Sayings of sayyiduna Umar Al-Farooq(may God be pleased with him)
1. To eat less is healthy, to speak less is wisdom, and to sleep less is worship.
2. After faith, there is no greater gift than a pious wife.
3. 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.
4. The strength in action is, never to put off what you can do today for tomorrow.
5. If it were not for the claim of knowledge of the unknown then I would say five people are from the dwellers of Paradise:
- That family man who is poverty stricken but is patient;
- That women with whom her husband is happy and accepting;
- That woman who forgives her husband’s duty of Mahr (dowry approved by Muslim law);
- That person with whom his parents are happy;
- And that person who honestly repents from his sins.
6. Once a sheep was slaughtered and Umar al-Farooq (may God be pleased with him) persistently asked his servant if he had first sent meat to his neighbor who was a Jew. The slave asked, “Why you are asking the same question persistently.” He answered that God the Most High and his Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) had constantly stressed the importance of neighbors therefore I too am persistent in stressing the same.
7. Three things build love:
- to make Salam (greeting);
- to make space for a person in a gathering;
- to address a person in a respectable and good manner.
8. The relationship of true humility and genuine fear of God the Most High is with the heart and not by a show of outward actions.
9. Do not have faith in a person’s compassion and politeness when he cannot keep his anger under control.
10. Good deeds are the fulfillment of one’s rights and to do good deeds is a substitute for bad deeds.
11. One should not judge a person by the number of prayers or fastings but by his wisdom and honesty.
12. Remove your gaze from the splendor of the world. Do not let the love of this world enter your heart. Beware! That the love of this world does not perhaps destroy you, just as it has destroyed previous nations.
13. To stop sinning is easier than to bear the burden of seeking repentance.
14. Do not forget about yourself whilst being concerned for others.
15. Whosoever shows you your faults, he is your friend. Those that pay you lip service in praise are your executioners.
16. Save yourself from the Fires of Hell even if it means doing a favor with half a date. If this too is not possible then do so with sweet words.
17. 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).
18. When you combine lawful with unlawful gains then the unlawful contaminates the lawful gains though it may be little.
