Rabia Basri's quotes

• When asked about some worldly thing she wanted to have, she replied: I am ashamed to ask for a thing of this world from Him to whom this world belongs; how can I ask for it from those to whom it does not belong.

• Indeed your days are numbered, for when one day passes; a significant portion of your life has passed away. And when that portion has fled, soon it will come to pass that your whole life has disappeared. As you know this, strive always towards the performance of good deeds.

• I am not after any reward for my good works, but only that on the Day of Judgment the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) should say to the rest of the Prophets: 'Behold this woman of my community; this was her work.'

• All people are afraid of the reckoning of the Day of Judgment, whereas I long for it. At last Allah will address me as ‘O, My servant!'

• Conceal your good qualities as much as you conceal your bad qualities.

• Death is a bridge between friends. The time now nears that I cross that bridge, and friend meets Friend.

Rabia Basri is and will remain to be a role model for Muslim women.

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Rabia Basri: A role model for all Muslim women

Rabia Basri is a role model for all Muslim women. She rules on the hearts of hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Born in 95 A.H. in Basra in a poor but respected family, she was the fourth daughter of her father. 

She was born in a dark night. The family was so poor that there was no oil in the lamp even to light it. Her sister asked her father to get some oil from the neighbor's house, but he said he would never ask anyone for any help except Allah.

When he slept with a heavy heart, he dreamed that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) came to him and said, “Don't grieve, your newborn daughter is a favorite of the Lord and will lead many Muslims to the right path. You should approach the Amir of Basra and present him a letter with a message that every night he is wont to offer 100 daroods to me and on Friday nights 400. But this Friday he did not offer daroods, so tell him that as a penalty he must give you 400 dinars.”

Rabia’s father got up and went straight to the Amir. The Amir was delighted on receiving the message. He distributed 1,000 dinars to the poor and joyously gave 400 to Rabia's father. The Amir then asked Rabia’s father to come to him whenever he needed anything as it was an honor for him to help somebody liked by Allah.

After the death of her father, Basra was hit by famine. Rabia got separated from her sisters and left alone. She was with a caravan that was attacked by robbers. The chief of the robbers took Rabia as captive and sold her as a slave. Rabia’s new master used to make her do hard work.

One day while she was going out, a man chased her. She ran to save herself but fell down and broke her arm. Thereupon, she prayed to Allah, “I am a poor orphan and a slave. Now my hand is broken. But I do not mind these things if Thou be pleased with me...”

Rabia used to spend the whole night in prayer after finishing her household work. She used to fast regularly. Once when her master woke up in the middle of the night he was attracted by Rabia's prayer:

“My Lord! You know well that my desire is to carry out Your commandments and to serve You with all my heart. O Light of my eyes. If I were free I would spend the whole day and night in prayers. But what should I do when You have made me slave of a human being?”

The master felt that it was sacrilegious to keep her as a slave. He freed her and offered her the choice of staying with him or leaving. She told him she wanted to carry on her worship in solitude. She went to the desert and devoted herself to worship. Her mentor was Hassan Basri. Much of her early life is narrated by Farid Al-Din Attar, using earlier sources. Rabia herself did not leave any written work.

She devoted herself to prayers. Later she set out for Haj. Rabia reached Makkah and there she met Ibrahim Adham who also performed Haj that year.

Throughout her life, her love of God, poverty and self-denial remained her constant companions. She spent all night in prayer and contemplation. As her fame grew she had many disciples. Though she had many offers of marriage, and even one from the Amir of Basra, she refused them as she had no time in her life for anything other than the Love of Allah.

Once when asked why she did not marry she replied:

“If you free me from having to worry about three things, I will marry.  First of all, at the moment of death, shall my faith be sufficient to bring me to salvation? Second, will the Book of my deeds be given to me in my left or right hand? Third, on that hour when a party of people are called forth on the left hand to Hell, and another group from the right hand are summoned to Heaven, which company will I belong to? And further when I am interrogated in the grave by the two angels, shall I be able to answer their questions?”

Once Malik Bin Dinaar visited Rabia Basri. He found in her home a partly broken pitcher which she used for ablution and drinking water, a very old straw-mat on which she slept and a brick which she used as a pillow. He said to her, “I have many affluent friends. Shall I ask them to bring some items for you?”

Rabia Basri said, “O Malik! Is my Provider, your Provider and the Provider of the wealthy, not the same?” Malik said, “Yes.” Rabia then said, “Has He forgotten about the needs of the poor on account of their poverty, while he remembers the needs of the wealthy?” Malik said, “It is not so.” Rabia then said, “When He never forgets anyone, why should we remind Him? He has wished this condition for me and I am pleased with it, because it is, His pleasure.”

Rabia has taught us that repentance is a gift from Allah because no one can repent unless Almighty Allah allows him to do so.

Ibn Al-Jawzi relates that at the time of her death, she called Abda Bint Abi Showal and told her that no one be informed of her death and that she be shrouded only in her old robe for burial. When her last hour came, leading sheikhs gathered around her, but she told them to “Go out and leave place for the Angels.” They all went out and closed the door. While they were waiting outside, they heard from inside a voice reciting: “O soul at rest and peace! Return to your Lord...” For a long while thereafter there was silence. When they went inside, they found that she had passed away.

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Zubaida: The great philanthropist

Zubaida Khatoon was born in 148 A.H. (766CE) few months after Haroon Al-Rasheed. She was very pretty and so her grandfather Caliph Mansur named her Zubaida (a cup of cream). 

Her actual name was Amatul Aziz (like Abdul Aziz for boys). She was daughter of Jaafer, brother of Caliph Mahdi and her mother Salsal was the sister of Khaizran, wife of Caliph Mahdi. Thus, she was connected to Haroon Al-Rasheed from her mother as well as father's side. She was very brilliant, beautiful and fond of learning. She learned the Holy Qur'an, Hadith and Arabic literature with due interest. She also showed great interest in literature and science and allocated funds inviting tens of poets, scientists and literary figures to Baghdad. It is said that her palace “sounded like a beehive” as she employed one hundred women maids who recited the Holy Qur'an day and night. Wherever she went in the palace the verses of Holy Qur'an were echoing. 

She sponsored a group of Ulema for promoting Islamic learning. She lived during and after the time of Imam Al-Shafe'i. She was married to Haroon Al-Rasheed in 165 AH (781 AD), who was the fifth Abbasid Caliph and ruled for 23 years (786-809). Queen Zubaida was a very devout Muslim and never missed a prayer. She also performed Haj many times, often making the 900-mile trip from Baghdad to Makkah on foot with her husband.

