The one who is [truly] imprisoned is the one whose heart is imprisoned from Allah and the captivated one is the one whose desires have enslaved him.
Ibn TaymiyyahRead
The disease that knowledge brings is arrogance, and the disease that worship brings is showing off
Interpretation
Knowledge can lead to arrogance, while excessive worship can lead to vanity.
This quote by Ibn Taymiyyah highlights the potential negative consequences of knowledge and worship. It suggests that when individuals acquire knowledge, they may become arrogant, feeling superior to others, while those who are overly devoted in their worship may seek validation and attention, showcasing their piety rather than genuinely practicing humility and devotion. Both scenarios illustrate the dangers of letting pride arise from one's capabilities or religious practices.
In practice
In a discussion about the importance of humility in leadership.
The one who is [truly] imprisoned is the one whose heart is imprisoned from Allah and the captivated one is the one whose desires have enslaved him.
The sign of the people of bidβah is that they do not follow the salaf.
Whatever is not done by the permission of Allah will not happen, and what is not done for the sake of Allah will not benefit or remain.
Remembrance is to the heart what water is to the fish. And what is the state of a fish that leaves water?
The more humble, needy, and subdued you are before Allah, the closer you will be to Him.
If you do good in secret, Allah will shower His good on you in public.
Bring forward what is true, Write it so that it is clear, Defend it to your last breath!
It is not because the touch of genius has roused genius to production, but because the admiration of genius has made talent ambitious, that the harvest is still so abundant.
I hope that even if you remember not a single word of mine, you remember those of Seneca, another of those old Romans I met when I fled down the Classics corridor, in retreat from career ladders, in search of ancient wisdom: As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.
I get one hour, really 25 minutes in a sermon on a weekend, to combat all the hours of the week that people are told you are what you have through billboards, commercials, and sitcoms, and so forth.
I learned: the first lesson of my life: nobody can face the world with his eyes open all the time.
In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.