Sincere Truthfulness

When I want to, I utter good and do good publicly
so that it will be spoken of.
When one day I am charitable to a beggar,
I seek gratitude for it so that it will be spoken of.
When I fast a day in the summer, I complain of hunger
in the evening so that it will be spoken of.
When I pray and people are with me,
I am slow in my prayer so that it will be spoken of.
When I am alone, I do it cursorily
since I do not fear that anything will be spoken of.
My actions are pride, artifice and showing off.
What stumbling blocks which are not mentioned!
Therefore shun me and drive away from you-
my burdens and sins are heavy.
Ask God Almighty for repentance,
with sincere truthfulness,
not so that you will be spoken of.

- Shaykhul Akbar Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi

Seeking Knowledge

With eager desire you are setting out to acquire knowledge, my friend; of yourself you are making clear how genuine is your longing and how passionate your thirst for it. Be sure that, if in your quest for knowledge your aim is to gain something for yourself and to surpass your fellows, to attract men's attention to yourself and to amass this worldy vanities, then you are on the way to bring your religion to nothing and destroy yourself, to sell your eternal life for this present one; your bargain is dead loss, your trading without profit.

On the other hand, if in seeking knowledge your intention and purpose between God most high and yourself is to receive guidance and not merely to acquire information, then rejoice. The angels will spread out their wings for you when you walk, and the denizens of the sea will ask pardon from God for you when you run.

- Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali

Trials and Tribulations

Do not try to run away from trials and tribulations, but endure them with patience. They cannot be avoided, and there is nothing for it but to endure them with patience. How can you expect the whole of this world, and all that has been created therein, to undergo change and transformation just to suit your convenience? The Prophets are the best of all creatures, yet they have always had to suffer afflictions and so it is for their followers, those who thread in their footsteps as they walk along their highway, emulating their example.

- Shaikh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani

The Deceitful World

The deceitful character of the world comes out in the following ways. In the first place, it pretends that it will always remain with you, while, as a matter of fact, it is slipping away from you, moment by moment, and bidding you farewell, like a shadow which seems stationary, but is actually always moving. Again, the world presents itself under the guise of a radiant but immoral sorceress, pretends to be in love with you, fondles you, and then goes off to your enemies, leaving you to die of chagrin and despair. Jesus (upon whom be peace!) saw the world revealed in the form of an ugly old hag. He asked her how many husbands she had possessed; she replied that they were countless. He asked whether they had died or been divorced; she said that she had slain them all. "I marvel", he said, "at the fools who see, what you have done to others, and still desire you."

This sorceress decks herself out in gorgeous and jewelled apparel and veils her face. Then she goes forth to seduce men, too many of whom follow her to their own destruction. The Prophet has said that in the Judgment Day the world will appear in the form of a hideous witch with green eyes and projecting teeth. Men, beholding her, will say, "Mercy on us! who is this?" The angels will answer, "This is the world for whose sake you quarrelled and fought and embittered one another's lives." Then she will be cast into hell, whence she will cry out, "O Lord! where are those, my former lovers?" God will then command that they be cast after her.

- Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, The Alchemy of Happiness