Gems of Wisdom by Ameer al-

Mu'mineen
Sayyiduna 'Umar al-Farooq Radi
ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho
• To eat less is healthy, to speak less is wisdom, and to sleep less
is worship.
• To speak less is wisdom, to eat less is healthy and to mingle less
with the people is safe and serene.
• The one who steps back will not progress.
• Nothing is worst that avarice that destroys the mind, not even
Alcohol.
• It is unbecoming of that person who sits with his hands folded
and prays to ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala for sustenance.
ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala does not rain down gold and silver
from the heavens.
• To earn a suspicious living is worse than begging.
• The biggest gift after Iman (Faith) is your wives.
• Attain knowledge before old age settles in.
• Extravagance is also when a person eats whatever he wishes.
• Whosoever hides his secret keeps his safety, safeguarded with
himself.
• The person who calls himself learned, indeed he is ignorant,
and the one who calls himself from the dwellers of Paradise surely
he is from the dwellers of Hell.
• Tawbatun-NasooHa (Accepted forgiveness) is the name of that
forgiveness that is asked for a bad deed committed, in such a
manner that he never returns to or commits that bad deed again.
• The Strength in action is, never to put of what you can do today
for tomorrow.
• It is not becoming of a Muslim to sit down and start praying for
sustenance without attempting to earn it, he is well aware that
gold and silver does not rain from the skies.
• If it wasn’t for the claim of knowledge of the unknown then I
would say five people are from the dwellers of Paradise:
1. That family man who is poverty stricken but
is patient
2. That women with whom her husband is
happy and accepting.
3. That woman who forgives he husband’s duty
of Mehr (Dowry approved by Muslim law)
4. That person with whom his parents are
Happy
5. And that person who honestly repents from
his sins
• Once a sheep was slaughtered and Syeduna 'Umar al-Farooq
Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho persistently asked his servant if he had
first sent meat to his neighbour who was a Jew. The slave asked
why you are asking the same question persistently. He answered
that ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala and his Rasūl Sallallaho Alaihi
wa Sallam had constantly stressed the importance of neighbors
therefore I too am persistent in stressing the same.
• Three things build love:

1. To make Salam (greeting)

2. To make space for a person in a gathering
3. To address a person in a respectable and good
manner
• There are four types of Regrets:
1. Regret that spans over a day e.g. When a
person leaves his home without eating.
2. Regret that spans over a year, just like the
negligence shown when cultivating.
 3. Regret that spans over a lifetime, when a man
and his wife are unsuited to each other.
4. Regret that is eternal, which is when your
Creator is unhappy with you.
• There are three types of people:
1. Successful: he who listens to the advice of
people and ponders over it.
2. Lazy or Lethargic: he who does what he wants
without consultation or advice of people.
3. Corpse: who neither gives nor listens to
advice and consolation.
• Sayyiduna 'Umar Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho on many an
occasion asked this du'a (supplication) to ALLAH SubHanuhu wa
Ta'ala so that certain situations should always remain with him
and some things should be removed, the Du'a is: “O ALLAH
SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala! Make me such that I may speak with
intellect or reap tolerance with silent. O! ALLAH SubHanuhu wa
Ta'ala do not bestow upon me too many favours, so that I may not
be confused by it, not too little that I may forget You. Hence, little
yet sufficient in comparison to having plenty thereby becoming
indulgent and committing sin.”
• If ever you see a learned person ('Aalim) leaning towards this
World, then know this he is blameworthy for his Religion, because
the universal harm is that if a person desires something then he is
constantly engrossed in its quest.
• Faith (Iman) is to regard the Oneness of ALLAH SubHanuhu wa
Ta'ala in ones heart proclaim it with your tongue and to obey the
fundamental Islamic Instructions.
• The relationship of true humility and genuine fear of ALLAH
SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala is with the heart and not by a show of
outward actions.
• Why have you made slaves of those whose mothers had given
birth to them free?
• Judgments or Settlements in any cases should be done quickly,
so that the accused, due to a prolonged period of time are not
compelled to withdraw their accusation.
• It is absolutely necessary not to associate with a beast for
though he wishes or means well, yet he would still be accused of
committing a crime.
• ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala, shower your Blessings of Mercy
on that person who informs me of my faults.
• When a learned man takes a false step then he ensnares himself
in a World of wrongdoings.
• One day a man was praising Hadrat 'Umar Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala
Anho, he replied by saying why are you destroying me even more
with my desires (Nafs).

