Quotes

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    People whose hearts are like the hearts of birds [those who depend upon God, or those who have soft hearts*] will enter Paradise.”

    We have adorned the earth with attractive things so that We may test people to find out which of them do best, but We shall reduce all this to barren dust. 

    The Qur'an, 18:7

    Say, ‘My Lord has guided me to a straight path, an upright religion, the faith of Abraham, a man of pure faith. He was not a polytheist.’ Say, ‘My prayers and sacrifice, my life and death, are all for God, Lord of all the Worlds; He has no partner. This is what I am commanded, and I am the first to devote myself to Him.’

    The Qur’an, 6:161-63

    Corruption has flourished on land and sea as a result of people’s actions and He will make them taste the consequences of some of their own actions so that they may turn back.

    The Qur’an, 30:41

    “It appeared to me that the propaganda invented about the religion of Islam was one of the biggest theological cover-ups in history – or else we all simply had our eyes and ears closed.”

    Yusuf Islam

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    Islam is clean, so cleanse yourselves, for only the cleansed shall enter paradise.”

    We hear, and we obey. Grant us Your forgiveness, our Lord. To You we all return!

    The Qur’an, 2:285

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Those who are merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth and the One in the heavens will have mercy upon you.”

    “There are three types of people: Those building Bridges; those bent on destroying them; and those waiting to cross”

    Yusuf Islam

    “The fact that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) cared for every human being and tried his best to ensure their security in the hereafter must be the most telling of his compassionate and merciful characteristics.”

    Yusuf Islam

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “A parent can give a child no greater gift than good manners.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    I am the closest of the people to the son of Mary. The Prophets are brothers from different mothers, and there is no Prophet between him and I.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Anyone of you who sees wrong, let him undo it with his hand; and if he cannot, then let him speak against it with his tongue, and if he cannot do this either, then (let him abhor it) with his heart, and this is the least of faith.”

    On the Day when you see the believers, both men and women, with their light streaming out ahead of them and to their right, [they will be told], ‘The good news for you today is that there are Gardens graced with flowing streams where you will stay: that is truly the supreme triumph!’

    The Qur’an, 57:12

    God does not love corruption.

    The Qur’an, 2:205

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Prayer is the key to every good.”

    “You must be such an ardent lover of truthfulness that every statement you make assumes the quality of a solemn oath.”

    Abdal Qadir Al-Jilani

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “A man inclines to the belief of his friend, so let each one of you watch out who he befriends.”

    “Art itself is an aesthetic crossroad, where cultures and civilization freely mix peacefully without borders or passports. It is the way in which we can trade with each other the fruits of our beliefs and ideas, in symbols and through prose, the mysterious sentiments and beauty of our faith and eternal hopes.”

    Yusuf Islam

    Say, ‘O mankind, the truth has come to you from your Lord, so whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul, and whoever goes astray only goes astray [in violation] against it. And I am not a warder over you.’

    The Qur’an, 10:108

    Muhammad is not the father of any one of you men; he is God’s Messenger and the seal of the prophets: God knows everything.

    The Qur’an, 33:40

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Fever is from the vehement raging of the fire of Hell, so extinguish it with water.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    When a person dies, his deeds die with him, except for three: charitable endowments, beneficial knowledge, and righteous children who supplicate on his behalf.”

    So where are you going?

    The Qur’an, 81:26

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Paradise lies beneath the feet of mothers.”

    “I don’t think that God sent us prophets and books to fight about these books and these prophets. But they were telling us, actually, how to live together. If we ignore those teachings…whichever faith you belong to, you profess, I think we’ll be finding ourselves in an even deeper mess.”

    Yusuf Islam

    It was He who created [you] in the first place, and He will do so again, so that He may justly reward those who believe and do good deeds.

    The Qur’an, 10:4

    Has he not been told what was written in the Scriptures of Moses and of Abraham, who fulfilled his duty: that no soul shall bear the burden of another; that man will only have what he has worked towards; that his labour will be seen and that in the end he will be repaid in full for it; that the final goal is your Lord.

