنْ سَلَكَ طَرِيقًا يَبْتَغِي فِيهِ عِلْمًا سَلَكَ اللهُ بِهِ طَرِيقًا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَإِنَّ الْمَلَائِكَةَ لَتَضَعُ أَجْنِحَتَهَا رِضًى لِطَالِبِ الْعِلْمِ وَإِنَّ الْعَالِمَ لَيَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ حَتَّى الْحِيتَانُ فِي الْمَاءِ وَفَضْلُ الْعَالِمِ عَلَى الْعَابِدِ كَفَضْلِ الْقَمَرِ عَلَى سَائِرِ الْكَوَاكِبِ إِنَّ الْعُلَمَاءَ وَرَثَةُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ إِنَّ الْأَنْبِيَاءَ لَمْ يُوَرِّثُوا دِينَارًا وَلَا دِرْهَمًا إِنَّمَا وَرَّثُوا الْعِلْمَ فَمَنْ أَخَذَ بِهِ أَخَذَ بِحَظٍّ وَافِرٍ

Whoever travels a path in search of knowledge, Allah will make him traverse a path to Paradise. Verily, the angels lower their wings in pleasure for the seeker of knowledge. The inhabitants of the heavens and earth, even the fish in the depths of the water, seek forgiveness for the scholar. The virtue of the scholar over the worshiper is like the superiority of the moon over the stars. Verily, the scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets. The Prophets do not leave behind gold or silver coins, but rather they only leave behind knowledge. Whoever takes it has taken hold of an abundant fortune.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2682, Grade: Sahih

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Hadith 3
Purity of Heart تَزكِيَة القَلب

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to me:

يَا بُنَيَّ إِنْ قَدَرْتَ أَنْ تُصْبِحَ وَتُمْسِيَ لَيْسَ فِي قَلْبِكَ غِشٌّ لِأَحَدٍ فَافْعَلْ

Young man, if you are able every morning and evening to remove any malevolence in your heart towards anyone, then do so.

Then, the Prophet said to me:

يَا بُنَيَّ وَذَلِكَ مِنْ سُنَّتِي وَمَنْ أَحْيَا سُنَّتِي فَقَدْ أَحَبَّنِي وَمَنْ أَحَبَّنِي كَانَ مَعِي فِي الْجَنَّة

Young man, that is my Sunnah. Whoever revives my Sunnah has loved me, and whoever loves me will be with me in Paradise.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2678, Grade: Hasan

And the Prophet said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَى صُوَرِكُمْ وَأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَأَعْمَالِكُمْ

Verily, Allah does not look at your appearance or wealth, but rather He looks at your hearts and actions.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2564, Grade: Sahih

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Hadith 4
Guarding the Tongue حِفظ اللِّسَان

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

لَا يَسْتَقِيمُ إِيمَانُ عَبْدٍ حَتَّى يَسْتَقِيمَ قَلْبُهُ وَلَا يَسْتَقِيمُ قَلْبُهُ حَتَّى يَسْتَقِيمَ لِسَانُهُ وَلَا يَدْخُلُ رَجُلٌ الْجَنَّةَ لَا يَأْمَنُ جَارُهُ بَوَائِقَهُ

The faith of a servant is not upright until his heart is upright, and his heart is not upright until his tongue is upright. A man will not enter Paradise if his neighbor is not secure from his evil.

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 13047, Grade: Hasan

And the Prophet said:

إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِالْكَلِمَةِ مِنْ رِضْوَانِ اللَّهِ لَا يُلْقِي لَهَا بَالًا يَرْفَعُهُ اللَّهُ بِهَا دَرَجَاتٍ وَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ لَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِالْكَلِمَةِ مِنْ سَخَطِ اللَّهِ لَا يُلْقِي لَهَا بَالًا يَهْوِي بِهَا فِي جَهَنَّمَ

Verily, a servant may speak a word pleasing to Allah, thinking nothing of it, yet by it Allah raises his status by a degree. Verily, a servant may speak a word displeasing to Allah, thinking nothing of it, yet by it he plummets into Hell.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6478, Grade: Sahih

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Hadith 5
Guarding Thoughts حِفظ الخَوَاطِر

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ إِذَا قَامَ يُصَلِّي جَاءَ الشَّيْطَانُ فَلَبَسَ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى لَا يَدْرِيَ كَمْ صَلَّى فَإِذَا وَجَدَ ذَلِكَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَسْجُدْ سَجْدَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ

Verily, if one of you stands for prayer, Satan comes to distract him until he does not know how many cycles he has performed. When that happens to one of you, let him perform two prostrations while he is sitting.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1232, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

Ibn al-Qayyim writes:

أحدهما حراسة الخواطر وحفظها والحذر من إهمالها والاسترسال معها فإن أصل الفساد كله من قبلها يجيء لأنها هى بذر الشيطان والنفس فى أَرض القلب

First, to guard one’s thoughts and protect them, to beware of neglecting them and indulging with them. Indeed, it is the origin of every evil before it comes to be, as they are the seed of Satan and the lower-self in the soil of the heart.

Source: Ṭarīq al-Hijratayn 1/175

And Al-Qushayri writes:

وَقَالَ بَعْضهم من راقب اللَّه تَعَالَى فِي خواطره عصمه اللَّه تَعَالَى فِي جوارحه

Some of the predecessors said: Whoever is mindful of Allah Almighty in his thoughts, Allah will protect him in his limbs.

Source: al-Risālat al-Qushayrīyah 1/330

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Hadith 6
Silence الصَّمت

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

عَلَيْكَ بِحُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ وَطُولِ الصَّمْتِ فَوَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا تَجَمَّلَ الْخَلَائِقُ بِمِثْلِهِمَا

You must have good character and observe long periods of silence. By the One in whose hand is my soul, no behaviors are as beautifying as these two.