Zubaida got a son named Mohammed Al Amin. He was six month younger to his step brother Ali Al-Mamoun whose mother was a concubine named Marajel. Zubaida pleaded for the nomination of her son Amin as the crown prince though Caliph Haroon preferred Mamoun because of his intelligence and scholarship. Finally, Haroon decided not to infuriate his wife and appointed her son as crown prince and Al Mamoun as crown prince to the new crown prince, and also appointed his third son Al Kassim as a third crown prince.

As expected, Al Amin started to mess things up from his first days in power, after the death of his father. Eventually, his conflict with his brother escalated and it ended after fierce battle, in which he was killed. His mother overcame her sorrow and tragedy and wrote to Al Mamoun “I congratulate you as the new caliph. I have lost a son, but he was replaced by the son that I did not give birth to.”

These words moved the new caliph as Mamoun was also raised by Zubaida when his mother died after three days of his birth. He rushed to her and swore that he did not order the killing of his brother. Zubaida lived for 22 years after the death of her husband. Caliph Mamoun gave her full respect and comfort and consulted her in important matters. She died at the age of 67 in 216 A.H.

Her biggest achievement was the planning and execution of a road project from Baghdad to Makkah. There was a path that existed before but she saw the pilgrims dying with thirst and losing the way because of desert and sandstorms. To solve this problem, Zubaida planned to build a well-demarcated route with buildup walls and shelters to protect the travelers from shifting sands and harsh weather conditions. Her engineers moved in the direction of Qibla and drew a map of over 1200 km. The road was divided into more than 40 stations for shelter of huge caravans of pilgrims with their animals. Deep wells, water pools, guest houses, mosques and police posts were erected to provide comfort and security to the pilgrims. High minarets were raised to locate the place and in the night towers were lit with fire to guide the caravans to the right direction.

All these structures were so strong that they remained intact for centuries. The result was that Darb Zubaida served for more than 1,000 years for million of pilgrims from Iraq, Fares, Khorasan and Kurdistan. Though about 1,300 years have passed, some of the wells and pools of this route can still be identified.

Darb Zubaida started from Baghdad and passing through Kufa, Najaf, Qadsiya, Mughiatha, Thalabia, Feedh and Samera reached  Naqra where it bifurcated for Madina through Al-Akhakia. The main route to Makkah continued through Mughaith, Beir-Ghifari, Al-Saleelah, Birka-Zabda and reached Mahad Dhahab (Gold mines). Later crossing through Safinah, Ghamrah, it reached Meeqat named Zat-Irq, and later passing through Bustan reached Makkah.

Darb Zubaida also mobilized the cultural and commercial activity in the region. Pilgrims exchanged their ideas, delivered sermons, told historical stories and reached commercial dealing during the night halts. This route remained active for six months every year for Haj traffic and for the rest period served the locals and traders. It is said that Zubaida spent 1,700,000 mithqaal on this project which is equal to 5,950 kg of pure gold costing billions of dollars today.

Apart from Darb Zubaida that mobilized the cultural and commercial activities in the region and provided pilgrims a platform to exchange their ideas and reach commercial dealings, her another achievement was the canal named Ain Zubaida.


Few sites remaining as her monuments can still be seen at Birkah Al Areesh located 70km north and Birka Al Bidaa, located 20 km northeast of Turbat Hayel. Another site is Birka Al-Jumaima, 14 km east of Rafha and Birkat Zarood, 50 km northeast of Buqaa.


Zubaida's another milestone achievement was the canal named Ain Zubaida. After her husband's death in 193 A.H., Zubaida went for Haj. She noticed great scarcity of drinking water in Arafat, Mina and Makkah. Pilgrims were suffering with thirst and the cost of water had risen to one dinar a bottle. She was so distressed and moved by the situation that she decided to build a canal. She enlisted the services of the best engineers to build a canal that could provide free water to the pilgrims throughout all areas of Makkah. Ibn Al Jawzi recorded that Zubaida ordered engineers to conduct an urgent study to bring water to Makkah. After a survey, they reported to her that it would be an extremely difficult job, since it requires digging tunnels under massive rocks and building tunnels along slopes for over 10 miles. The report also concluded that it would be a very costly project.


"After surveying the entire area they decided to bring the canal from Hunain valley where water springs from the mountains provided water to the residents and for irrigation. The valley of Hunain was the place where the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) had won Ghazwa-e-Hunain. The area was rocky, the land was barren and dry and the weather very hot. It was very difficult to sustain a canal on the surface of the earth, so the engineers planned to make a subterranean canal in the form of a tunnel (aqueduct), with water stations raised above the ground at different intervals, wherefrom people could meet their water needs."


On the orders of Zubaida, the entire area of Hunain valley, which contained springs and other sources of water, was bought by paying a huge amount of money. To bring water through the mountains was a Herculean task, which required a large number of manpower, enormous funds and expertise for cutting the mountains and digging the barren and rocky hills. But nothing could frustrate Zubaida's determination. "For each stroke of spade and shovel, I'm ready to give a dirham if needed", she said and the work was launched. The whole project took three years and cost the equivalent of billions of dollars of our time, which she paid from her own money.


After several years of hard work, the canal was eventually brought all the way down to Jabal-e-Rahma in Arafat, and then to Mina and Muzdalifah. The spring water from Hunain valley and whatever water sources found on the way were converged into the canal. The water supply through this canal brought great relief to the pilgrims as well as to the residents of Makkah for more than thousand years. The remains of this historical canal can still be seen on the side of Mount Arafat.


On a historic day, a crowd had gathered outside the beautiful palace of Queen Zubaida, waiting for her audience. The queen appeared in the balcony and very gracefully addressed the crowd: “Today I close all the account books on the Makkah Canal. Those who owe me any money need not pay back. And those whom I owe any, will be paid immediately and double the amount.” Saying this, she ordered that all the account books be thrown into the river and said: “My reward is with Allah.”


Sheikh Abdullah bin Mubarak narrated that he saw Queen Zubaida in a dream and asked her. What Almighty Allah did with you? She said, My Lord granted me forgiveness on the first stroke of the shovel on Makkah route.


