Words That Fall Upon the Heart from Imam al-Ghazali
The wisdoms of Imam al-Ghazali 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 matters 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
"Death comes as easily to the beloved servants of Allah as drinking a glass of sweet cold water."
02
"The worth of those who think only of what will enter their stomach is as much as what will come out of their stomach."
03
"To reach distant places is only possible by surpassing the nearby ones."
04
"Do not enter into arguments with the ignorant; I have never been able to win."
05
"Value not your body but yourself, and mature your heart! For a person is not as much as their body, but as much as their ruh (the spirit)."
06
"Those who are appointed to the positions of the state without being worthy, bite their subordinates and wag their tails at their superiors."
07
"Reading is of three kinds: the reading of the tongue is recitation, the reading of the intellect is contemplation, the reading of the qalb (the heart) is life."
08
"O my nafs (the lower self), if you say, 'I will repent and do good deeds later,' death may come before that, and you will be left in regret. If you think that repenting tomorrow is easier than repenting today, you are deceived."
09
"If it were not for the scholars, people would be like animals. For scholars elevate people from barbarism to the level of humanity through teaching."
10
"No matter how arrogant it stands, the teapot bows before the cup. Then why this arrogance? Why this pride, this conceit?"
11
"He who does not break the shell of the walnut and reach its kernel thinks the whole walnut is shell."
12
"Those who are slaves to desire become slaves, those who are slaves to sabr (patient endurance) become kings."
13
"Rather than being an apprentice in many crafts, be a master in one."
14
"To spend the blessing given by Allah the Exalted in a place He loves is shukr (gratitude); to use it in a place He does not love is kufrān al-niʿma (denial of the blessing)."
15
"A scholar who does not act upon his knowledge is like a needle that clothes others while itself remains naked."
16
"Reconcile those who are estranged and at odds, so that you may be among the rejoicing on the Day of Resurrection."
17
"A person of intellect should say to his nafs (the lower self): My only capital is my lifetime. I have nothing else. This capital is so precious that every breath that passes cannot be regained by anything, and the breaths are numbered, they are decreasing. So, could there be a greater loss than letting today slip away and not using it to attain happiness? Guard all your limbs from the unlawful as if you were to die tomorrow."
18
"When you are about to say a word, think! If you will be held accountable for not saying it, then say it. Otherwise, remain silent."
19
"A person is measured by two small pieces of flesh: his qalb (the heart) and his tongue."
20
"If a preacher tries to make the people weep and tear their collars, know that such a person is heedless."
21
"For a person to get along well with his friends or with other people, he must not be a burden to them or cause them hardship. As much as possible, he should handle his own affairs himself. Unless absolutely necessary, he should not ask anyone for things like property or money. Nor should he seek the help of others to attain any position."
22
"The state of modesty in a child is a sign of the light of intellect within him."
23
"For the coming-into-being of every contingent thing, there must be a cause."
24
"Do not be greedy or covetous, your heart will become hard and dark. Do not act basely to increase your wealth."
25
"Know that backbiting with the qalb (the heart) is as forbidden as backbiting with the tongue. Just as it is not right to tell others about someone's faults and deficiencies, it is not permissible to say it to yourself either."
26
"Sabr (patient endurance) is unique to human beings. Animals do not have sabr, and angels have no need of sabr."
27
"One must show shukr (gratitude) for tribulation. For there is no tribulation, except for kufr (disbelief) and sins, in which there is not some good for you that you do not know! Allah knows your good better than you do."
28
"We must not forget that Allah the Exalted knows everything we do and everything we think. People see each other's teeth. Allah the Exalted sees both your teeth and your inner self. The actions and thoughts of one who knows this will be marked by adab (proper conduct)."
29
"Therefore, for the universe to exist, there must be a cause. That cause is God."
30
"He who does not doubt cannot find the truth."