Source: Musnad al-Bazzār 7001, Grade: Hasan

And the Prophet said:

عَلَيْكَ بِطُولِ الصَّمْتِ فَإِنَّهُ مَطْرَدَةٌ لِلشَّيْطَانِ وَعَوْنٌ لَكَ عَلَى أَمْرِ دِينِكَ

You must observe long periods of silence, for it will drive away Satan and help you in the matter of your religion.

Source: Shu’ab al-Imān lil-Bayhaqī 4592, Grade: Sahih li ghayrihi

Abu Bakr al-Farisi, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked about the practice of inward silence and he said:

ترك الاشتغال بالماضي والمستقبل

It is to abandon preoccupation with the past and the future.

Source: al-Risālah al-Qushayrīyah 1/247

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Hadith 7
Solitude الخَلوَة

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

سَبَقَ الْمُفَرِّدُونَ

Those in solitude have raced ahead.

They said, “O Messenger of Allah, who are those in solitude?” The Prophet said:

الذَّاكِرُونَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا وَالذَّاكِرَاتُ

They are men and women who remember Allah often.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2676, Grade: Sahih

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Hadith 8
Presence الحُضُور

‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amir reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَتَوَضَّأُ فَيُحْسِنُ وُضُوءَهُ ثُمَّ يَقُومُ فَيُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ مُقْبِلٌ عَلَيْهِمَا بِقَلْبِهِ وَوَجْهِهِ إِلَّا وَجَبَتْ لَهُ الْجَنَّةُ

No Muslim performs ablution well and then prays two cycles with his heart and direction focused, except that Paradise will be necessary for him.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 234, Grade: Sahih

Al-Qusharyi writes:

وَأَمَّا الحضور فَقَدْ يَكُون حاضرا بالحق لأنه إِذَا غاب عَنِ الخلق حضر بالحق … وَذَلِكَ لاستيلاء ذكر الحق عَلَى قلبه فَهُوَ حاضر بقلبه بَيْنَ يدي ربه تَعَالَى فعلى حسب غيبته عَنِ الخلق يَكُون حضوره بالحق

As for ‘presence,’ it is that one is ‘present’ with the Truth, as being absent from the creation is being ‘present’ with the Truth… That is due to one’s heart being occupied by the remembrance of the Truth, such that one is present before his Almighty Lord. To the extent one is absent from the creation, one is present with the Truth.

Source: al-Risālat al-Qushayrīyah 1/174

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Hadith 9
Good Thoughts of Allah حُسنُ الظَّنِّ بِاللَّه

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “

إِنَّ اللَّهَ جَلَّ وَعَلا يَقُولُ أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِي إِنْ ظَنَّ خَيْرًا فَلَهُ وَإِنْ ظَنَّ شَرًّا فَلَهُ

Allah Almighty says: I am as My servants expect of Me. If he thinks good of Me, he will have it. If he thinks evil of Me, he will have it.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 639, Grade: Sahih

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Hadith 10
Angelic Inspiration مَلَائِكَةُ الإِلهَام

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ لِلشَّيْطَانِ لَمَّةً بِابْنِ آدَمَ وَلِلْمَلَكِ لَمَّةً فَأَمَّا لَمَّةُ الشَّيْطَانِ فَإِيعَادٌ بِالشَّرِّ وَتَكْذِيبٌ بِالحَقِّ وَأَمَّا لَمَّةُ الْمَلَكِ فَإِيعَادٌ بِالخَيْرِ وَتَصْدِيقٌ بِالحَقِّ فَمَنْ وَجَدَ ذَلِكَ فَلْيَعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ مِنَ اللهِ فَلْيَحْمَدِ اللَّهَ وَمَنْ وَجَدَ الأُخْرَى فَلْيَتَعَوَّذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

Verily, Satan has influence with the son of Adam and the angel has influence. As for the influence of Satan, he promises evil and denies the truth. As for the influence of the angel, he promises goodness and affirms the truth. Whoever finds this goodness, let him know that it is from Allah and let him praise Allah. Whoever finds something else, let him seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2988, Grade: Sahih

Al-Ghazali writes:

علم المكاشفة وهو علم الباطن وذلك غاية العلوم فقد قال بعض العارفين من لم يكن له نصيب من هذا العلم أخاف عليه سوء الخاتمة … ومعرفة القلب وكيفية تصادم جنود الملائكة والشياطين فيه ومعرفة الفرق بين لمة الملك ولمة الشيطان

The knowledge of unveiling is the internal science, which is the culmination of all sciences. Some of the gnostics said: I fear an evil ending for one who has no share of this knowledge… It is the realization of the heart and the modality by which the legions of angels and devils clash within it, and the realization of the difference between the troop of angels and the troop of devils.

Source: Iḥyā’ ‘Ulūm al-Dīn 1/19-20

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Hadith 11
Satanic Whispering وَسوَاس الشَّيطَان

Abu Huraira reported: Some of the companions came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and they asked him, “We find within ourselves that which is too grievous to speak of.” The Prophet said:

وَقَدْ وَجَدْتُمُوهُ

You have indeed found it so?

They said yes. The Prophet said:

ذَاكَ صَرِيحُ الْإِيمَانِ

That is pure faith.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 132, Grade: Sahih

Abu al-‘Ala’ reported: Uthman ibn al-‘As came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said, “O Messenger of Allah, Satan interferes between me, my prayer, and my recitation, confusing me.” The Prophet said:

ذَاكَ شَيْطَانٌ يُقَالُ لَهُ خَنْزَبٌ فَإِذَا أَحْسَسْتَهُ فَتَعَوَّذْ بِاللهِ مِنْهُ وَاتْفُلْ عَلَى يَسَارِكَ ثَلَاثًا

Such is Satan, who is called rotten. When you sense him, then seek refuge in Allah from him and puff to your left three times.