This is an interesting contrast. If austerity elevated the name of Rabia Basri, the wealth raised the name of Queen Zubaida. Today we have thousands of Muslim women who are millionaires and Muslims are facing enormous difficulties, let them get inspiration from Queen Zubaida. May Allah grant her the best reward.

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The story of Malik bin Dinar, how he came to repent

He was a very pious and learned man. He was not a companion of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), but a Taabeii (successor of the Sahaba). He met Abdullah bin Abbas, Imam Maalik and Hasan Basri. His family was from Sijistan (or Kabul) who later embraced Islam. He lived a very austere life and earned his livelihood by writing the Holy Qur’an. He learned Hadith from leading scholar and narrated few Hadith from Hasan Al Basri. He died in 127 A.H. He was a beacon of light for new Muslims.

Malik bin Dinar narrates his story in the following way: “I was a policeman and very fond of drinking. I led a care-free life. I bought a beautiful slave girl whom I loved dearly. I had a daughter from her, a lovely child. When my daughter began to walk, I loved her all the more and she remained with me all the time. The innocent child had a strange habit. When she saw a glass of wine in my hands, she would snatch it and spill it on my clothes. Being fond of her, I never scolded her. As fate would have it, my child died when she was two years old and I was shocked and sorely grieved.

“One the night of 15th of Shaaban, I was drunk and went to sleep without performing Isha prayers. I had a horrible dream. I saw myself among those bring driven to the assembly of people on the Day of Resurrection. I heard a noise and felt something following me. When I looked back, I saw a huge snake chasing me. Ah! It was a horrible sight; the snake had blue catlike eyes, its mouth was wide open and it was rushing toward me furiously! I ran faster in terror, desperate for my life, the horrible snake still running after me and drawing closer.

“I saw an old man, dressed in elegant clothes with rich perfumes wafting all around his person, I greeted him saying, “Assallam-o-Alaikum” and he returned my greetings. I said, “For the sake of Allah, help me in my misery”. He said “I am too weak to help you against such a mighty foe; it is beyond my powers. But you must go on running; perhaps you may find some help”. Running wildly I saw a cliff in front of me and climbed it, but on reaching its top, I saw, beyond it, the raging fire of hell. Meanwhile, I heard a voice calling aloud, “Get back, for, you are not one of them (the dwellers of hell).

“I turned and began to run in the opposite direction. The snake also turned around and came after me. I saw again the old man in white robes and said, “Old man, can’t you save me from this python.” The man began to cry and said, “I am too weak to help you against such a mighty snake, but I can tell you that there is a hill nearby where they keep the ‘sacred trusts’ of the Muslims. If you go up that hill, you might find something of yours, kept in trust, which might save you from the snake.” I rushed toward the hill, which was round in shape, with a large number of open curtailed casements. The casements had golden shutters studded with rich rubies, and most precious jewels; on each shutter hung a curtain made of the rarest silk.

“When I was going to climb the hill, the angels called aloud, “Open the windows and raise the curtains and come out of your closets! Here is an unfortunate man in misery; may be you have with you some ‘trust’ of his, that might help him in his distress.” The windows opened at once, the curtains went up, and there issued forth from the casements a host of innocent children, with faces bright as the full moon. By this time I was utterly despondent, for the snake had drawn very close to me. Now the children called their friends, “Come out quickly, all of you, for the snake has come very close to him.”

Hearing this, more children came out of their windows, in large crowds, and among them I saw my own dear daughter who had died some time ago. She also espied me and began to weep, exclaiming, “By Allah! He is my own dear father.” She jumped on a swinging cradle, which seemed to be made from heavenly light (Noor) and darted across to me. Next moment, she was standing by my side and I took her to my bosom; she lifted her left hand towards me and with her right hand motioned the snake away.

The snake went away immediately. Then she gave me a seat and sat in my lap and began to stroke my beard with her right hand saying, “My dear father, ‘Has not the time come for the believers (who indulge in sins) that their hearts should submit in all humility to the remembrance of Allah and to the truth which is revealed’ (Al-Hadeed:16)”. I was moved to tears and asked her, “My daughter, do all of you know the meanings of the Qur’an? She replied “We understand the Holy Quran even better than you.”

I asked her “My dear child, what was this snake?” She said “It was your own evil deeds which had made it so strong that it was about to push you into Jahannam”. I asked “And who was that white-robed old man?” She replied “That were your good deeds and you had made them so weak with your scanty good deeds that he could not help you against the snake (though he suggested to you a means of escape.)”

I asked “What are all of you doing on this hill?” She replied “We are children of Muslims, who died in infancy. We shall live here till the Day of Resurrection, waiting to be reunited with you when you come to us at last and we shall intercede for you with our Lord”. And then I awoke from the dream, with the fright (of the snake) still heavy on my heart. I turned to Allah in repentance, as soon as I arose; and abandoned all my evil ways.

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Abu Ayub Ansari, a prominent companion Abu Ayub Ansari, a prominent companion

HIS name shines on the horizon of Madinah. He was the first who offered full hospitality to Holy Prophet (peace and mercy of Allah be upon him) when he arrived in Madinah. Later he proved that he was not only an extraordinary host and a warrior, but also Katib-e-Wahi, a Hafiz Qur’an and a Faqih whose fatwas were trusted. Abu Ayub Ansari also served as imam of the Prophet’s Mosque during the Caliphate of Uthman bin Affan. He took part in all the famous battles including Badr, Ohud, Khandaq, Hunain, Khayber and Tabuk. 

Abu Ayub Ansari belonged to Bani Najjar tribe. It was not a new relationship for the Holy Prophet (pbuh). His great-grandfather Hashem married a lady named Salma from Banu Najjar of Madinah, later he went to Shaam for trading and died at Ghazza and was buried there. Salma gave birth to a boy. Later when Thabet bin Manzar (father of Hassan bin Thabet) visited Makkah he informed Muttaleb about his brother Hashim’s marriage in Madinah and the birth of a boy. Muttaleb visited Madinah and brought his nephew. This boy was named Abdul Muttaleb, later to become the grandfather of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

When the Prophet (peace be upon him) migrated to Madinah the whole city erupted in jubilation with young boys and girls welcoming the Prophet (peace be upon him) with noble songs.

