Words That Fell Upon the Heart from Abū Ḥanīfa
The wisdoms of Abū Ḥanīfa are a selection of brief sayings that touch the human heart, character, and inner discipline. Although each saying may appear as a simple note on its own, behind it lie fundamental issues such as the discipline of the nafs (the lower self), awareness of mortality, knowledge, adab (proper conduct), and maturity of the qalb (the heart).
01
"Do not listen when someone calls you from behind; for only animals are called from behind."
02
"If what I do not know were beneath my feet, my head would reach the highest layer of the sky."
03
"If someone asks you for something by mentioning the Name of Allah, then give it to him for the sake of the Supreme Name (ism al-jalāl)."
04
"If someone invites you (as long as there is no sharia-based impediment), accept the invitation."
05
"Beware of stinginess. Do not be greedy or a liar. Do not speak nonsense. In all your affairs, preserve your dignity and humanity."
06
"Control yourself, watch over others, so that both your worldly life and your afterlife may benefit from your knowledge."
07
"Whoever does you a favor, whether in word or deed, reciprocate with a favor in the same way."
08
"Do not fear anyone, including the sultan, when it comes to speaking the truth."
09
"Do not trust in your worldly possessions or your current state; for Allah will call you to account for all of these."
10
"Do not pursue people's faults; on the contrary, see their virtues. However, if you see their faults in religious matters, inform others so that they may beware and not follow them."
11
"Do not be hasty in your affairs."
12
"If you do not get along well with people, they will become your enemies; even your own mother and father may dislike you."
13
"Consult with those who consult with you; but not with random people—only with those whom you know will bring you closer to Allah."
14
"If someone seeks refuge from you by asking Allah for help, relieve his distress."
15
"Remember death often."
16
"Walk with dignity; do not be frivolous or slippery."
17
"When the adhān (call to prayer) is recited, hasten to the mosque."
18
"For marriage: first seek knowledge, then earn lawful (ḥalāl) wealth, and then marry."
19
"Beware of laughing excessively, for it kills the qalb (the heart)."
20
"Do not disclose people's secrets."
21
"If I were to place what I do not know beneath my feet, my head would reach the sky."
22
"I attained the greatest wealth by learning the knowledge of what is lawful (ḥalāl) and unlawful (ḥarām)."
23
"Allah, exalted is He, has named Himself 'the Thankful' (al-Shakūr). For Allah, exalted is He, rewards good deeds. He is the most merciful of those who show mercy."
24
"A person believes that Allah, exalted is He, is the only One who gives healing to everything; yet, he uses medicine to seek a cure for his ailment. For medicine is a means, but the One who grants healing is Allah, exalted is He."
25
"One who does not know the rules of trade in religion cannot avoid unlawful (ḥarām) earnings and cannot attain the reward of acts of worship. His efforts are wasted, he is exposed to punishment, and he will deeply regret it."
26
"If someone who speaks on religious knowledge thinks that Allah, exalted is He, will not ask him: 'How did you give fatwā (legal opinion) and speak in My religion?'—then he has been negligent with himself and his religion."
27
"Everything that has come to us and been conveyed from the noble Companions (aṣḥāb al-kirām) has a place above our heads."
28
"The believer knows that Allah, exalted is He, is constantly watching him. Whether he is alone or among people, he certainly believes that Allah, exalted is He, is monitoring him. Kings and so-called great men, however, cannot monitor anyone in secret or in public."
29
"Allah, exalted is He, has commanded us to love those among people who are believers, to show them respect, and never to be hurtful; that we cannot know what is hidden in their hearts, and that we should adjust our behavior accordingly."
30
"I have seen and come to know that committing sin is humiliation, and abandoning sin is dignity."
31
"If a person's knowledge does not prevent him from what Allah, exalted is He, has forbidden, that person is in great danger."
32
"I am amazed at those who speak and act based on conjecture."
33
"If a person does not know fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), nor the value of fiqh and the worth of scholars of fiqh, then sitting with such scholars [reading their books, learning fiqh] will be burdensome for him."
34
"The believer does not fear anything as much as he fears Allah, exalted is He. If he is afflicted with a severe illness, or a terrible accident or calamity, whether in secret or in public, he does not complain, saying: 'O Lord, why did You give me this calamity?' On the contrary, despite illness, calamity, and accident, he remembers Allah, exalted is He, and gives thanks."
35
"The offenses that servants commit against one another are nothing but injustice for themselves."