Uthman said:

فَفَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ فَأَذْهَبَهُ اللهُ عَنِّي

I did so and Allah took him away from me.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2203, Grade: Sahih

Al-Qurtubi reported: One of the righteous predecessors said to his student, “What will you do if Satan entices you to sin?” The student said, “I will fight him!” The elder said, “And if he returns?” The student said, “I will fight him!” The elder said, “And if he returns?” The student said, “I will fight him!” The elder said, “This will take too long. What do you think if you passed by some sheep and its guard dog barked at you and prevented you from crossing? What would you do?” The student said, “I would endure and renew my efforts.” The elder said:

هَذَا يَطُولُ عَلَيْكَ وَلَكِنِ اسْتَغِثْ بِصَاحِبِ الْغَنَمِ يَكُفُّهُ عَنْكَ

This would take too long. Rather, seek help from the owner of the sheep and He will suffice you.

Source: Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī 7:200

Ibn Taymiyyah commented:

إذا هاش عليك كلب الغنم فلا تشتغل بمحاربته ومدافعته وعليك بالراعي فاستغث به فهو يصرف عنك الكلب ويكفيكه

If the shepherd’s dog troubles you, do not busy yourself warring and defending against it. You must appeal to the shepherd, who will direct the dog away from you and suffice you.

Source: Asrār al-Ṣalāt li-Ibn al-Qayyim 1/76

Ibn al-Qayyim writes:

وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ وُرُودَ الْخَاطِرِ لَا يَضُرُّ وَإِنَّمَا يَضُرُّ اسْتِدْعَاؤُهُ وَمُحَادَثَتُهُ فَالْخَاطِرُ كَالْمَارِّ عَلَى الطَّرِيقِ فَإِنْ تَرَكْتَهُ مَرَّ وَانْصَرَفَ عَنْكَ

Know that passing thoughts are not harmful. Indeed, they are only harmful if they are sought after and engaged. For a thought is like a passerby on the road; if you ignore him, he will depart from you.

Source: al-Jawāb al-Kāfī 1/157

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Hadith 12
Self-talk حَدِيث النَّفس

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

وَمَنْ كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِاللهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَلْيَقُلْ خَيْرًا أَوْ لِيَصْمُتْ

Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak goodness or remain silent.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6136, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

Al-Hasan al-Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, said,

إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْعَقْلِ لَمْ يَزَالُوا يَعُودُونَ بِالذِّكْرِ عَلَى الْفِكْرِ وَبِالْفِكْرِ عَلَى الذِّكْرِ حَتَّى اسْتَيْقَظَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ فَنَطَقَتْ بِالْحِكْمَةِ

Verily, the people of understanding continue to alternate from remembrance to reflection, and reflection to remembrance, until their hearts awaken and speak with wisdom.

Source: Ḥilyat al-Awliyā’ 10/19

Sufyan al-Thawri, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

حُرمت قيام الليل خمسة أشهر بذنب أذنبته

I was deprived of the night prayer for five months because of a sin I committed.

It was said, “What was it?” Sufyan said:

رأيت رجلاً بكى فقلت في نفسي هذا مراء

I saw a man weeping, and I said to myself: This one is showing off.

Source: Qūt al-Qulūb 1/75

Al-Nawawi commented:

اعلم أن سوء الظنّ حرام مثل القول فكما يحرم أن تحدّث غيرك بمساوئ إنسان يحرم أن تحدّث نفسك بذلك وتسئ الظنّ به … فأما الخواطر وحديث النفس إذا لم يستقرَّ ويستمرّ عليه صاحبُه فمعفوٌ عنه باتفاق العلماء لأنه لا اختيارَ له في وقوعه ولا طريقَ له إلى الانفكاك عنه

Know that bad assumptions are forbidden the same as words, for just as it is forbidden to speak about another person in an evil manner, it is forbidden to speak to yourself with that and to cultivate bad assumptions… As for initial thoughts and suggestions of the ego, if they are not settled or elongated by their owner, they are forgiven by the consensus of the scholars, as he had no choice in their occurrence and no way to detach himself from them.

Source: al-Adhkār 1/344-345

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Hadith 13
Conscience الضَّمِير

Wabisah ibn Ma’bad reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said to me:

جِئْتَ تَسْأَلُ عَنْ الْبِرِّ وَالْإِثْمِ

Have you come to ask about righteousness and sin?

I said yes. The Prophet clenched his fist and struck his chest, saying:

اسْتَفْتِ نَفْسَكَ اسْتَفْتِ قَلْبَكَ يَا وَابِصَةُ ثَلَاثًا الْبِرُّ مَا اطْمَأَنَّتْ إِلَيْهِ النَّفْسُ وَاطْمَأَنَّ إِلَيْهِ الْقَلْبُ وَالْإِثْمُ مَا حَاكَ فِي النَّفْسِ وَتَرَدَّدَ فِي الصَّدْرِ وَإِنْ أَفْتَاكَ النَّاسُ وَأَفْتَوْكَ

Consult your soul, consult your heart, O Wabisah. Righteousness is what reassures your soul and your heart, and sin is what wavers in your soul and puts tension in your chest, even if people approve it in their judgments again and again.

Source: Sunan al-Dārimī 2533, Grade: Hasan

Ibn Sirin, may Allah have mercy on him, said:

إِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِعَبْدٍ خَيْرًا جَعَلَ لَهُ وَاعِظًا مِنْ قَلْبِهِ يَأْمُرُهُ وَيَنْهَاهُ

If Allah wills good for a servant, He appoints a preacher from his heart to command and prohibit him.