The residents stood on the way asking the Prophet to stay with them. The Prophet said, “I will stay at the place where my camel sits.” The camel moved for a while and sat at an open place. He asked whose house is nearby. Abu Ayub Ansari burst with joy and said: “This is my house, this is my house, I am here to serve you.” Asad bin Zararah took the camel to his house. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stayed at Abu Ayub’s house for about seven months until the Prophet’s Mosque was built on the open space where his camel had stopped. Thus Abu Ayub became the Prophet’s closest neighbor who always served him during his life. This house was later known as “Maktaba Aarif Hikmat Bey” about 10 meters from the present Bab Baqie of the Prophet’s Mosque.

It is reported that once Abu Bakr and Omar came out of their houses because of acute hunger. The Prophet (peace be upon him) also joined them and they went together to the house of Abu Ayub. He was filled with joy to see the honorable guests. He rushed to the garden and brought dates. He later slaughtered a goat and offered it to them. They ate it and thanked Almighty Allah for His great bounties. In the meantime Prophet (peace be upon him) took a piece of meat, placed it in a loaf and said, “Abu Ayub, take this to Fatimah, she has not tasted the like of this for days.”

Abu Ayub devoted his life and property for the sake of Islam and participated in most of the campaigns during and after the life of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). He was born in around 590 AD. He had three sons — Khalid, Ayub and Mohammed and a daughter named Umrah. Their descendants are found in Egypt, India, Pakistan and Turkey.

During the rule of Ameer Muawiya when a call was made for jihad against Constantinople, he raised his sword and participated in it. Though he was one of the favorites of the Holy Prophet, he preferred to leave Madinah and fight in distant lands for the sake of Islam. During this campaign he fell sick and instead of returning to Madinah he said before his death: “Convey my salaams to the Muslim army and tell them: ‘Abu Ayub urges you to penetrate deep into the enemy territory as far as you can so that you carry me (my dead body) with you and that you bury me under your feet at the walls of Constantinople.’”

Then he breathed his last. The Muslim army fulfilled the desire of the companion of the Messenger of God. They pushed back the enemy’s forces in attack after attack until they reached the walls of Constantinople. There they buried him.

Later, Ottoman Caliphs built nice tomb and a mosque. The locality is now called Ayub Sultan on the European part of Istanbul. Besides the grave of Abu Ayub Ansari there are 28 more companions buried in Turkey who laid their lives for the sake of Islam on this land. Ayub Sultan has become a sacred locality and many Ottoman caliphs were crowned at this place and later many nobles were buried near him.

This is a Hadith narrated by Abu Ayub Ansari (May Almighty Allah give him high ranks in Paradise), Allah’s Messenger said, “It is not lawful for a man to desert his Muslim brother for more than three nights. (It is unlawful for them that) when they meet, one of them turns his face away from the other, and the other turns his face from the former, and the better of the two will be the one who greets the other first.”

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Ever wonder what your soul goes through as Soon as you Die?

The hadeeth of Imaam Ahmad (may Allaah have mercy on him) from al-Bara’ ibn ‘Aazib who said:

“We went out with the Prophet (SulAllahu 'alayhi wassalaam) for the funeral of a man from among the Ansaar, and we reached the grave whilst it was still being dug. The Messenger of Allaah (sulAllahu 'alayhi wassalaam) sat down and we sat down around him, and it was as if we had birds on our heads. In his hand was a stick with which he was scratching in the earth. He raised his head and said, ‘Seek refuge with Allaah from the punishment of the grave,’ two or three times. Then he said:

‘Verily, when the believing slave is about to depart this world and enter the Hereafter, there come down to him angels from heaven with white faces, as if their faces are the sun. They bring with them one of the shrouds of Paradise and some of the perfume of Paradise. They sit with him as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death (peace be upon him) comes to him and sits by his head and says, ‘O pure soul, come out to the forgiveness and pleasure of Allaah.’ Then his soul comes flowing out like a drop of water flowing from a cup. Then he takes the soul, and no sooner does he seize it but they take it and place it in that shroud and perfume. Then out of it comes the most excellent fragrance of musk to be found on the face of the earth. Then they ascend with it and they do not pass by any group of angels but the angels ask, ‘Who is this pure soul?’ and they reply, ‘It is So and so the son of So and so’ – using the best names by which he was known on earth. Then they bring it to the lowest heaven, and ask for it to be opened, and it is opened for him. Those who are of high rank in each heaven accompany it until they approach the next heaven, and so it goes until it reaches the seventh heaven. Then Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, says: ‘Record the book of My slave in ‘Illiyoon (the highest heaven) and take him back to the earth, for I created them from it, and I shall return them to it, then I shall take them out from it again.’ Then his soul is returned to his body and two angels come and make him sit up, and ask him, ‘Who is your Lord.’ He says, ‘Allaah.’ They ask, ‘What is your religion?’ He says, ‘My religion is Islam.’ They ask, ‘Who is this man that was sent amongst you?’ He says, ‘He is the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him.’ They ask him, ‘What knowledge do you have?’ He says, 'I read the Book of Allaah and I believed in it.’ Then a voice will call out from heaven, ‘My slave has spoken the truth. Prepare for him a bed from Paradise and give him clothes from Paradise, and open for him a door to Paradise.’ And he will feel its breeze and smell its fragrance, and his grave will be widened for him as far as his eye can see. Then a man with a handsome face, beautiful clothes and a pleasant fragrance will come to him and say, ‘Good news! This is the day that you were promised.’ He will say, ‘Who are you? You face looks as if it brings good news.’ He will say, 'I am your good deeds.’ (The deceased) will say, ‘O Lord, let the Hour come so that I may see my family and my wealth again.’

