He praised Allah and thanked Him and said:
Well, verily the most veracious discourse, the most trustworthy handhold is the word of piety. The best of the religions is the religion of Abraham. The best of the precedents is the precedent of Muhammad. The noblest speech is the invocation of Allāh. The finest of the narratives is this Qur’ān. The best of the affairs is that which has been firmly resolved upon. The worst in religion are those things which are created without sanction. The best of the ways is the one trodden by the Prophet. The noblest death is the death of a martyr. The most miserable blindness is waywardness after guidance. The best of the actions is that which is beneficent. The best guidance is that which is put into practice. The worst blindness is the blindness of the heart. The upper hand is better than the lower hand. (The hand which gives charity is better than the one which receives it). The little that suffices is better than what is abundant and alluring. The worst apology is that which is tendered when death stares one in the face. The worst remorse is that which is felt on the Day of Resurrection.
Some people do not come to the Friday prayer, but with hesitance and delay. And some of them do not remember Allah but with reluctance. The tongue which is addicted to false expression is a bubbling spring of sins. The most valuable possession is the contentment of heart. The best provision is that of piety. The highest wisdom is fear of Allah, the Mighty and the Great. The best thing to be cherished in the hearts is faith and conviction. Doubt is infidelity. Impatient wailing and fulsome laudation of the dead is an act of ignorance. Betrayal leads one to the fire of Hell. Drinking amounts to burning. Obscene poetry is the work of the devil. Wine is the mother of all evil. The worst thing eaten is one which belongs to orphans.
Blessed is the who receives admonition from others. The unfortunate is the one who is born unfortunate from the womb of his mother. Each one of you must resort to a place of four cubit (grave). Your affairs would be decided ultimately in the next life. The worst dream is false dream. Whatever is in store is near. To abuse a believer is transgression. Raising arms against him is infidelity. To backbite him is a disobedience to Allah. Inviolability (and sacredness) of his property is like that of his blood. He who swears by Allah (falsely) in fact falsifies Him. He who pardons others is himself granted pardon. He who forgives others, is forgiven by Allah for his sins. He who represses anger, Allah rewards him. He who faces misfortunes with perseverance, Allah compensates him. He who acts only for name and reputation, Allah disgraces him. He who shows patience and forbearance, Allah gives him a double reward. He who disobeys Allah, Allah chastises him.
I seek the forgiveness of Allah
I seek the forgiveness of Allah
I seek the forgiveness of Allah 1
1. Hafiz Ibn Qayyam, Zād al-Ma‘ād, Vol 3, p. 13-14