Some beautiful sayings of Sufyan Ath-Thauree

"Were certainty of faith to become firmly fixed in the hearts of people, each person would become excitedly hopeful or extremely fearful - hopeful for (rewards from) Allah, the Possessor of might and majesty, or fearful of the Hellfire".

"True certainty of faith means not to accuse your Lord of any of the things that befall you."

"The only situation which I feel is analogous to the departure of a believer from this world is the departure of a baby from its mother’s womb, from the gloominess (inside of its mother’s womb) to the spirit (and freshness) of the world."

A man said to Sufyaan, “Advice me.” Sufyaan said, “Work for this world in proportion to the time you will stay in it (which does not amount to many years). And work for the Hereafter in proportion to the time you will stay in it (for eternity) - and peace (be upon you).”

“In our view, a person does not have an understanding of the religion until he thinks of a hardship as a blessing, and comfort and luxury as being a hardship.”

“Zuhd (desiring little from this world because of one’s preoccupation with the Hereafter) means not having long-term hopes for this world, and it does not mean eating coarse food and wearing a tattered robe.”

“Verily, the examples of this world are a loaf of bread over which some honey is spread: a fly passes over it and has its wing cut off (being caught in the stickiness of the honey); and a loaf of dry bread: a fly passes over it and is unable to take anything from it.”

“Evil deeds are the disease, and the scholars are the cure. Now, if scholars become corrupt, who will cure the disease?”

“A scholar is like a doctor: He places his medicine over the area that is affected by the disease.”

“Love people in proportion to the (good) deeds they perform. Become humble and flexible when you are invited to perform a good deed, and become rigid and defiant when you are invited to commit a sin”

 “If you want to know the true value of this world, look at the value (and character) of those people who have it (i.e., of those people who are rich and prosperous).”

“The following three are from patience: do not speak about a calamity that has befallen you, do not speak about your pain; and do not praise yourself”.

“Be happy with religion and forsake the life of kings, just as kings are happy with life and have forsaken the religion”.

“If you do not travel with the provision of piety,

And if you meet after death one who did have the provision a plenty,

You will regret that you had not been like him,

And that you did not save up (for the hereafter) as he did.”

“Be happy with religion and forsake the life of kings, just as kings are happy with life and have forsaken the religion”.

“If someone invites you (to meet with him) and you fear that he will corrupt your heart and your religion, then do not answer him”.

If you see a recite (of the Quran) always seeking refuge at the gate of the ruler (desiring financial favors from them), know that he is a thief. And if you see him always seeking refuge with rich people , know that he is a show-off”.

"Beware of filling your stomachs for doing so hardens your heart. And suppress your anger. And do not laugh too much, for laughing a great deal kills the heart".

"The vision of one's eyes is meant for this world, and the vision of one's heart is meant for the hereafter. When a man looks with his eyes he benefits naught. It is when he looks with his heart that he benefits". 

“Live moderately. Beware of imitating arrogant people. And in your food, drink, clothing, and means of conveyance, seek out that which is not specifically purchased by profligate and extravagant spenders. And when you seek out advice, let the people you go for advice, be the people of piety – people who fear Allah (the Possessor of might and majesty) and who are trustworthy.”

Source: The biography of Sufyaan Ath-Thauree by Salaahu-Deen ibn 'Alee ibn 'Abdul-Maujood

Some quotes of Hasan Al-Basri regarding death

Dear brothers and sisters, it is very important that we reflect and take admonitions from these statements made by Hasan al-Basri regarding death so as to prepare ourselves for the inevitable death ahead of us that we soon going to encounter.  One of the greatest figure of his time, the eminent scholar and the great Imam, Hasan al-Basri was a taabi’ee famous for his wisdom, eloquence, asceticism, and fear of Allah which signifies why his words appear like pearls and why Muslims still loves him.(May Allah have Mercy on him)

Some of his sayings regarding death 

“The soul of the son of Adam will depart this life with three sorrows: for not having his fill, for not reaching what he hoped for and for not preparing well for what he is going to face.”

 “I have never seen a certainty closer to being doubted than people versus death. (They are certain it will strike them)  yet, they ignore its immanence. I have never seen truth that is closer to falsehood than that demonstrated by their statement, “We seek Paradise”, yet, they ignore seeking its path.’”

