The following quotes were gathered with Interfaith ministry in mind. They have been drawn from two sources: The Wisdom of Muhammad and The Light of Dawn: Daily Readings from the Holy Qur’an (sources below).
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1. The Praise of Allah
"Bismi’llah — Ar-rahman — Ar-rahim: In the Name of God, the Infinitely Compassionate, Most Merciful. All praise is God’s, the Sustainer of all worlds, the Infinitely Compassionate and Most Merciful.” (Light, Muhammad’s Al-Fatiha, [1], p. 1)
“O my Sustainer! …Originator of the heavens and the earth! You are my Protector in this world and in the life to come.” (Light, [12:101], p. 47)
“When you are free from your task, continue to strive, and to your Sustainer turn with loving attention.” (Light, [94:8], p. 200)
“Mention your Sustainer’s Name morning and evening, and during the night prostrate yourself before Him and praise Him throughout the long night.” (Light, [76:26], p. 182)
“Bow down in adoration and draw near!” (Light, [96:19], p. 202)
“Truly, the rising by night is the strongest means of governing the soul, and the most appropriate for words of prayer.” (Light, [73], p. 179)
“Their Sustainer gives them the glad tiding of the grace that flows from him.” (Light, [9], p. 38)
“God! There is no god but He, the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal… He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory)." (Surah 2.255, the Throne Verse [Ayat-ul-kursi])
“God comprehends the subtlest mysteries and is All-Aware.” (Light, [31], p. 107)
“To God belong the East and the West; whithersoever ye turn, there is the Presence of God. For God is All-Pervading, All-Knowing.” (Surah 2.115)
“Ah, truly! It is He Who encompasses all things!” (Light, [41:54], p. 133)
“Put your whole being into every act of worship.” (Light, [7:29], p. 31)
“…He to whom you pray is nearer to you than the neck of your camel.” (Wisdom, #206)
2. The Remembrance of Allah
“Remembrance of God is surely the greatest of all things in life.” (Light, [29:45], p. 100)
“…in the remembrance of God hearts find rest.” (Light, [13:28], p. 51)
“God has revealed the most beautiful message in the form of a Book consistent within itself, repeating its teaching in various guises—the skins of those who stand in awe of their Lord tremble with it; then their skins
and their hearts soften with the remembrance of God.” (Light, [39], p. 126)
“There is a polish for everything that takes away rust, and the polish for the heart is the remembrance of God.” (Wisdom, #184)
3. Dedication to the Path
“The most excellent Jihad (holy war) is that for the conquest of self.” (Wisdom, #73)
“God is with those who patiently persevere.” (Light, Muhammad’s Al-Fatiha, [2:153], p. 3)
“Whoever submits his or her whole self to God and is a doer of good has indeed grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold: for with God rests the final outcome of all endeavors.” (Light, [31:22], p. 108)
4. Gratitude
“Remember with gratitude the blessings which God has bestowed on you. (Light, Muhammad’s Al-Fatiha, [2], p. 10)
“O Humankind! Worship your Sustainer, who has created you… Remain conscious of the One who has made the earth a resting-place for you and the sky a canopy, and has sent water down from the sky and with it
brought forth fruits for your sustenance.” (Light, Muhammad’s Al-Fatiha, [2:21-22], p. 2)
“Riches are not from abundance of worldly goods, but from a contented mind.” (Wisdom, #69)
5. Motivation of One’s Heart
“All actions are judged by the motives prompting them. ” (Wisdom, #68)
“Truly, God knows all the hidden things of the heavens and the earth: truly, He has complete knowledge of all that is within hearts.” (Light, [35:38], p. 117)
“Know that everything is vanity save God.” (Wisdom, #342)
6. Kindness, Compassion, Good-Naturedness
“Be ye imbued with divine qualities.” (Wisdom, #155)
“The most beloved of you by me, and nearest to me in the next world, are those of good dispositions; …the farthest from me are the ill-tempered.” (Wisdom, #119)
“…to do unto all men as you would wish to have done unto you, and to reject for others what you would reject for yourself.” (Wisdom, #138)
“Feed the hungry and visit the sick, and free the captive, if he be unjustly confined. Assist any person oppressed, whether Muslim or non-Muslim.” (Wisdom, #147)
“Refrain from seeing and speaking of the vices of mankind, which you know are in yourself.” (Wisdom, #172)