When the disbelieving slave is about to depart this world and enter the Hereafter, there come down to him angels from heaven with black faces, bringing with them sackcloth. They sit with him as far as the eye can see. Then the Angel of Death comes to him and sits by his head and says, ‘O evil soul, come out to the wrath and anger of Allaah.’ Then his soul disperses in his body and is dragged out like a skewer being pulled out of wet wool. Then he takes the soul, and no sooner does he seize it but they take it and place it in that sackcloth. Then out of it comes the most putrid stench of rotten flesh to be found on the face of the earth. Then they ascend with it and they do not pass by any group of angels but the angels ask, ‘Who is this evil soul?’ and they reply, ‘It is So and so the son of So and so’ – using the worst names by which he was known on earth. Then they bring it to the lowest heaven, and ask for it to be opened, and it is not opened for him.” Then the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) recited (interpretation of the meaning): “… For them the gates of heaven will not be opened, and they will not enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of the needle” [al-A’raaf 7:40]. Then he said, “Then Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, says: ‘Record the book of My slave in Sijjeen (the lowest Hell) in the lowest earth. Then his soul is cast down.” Then he recited (interpretation of the meaning): “… and whoever assigns partners to Allaah, it is as if he had fallen from the sky, and the birds had snatched him, or the wind had thrown him to a far off place.” [al-Hajj 22:31]. He said, “Then his soul is returned to his body and two angels come and make him sit up, and ask him, ‘Who is your Lord.’ He says, ‘Oh, oh, I don’t know.’ They ask, ‘What is your religion?’ He says, ‘Oh, oh, I don’t know.’ They ask, ‘Who is this man that was sent amongst you?’ He says, ‘Oh, oh, I don’t know.’ Then a voice will call out from heaven, ‘He is lying. Prepare for him a bed from Hell and open for him a door to Hell.’ And he will feel its hot winds and smell its stench, and his grave will be constricted for him until his ribs interlock. Then a man with an ugly face, ugly clothes and a horrible stench will come to him and say, ‘Bad news! This is the day that you were warned about.’ He will say, ‘Who are you? You face looks as if it brings bad news.’ He will say, 'I am your evil deeds.’ (The deceased) will say, ‘O Lord, do not let the Hour come!’”

(Musnad al-Imaam Ahmad, 17803; this is a saheeh hadeeth).

He who walks towards Me, I rush towards him

Abu Dharr (Radi Allah Anhu) reported Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, stated: "He who comes with goodness, there are in store for him ten like those and even more than those: 'And he who comes with vice, ' it is only for that that he is called to account. I even forgive him (as I like) and he who draws close to Me by the span of a palm I draw close to him by the cubit, and he who draws close to Me by the cubit I draw close to him by the space (covered) by two hands, and he who walks towards Me I rush towards him, and he who meets Me in the state that his sins fill the earth, but not associating anything with Me, I would meet Him with the same (vastness) of pardon (on My behalf)."

[Sahih Muslim : Book 35 Kitab Al-Dhikr, Number 6499]

My Lord! grant me that I should be grateful for Thy favor which Thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I should do good such as Thou art pleased with, and make me enter, by Thy mercy, into Thy servants, the good ones.

What Left with a Dead Man?

Mutarrif (Radi Allah Anhu) reported on the authority of his father: I came to Allah's Apostle (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) as he was reciting: "Abundance diverts you" He said (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam): "The son of Adam claims: My wealth, my wealth. And he (the Holy Prophet) said: O son of Adam. is there anything as your belonging except that which you consumed, which you utilized, or which you wore and then it was worn out or you gave as charity and sent it forward?"

[Sahih Muslim : Book 42 "Kitab Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqa'iq", Number 7061]

Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) reported Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) as saying: "A servant says, My wealth. my wealth, but out of his wealth three things are only his: whatever he eats and makes use of or by means of which he dresses himself and it wears out or he gives as charity, and this is what he stored for himself (as a reward for the Hereafter), and what is beyond this (it is of no use to you) because you are to depart and leave it for other people. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of al-'Ala' b. 'Abd al-Rahman with the same chain of transmitters."

[Sahih Muslim : Book 42 "Kitab Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqa'iq", Number 7063]

Anas b. Malik (Radi Allah Anhu) reported Allah's Messenger (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) as saying: "Three things follow the bier of a dead man. two of them come back and one is left with him: the members of his family. wealth and his-good deeds. The members of his family and wealth come back and the deeds alone are left with him."

[Sahih Muslim : Book 42 "Kitab Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqa'iq", Number 7064]