“O son of Adam! Sell your current life for your latter life, and you will win both. Do not sell your latter life for this life, and you will lose them both. The period of stay is short, and the righteous ones went away before you, so what are you waiting for? Do you wait your turn? By Allah, it is about to come, and then the latter ones will join the former one among you.”

“If it were not for three son of Adam would not have lowered his head: death, illness and poverty. Other than that, however he is proud.”

“Death has exposed the reality of its life and did not leave delight to be felt by those who have sound minds. “

 “Those who were before you, used to often consider the nearness of death. One of them would often take water for purity, fulfill the call of nature and perform Ablution, fearing that Allah’s Command (death) might come to him while he is not in a state of purity.”

“If son of Adam knew death carries comfort and relief for him, it will still be hard for him to die, because of the agonies, hardships and afflictions that accompany death. So what about when he knows nothing about what death is carrying for him, whether eternal delight or everlasting torment”

 “He, who did not die all of a sudden, will get ill all of a sudden. Therefore, fear Allah and beware of His surprises for you.”

Hasan Al-Basri was asked: O Abu Said! How are you “Like he who awaits death when night falls, and in the morning, he does not know if he will live through the night or in which state (or condition) he will die”.

Hasan Al-Basri was asked, “O Abu Said! What should we do? We sit with people who make us afraid (from death) that makes our hearts fly away.”  He said, “By Allah! If you associate with someone who makes you afraid, so that you earn safety, is better than associating with someone who makes you feel safe, for in this case, un-safety might touch you.”

While Hasan Al-Basri was in the mosque, he took a deep breath and then said, “Had the hearts had life or righteousness in them, they would have made you weep of a night the day in its aftermath is the day of Resurrection, during which the creations will see more naked bodies and weeping eyes than before.”

Hasan Al-Basri asked his mother, “O my mother! Do you like to meet Allah the Exalted now?” She said, “No, for I have disobeyed Him.”

Once, Hasan Al-Basri passed by a man who was laughing and asked him, “O my nephew! Have you safely passed over the Sirat?” He said, “No.” Hasan Al-Basri asked, “Have you received news that you will end up in Paradise or Hell?” He said, “No Hasan Al-Basri asked him, “Why do you laugh then, May Allah save you, while the matter ahead is horrifying?” That man was never seen laughing until he died.

Also, Hasan Al-Basri wept very hard, and he was asked why he wept. He replied, “For fear that Allah might throw me in the Fire and care less about me.”

Hasan Al-Basri visited an ill person and found him suffering in the agonies of death. When Hasan Al-Basri witnessed the hardship and stupor of death that man was experiencing, he went back to his family with a different color or attitude than the one he left with. They said, come eat, May Allah grant you Mercy. He said O my family! Take away your food and drink. By Allah! I witnessed such a difficult death that I will keep preparing for until I meet”

When a funeral passed by Hasan Al-Basri, he said, “What an eloquent lesson that is soon forgotten! What an eloquent lesson if it is brought to a living heart. He then said” what an encompassing headlines that overcame people, as if they are seeing a dream: The dead of tomorrow is burying the dead of today”.

Hasan Al-Basri said to a man who attended a funeral, “if this dead man came back to life, do you think he would perform good deeds” he said “yes” Hasan Al-Basri said, “he won’t come back, but you can still perform good deeds.”

Hasan Al-Basri once participated in a funeral, sat next to the empty grave hole and said,” A matter (life) that ends like this deserves to feel disinterest about its beginning. A matter that starts life this (death) deserves that its end is feared (Hearafter)”

Hasan Al-Basri saw someone eating in the grave yard and commented” this is hypocrite, he sees death before his eyes, but his stomach craves for food!”

Hasan Al-Basri used to say” O son of Adam! You will die alone, be resurrected alone and be recompensed alone. O son of Adam! If all people obey Allah and you disobey Him, their obedience will not benefit you, if they disobey Allah and you obey Him, their disobedience will not harm you, O son of Adam, beware of your sins, for it is your flesh and blood at stake. If you are saved from the evil repercussions of your sins, your flesh and blood will be saved for you. If it is the other destination, then it is a fire that will never be extinguished, a body that will never perish (eternal in torment) and a soul that will never die.”