Source: al-Zuhd li-Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal 1768

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Hadith 14
Acceptance الاِستِسلاَم

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

احْرِصْ عَلَى مَا يَنْفَعُكَ وَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْجَزْ وَإِنْ أَصَابَكَ شَيْءٌ فَلَا تَقُلْ لَوْ أَنِّي فَعَلْتُ كَانَ كَذَا وَكَذَا وَلَكِنْ قُلْ قَدَرُ اللَّهِ وَمَا شَاءَ فَعَلَ فَإِنَّ لَوْ تَفْتَحُ عَمَلَ الشَّيْطَانِ

Be eager for what benefits you, seek help from Allah, and do not be frustrated. If something befalls you, then do not say: If only I had done something else! Rather say: Allah has decreed what He wills. Verily, the phrase ‘if only’ opens the way for the work of Satan.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2664, Grade: Sahih

Al-Nawawi commented on this tradition, writing:

قَوْلُهُ فَإِنَّ لَوْ تَفْتَحُ عَمَلَ الشَّيْطَانِ أَيْ يُلْقِي فِي الْقَلْبِ مُعَارَضَةَ الْقَدَرِ وَيُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ الشَّيْطَانُ

His statement, ‘It opens the way for the work of Satan,’ means he casts into the heart opposition to the divine decree, and Satan tempts him with it.

Source: Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 16/216

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Hadith 15
Satisfaction with Providence الرِّضَا بِالقَدَر

Abu al-‘Ala’ reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ اللهَ يَبْتَلِي عَبْدَهُ بِمَا أَعْطَاهُ فَمَنْ رَضِيَ بِمَا قَسَمَ اللهُ لَهُ بَارَكَ اللهُ لَهُ فِيهِ وَوَسَّعَهُ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَرْضَ لَمْ يُبَارِكْ لَهُ

Verily, Allah will put His servant to trial in what He gives him. Whoever is pleased with what Allah has apportioned for him, then Allah will bless him in it and expand it. Whoever is not pleased, he will never be blessed in it.

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 20279, Grade: Sahih

And the Prophet said:

مِنْ سَعَادَةِ ابْنِ آدَمَ رِضَاهُ بِمَا قَضَى اللهُ لَهُ وَمِنْ شَقَاوَةِ ابْنِ آدَمَ تَرْكُهُ اسْتِخَارَةَ اللهِ وَمِنْ شَقَاوَةِ ابْنِ آدَمَ سَخَطُهُ بِمَا قَضَى اللهُ لَهُ

Among the happiness of the son of Adam is to be satisfied with what Allah has decreed for him. Among the misery of the son of Adam is to abandon asking Allah for guidance, and among the misery of the son of Adam is displeasure with what Allah has decreed for him.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2151, Grade: Sahih

And the Prophet said:

اللَّهُمَّ وَأَسْأَلُكَ الرِّضَا بِالْقَدَرِ

O Allah, I ask You for contentment with the decree of providence.

Source: al-Sunnah li-Ibn Abī ‘Āṣim 128, Grade: Sahih

Abu Darda, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

ذُرْوَةُ الْإِيمَانِ أَرْبَعٌ الصَّبْرُ لِلْحُكْمِ وَالرِضَا بِالْقَدَرِ وَالْإِخْلَاصُ وَالتَّوَكُّلُ وَالِاسْتِسْلَامُ لِلرَّبِّ

The pinnacle of faith is in four things: patience with the judgment of Allah, pleasure with the decree of Allah, sincerity and trust in Allah, and surrender to the Lord.

Source: Sharḥ Uṣūl I’tiqād Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jamā’ah 1697

—

Hadith 16
Gratitude الشُّكر

Thawban reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

أَفْضَلُ الْمَالِ لِسَانٌ ذَاكِرٌ وَقَلْبٌ شَاكِرٌ وَزَوْجَةٌ مُؤْمِنَةٌ تُعِينُهُ عَلَى إِيمَانِهِ

The best wealth is a tongue that remembers Allah, a grateful heart, and a believing spouse to help one in his faith.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3094, Grade: Hasan

And the Prophet said:

مَنْ لَمْ يَشْكُرْ الْقَلِيلَ لَمْ يَشْكُرْ الْكَثِيرَ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَشْكُرْ النَّاسَ لَمْ يَشْكُرْ اللَّهَ وَالتَّحَدُّثُ بِنِعْمَةِ اللَّهِ شُكْرٌ وَتَرْكُهَا كُفْرٌ

Whoever is not grateful for small things will not be grateful for large things. Whoever is not thankful to people is not thankful to Allah. Mentioning the blessings of Allah is gratitude, and ignoring them is ingratitude.

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 18449, Grade: Sahih

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Hadith 17
Praising Allah التَّحمِيد

Aisha reported: If the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, saw something he liked, he would say:

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي بِنِعْمَتِهِ تَتِمُّ الصَّالِحَاتُ

All praise is due to Allah, by whose favor good deeds are accomplished.

If the Prophet saw something he disliked, he would say:

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ

All praise is due to Allah in every circumstance.

Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 3803, Grade: Sahih

And the Prophet said:

إِذَا عَطَسَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلهِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ وَلْيَقُلِ الَّذِي يَرُدُّ عَلَيْهِ يَرْحَمُكَ اللهُ وَلْيَقُلْ هُوَ يَهْدِيكُمُ اللهُ وَيُصْلِحُ بَالَكُمْ

When one of you sneezes, let him say: All praise is due to Allah in every circumstance. Let those respond to him by saying: May Allah have mercy upon you. Let him respond to them by saying: May Allah guide you and amend your affairs.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2741, Grade: Sahih

And the Prophet said:

أَوَّلُ مَنْ يُدْعَى إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ الْحَمَّادُونَ الَّذِينَ يَحْمَدُونَ اللَّهَ عَلَى السَّرَّاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ

The first to be called to Paradise are those who always praised Allah in times of prosperity and adversity.