• I do not look at anything, except, that I see everything with

ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala.
• If I die in this condition that I have strived to earn an honest
living then it is more beloved to me than even dying as a Martyr.
• Good behavior towards people is equivalent to wisdom, to
request politely is half of knowledge, and to ascribe to sound
policies is half of one’s livelihood.
• To educate a material person is like placing a sword in the
hands of a robber.
• Do not have Faith in a person’s compassion and politeness
when he cannot keep his anger under control.
• Do not have Faith in a religious person who is not tested during
temptation.
• He is a friend who brings to your attention your faults and to
sing praises of a person in his presence is similar to slaughtering
him.
• Laughing decreases ones age, while politeness, glamour, pomp
and show which ease living standards are indications of people
who are unaware of death.
• To show greed and avarice is impoverishing, to be unselfish is
enriching and to wish compensation in patience.
• Good deeds are the fulfillment of one’s rights and to do good
deeds is a substitute for bad deeds.
• To speak less is wisdom, to eat less is healthy, to sleep less is a
prayer and there is peace in solitude.
• Youth before old age and old age before death is a blessing of
life.
• A generous person is the beloved of Almighty ALLAH
SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala even though he is a transgressor. A miser is
the enemy of Almighty ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala although he
may pray and remember Almighty ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala
excessively.
• To forgive an oppressor is oppression upon the oppressed.
• When you combine lawful with unlawful gains then the
unlawful contaminates the lawful gains though it may be little.
• A Mu'min does not keep as his friend one who is opposed to
Almighty ALLAH SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala and his Prophet Sallallaho
Alaihi wa Sallam even though that person may be his mother or
father.
• The sound of music and that of a mourner are two of the worst
sounds.
• There is tranquility and peace in anonymity and confidentiality.
• We should leave the other nine portions out for the fear of
Haram (unlawful). (i.e. if in ten portions one is Haram a Muslim
would leave the other nine portions out meaning anything
unlawful would be completely left out).
• Desire is never achieved without fear, nor manners and
etiquette without formality, or happiness without peace or wealth
without gifts or poverty without contentment, or dignity without
politeness or Jihad (holy war) without diving guidance and
assistance.
• Respite before preoccupation and old age before death is a
blessing of life.
• Honour and dignity in this World is measured by wealth while
honour and dignity in the Hereafter is measured by good deeds.
• Save yourself from the Fires of Hell even if it means by doing a
favour with half a date (fruit). If this too is not possible then with
sweet words.
• After Iman (Faith), there is no greater gift than a pious wife.
• Not to postpone is strength in action.
• Whosoever shows you your faults, he is your friend. Those that
pay you lip service in praise are your executioners.
• One who guards his secrets is surely safe.
• The person who constantly discloses my faults to me is dearest
to me.
• Fear that person who you dislike.
• When Sayyiduna 'Umar Radi ALLAHu Ta'ala Anho camped on
the outskirts of Jerusalem to conquer Bait al-Maqdas, the
Christian Crusaders were terrified of his presence and requested a
meeting with him before handing over the keys of the city. The
Crusaders met him whilst he wore a patched garb. They asked him
the reason as to why his name generated such immence awe and
fear that captured the hearts of his enemies. He replied; “Your
kings taught you to love the World (Duniyah) and its wealth and
our Prophet Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam taught us to fear ALLAH
SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala and love death.
• He is an intelligent person who can translate his actions into
good.
• Never put off for tomorrow what you can do today.
• There is never a chance of pain in the neck if one does not raise
his head too high in the air.
• Do not forget about yourself whilst being concerned for others.
• To stop sinning is easier than to bear the burden of seeking
repentance.
• Remove your gaze from the splendor of the World. Do not let
the love of this World enter your heart. Beware! The love of this
World does not perhaps destroy you, just as it had destroyed
previous nations.
• Victory is gained through strategy and trust in ALLAH
SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala, not by wishful thinking.
• The most intelligent amongst you is he who fears ALLAH
SubHanuhu wa Ta'ala the most.
• Be sympathetic towards the poor so that they may be able to
speak and build courage.
• Extend a hand of friendship to a foreigner because if his stay is
extended then he would leave his valuable possessions to return to
his own country and leave that person responsible for his
valuables who had been most worthy of his attention
• Do not taunt and curse anyone for this gives rise to collective
evils in a person.
• One should not judge a person by the number of Salaat (prayer)
or Roza (fasting) but by his wisdom and honesty.
• Prayer is connected to the heart not by mere apparent actions.
• To educate a seeker of materialism is to place a sword in the
hands of a highway robber.
• Do not trust the character of one who cannot control his
temper.
• To laugh excessively is a sign of no remorse for death.
• To side with the oppressor is oppression on the oppressed
• Death is the best teacher.

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