    The Qur'an, 53:36-42

    Prophet Elijah (Ilyas) (peace be upon him) said:

    “Have you no fear of God? How can you invoke Baal and forsake the Most Gracious Creator, God, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers?”

    The Qur'an, 37:125-126

    “My songs are a kind of narrative to my life and if you look at them listen to them you’ll hear all the explanations of where I was and where I was going”

    Yusuf Islam - A Few Good Songs 2006

    “Declare your jihad on thirteen enemies you cannot see -egoism, arrogance, conceit, selfishness, greed, lust, intolerance, anger, lying, cheating, gossiping and slandering. If you can master and destroy them, then you will be ready to fight the enemy you can see.”

    Abu Hamid al-Ghazali

    The believer said, ‘My people, follow me! I will guide you to the right path. My people, the life of this world is only a brief enjoyment; it is the Hereafter that is the lasting home. Whoever does evil will be repaid with its like; whoever does good and believes, be it a man or a woman, will enter Paradise and be provided for without measure.

    The Qur’an, 40:38-40

    “9/11… The manic attempt to cause maximum suffering and death in the name of Islam now became the greatest opportunity to blacken the name of Muslims you could ever dream of…”

    Yusuf Islam

    He is God: the Creator, the Originator, the Shaper. The best names belong to Him. Everything in the heavens and earth glorifies Him: He is the Almighty, the Wise.

    The Qur’an, 59:24

    We sent thee not [Muhammad], but as a Mercy for all creatures.

    The Qur'an, 21:107

    God is the Light of the heavens and earth. His Light is like this: there is a niche, and in it a lamp, the lamp inside a glass, a glass like a glittering star, fuelled from a blessed olive tree from neither east nor west, whose oil almost gives light even when no fire touches it- light upon light- God guides whoever He will to his Light; God draws such comparisons for people; God has full knowledge of everything.

    The Qur’an, 24:35

    “To us pattern-designers, Persia has become a holy land, for there in the process of time our art was perfected.”

    William Morris

    It was said to the Messenger of God (peace be upon him), “O Messenger of God, pray against the idolaters!” The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said, “Verily, I was not sent to invoke curses, but rather I was only sent as a mercy.”

    “Faith is not faith unless it seeks understanding.”

    Abdal Hakim Winter

    “There is a God
    You can know Him if you try
    You can approach Him if you try…”

    Yusuf Islam

    Thus, We have made you a justly balanced community that you will be witnesses over the people and the Messenger will be a witness over you.

    The Qur’an, 2:143

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Leave what makes you doubt for what does not make you doubt. Verily, truth brings peace of mind and falsehood sows doubt.”

    He is the First and the Last; the Outer and the Inner; He has knowledge of all things.

    The Qur’an, 57:3

    Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) (peace be upon him) said:

    “Father, why do you worship something that can neither hear nor see nor benefit you in any way? Father, knowledge that has not reached you has come to me, so follow me: I will guide you to an even path. Father, do not worship Satan- Satan has rebelled against the Lord of Mercy.”

    The Qur’an, 19:42-44

    Prophet Jethro (Shu’ayb) (peace be upon him) said:

    “Will you not be mindful of God? I am a faithful messenger to you: be mindful of God and obey me. I ask no reward of you, for my only reward is with the Lord of the Worlds. Give full measure: do not sell others short. Weigh with correct scales: do not deprive people of what is theirs. Do not spread corruption on earth. Be mindful of God who created you and former generations.”

    The Qur'an, 26:177-184

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “True spiritual excellence is devotion to God as if you see Him; and though you do not see Him, you at least know that He sees you.”

    Prophet Lot (Lut) (peace be upon him) said:

    “Will you not be mindful of God? I am a faithful messenger to you: be mindful of God and obey me. I ask no reward from you, for my only reward is with the Lord of the Worlds.”

