Gems of Wisdom by Ameer alMu'mineen Sayyiduna 'Umar al-Farooq Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho To eat less is healthy, to speak less is wisdom, and to sleep less is worship. To speak less is wisdom, to eat less is i s healthy and to mingle less with the people is safe and serene. The one who steps back will not progress. Nothing is worst that avarice that destroys d estroys the mind, not even Alcohol. •
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It is unbecoming of that person who sits with his hands folded and prays to ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala for sustenance. ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala does not rain down gold and silver from the heavens. To earn a suspicious living is worse than begging. The biggest gift after Iman (Faith) is your wives. Attain knowledge before old age settles in. Extravagance is also when a person eats whatever he wishes. Whosoever hides his secret keeps his safety, safeguarded with himself. The person who calls himself learned, indeed he is ignorant, and the one who calls himself from the dwellers of Paradise surely he is from the dwellers of Hell. Tawbatun-NasooHa (Accepted forgiveness) is the name of that forgiveness that is asked for a bad deed committed, in such a manner that he never returns to or commits that bad deed again. The Strength in action is, never to put of what you can do today for tomorrow. It is not becoming of a Muslim to sit down and start praying for sustenance without attempting to earn it, he is well aware that gold and silver does not rain from the skies. If it wasn’t for the claim of knowledge of the unknown then I would say five people are from the dwellers of Paradise: •
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1. That family man who is poverty stricken but is patient 2. That women with whom her husband is happy and accepting. 3. That woman who forgives he husband’s duty of Mehr (Dowry approved by Muslim law) 4. That person with whom his parents are Happy 5. And that person who honestly repents from his sins Once a sheep was slaughtered and Syeduna 'Umar al-Farooq Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho persistently asked his servant if he had first sent meat to his neighbour who was a Jew. The slave asked why you are asking the same question persistently. He answered that ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala and his Rasūl Sallallaho Alaihi •
wa Sallam had constantly stressed the importance of neighbors therefore I too am persistent in stressing the same. Three things build love: •
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To make Salam (greeting) To make space for a person in a gathering To address a person in a respectable and good 3. manner
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There are four types of Regrets: 1. Regret that spans over a day e.g. When a person leaves his home without eating. 2. Regret that spans over a year, just like the negligence shown when cultivating.
3. Regret that spans over a lifetime, when a man and his wife are unsuited to each other. 4. Regret that is eternal, which is when your Creator is unhappy with you. •
There are three types of people: 1. Successful: he who listens to the advice of people and ponders over it. 2. Lazy or Lethargic: he who does what he wants without consultation or advice of people. 3. Corpse: who neither gives nor listens to advice and consolation.
Sayyiduna 'Umar Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho on many an occasion asked this du'a (supplication) to ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala so that certain situations should always remain with him and some things should be removed, the Du'a is: “O ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala! Make me such that I may speak with intellect or reap tolerance with silent. O! ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala do not bestow upon me too many favours, so that I may not be confused by it, not too little that I may forget You. Hence, little yet sufficient in comparison to having plenty thereby becoming indulgent and committing sin.” If ever you see a learned person ('Aalim) leaning towards this World, then know this he is blameworthy for his Religion, because the universal harm is that if a person desires something then he is constantly engrossed in its quest. Faith (Iman) is to regard the Oneness of ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala in ones heart proclaim it with your tongue and to obey the fundamental Islamic Instructions. The relationship of true humility and genuine fear of ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala is with the heart and not by a show of outward actions. Why have you made slaves of those whose mothers had given birth to them free? Judgments or Settlements in any cases should be done quickly, so that the accused, due to a prolonged period of time are not compelled to withdraw their accusation. It is absolutely necessary not to associate with a beast for though he wishes or means well, yet he would still be accused of committing a crime. •
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ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala, shower your Blessings of Mercy on that person who informs me of my faults. When a learned man takes a false step then he ensnares himself in a World of wrongdoings. One day a man was praising Hadrat 'Umar Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho, he replied by saying why are you destroying me even more with my desires (Nafs). •