Source: al-Mu’jam al-Kabīr lil-Ṭabarānī 12345, Grade: Sahih

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Hadith 18
Optimism التَّفَاؤُل

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

لَا طِيَرَةَ وَخَيْرُهَا الْفَأْلُ

There are no omens, but the best of it is optimism.

They said, “O Messenger of Allah, what is optimism?” The Prophet said:

الْكَلِمَةُ الصَّالِحَةُ يَسْمَعُهَا أَحَدُكُمْ

A righteous word one of you hears.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5754, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

And the Prophet said:

يُعْجِبُنِي الْفَأْلُ الْكَلِمَةُ الْحَسَنَةُ الْكَلِمَةُ الطَّيِّبَةُ

I am amazed by optimism, the good word, the kind word.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2224, Grade: Sahih

Ibn Abbas reported:

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَتَفَاءَلُ وَلَا يَتَطَيَّرُ وَيُعْجِبُهُ الِاسْمُ الْحَسَنُ

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was optimistic, he did not see evil omens, and he liked good names.

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 2762, Grade: Sahih

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Hadith 19
Contentment القَنَاعَة

Fadalah ibn ‘Ubayd reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

طُوبَى لِمَنْ هُدِيَ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ وَكَانَ عَيْشُهُ كَفَافًا وَقَنَعَ

Blessed is one who is guided to Islam, whose livelihood is sufficient, and who is content with what he has.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2349, Grade: Sahih

And the Prophet said:

مَنْ أَصْبَحَ مِنْكُمْ آمِنًا فِي سِرْبِهِ مُعَافًى فِي جَسَدِهِ عِنْدَهُ قُوتُ يَوْمِهِ فَكَأَنَّمَا حِيزَتْ لَهُ الدُّنْيَا

Whoever among you wakes up secure in his property, healthy in his body, and he has his food for the day, it is as if he were given the entire world.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2346, Grade: Hasan

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Hadith 20
Striving in Supplication الِاجتِهَاد فِي الدُّعَاء

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

أَتُحِبُّونَ أَنْ تَجْتَهِدُوا فِي الدُّعَاءِ قُولُوا اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنَّا عَلَى شُكْرِكَ وَذِكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ

Do you wish to strive in supplication? Say: O Allah, help me to be grateful to You, to remember You, and to worship You in the best manner.

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 7982, Grade: Sahih

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Hadith 21
Conviction اليَقِين

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

ادْعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَنْتُمْ مُوقِنُونَ بِالْإِجَابَةِ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَجِيبُ دُعَاءً مِنْ قَلْبٍ غَافِلٍ لَاهٍ

Call upon Allah with certainty that He will answer you. Know that Allah will not answer the supplication of an unmindful and distracted heart.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3479, Grade: Hasan

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Hadith 22
Anchoring Mindfulness تَثبِيت المُرَاقَبَة

Al-Aghar al-Muzani reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّهُ لَيُغَانُ عَلَى قَلْبِي وَإِنِّي لَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ فِي الْيَوْمِ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ

Verily, there is fog over my heart at times, so I seek the forgiveness of Allah one hundred times in a day.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2702, Grade: Sahih

Al-Qadi ‘Iyad commented on this tradition, writing:

قِيلَ الْمُرَادُ الْفَتَرَاتُ وَالْغَفَلَاتُ عَنِ الذِّكْرِ الَّذِي كَانَ شَأْنُهُ الدَّوَامَ عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا فتَرَ عَنْهُ أَوْ غَفَلَ عَدَّ ذَلِكَ ذَنْبًا وَاسْتَغْفَرَ مِنْهُ

It is said that it means the Prophet had intervals of distraction from the remembrance of Allah, as remembrance was his normal state of affairs. When he had a period of inattention or unmindfulness, he would consider that sinful and seek forgiveness for it.

Source: Sharḥ al-Nawawī ‘alá Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 17/23

And Ibn al-Qayyim writes:

وَأَمَّا ذِكْرُ الرِّعَايَةِ فَمِثْلُ قَوْلِ الذَّاكِرِ اللَّهُ مَعِي وَاللَّهُ نَاظِرٌ إِلَيَّ اللَّهُ شَاهِدِي وَنَحْوُ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا يُسْتَعْمَلُ لِتَقْوِيَةِ الْحُضُورِ مَعَ اللَّهِ وَفِيهِ رِعَايَةٌ لِمَصْلَحَةِ الْقَلْبِ وَلِحِفْظِ الْأَدَبِ مَعَ اللَّهِ وَالتَّحَرُّزِ مِنَ الْغَفْلَةِ وَالِاعْتِصَامِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ وَالنَّفْسِ

As for the remembrance of watchfulness, it is like the worshiper saying: Allah is with me, Allah is looking at me, Allah is observing me, and other such words used to strengthen one’s presence with Allah. In it is care for the well-being of the heart, maintaining good manners with Allah, being wary of mindlessness, and seeking protection from Satan and the lower-self.

Source: Madārij al-Sālikīn 2/406

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Hadith 23
Remembrance of Allah ذِكرُ اللَّه

Mu’adh ibn Jabal reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَا عَمِلَ آدَمِيٌّ عَمَلًا قَطُّ أَنْجَى لَهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ

The son of Adam does not act with a deed better to save him from the punishment of Allah than with the remembrance of Allah.

