Sunday, December 1, 2013

Traditions of the Prophet

excerpts from 'Traditions of the Prophet', in Idries Shah's Caravan of Dreams (1968)






Sayings of the Prophet


Trust

Trust in God, but tie your camel first.


The World

Treat this world as I do, like a wayfarer; like a horseman who stops in the shade of a tree for a time, and then moves on. 


Objects

It is your attachment to objects which make you blind and deaf.



Sleep

Sleep is the brother of death.



Reflection

The Faithful are mirrors, one to the other.



Women

Women are the twin-halves of men.



Privacy

Whoever invades people´s privacy corrupts them.





Oppression

When oppression exists, even the bird dies in its nest.


Love

Do you think you love your Creator? Love your fellow-creature first.




Distribution

God it is who gives: I am only a distributor,



Helping others


I order you to assist any oppressed person, whether he is a Muslim or not.


Monkishness


No monkery in Islam.


Teaching

One hour's teaching is better than a whole night of prayer.
...


Humility

Humility and courtesy are themselves a part of piety.




Envy

Envy devours good deeds, as a fire devours fuel.



Death

Die before your death.




The Tongue 

A man slips with his tongue more than with his feet. 



Desire

Desire not the world, and God will love you. Desire not what others have, and they will love you. 


Practice

Who are the learned? Those who put into practice what they know .



Anger

You ask for a piece of advice. I tell you: 'Do not get angry.' He is strong who can withhold anger. 



Judge

A man appointed to be a judge has been killed without a knife. 



Struggle

The holy warrior is he who struggles with himself.




Ink and Blood

The ink of the learned is holier than the blood of the martyr.




Accusations

Anyone reviling a brother for a sin will not himself die before committing it.




Obligation to Learn

The pursuit of knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim.






Lies, promises, trust

He is not of mine who lies, breaks a promise or fails in his trust.



Some behaviour

I am like a man who has lighted a fire, and all the creeping things have rushed to burn themselves in it.




The Bequest

I have nothing to leave you except my family.



Understanding

Speak to everyone in accordance with his degree of understanding.






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