Words of Wisdom

* Knowledge is like a father and action is like a child. Knowledge goes with action as narrating goes with understanding.
* Do not feel satisfied with action while being desolate of knowledge, and do not feel satisfied with knowledge whilst being heedless of actions. Rather, combine the two, even if your share of either may be meager. A little of this, with a little of that is safer in the outcome, if Allah bestows His Mercy, and completes His favor upon His stave...
*Knowledge leads to action, just as action leads to salvation. So if the action is less than the knowledge, the scholar's knowledge is a burden upon him.
* Just as wealth has no benefit unless it is spent, knowledge does not benefit except one who acts upon it and observes its obligations.
* Knowledge is one of the pleasures of the world, yet if it is acted upon, it becomes for the Hereafter.
* There are two tyrannies in the world: the tyranny of knowledge and the tyranny of wealth. What saves you from the tyranny of knowledge is worship, and what saves you from the tyranny of wealth is renouncing it.
* Whenever you intend to be honored with knowledge, be attributed to it and be of its people, before giving knowledge its full rights upon you, otherwise its light will be concealed from you and all that will remain on you is its outward illumination. That knowledge is against you, not for you, because knowledge directs towards its application, so if it is not applied appropriately, its blessings are removed.
* The best knowledge is that which benefits, and Allah only causes knowledge to benefit a person when he acts upon it once having learnt it and He does not cause it to benefit the person that leaves it after having learnt it.
* Knowledge without action is like a tree without fruit.
* You are now in the preliminary world, in front of you are two places of abode, out of which you must live in one of. You have not been given assurance of protection, causing you to feel safe. Nor have you been granted acquittal, causing you to slacken.
* If I were to know with full certainty that all of my life was but an hour, Why should I not renounce it and dedicate it to righteousness and obedience?
* You are submerged in careless hope, the time or death you do not know of. § Do not be fooled by good health, for it is from the most painful of illnesses.
* Every soul is by its day, In the morning all hope will be removed. So act with good deeds and work hard Before you are prevented from acting.
* Aboo Hurayrah radiallahu 'anhu said, "The example of knowledge not acted upon is that of a treasure none of which is spent in the way of Allah the Mighty and Majestic." * Az-Zuhree said, "The people will never be pleased with the statement of a scholar who does not act, nor of a person who acts but has no knowledge." [hasan]
* Whoever sought knowledge, intending the knowledge alone (i.e. without action) would not benefit by it. Yet whoever sought knowledge intending to act upon it, would benefit, even by a little knowledge.
* Knowledge rests upon action, action rests upon sincerity, and sincerity to Allah brings about understanding of Allah the Mighty and Majestic.
* Whoever seeks knowledge in order to act upon it will be humbled by his knowledge but whoever seeks it for other than that, will be increased by it in arrogance.
* The time will soon come, if you live long, that knowledge will become a source of beautification, just as a person beautifies himself with a garment." · "If Allah grants you knowledge, in return worship Him and do not make your goal merely narrating to the people. * The scholar remains ignorant with regard to what he has learned until he acts according to it, and only then does he become a true scholar.
* The knowledge of the hypocrite is in his speech, yet the knowledge of the believer is in his actions.
* Act upon your knowledge O man, and you will profit, for knowledge does not benefit unless one is proficient in action. Knowledge is a beauty, the taqwaa of Allah being its oration, and the pious are busy with the knowledge they possess. Learn, and then act, as much as you are able to, and do not let amusement nor arguing distract you. Teach the people and always intend to benefit them, and beware! Beware of weariness befalling you.
* Whoever speaks good things yet acts unrighteously, Allah does not accept his good speech. Whereas he who speaks good things and works righteous acts, his speech is raised by his good deeds. That is because Allah says: To Him ascend the goodly word, and the righteous action raises it. [Al-Faatir 35:10]
* Knowledge is the tool of action. So if a person spends his whole life gaining knowledge, when will he act?! § Regardless of what knowledge passes you, do not let acting upon what you already know pass you. § Whoever does not look into Allah's right upon him with regards to his knowledge, that knowledge is a proof against you and its result is evil.
* If knowledge is not acted upon it becomes a proof against you and you are not granted an excuse for the knowledge you possess. So if you have realized this fact also realize, that the proof of a man's speech is in his actions.
* One scholar said, "O how I wish I could gain salvation from my knowledge, it either being for me nor against me."
* If knowledge does not benefit you, it will harm you.
* There is no good in seeking to gain more knowledge, without having acted upon what you have already learnt, for the example of this person is that of one who gathers firewood and then ties them ready to carry. Yet once finding himself unable to do so, adds another to the bundle.
* For how long will I continue seeking knowledge, affectionately gathering with every eagerness, seeking to learn every type of it and every field yet not acting upon a thing of it. If the seeker of knowledge does not act upon what he knows, he is a wretched servant. Indeed knowledge is only of benefit for he who acts upon it and is pious.
* I certainly regard that a person forgets what he used to know because of a sin he commits.
* Indeed if the scholar does not act, his admonitions fail to affect the hearts, just like the rain slides off a smooth rock.
* The example of an evil scholar is that of a large rock which blocks a canal. Neither does it drink from the water, nor does it allow the water to pass, giving life to the trees. So if only the evil scholars advised the servants of Allah saying: "O worshippers of Allah! Listen to what we tell you of your Prophet, and your righteous predecessors, and act upon that. Do not took at these poor actions of ours, as we are a people in trial." They would have, by this, advised the people correctly. Yet they want to call the people towards their bad actions causing them to act similarly.
* A corrupt reciter (of the Qur'aan) is more feared by me than a corrupt man who is open with his corruption, as the latter is the less deceiving of the two.
* One scholar said: "Indeed the Qur'aan was revealed to be acted upon, but the people took its reciting as a vocation." [i.e. in order to earn money by that] At that it was asked, 'What is acting upon it?' So he replied, 'Accepting as halaal what is mentioned in it as halaal and as haraam what is mentioned as haraam. To act upon its orders, abstain from all it prohibits and to ponder over its wonders.
* It has been said with regard to the saying of the Most High: (They) recite it as it should be recited. [Sooratul-Baqarah (2):121] "They follow it as it should be followed, acting upon it." Ibn Katheer mentions in his Tafseer: "lf the reciter reaches mention of Paradise, he beseeches Allah the Most High to grant him Paradise. If he reaches mention of the Fire he seeks refuge in Allaah the Most High from it " He (Ibn Katheer) also mentions, "Aboo al-'Aaliyah said: Ibn Mas'ond radiallahu 'anhu said: 'By Him in Who's Hand is my soul, reciting it as it should be recited is to consider its halaal as halaal and its haraam as haraam. To recite it as Allah revealed it without distorting its words, nor falsely explaining its intended meanings.
* If Allah intends good for a servant he opens for him the door of action and closes for him the door of argumentation. Whereas, if Allah intends for a servant evil [once the servant had decided to follow such a path, Allah the Most Him, allows him to take such a path] He opens for him the door of argumentation and closes for him the door of action.
*We used to seek aid in memorizing hadeeths by acting upon them
*You meet a man not finding one mistake in his speech yet his actions may be completely at fault.
*We have not been given ignorance but we Hide the face of knowledge through ignorance. We detest making mistakes in our speech Yet we do not care about making mistakes in our actions.
* And you will not possess on the Day of Resurrection Other than what you ascertained before death If you do not sow the seeds and the harvest approaches you You will regret not having done so when the time was right.
* When you find yourself in need of provisions You will not find provisions the like of righteous actions.
* One of the scholars saw his neighbors wandering aimlessly, so he asked them, "What is the matter with you?" They replied, "We have finished our duties of the day." So he said' "And is this what the one with no duties has been ordered with?!"
* The people who will be most accountable on the Day of Resurrection will be the healthy ones who had free time. § Take advantage of your spare time by engaging in Prayers For maybe your death will come suddenly So many a healthy person you may have seen His life snatched away from him unexpectedly.
* Some people invited a man to eat with them who in turn said' "I am fasting." They said to him, "Break your fast today and instead fast tomorrow." So he said, "And who will guarantee my living tomorrow?!"
* It was said to a scholar ' "Advise us." So he said' "Beware of saying 'soon. "'
* Beware of procrastination overcoming you and taking over your heart for verily it is the cause of fatigue and wastefulness. Due to it, aspirations are severed and amidst it, death is met. [The names that the sayings were attributed are not cited, fearing the inauthenticity in the original attribution except where the authority is established and has abridged some statements, yet the wisdom within them is resoundingly established.] [al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee rahimahullaah From Iqtidaa-ul-'Ilmil-'Amal]

He who has no manners has no knowledge

Al-Hasan al-Basri said,

“He who has no manners has no knowledge; he who has no patience has no Religion (din); and he who has no God-consciousness has no closeness to Allah.”

The heart becomes covered with rust..

Ibn al-Qayyim - rahimahullaah- said:

'There is no doubt that the heart becomes covered with rust, just as metal dishes - silver, and their like - become rusty. So the rust of the heart is polished with dhikr, for dhikr polishes the heart until it becomes like a shiny mirror. However, when dhikr is abandoned, the rust returns; and when it commences then the heart again begins to be cleansed. Thus the heart becoming rusty is due to two matters: sins and neglecting remembrance of Allaah. Likewise, it is cleansed and polished by two things : istighfaar and dhikr.'