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 22079, Grade: Sahih

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Hadith 24
Remembrance of Death ذِكرُ المَوت

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

أَكْثِرُوا ذِكْرَ هَاذِمِ اللَّذَّاتِ يَعْنِي الْمَوْتَ

Remember often the destroyer of pleasures: death.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2307, Grade: Sahih

And the Prophet said:

أَكْثَرُوا ذَكَرَ هَاذِمِ اللَّذَّاتِ يَعْنِي الْمَوْتَ فَإِنَّهُ مَا كَانَ فِي كَثِيرٍ إِلَّا قَلَّلَهُ وَلَا قَلِيلٍ إِلَّا جَزَّأَهُ

Remember often the destroyer of pleasures: death. Verily, no one living with plenty does so but that it diminishes his vain hopes, nor one living with little but that it increases his hope in Allah.

Source: al-Mu’jam al-Awsaṭ lil-Ṭabarānī 5780, Grade: Hasan

And the Prophet said:

أَكْثِرُوا مِنْ ذِكْرِ هَاذِمِ اللَّذَّاتِ يَعْنِي الْمَوْتَ فَإِنَّهُ مَا ذَكَرَهُ أَحَدٌ فِي ضِيقٍ مِنَ الْعَيْشِ إلَاّ وَسَّعَهُ عَلَيْهِ ولَا فِي سَعَةٍ إلَاّ ضَيَّقَهُ عَلَيْهِ

Remember often the destroyer of pleasures: death. Verily, no one living a hard life remembers it but that it expands his contentment, nor one living in prosperity but that it constricts his vain hopes.

Source: Musnad al-Bazzār 6987, Grade: Hasan

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Hadith 25
Humility التَّوَاضُع

‘Iyad ibn Himar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَوْحَى إِلَيَّ أَنْ تَوَاضَعُوا حَتَّى لَا يَبْغِيَ أَحَدٌ عَلَى أَحَدٍ وَلَا يَفْخَرَ أَحَدٌ عَلَى أَحَدٍ

Verily, Allah has revealed to me that you must be humble towards one another, so that no one oppresses another or boasts to another.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2865, Grade: Sahih

And the Prophet said:

يُبْصِرُ أَحَدُكُمُ الْقَذَاةَ فِي عَيْنِ أَخِيهِ وَيَنْسَى الْجِذْعَ فِي عَيْنِهِ

One of you sees the speck in his brother’s eye while he forgets the log in his own eye.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 5761, Grade: Sahih

Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

إِذَا أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تَذْكُرَ عُيُوبَ صَاحِبِكَ فَاذْكُرْ عُيُوبَ نَفْسِكَ

If you intend to mention the faults of your companions, then remember your own faults.

Source: al-Adab al-Mufrad lil-Bukhārī 328, Grade: Hasan

Ibn Qudamah commented:

وإياك أن تشتغل بما يصلح غيرك قبل إصلاح نفسك واشتعل بإصلاح باطنك وتطهيره من الصفات الذميمة كالحرص والحسد والرياء والعجب قبل إصلاح ظاهرك

Beware of being preoccupied with rectifying others before you rectify yourself. Busy yourself with rectifying your heart within you and purifying it from blameworthy traits such as greed, envy, ostentation, and vanity before rectifying what is outside of you.

Source: Mukhtaṣar Minhāj al-Qāṣidīn 1/20

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Hadith 26
Penitence الإِنَابَة

Ibn Umar reported: We counted the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, saying one hundred times in a single sitting before he stood up:

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَتُبْ عَلَيَّ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الْغَفُورُ

My Lord, forgive me and accept my repentance. Verily, You alone are the Relenting, the Forgiving.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3434, Grade: Sahih

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Hadith 27
Modesty before Allah الحَيَاء مِنَ اللَّهِ

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

اسْتَحْيُوا مِنْ اللَّهِ حَقَّ الْحَيَاءِ

Be modest before Allah, as is His right.

They said, “O Messenger of Allah, surely we have modesty, all praise is due to Allah!” The Prophet said:

لَيْسَ ذَاكَ وَلَكِنَّ الِاسْتِحْيَاءَ مِنْ اللَّهِ حَقَّ الْحَيَاءِ أَنْ تَحْفَظَ الرَّأْسَ وَمَا وَعَى وَالْبَطْنَ وَمَا حَوَى وَلْتَذْكُرْ الْمَوْتَ وَالْبِلَى وَمَنْ أَرَادَ الْآخِرَةَ تَرَكَ زِينَةَ الدُّنْيَا فَمَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ اسْتَحْيَا مِنْ اللَّهِ حَقَّ الْحَيَاءِ

It is not so. Rather, modesty before Allah, as is His right, is to guard the mind and what runs through it, to guard the stomach and what fills it, and to reflect upon death and trials. Whoever desires the Hereafter, let him abandon the embellishments of worldly life. Whoever does so has been modest before Allah, as is His right.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2458, Grade: Hasan

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Hadith 28
Consciousness of Allah تَقوَى اللَّه

Zayd ibn Arqam reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would supplicate:

اللَّهُمَّ آتِ نَفْسِي تَقْوَاهَا وَزَكِّهَا أَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا أَنْتَ وَلِيُّهَا وَمَوْلاَهَا

O Allah, grant my soul a sense of righteousness and purify it, for You are the best to purify it. You are its Protector and its Guardian.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2722, Grade: Sahih

Al-Tha’labi reported:

قال بعض الحكماء لا يبلغ الرجل سنام التقوى إلّا إذا كان بحيث لو جعل ما في قلبه على طبق فيطاف به في السوق لم يستحي من شيء عليها

Some of the wise men said: A man does not reach the peak of righteousness until it is such that, were he to place what is in his heart on a plate and go around the market with it, he would not be ashamed of anything on it.