The sayings are taken from the book "Silent moments" by Abdul-Malik Al-Qasim , translated by Jalal Abualrulb

From the wisdom of Luqman

"Luqman was an Ethiopian slave who worked as a carpenter. One day, his master ordered him to slaughter a goat and bring him the most pleasant and delicious two parts thereof. Luqman did so and brought him the tongue and heart. The master asked: Did not you find anything more pleasant than these? Luqman said: No! After a while, the master ordered him to slaughter a goat and to throw the most malignant two parts thereof. Luqman slaughtered the goat and threw the tongue and heart. The master exclaimed and said: I ordered you to bring me the most delicious parts thereof and you brought me the tongue and heart, and I ordered you to throwaway the most malignant parts thereof and you threw the tongue and heart, how can this be? Luqman said: Nothing can be more pleasing than these if they were good, and nothing can be more malicious than these if they were malignant." (1)

Luqman said to his son, “Wisdom is in doing ten things – enlivening the dead heart, sitting with the needy, staying away from the gathering of kings, honoring the humble, freeing the slave, being hospitable to the stranger, enriching the poor, and venerating the people of honor. These things are better than wealth, are a protection from fear, a weapon in war, a merchandise at the time of commerce, an intercessor when afflicted with terror, an indication that conviction has entered the heart, and a covering when no clothes can cover one [on the Day of Judgment].” (2)

Luqman al-Hakim, peace be upon him, said to his son, “O my son! Man is composed of three thirds – a third for Allah, a third for himself and a third for the worms. The third that is for Allah is his soul; the third that is for himself is his actions, and the third that is for the worms is his body.” (3)

I was told by my father after ‘Amr Ibn ‘Uthman after Damurah Ibn Hafs Ibn ‘Umar as saying: “Luqman placed a bag of mustards beside him and started to advise his son, giving him with every piece of advice a mustard till it all ran out. He said: O my son! I gave you advice that if a mountain was given, it would split” (4)

A man went to Luqman, the wise and asked: Are you Luqman? Are you the slave of Bani Nuhas? He said: “Yes!” The man said: You are the black shepherd! He said: As for my skin being black, it is apparent, so what is it about me that amaze you? The man said: “That people come to visit you in throngs! That people crowd at your door, and they are pleased with your speech”.  Luqman said: “0h my cousin! If you do as I say , then you will be the same, He said “And what is that” Luqman said “ Lowering my gaze, holding my tongue, honoring my guests, preserving the rights of my neighbor, and refraining from which that does not concern me, that has made me become as you see me now”.(5)

Narrated Al-A'mash after Mujahid: Luqman was a black huge slave, thicklipped, and crackedfooted. 'Umar Ibn Qais said: "Luqman was a black slave, thick-lipped and cracked-footed. It happened while he was preaching some people, a man came to him and said: aren't you the one who used to look after the sheep with me at such and such place? Luqman said: yes, I am! The man said: then, what made you of that position? Luqman said: telling the truth and keeping silent regarding what does not concern me." (6)

Luqman said to his son: "0 my son! Set apart with evil and it will set apart with you, for evil begets nothing but evil."(7)

Luqman said to his son: "0 my son! I have never regretted because of keeping silent. If words are silver, silence is golden”(8)

Luqman said to his son: "0 my son! Do not wish for befriending a fool that he may think you approve his foolishness. And, do not take the wise man's rage easily that he may abstain from you."(9)

Luqman said to his son: "0 my son! Take Allah's Obedience as your trade, and you will gain profits without having any merchandises."(10)

1-      Stories Of The Quran by Ibn Katheer

2-      Preparing for the day of judgment by Imaam Ibn Hajar Al-‘Asqalani

3-      Preparing for the day of judgment by Imaam Ibn Hajar Al-‘Asqalani

4-      Stories Of The Quran by Ibn Katheer

5-      Gems and jewels  by Abdul Malik Mujahid

6-      Stories Of The Quran by Ibn Katheer

7-      Stories Of The Quran by Ibn Katheer

8-      Stories Of The Quran by Ibn Katheer

9-      Stories Of The Quran by Ibn Katheer

10-   Stories Of The Quran by Ibn Katheer

International Patents for Quranic eye drops

For the first time, an Egyptian scientist manufactures drops for treating cataracts inspired by Yoosuf's shirt.

This is an interview with Prof. Dr. ‘Abdul Basit Muhammad sayyid a researcher in the National Research Center in Egypt who acquired two international patents after manufacturing eye drops to treat cataracts, inspired by the text of Soorah Yoosuf.

