Do not grieve over trivialities for the entire world is trivial

 

A righteous person was once thrown into a lion’s cage, and Allah then saved him from its claws. He was later asked, "What were you thinking about at the time." He said, "I was considering the saliva of a lion --- whether it is considered by scholars to be pure or impure (i.e. whether, when I die, I will be in a state of purity or not)."

 

Allah described those who were with the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) according to their intentions:

 

(Among you are some that desire this world and some that desire the Hereafter)

(Qur’an 3: 152)

 

Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned that a person’s value is measured according to his determination and his goals. A wise person once said words to the same effect:

 

"Inform me of a man’s determination and I will tell you what kind of man he is."

 

A vessel capsized at sea, and a worshipper was hurled into the water. He began to make ablution, one limb at a time. He managed to " get to shore and was saved. He was asked about the ablution and why he made it, to which he replied, "I wanted to make ablution so that I would die in a state of purity."

 

Imam Ahmad, during the pangs of death, was pointing to his beard while others were making his ablution for him, reminding them not to miss a spot.

 

(So Allah gave them the reward of this world, and the excellent reward of the Hereafter) (Qur’an 3: 148)

 

D0o not grieve when you are shown overt enmity, for if you forgive and forget, you will have achieved nobility in this world and honor in the next.

 

But whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah.   (Quran 42: 40)

 

Shakespeare said words to the effect of,

"Don’‌t light the oven too much for your enemy in order not to burn yourself by the fIame."

 

Someone said to Saalim ibn ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar, a scholar from the early generations of Islam, "You are an evil man." He quickly replied, "None knows me save you."

 

A man said in a verbal attack to Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him):

 

"By Allah, I will curse you with such curses that will enter with you into your grave." He calmly answered, "Nay, but they shall enter with you into yours."

 

And someone said to ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas,

"l will dedicate myself to waging war against you." ‘Amr replied, "Now have you fallen into what supersedes all else, and it will be your preoccupation (i.e. your misely)."

 

General Eisenhower once exclaimed:

"Let us not waste one minute in thought over those whom we do not love."

 

The mosquito said to the tree:

"Remain firm, for I wish to fly away and leave you." The tree answered, "By Allah, I felt not your landing on me! Then how will I feel you when you fly away."

 

Hatim said:

"I forgive the generous one when he saves some of his wealth, And I turn away from the curses of the accursed one generously. "

 

(And if they pass by some evil play or evil talk, they pass by it with dignity.? (Qur’an 25: 72)

 

(And when the foolish address them [with bad words] they reply back with mild words of gentleness.}? (Qur’an 25: 63)

 

Confucius said:

"The angry man is always replete with poison."

 

One man asked the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) to give him advice three times. He (bpuh) answered each time:.

"Don’t be angry."

 

The Prophet (bpuh) said of anger in the following hadith:

"Anger is an ember from the fire."

 

The Devil overcomes man on three occasions: when he is angry, when he feels lust, and when he is in a state of forgetfulness.