Source: al-Kashf wal-Bayān 1/144

—

Hadith 29
Self-accountability المُحَاسَبَة

Abu Malik al-Ashari reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

كُلُّ النَّاسِ يَغْدُو فَبَايِعٌ نَفْسَهُ فَمُعْتِقُهَا أَوْ مُوبِقُهَا

All people begin the day by trading for their soul, either setting it free or ensuring its ruin.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 223, Grade: Sahih

Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

حَاسِبُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُحَاسَبُوا وَزِنُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ قَبْلَ أَنْ تُوزَنُوا فَإِنَّهُ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الْحِسَابِ غَدًا أَنْ تُحَاسِبُوا أَنْفُسَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ

Hold yourselves accountable before you are held accountable and evaluate yourselves before you are evaluated, for the Reckoning will be easier upon you tomorrow if you hold yourselves accountable today.

Source: Muḥāsabat al-Nafs li-Ibn Abī Dunyā 2

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Hadith 30
Reflection التَّفَكُّر

Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

تَفَكَّرُوا فِي آلاءِ اللَّهِ وَلا تَتَفَكَّرُوا فِي اللَّهِ

Reflect deeply upon the blessings of Allah, but do not reflect upon the essence of Allah.

Source: al-Mu’jam al-Awsaṭ lil-Ṭabarānī 6319, Grade: Hasan

Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

رَكْعَتَانِ مُقْتَصِدَتَانِ فِي تَفَكُّرٍ خَيْرٌ مِنْ قِيَامِ لَيْلَةٍ وَالْقَلْبُ سَاهٍ

Two moderate cycles of prayer in reflection are better than praying the whole night with a neglectful heart.

Source: al-Zuhd wal-Raqā’iq 288

—

Hadith 31
Beautiful Patience الصَّبر الجَمِيل

Abu Umamah reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

يَقُولُ اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ ابْنَ آدَمَ إِنْ صَبَرْتَ وَاحْتَسَبْتَ عِنْدَ الصَّدْمَةِ الْأُولَى لَمْ أَرْضَ لَكَ ثَوَابًا دُونَ الْجَنَّةِ

Allah Almighty says: O son of Adam, if you are patient and restrained at the first shock of calamity, I would not be pleased with any reward for you less than Paradise.

Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 1597, Grade: Sahih

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Hadith 32
Prudence التَّأَنِّي

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

التَّأَنِّي مِنَ اللَّهِ وَالْعَجَلَةُ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ

Prudence is from Allah, and carelessness is from Satan.

Source: al-Sunan al-Kubrá lil-Bayhaqī 20270, Grade: Hasan

—

Hadith 33
Calm السَّكِينَة

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِذَا أُقِيمَتْ الصَّلَاةُ فَلَا تَأْتُوهَا تَسْعَوْنَ وَأْتُوهَا تَمْشُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ السَّكِينَةُ فَمَا أَدْرَكْتُمْ فَصَلُّوا وَمَا فَاتَكُمْ فَأَتِمُّوا

When the prayer is established, do not come to it running, but rather come to it walking. You must be calm, for you may pray it if you reach it in time. If you miss anything from it, you may complete it.

And the Prophet said:

فَإِنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ إِذَا كَانَ يَعْمِدُ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَهُوَ فِي صَلَاةٍ

Verily, when you are deliberately walking to prayer, you are in a state of prayer.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 908, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

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Hadith 34
Anxiety and Depression الهَمُّ وَالحَزَن

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ وَالْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ

O Allah, I seek refuge in You from anxiety, sorrow, disability, laziness, cowardice, miserliness, the burdens of debt, and the repression of men.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6369, Grade: Sahih

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

مَا قَالَ عَبْدٌ قَطُّ إِذَا أَصَابَهُ هَمٌّ أَوْ حُزْنٌ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي عَبْدُكَ ابْنُ عَبْدِكَ ابْنُ أَمَتِكَ نَاصِيَتِي بِيَدِكَ مَاضٍ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤُكَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ أَوْ أَنْزَلْتَهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ أَوْ عَلَّمْتَهُ أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ أَوِ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ رَبِيعَ قَلْبِي وَنُورَ بَصَرِي وَجِلَاءَ حُزْنِي وَذَهَابَ هَمِّي إِلَّا أَذْهَبَ اللَّهُ هَمَّهُ وَأَبْدَلَهُ مَكَانَ حُزْنِهِ فَرَحًا

Never is a servant struck by worry or grief but let him say, ‘O Allah, I am Your servant, the son of Your servant, the son of Your maidservant. My forelock is in Your hand, Your decision over me has passed, and Your decree upon me is in justice. I ask You by every name with which You have named Yourself, or revealed in Your Book, or taught to one of Your creatures, or kept hidden in the Unseen with You, that You make the Quran the spring of my heart, the light of my insight, the banisher of my depression, and the expeller of my anxiety,’ then Allah will expel his worry and replace his grief with joy.

They said, “O Messenger of Allah, should we study these words?” The Prophet said:

أَجَلْ يَنْبَغِي لِمَنْ سَمِعَهُنَّ أَنْ يَتَعَلَّمَهُنَّ

Of course, whoever hears them should study them.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 972, Grade: Sahih

—

Hadith 35
Temperance الزُّهد

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, laid down upon a reed mat and it left marks on his side. When he woke up, I started wiping his side, and I said, “O Messenger of Allah, why do you not let us spread something on top of this mat for you?” The Prophet said:

مَا لِي وَلِلدُّنْيَا مَا أَنَا وَالدُّنْيَا إِنَّمَا مَثَلِي وَمَثَلُ الدُّنْيَا كَرَاكِبٍ ظَلَّ تَحْتَ شَجَرَةٍ ثُمَّ رَاحَ وَتَرَكَهَا

What is the world to me? What am I to the world? Verily, the parable of myself and this world is that of a rider who seeks shade under a tree, then he moves on and leaves it behind.