Q. Every idea has a beginning. What was it and how did this research begin?

A. It began with the Holy Quran. One day at Fajr I was reading the Book of Allah, in the story of Yoosuf (Joseph) peace be upon him. That amazing story made me pause and I began to think of the verses which tells the story of the conspiracy of Yoosuf’s brothers against him, and how his father ended up after he lost him, how he lost his eye sight and was affected by cataracts, and then how the Mercy of Allah reached him in the shirt of healing which the bringer of glad tidings threw on his face and he regained his sight.

 I began to wonder what could have been in Yoosuf’s shirt so that this healing could take place and his eyesight could be restored. Although I believe that the story tells of a miracle which Allah, Most High, caused to happen at the hands of one of His Prophets, namely Yoosuf, peace be upon him, I realized that in addition to the spiritual aspect that may be understood from the story, there was also a material aspect which we may understand through research and which would confirm the truthfulness of the Quran which tells us this story as it happened. So I began to research until Allah guided me to this matter.

Q. Can you explain scientifically the meaning of the whiteness that effects the eye or what is called cataracts?

A. The whiteness that affects the eye or cataracts is a kind of opacity which happens in the lens of the eye and prevents light from entering either partially or completely, according to the degree of opacity. When this opacity reaches the ultimate limit, the vision is weakened to such an extent that the patient cannot see the movement of a hand close to the eye and he cannot distinguish anything that he sees.

To explain contracts in scientific terms, the lens of the eye is formed of a capsule which contains protein, and this protein consists of what is called Alpha crystalline, Beta crystalline, Gamma crystalline and albumin. It is changes in the denatured protein that causes opacity, which begins and then increases gradually. This protein in the capsule of the lens is arranged in harmonious manner in a small shape, in other words, each type of it is arranged in small shape composed of two arms folded around one another in harmonious, manner so that it can perform its function of letting light through that falls on the eye. Changes in the nature of this protein indicate a change in the degree of harmony and precise order. This change leads to random distribution. To make it clearer for the reader we can liken it to the white albumin, which is transparent and allows light to pass through or makes it turns in to random distribution and becomes opaque and it is not possible to see things through it. This is the opacity.  

Q.How are cataracts treated according to current medical methods?

A.Up until the current time, treatment has focused on surgery, whether it is the traditional method of removing the opaque lens or siphoning off the protein of the lens and implanting a lens in part of the capsule. In either case, of course the strength of vision does not return to the way it was.  

Q.How did you reach a solution to this chronic problem from the holy Quran?

 A. As previously stated and as I indicated, the lens of the eye is formed of a capsule containing protein that is distributed and arranged in small form, and changes in the nature of this protein or changes in the way it is arranged, lead to random distribution, which causes opacity. Hence I began to think of finding a substance that would isolate the protein that is not in harmony by means of a physical process. Not a chemical one, so that it would go back to its proper, harmonious, folded status. Because no previous research was to be found on this matter in the scientific periodicals, I was faced with difficulty on how to begin or how to find a starting point. We found the first glimmer of hope in Surah Yoosuf, where it speaks of Yaqub (Jacob, Yoosuf’s father) in the passage where Allah says:

And he turned away from them and said: "Alas, my grief for Yusuf (Joseph)!" And he lost his sight because of the sorrow that he was suppressing.” (Soorah Yoosuf, 12:84)

What Yoosuf did, on the basis of revelation from his Lord, was to ask his brothers to take to their father a shirt of healing:

"Go with this shirt of mine, and cast it over the face of my father, he will become clear-sighted, and bring to me all your family." And when the caravan departed, their father said: "I do indeed feel the smell of Yoosuf, if only you think me not a dotard (a person who has weakness of mind because of old age)."  They said: "By Allah! Certainly, you are in your old error." Then, when the bearer of the glad tidings arrived, he cast it (the shirt) over his face, and he became clear-sighted. He said: "Did I not say to you, 'I know from Allah that which you know not. (Soorah Yoosuf 12:93-96)

Q: What could there have been of healing in the shirt of Yoosuf (peace be upon him)?

A. After thinking about it, we could not come up with anything other than sweat. So our research was about the components of human sweat. We took lenses that had been extracted from eyes by traditional surgical methods, and we soaked them in sweat, and we found that gradual transparency began to occur in these opaque lenses.