“No one should oppress another.” (Wisdom, #235)
“What actions are most excellent? To gladden the heart of a human being, to feed the hungry, to help the afflicted, to lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful, and to remove the wrongs of the injured.” (Wisdom, #249)
“Kindness is a mark of faith: and whoever hath no kindness hath not faith.” (Wisdom, #254)
“They will enter the Garden of Bliss who have a true, pure and merciful heart.” (Wisdom, #370)
“Truly, the most highly regarded of you in the sight of God is the one who does the most good.” (Light, [49:13], p. 146)
“Ye will not complete your faith until ye love one another.” (Wisdom, #176)
“No man is a true believer unless he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself.” (Wisdom, #3)
“Be just: this is the closest thing to being God-conscious.” (Light, [5:8], p. 19)
“They will enter the Garden of Bliss who have a true, pure and merciful heart.” (Wisdom, #370)
“Much silence and a good disposition, there are no two works better than these.” (Wisdom, #398)
“Purify your inmost heart!” (Light, [74], p. 181)
“Speak only good words, otherwise remain silent.” (Wisdom, #232)
“Be among those who are true to their word!” (Light, [9:119], p. 39)
“If thine enemy incline toward peace, do thou also incline toward peace.” (Islamic Prayer for Peace)
7. Materiality
“Riches are not from abundance of worldly goods, but from a contented mind.” (Wisdom, #383)
“It is difficult, for a man laden with riches, to climb the steep path the leads to bliss.” (Wisdom, #384)
8. Knowledge and Wisdom
“Philosophy is the stray camel of the Faithful, take hold of it wherever ye come across it.” (Wisdom, #272)
“Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.” (Wisdom, #274)
“The ink of the scholar is more holy than the blood of the martyr.” (Wisdom, #285)
“He who leaves home in search of knowledge, walks in the path of God.” (Wisdom, #286)
“Verily, a man has performed prayers, fasts, charity, pilgrimage and all other good works; but he will not be rewarded except by the proportion of his understanding.” (Wisdom, #407)
“Follow the best of that which your Sustainer has revealed to you!” (Light, [39:55], p. 127)
9. Death
“The grave is the first stage of the journey into eternity.” (Wisdom, #109)
“Do not say of anything ‘I shall be sure to do so and so tomorrow’ without adding, ‘if God wills!’” (Surah 57:3)
“The life of this world is just a play and a passing delight.” (Light, [47:36], p. 142)
“To no soul will God grant a further time when the appointed time has come.” (Light, [63:11], p. 167)
“To their Sustainer all will return.” (Light, [96:8], p. 202)
“The destination of all is to God. (Surah 35:18)
“O my people! This present life is just a brief convenience; it is the Hereafter that is the enduring Home.” (Light, [40], p. 129)
“When your friend dies, do not mention his vices.” (Wisdom, #373)
“Be in this world like a traveler, or like a passer-on, and reckon yourself as of the dead.” (Wisdom, #438)
“…all things are returning to God.” (Light, Muhammad’s Al-Fatiha, [3:109], p. 11)
10. Faith and Hope
“Let there be no compulsion in matters of faith.” (Light, Muhammad’s Al-Fatiha, [2:256], p. 6)
“Trust in God, but tie your camel.” (Wisdom, #214)
“On no soul does God place a burden greater than it can bear.” (Surah 2:286)
“…say, when afflicted with calamity, “To God we belong, and to Him is our return. (Surah 2:156)
“Don’t despair over things that pass you by, nor exult over blessings that come to you.” (Light, [57], p. 160)
“There is no soul that does not have a protector over it.” (Light, [86:4], p. 191)
“…Follow that which comes to you by inspiration from your Sustainer…and put your trust in God, for God suffices as your Guardian of Affairs.” (Light, [33], p. 110)
11. The Light
“To the light I have attained and in the light I live.” (Wisdom, #324)
“The fire kindled by God… overwhelms hearts.” (Light, [104], p. 209)
“O God! Grant me Light in my heart… God! Increase my Light everywhere.” (Light, Muhammad’s Prayer of Light, p. xv)
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Sources
1. Allama Sir Abdullah and Al-Mamun Al-Suhrawardy, ed., The Wisdom of Muhammad (originally published in 1941?)
2. Camille Adams Helminski, ed., The Light of Dawn: Daily Readings from the Holy Qur’an, Boston and London, Shambala Publications Inc., 1998.
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