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I do not look at anything, except, that I see everything with ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala. If I die in this condition that I have strived to earn an honest living then it is more beloved to me than even dying as a Martyr. Good behavior towards people is equivalent to wisdom, to request politely is half of knowledge, and to ascribe to sound policies is half of one’s livelihood. To educate a material person is like placing a sword in the hands of a robber. Do not have Faith in a person’s compassion and politeness when he cannot keep his anger under control. •
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Do not have Faith in a religious person who is not tested during temptation. He is a friend who brings to your attention your faults and to sing praises of a person in his presence is similar to slaughtering him. Laughing decreases ones age, while politeness, glamour, pomp and show which ease living standards are indications of people who are unaware of death. To show greed and avarice is impoverishing, to be unselfish is enriching and to wish compensation in patience. Good deeds are the fulfillment of one’s rights and to do good deeds is a substitute for bad deeds. To speak less is wisdom, to eat less is healthy, to sleep less is a prayer and there is peace in solitude. Youth before old age and old age before death is a blessing of life. A generous person is the beloved of Almighty ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala even though he is a transgressor. A miser is the enemy of Almighty ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala although he may pray and remember Almighty ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala excessively. To forgive an oppressor is oppression upon the oppressed. When you combine lawful with unlawful gains then the unlawful contaminates the lawful gains though it may be little. A Mu'min does not keep as his friend one who is opposed to Almighty ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala and his Prophet Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam even though that person may be his mother or father. The sound of music and that of a mourner are two of the worst sounds. There is tranquility and peace in anonymity and confidentiality. We should leave the other nine portions out for the fear of Haram (unlawful). (i.e. if in ten portions one is Haram a Muslim would leave the other nine portions out meaning anything unlawful would be completely left out). •
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Desire is never achieved without fear, nor manners and etiquette without formality, or happiness without peace or wealth without gifts or poverty without contentment, or dignity without politeness or Jihad (holy war) without diving guidance and assistance. Respite before preoccupation and old age before death is a blessing of life. Honour and dignity in this World is measured by wealth while honour and dignity in the Hereafter is measured by good deeds. Save yourself from the Fires of Hell even if it means by doing a favour with half a date (fruit). If this too is not possible then with sweet words. After Iman (Faith), there is no greater gift than a pious wife. Not to postpone is strength in action. Whosoever shows you your faults, he is your friend. Those that pay you lip service in praise are your executioners. •
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One who guards his secrets is surely safe. The person who constantly discloses my faults to me is dearest to me. Fear that person who you dislike. When Sayyiduna 'Umar Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho camped on the outskirts of Jerusalem to conquer Bait al-Maqdas, the Christian Crusaders were terrified of his presence and requested a meeting with him before handing over the keys of the city. The Crusaders met him whilst he wore a patched garb. They asked him the reason as to why his name generated such immence awe and fear that captured the hearts of his enemies. He replied; “Your kings taught you to love the World (Duniyah) and its wealth and our Prophet Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam taught us to fear ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala and love death. He is an intelligent person who can translate his actions into good. Never put off for tomorrow what you can do today. There is never a chance of pain in the neck if one does not raise his head too high in the air. Do not forget about yourself whilst being concerned for others. To stop sinning is easier than to bear the burden of seeking repentance. Remove your gaze from the splendor of the World. Do not let the love of this World enter your heart. Beware! The love of this World does not perhaps destroy you, just as it had destroyed previous nations. Victory is gained through strategy and trust in ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala, not by wishful thinking. The most intelligent amongst you is he who fears ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala the most. Be sympathetic towards the poor so that they may be able to speak and build courage. Extend a hand of friendship to a foreigner because if his stay is extended then he would leave his valuable possessions to return to his own country and leave that person responsible for his valuables who had been most worthy of his attention Do not taunt and curse anyone for this gives rise to collective evils in a person. •
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One should not judge a person by the number of Salaat (prayer) or Roza (fasting) but by his wisdom and honesty. Prayer is connected to the heart not by mere apparent actions. To educate a seeker of materialism is to place a sword in the hands of a highway robber. Do not trust the character of one who cannot control his temper. To laugh excessively is a sign of no remorse for death. To side with the oppressor is oppression on the oppressed Death is the best teacher. •
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