The next question was: Were all the components of sweat effective in this case, or was it just one of these components? By separating them, it was possible to reach one of the basic components, which is the compound urea, which can be chemically prepared. By carrying out experiments on laboratory animals in which opacity or whiteness of the lens of the eye had been introduced by means of rays or  by means of what is called opacity caused by galactose, it was found that this chemically prepared galactose caused whiteness of the lens. It was also proved that they had this disease by means of an examination using slit lamp and ultra sound waves, and by shining red lights on the lens of the eye.

After that, the matter required carrying out tests on a physiological sample done on the computer, which takes half an hour and costs 0.25 million dollars. Opacity was introduced to the lens of the eye and the amount of light passing through it was calculated by computer before putting drops in the eye. It was found to be no more than 2 percent, and after putting the drops in the eye it was found that the amount of light passing through increased from 2 percent to 60 percent in a quarter of an hour, then to 90 percent after 20 minutes, then to 95 percent after 30 minute, and to 99 percent after an hour.

Q. Are there any side effects to using sweat?

A. Not at all. This was a matter of great concern especially since sweat is regarded as an expelled waste product and especially the effective substance in sweat which as we have stated above is a derivative of urine. Hence it was essential to carry out official experiments on laboratory animals and give them these compounds in a concentrated form that was 10 times stronger, either by mouth or by injections in the pericardium. No side effects or toxic effects were found at all; it did not affect the functions of the liver, kidneys, brain or blood.

Q.This has to do with experiments on animals, namely rabbits, and on physiological samples. What about experiments on humans?

A. The results of experiments carried out on 250 volunteers recorded the disappearance of this whiteness and restoration of eyesight to more than 90 percent, as for the cases which did not respond it was found in clinical examinations that the protein of the lens had become transparent, but there were other reasons, such as disease of the retina, which meant the eyesight was not restored to its natural levels. And as for its effect on the heart, no such side effect was seen, and there were no effects on the function of the liver, kidneys , brain or blood.

Q. Are there diseases other than cataracts which can be treated by these drops?

A. Yes, there is also whiteness of the cornea. Weak eyesight may results from thrombosis or changes in the nature of the corneal protein. It was also proved by means of experiments that putting these drops twice a day for two weeks takes away this whiteness in the pupil or iris of the eye, application of these drops restored the eye to good health after two weeks.

Q: Do you think that this research represents an incentive to do more research and applied studies based on the texts of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah?

A. Definitely. The miracles of the Holy Quran never cease. I believe that focusing on studying the texts of the Quran and Sunnah with awareness will open new horizons in all fields, to serve mankind in all places.” 

Source: Islamic Medicine by Yusuf al-Hajj Ahmad, P. 395

(The article found in the website is an abbreviated version of the original)

Jacob and the Angel of Death

It was said that that the Prophet Ya’qub (Jacob) ‘Alaihi Salam said to the Angel of Death, “I need something from you, and the angel of Death asked him what he wanted. Ya’qub said, “That you inform me when my term comes to an end, when the time comes that you capture my soul. “ The angel of Death said, “I will send two or three emissaries to you.

When Ya’qub’s term came to its expiration date, the angel of Death came to Ya’qub who asked, “Have you come to visit or capture my soul?” He said, “To capture your soul” Ya’qug said, “Did you not tell me that you will send me two or three emissaries?

The Angel of Death answered him , “Yes, and I did; the white hairs you have that used to be black, the weakness in your body after it was strong and your becoming bent after it was straight. These are my emissaries” 

Source: Silent Moments by Abdul-Malik Al-Qasim

Some rare dreams

Once a man visited a cemetery. Looking at the graves, he said to himself: "I wish that a miracle takes place and that some of these people come out and tell me about what they saw!" He then sat beside one of the graves pondering, when he was seized by slumber. In his sleep, someone appeared to him in a dream and said: "Do not boast about the way you fashion the gravestones and how you maintain the look of the cemetery. For under these gravestones there are people whose cheeks have decayed. Some are blessed and are awaiting God's reward and His paradise, while others are distressed with their past and are suffering the consequences of their deeds. Beware of heedlessness."


Imam Al-Junayd reported that he was once sitting by his doorsteps. A blind man who was asking people to help him passed by him. Al-Junayd said to himself: "If this man trusted in God Almighty and sat on the corner of a street, or at the entrance of a mosque, God Almighty will surely provide for him without his asking." Al-Junayd continued: "That night, a copper tray was placed before me in a dream, and that blind man was laid on it. A voice then said to me: 'Eat from the flesh of this man.' I replied: 'God is my witness, I did not backbite him. It was only a thought, and my tongue never uttered a word of that.' The voice then said: 'Remember, 0 Junayd, such an excuse cannot be accepted from a person with your level of knowledge."