Source: Musnad Aḥmad 3709, Grade: Sahih

And the Prophet said:

إِنَّمَا يَكْفِي أَحَدَكُمْ مَا كَانَ فِي الدُّنْيَا مِثْلُ زَادِ الرَّاكِبِ

Verily, it is enough for you to have in the world the likes of a traveler’s provision.

Source: Shu’ab al-Imān lil-Bayhaqī 9916, Grade: Sahih

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Hadith 36
Love of the Hereafter حُبُّ الآخِرَة

Abu Musa reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَنْ أَحَبَّ دُنْيَاهُ أَضَرَّ بِآخِرَتِهِ وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ آخِرَتَهُ أَضَرَّ بِدُنْيَاهُ فَآثِرُوا مَا يَبْقَى عَلَى مَا يَفْنَى

Whoever loves his worldly life will suffer in his Hereafter, and whoever loves his Hereafter will suffer in his worldly life. Thus, prefer what is everlasting over what will vanish.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 709, Grade: Sahih li ghayrihi

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Hadith 37
Hope in Allah الرَّجَاء فِي اللَّه

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

قَالَ اللهُ أَعْدَدْتُ لِعِبَادِي الصَّالِحِينَ مَا لَا عَيْنٌ رَأَتْ وَلَا أُذُنٌ سَمِعَتْ وَلَا خَطَرَ عَلَى قَلْبِ بَشَرٍ فَاقْرَؤُوا إِنْ شِئْتُمْ فَلا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَا أُخْفِيَ لَهُمْ مِنْ قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ

Allah said: I have prepared for My righteous servants what no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human heart has conceived. Recite the verse if you wish: No soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort. (32:17)

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3244, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

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Hadith 38
Fear of Allah الخَوفِ مِنَ الله

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

إِنَّ أَحَبَّ الْكَلامِ إِلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يَقُولَ الْعَبْدُ سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلا إِلَهَ غَيْرَكَ وَإِنَّ أَبْغَضَ الْكَلامِ إِلَى اللَّهِ أَنْ يَقُولَ الرَّجُلُ لِلرَّجُلِ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ فَيَقُولُ عَلَيْكَ نَفْسَكَ

Verily, the most beloved statement to Allah is for a servant to say, ‘Glory be to You, O Allah, and Your praises. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no God besides You.’ The most hateful statement to Allah is for a man to say to another man, ‘Fear Allah!’ and he replies, ‘Mind yourself!’

Source: al-Sunan al-Kubrá lil-Nasā’ī 10619, Grade: Sahih

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Hadith 39
Unmindfulness الْغَفلَة

‘Ammar ibn Yasir reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَنْصَرِفُ وَمَا كُتِبَ لَهُ إِلَّا عُشْرُ صَلَاتِهِ تُسْعُهَا ثُمْنُهَا سُبْعُهَا سُدْسُهَا خُمْسُهَا رُبْعُهَا ثُلُثُهَا نِصْفُهَا

Verily, a man may return from his prayer and nothing good is written for him but a tenth of his prayer, or a ninth, or an eighth, or a seventh, or a sixth, or a fifth, or a fourth, or a third, or a half.

Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 796, Grade: Sahih

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Hadith 40
Distraction الِالتِفَات

Aisha reported: I asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, about fidgeting in the prayer. The Prophet said:

هُوَ اخْتِلَاسٌ يَخْتَلِسُهُ الشَّيْطَانُ مِنْ صَلَاةِ الْعَبْدِ

It is theft by which Satan steals from the prayer of a servant.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 718, Grade: Sahih

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Hadith 41
Conscientiousness الوَرَع

Al-Nu’man ibn Bashir reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

اجْعَلُوا بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَ الْحَرَامِ سُتْرَةً مِنَ الْحَلالِ مَنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ اسْتَبْرَأَ لِعِرْضِهِ وَدِينِهِ وَمَنْ أَرْتَعَ فِيهِ كَانَ كَالْمُرْتِعِ إِلَى جَنْبِ الْحِمَى يُوشِكُ أَنْ يَقَعَ فِيهِ وَإِنَّ لِكُلِّ مَلِكٍ حِمًى وَإِنَّ حِمَى اللَّهِ فِي الأَرْضِ مَحَارِمُهُ

Make between yourself and the unlawful a buffer of what is lawful. Whoever does so will clear himself in regard to his honor and his religion. A shepherd who grazes near the side of a sanctum will nearly fall into it. Verily, every king has a sanctum and the sanctum of Allah is His prohibitions.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 5569, Grade: Sahih

And the Prophet said:

لَا يَبْلُغُ الْعَبْدُ أَنْ يَكُونَ مِنْ الْمُتَّقِينَ حَتَّى يَدَعَ مَا لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ حَذَرًا لِمَا بِهِ الْبَأْسُ

The servant will not reach the level of the truly righteous until he leaves harmless things due to caution they might be harmful.

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2451, Grade: Hasan

Yahya ibn Mu’adh, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

الورع ورعان ورعٌ في الظاهر وورع في الباطن أما في الظاهر فلا يتحرك إلا لله وأما في الباطن فلا تدخل قلبك شيئاً سوى الله تعالى

Piety has two types: outward piety and inward piety. As for the external, it is to not make any movement but for the sake of Allah. As for the internal, it is to not allow anything into the heart besides Allah Almighty.

Source: al-Futuwwah lil-Sulamī 1/27

Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.