[Al-Waabilus-Sayyib (p.80)]

All humans are dead except those who have knowledge

Imam Shafi' said, "All humans are dead except those who have knowledge ... and all those who have knowledge are asleep, except those who do good deeds ... and those who do good deeds are deceived, except those who are sincere ... and those who are sincere are always in a state of worry."

When you are present, you are not known

Ibn Abee Haatim Rahimahullah- said: "I entered Damascus and came upon the students of hadeeth, and I passed by the circle of Qaasim al-Joo'ee . I found a group sitting around him and he was speaking. Their appearance amazed me; and I heard him saying: "Seize the benefit of five things from the people of your time: when you are present, you are not known; when you are absent, you are not missed; when you are seen, your advice is not sought; when you say something, your saying is not accepted; and when you have some knowledge, you are not given anything for it. I advise you with five matters: when you are treated unjustly, do not behave unjustly; when you are praised do not become happy; when you are criticised, do not become upset; when you are not believed, do not become angry; and if the people act deceitfully towards you, do not act deceitfully towards them." Ibn Abee Haatim said: So I took this as my benefit from Damascus"

[Related by Ibn al-Jawzee (RH) in Sifatus-Safwaa (2/200)]

Elaika Daf version

Do you think that after his repentance I shall expose him?

It was narrated that in the days that the Prophet Musa (alayhi asalaam) wandered with Bani Israel (Children of Israel) in the desert, an intense drought befell them. Together, they raised their hands towards the heavens praying for the blessed rain to come. Then, to the astonishment of Musa (alayhi asalaam) and all those watching, the few scattered clouds that were in the sky vanished, the heat poured down, and the drought intensified.

It was revealed to Musa that there was a sinner amongst the tribe of Bani Israel who had disobeyed Allah (SWT) for more than forty years of his life.

“Let him separate himself from the congregation,” Allah (SWT) told Musa. “Only then shall I shower you all with rain.”

Prophet Musa then called out to the throngs of humanity, “There is a person amongst us who has disobeyed Allah (SWT) for forty years. Let him separate himself from the congregation and only then shall we be rescued from the drought.”

That man waited, looking left and right, hoping that someone else would step forward, but no one did. Sweat poured forth from his brow and he knew that he was the one. The man knew that if he stayed amongst the congregation all would die of thirst and that if he stepped forward he would be humiliated for all eternity.

He raised his hands with a sincerity he had never known before, with humility he had never tasted, and as tears poured down on both cheeks he said, “O Allah, have mercy on me! O Allah, hide my sins! O Allah, forgive me!”

As Musa and the people of Bani Israel waited for the sinner to step forward, the clouds hugged the sky and the rain poured. Musa asked Allah (SWT), “O Allah, you blessed us with rain even though the sinner did not come forward.”

And Allah (SWT) replied, “O Musa, it is for the repentance of that very person that I blessed all of Bani Israel with water.”

Prophet Moses, wanting to know who this blessed man was, asked, “Show him to me O Allah!”

Allah (SWT) replied, “O Musa, I hid his sins for forty years, do you think that after his repentance I shall expose him?”

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “My entire nation is safe, except al-Mujahirin (those who boast of their sins). Among the Mujaharah is that a man commits an (evil) act, and wakes up in the morning while Allah has kept his (sin) a secret, he says: ‘O Fulan! Last night I did this and that.’ He goes to sleep while Allah has kept his (sin) a secret but he wakes up in the morning and uncovers what Allah has kept a secret!” [Saheeh al-Bukhari]

Best of the best

1.The best of the Muslims is he from whose hand and tongue the Muslims are safe. (Muslim).
2.The best of people are those with the most excellent character. (at-Tabarani, Sahih).
3.The best of people are those that bring most benefit to the rest of mankind. (Daraqutni, Hasan).
4.The best of people are those who are best in fulfilling (rights). (Ibn Majah, Sahih).
5.The best of people during fitnah (trouble) is a man who takes up the reins of his horse pursuing the enemies of Allah, causing them fear yet they make him fearful too, or a man who secludes himself in the desert fulfilling the rights of Allah upon him. (Hakim, Sahih).
6.The best of mankind is my generation, then those that follow them and then those that follow them. Then there shall come a people after them who will become avaricious, who will love gluttony, and who will give witness before they are asked for it. (at-Tirmidhi, Sahih).
7.The best of people are those who live longest and excel in their deeds, whereas the worst of people are those who live longest and corrupt their deeds. (at-Tirmidhi, Sahih).
8.The best of women are those that please him (her husband) when he sees her, obeys him when she is commanded, and who does not secretly betray him with regards to herself and her money in that which he dislikes. (Ahmad, Sahih).
9.The best of women are those that please you when you see them, obey you when commended, and who safeguard themselves and your money in your absence. (Tabrani, Sahih).
10.The best of marriages are the easiest ones. (abuDawud, Sahih).
11.The best of your dates is the Borniyyu date; it expels disease yet does not contain any disease itself. (Hakim, Hasan).
12.The best of your garments are those which are white; shroud your dead in them and clothe your living with them. The best of that which you apply to your eyelids is antimony causing the eyelashes to grow and sharpening the eyesight. (Ibn Hibban, Sahih).
13.The best quality of your religion is scruulousness. (Hakim, sahih).
14.The best of your religion is that which is easiest.(Ahmad, Sahih).
15.The best of the prayer lines for men are the first rows, the worst being the final rows. The best of the prayer lines for women are the final rows and the worst are the first rows. (Muslim).
16.The best prayers for women are those performed in the most secluded parts of their houses. (Ibn khuzaymah, Sahih).
17.The best of you in Islam are those who are most excellent in character as long as you deeply understand the religion. (Ahmad, Sahih).
18.The best of you are the best of you in fulfilling (rights). (Ahmad, Sahih).
19.The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best of you to my family. (at-Tirmidhi, Sahih).
20.The best of you are my generation, then those that follow them and then those that follow them. Then there shall come after them a people who will betray and be untrustworthy, will give witness even though they have not been asked to, will make vows yet will not fulfill them and obesity will appear amongst them. (Sahih Al-Bukhary).