After Al-Junayd's death, a disciple saw him in a dream and asked: ''What did God Almighty do to you, 0 Junayd?"Al-Junayd replied: "All the knowledge went away, and all the thoughts disappeared. Only a few prayers (Raka'h) which we used to pray in the depth of the night were of any benefit to us'.


Ibrahim AI-Khurabi once said: "I saw Bishr Al-Hafi in a dream. It seemed as though he was leaving the Mosque of Rasafa. As he walked away from the mosque, the sleeve of his shirt looked weighty, and something kept on moving inside it. I asked him: 'What did God Almighty do to you?' He replied: 'He forgave me, and He was generous to me.' I asked: 'What are you carrying in your sleeve?' He replied: 'The soul of Ahmad Ibn Hanbal visited us yesterday, and it was welcomed with showers of gems and pearls. This is the share I was able to gather from that welcome.' I asked: 'What happened to Yahya Ibn Ma'in and Ahmad Ibn Hanbal after that?' He replied: 'They were called to visit the Lord of the universes, and they were welcomed with heavenly banquets.' I asked: 'Why did you not eat with them?' He replied: 'My Lord knew how little I care for food, and He allowed me to look at His Divine Countenance.'"


One night, a woman who lived in Mecca read the Qur'an before going to sleep. In a dream, she saw maids of honor circumambulating  the Ka'aba- and carrying fine sheets covered with safflowers. The woman exclaimed in her dream: "Glory be to God! Who are these women?" A voice said to her: "Do you not know that tonight is the wedding of Abdul-Azlz Abi Dawud?" The woman woke up scared from her dream, as she heard a bursting noise coming from the street. She inquired about it to find that Abdul-Azlz Dawud has just died.


Once upon a time, a king hired a private tutor to teach his children the Qur'an and proper conduct. After the teacher had died, one day the king's children went to visit the grave of their teacher. After paying the customary greetings, they sat beside his grave and engaged in a mundane conversation, ate some fruits, and threw the peels and pits on the side of the grave. That night, the teacher came to the king in a dream and told him: "Instruct your children to refrain from visiting my grave, for they have certainly offended me." When the children learned from their father about what happened, they cried and exclaimed: "God bless his soul, for surely he is still teaching us proper conduct, even after his death."


A man said to Imam Ibn Seerin: "A man saw himself in a dream piercing eggs from the top, extracting the egg white, and leaving the egg yoke." Imam Ibn Seerin replied: "Let him come here and tell me his dream in person." At three different occasions, the man kept on asking about the meaning of that dream, and Imam Ibn Seerin insisted on the same reply. Finally, after taking a promise from Ibn Seer'in, the man confessed that he is the person who saw that dream. Imam Ibn Seer'in asked someone to call the chief of police and to tell him that this man is a body snatcher who digs the graves and steals their contents. The man immediately asked for forgiveness, repented from his doing, and promised never to do it again.


Once Sufyan Bin 'Uyaynah saw Sufyan Al-Thawri in a dream and asked him: "What is the special virtue that makes God Almighty love you?" Sufyan Al-Thawri, God bless his soul, replied: "Knowing less about people." Ibn 'Uyaynah then said: "Advise me." Sufyan Al-Thawri replied: "Use what I have just told you." Ibn 'Uyaynah added: "God have Mercy on you. There are many good brothers here, and each one of them may intercede for his fellow brother on the Day of Judgment." Sufyan Al-Thawri replied: "I wish not to know you from this day on. Have you seen harm coming from other than people you know?" Ibn 'Uyaynah continued: "I suddenly woke up crying from my dream."


Someone used to regularly recite special prayers and offer their blessing to the benefit of the soul of Raibi'a Al 'Adawiyyah, God be pleased with her. One night, he saw her in a dream, and she said to him: "Your gifts are carried to us on trays of light and are covered with light."


A man came to Imam Ibn Seerin and said: "I saw a big bird that landed upon a jasmine tree in a dream, and he ate all its flowers." Ibn Seerin's face became alarmed as he replied: "Your dream means the death of scholars."


source: Ibn Seerin's dictionary of dreams by Muhammad Al-Akili

The piety of Umar bin Abdul Azeez

Umar bin Abdul Azeez is considered fifth caliph among the Khulafa ar-Rashideen(The rightly guided caliphs). Most of the scholars among Muslims say that the Khulafa ar-Rashideen are five:Abu bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali, and Umar bin abdul Azeez. (May Allah be Pleased with them)

Before becoming caliph Umar bin Abdul Azeez wore showy and costly clothes. However, after becoming caliph he adopted the life style of a poor in his food and clothing. 

Malik bin Dinar relates “People used to say,”If anyone can be said to be a Zahid(ascetic), he is Umar bin Abdul Azeez. (Because the world came to him and he renounced it).

After Umar bin Abdul Azeez took oath for caliphate, they brought a horse from the royal stable for him. But he refused by saying his personal mule was sufficient for him. And when he was returning home his slave said to him, “You look sad”. He said, “If anybody has a right to be grieved today, it is me. Is it a light burden? Before I am asked to explain the written register of my actions, I will have to give the people their dues”. And when he entered his house, he started weeping until his beard became wet. His wife becoming alarmed and asked him whether he was well. He said, “How can I be well? The burden of the entire ummah has been put around my neck. I have been overburdened with the naked, the hungry, the sick, the oppressed, the travelers, the captives, the children, and the poor with large families. I am weeping for the fear of being asked to render accounts and my possible failure to do so on the day of Reckoning”.

After becoming caliph he said to his wife, “Deposit all your jewelry in the treasury or I shall part with you, because I don’t like that you, your jewelry and I should live under the same roof”. His wife soon sent all her jewelry to the treasury. 

Yunus bin shabib says, “I had seen Umar bin Abdul Azeez before he became caliph. Then the belt of his trouser was sunken into his abdomen due to his plumpness but after he became caliph he became so thin that each and every bone could be counted”.

Umar bin Abdul Azeez’s son says, “Abu Jafar Mansoor asked me about his wealth when he died. I said four hundred dinars and had he lived a few more days, it would have come down more”.

Maslama bin Abdul Malik says, “I visited Umar bin Abdul Azeez during his sickness. I saw that he was wearing a dirty shirt. I said to my sister (that is his wife), “Why don’t you wash his shirt? She said “He has no other shirt to change into”.

His slave Abu Omayya says, “One day I said to my master’s respectable wife, “I am sick of eating lentils” she said, “Your master eats them daily”

His wife states during his caliphate when he used to come home from outside he would go in to prostration and he would fall asleep weeping. When he woke, he would start weeping again. 

Sayeed bin Saweed says that once when Umar bin abdul Azeez came to lead the congregational prayer on Friday, he saw his shirt had patches in front and in the back. A man said to him,” Amir al Muminun, Allah has given you everything. Why don’t you get new clothes tailored? He continued to ponder for some time with his head bent and then said, “Moderation in prosperity and forgiveness in power are great things”.

Once he asked his slave to heat water for him. The slave went and brought it by heating it in royal kitchen. When he came to know where it came from, he sent firewood worth a dirham to replace it. 

It was his custom that so long as people kept sitting by him and talking about affairs of state, he kept the lamp of the treasury burning and when they left, he put it out and lit his own lamp.

Mohamed ibn Fadala relates that Abdullah (son of Umar bin Abdul Azeez) passed by an ascetic who lived on an island. The ascetic saw him and went to him though he had never gone to anyone before and began to say to him,” Do you know why I came to you?” He replied in the negative. Then he said,” Simply because you are son of a righteous and just Imam(leader).

Ata relates that Umar bin Abdul Azeez used to gather legal scholars at night and discussed death and Doomsday with them causing him to weep so much as if there was a dead body in front of him. Abi Sayeb says that he had not seen a man greater in fearing Allah than Umar bin Abdul Azeez.

Obaid bin Hassan says that when his end came and the pain of death started, he asked the people to leave him alone and everybody went out. Maslama bin Abdul Malik and his wife Fatima bin Abdul Malik remained standing at the door. They heard him say, “Bismillah, (in the name of Allah), Please come. These faces are neither of men nor Jinn” and then he recited, (Quran translation) “That home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We shall assign to those who rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief by committing crimes. And the good end is for the Muttaqun (pious).(28:83).

When Imam Hasan al Basri was informed of his death, he said, “The best man in the world has died”.

*Information taken from “The history of Islam” by Akbar Shah Najeebabadi