21.The best of you are those who feed others and return greetings. (abu Yala, Hasan).
22.The best of you is he from who good is anticipated and safety from his evil is assured; the worst of you is he from whom nothing good is expected and one is not safe from his evil. (at-Tirmidhi, Sahih).
23.The best thing mankind has been given is excellent character. (Hakim, Sahih).
24.The best of that which you treat yourself with is cupping. (Hakim, Sahih).
25.The best of journeys undertaken are to this Mosque of mind and the Ancient Hosue. (Ahmad, Sahih).
26. The best of which man can leave behind for himself are three: a righteous child who supplicates for him, an ongoing charity whose reward continues to reach him and knowledge which others benefit from after him. (Ibn Hibban, Hasan).
27. The best Mosques for women are the most secluded parts of their houses. (al-Bayhaqi, Sahih).
28. The best of the worlds women are four: Maryam bint Imran, Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, Fatimah bint Muhammad and Asiyah the wife of Firawn. (Ahmad, Sahih).
29. The best of days that you should perform cupping are the 17th , 19th and 21st of the month. I did not pass a single gathering of angels on the night of Isra except that they would say to me, O Muhammad, perform cupping! (Ahmad, Sahih)
30. The best day on which the Sun has risen is Friday; on it Adam was created, on it Adam was made to enter Paradise and on it he was expelled. The Hour will not be established except on Friday. (Muslim).
31. "Verily, the best of perfume for men is that which is strong in smell and light in color, and the best of perfume for women is that which is strong in color and light in smell." (at-Tirmidhi, Sahih).
32. "The Most beloved of religions according to Allah the Most High is the 'easy and flexible religion." (Ahmad, Hasan).
33. "The most beloved of deeds according to Allah are the continuous ones, even if they are little." (Agreed upon).
34. "The most beloved of names according to Allah are AbdAllah, 'Abdul-Rahman and Harith." (Abu Ya?la, Sahih).
35. "The most beloved of deeds according to Allah are the prayer in its right time, then to treat the parents in an excellent manner, and then Jihad in the path of Allah". (Agreed upon).
36. "The most beloved of deeds according to Allah is that you die and yet your tongue is still moist from the remembrance of Allah." (ibn Hibban, Hasan).
37. "The most beloved words according to Allah the Most High are four: SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Lailaha illallah and Allahu Akbar; there is no problem with which one you start with." (Muslim).
38. "The most beloved of speech according to Allah is when the servant says, 'Subhanallahi wa bihamdihi' (How Transcendent is Allah and we praise him!)." (Muslim).
39. "The most beloved of speech according to Allah the Most High is that which Allah chose for his Angels: Subhana Rabbi wa bihamdihi, Subhana Rabbi wa bihamdihi, Subhana Rabbi wa bihamdihi." (at-Tirmidhi, Sahih).
40. "The most beloved of people according to Allah is he who brings most benefit, and the most beloved of deeds according to Allah the Mighty, the Magnificent, is that you bring happiness to a fellow Muslim, or relieve him of distress, or pay off his debt or stave away hunger from him. It is more beloved to me that I walk with my brother Muslim in his time of need than I stay secluded in the mosque for a month. Whoever suppresses his fury while being able to execute it, Allah will fill his heart with satisfaction on the Day of Standing. Whoever walks with his brother Muslim in need until he establishes that for him, Allah will establish his feet firmly on the day when all feet shall slip. Indeed, bad character ruins deeds just as vinegar ruins honey." (at-Tabarani, Hasan).

Prophet Sulaiman (solomon) the king Prophet

For the guidance of mankind, Allah honoured four famous Prophets by revealing to them four Holy Books as under:

1) Taurat to Prophet Musa (Moses):

2) Zaboor (Psalms) To Prophet Dawood (David);

3) Injeel (Evangel) To Prophet Isa (Jesus);

4) Qur'an To Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (s).

The commandments of Allah are contained in these books. The first three books were for the earlier times. The Holy Qur'an is the last book of God and is for the guidance of entire mankind till the Day of Judgement.

Prophet Dawood eventually became King of his people. He had 19 sons. Each of them hoped to inherit the father's throne. Allah revealed to Prophet Dawood a few questions and their answers and commanded him to put the questions to each one of his sons. Whosoever answered those questions correctly, would inherit the throne of the father, Prophet Dawood.

One day Prophet Dawood called all his sons in the presence of the scholars and the chiefs of the tribes of his kingdom. He then put forward the following questions:

1) Which thing is closest (nearest) to man?

2) Which is the farthest thing?

3) Which two things are attached to each other?

4) Which is the most awe-creating thing?

5, Which two things remain unchanged?

6) Which two things are always different?

7) Which two things are opposed to each other?

8) What is the action the result of which is good?

9) What is that action the result of which is bad?

The sons of Prophet Dawood felt helpless and could not answer any of these questions. Then the youngest of the sons, Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) stood up and gave the following answers:

1. The nearest things to a man is the hereafter (Life and Death - as one may die any moment);
2. The farthest things is the time which has passed away (which is not to come again);
3. The two things that are attached to each other is man's body with the soul;
4. The most awe-creating is the man's body (dead) without soul;
5. The two things which remain the same are the sky and the earth;
6. The two things which are different are the day and night;
7. The two things which are opposed to each other are life and death;
8. The action - the end of which is good - is patience and forbearance at the time of anger;
9. The action - the end of which is bad is haste at the time of anger.

Prophet Dawood obviously, was very much impressed with these correct answers and appointed Prophet Sulaiman as his successor.

Thus it will be seen that it was the supreme knowledge and understanding that made Prophet Sulaiman succeed his father and become the Great King Prophet.

http://www.al-islam.org/

If Allah loves a people, He tests them

"If Allah loves a people, He tests them. Whoever is pleased, for him there is pleasure, and whoever is angry, upon him there is wrath."

"The most harshly tested people are the Prophets, followed in succession by those who are best after them. A man is tested according to his religion. If his religion is strong with him, his test will be more intense. If his religion is weak with him, he will be tested according to the level of his religion. (Allah's) slave will continually be tested until he is left to walk on the earth without a mistake (to have to account for)."

"Wonderful is the situation of the believer. All of his affairs are good (for him)! And this is only for the believer. If good befalls him, he is thankful, and that is good for him. If harm afflicts him, he is patient, and that is good for him."

"And know that if the entire Nation were to gather upon benefiting you with something, they would only benefit you with something that Allah has (already) written for you. And if they were to gather upon harming you with something, they would only harm you with something that Allah has (already) written for you."

"The righteous ones are tested: first, the best of them, then the next, and so on."

"The believer is like a tiny branch; the wind blows it to the right and to the left."

[Dont be Sad]