    The Qur'an, 26:161-164

    Verily! God orders justice and kindness and giving
    to relatives, and forbids lewdness, bad conduct and oppression.
    God instructs you that perhaps you may be reminded.

    The Qur’an, 16:90

    Man will only have what he has worked towards.

    The Qur'an, 53:39

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Love for humanity what you love for yourself.”

    Prophet Moses (Musa) (peace be upon him) said:

    “O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him.”

    The Qur’an, 7:59

    So ask the people of the message if you do not know.

    The Qur’an, 16:43

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “God tries his his chosen people through many hardships, but those who persevere through adversity, surrendering themselves before the will of God, shall be blessed with a superb reward.”

    “Perhaps I was particularly blessed to have discovered Islam in 1977, before the Iranian Revolution, when Muslims where less visible and Islam’s spiritual message less smothered by political events and violent headlines. But given the opportunity to study the Revelation and not the Revolution, the result – God willing – would have been the same.”

    Yusuf Islam

    “I always stood for the elimination of conflict and wars, and any of those causes that ignite them.”

    Yusuf Islam

    He is God: there is no god other than Him, the Controller, the Holy One, Source of Peace, Granter of Security, Guardian over all, the Almighty, the Compeller, the Truly Great; God is far above anything they consider to be His partner.

    The Qur’an, 59:23

    Striving for more distracts you until you go into your graves.

    The Qur'an, 102:1-2

    In the name of God, The Supremely Merciful, The Most Kind

    Say: I seek refuge with The Lord and Cherisher of Mankind. The King of Mankind. The God of Mankind. From the mischief of the sneaking whisperer. Who whispers into the hearts of Mankind. From among Jinn and Mankind.

    The Qur'an, 114

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    Gentleness never accompanies anything without enhancing it, nor is it ever removed from anything without demeaning it.

    [Prophet], if My servants ask you about Me, I am near. I respond to those who call Me, so let them respond to Me, and believe in Me, so that they may be guided.

    The Qur’an, 2:186

    “I found a religion that blended scientific reason with spiritual reality in a unifying faith far removed from the headlines of violence, destruction and terrorism.”

    Yusuf Islam

    “The three most important things are giving charity during times of need; being impeccably mindful of God in private; and speaking the truth in the face of one you hope to benefit from, or one you fear.”

    Imam as-Shafi'i

    A light [Muhammad] has now come to you from God, and a Scripture [The Qur’an] making things clear, with which God guides to the ways of peace those who follow what pleases Him, bringing them from darkness out into light, by His will, and guiding them to a straight path.

    The Qur’an, 5:15-16

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Should you become eager to mention another’s faults, recall your own.”

    Alif, Lam, Meem.

    This is the Book in which there is no doubt, a guide for the righteous.

    Those who believe in the unseen, and perform the prayers, and give from what We have provided for them.

    And those who believe in what was revealed to you, and in what was revealed before you, and are certain of the Hereafter.

    These are upon guidance from their Lord. These are the successful.

    The Qur'an, 2:1-5

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    O God, I have surrendered to you and I have faith in you. I trust in you and I have turned to you. I have contested my opponents for your sake. O God, I seek refuge in your power from going astray, for there is no God but you. You are the Living who never dies, while the jinn (among the creation of God) and humans die.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Never express joy at your fellow man’s afflictions, for God just might free him of them and afflict you.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    Take up good deeds only as much as you are able, for the best deeds are those done regularly even if they are few.”

    Exalted is He who put the constellations in the heavens, a radiant light, and an illuminating moon-it is He who made the night and day follow each other-so anyone who wishes may be mindful or show gratitude.

    The Qur’an, 25:61-62

    “I started reflecting on my thoughts and those questions which were knocking at my conscious. I started writing those kind of lyrics in my songs”

    Yusuf Islam - VH1 Interview

    It is He who made the night a garment for you, and sleep a rest, and made the day like a resurrection.

    The Qur'an, 25:47

    “Come, see what Love did to me.”

    Yunus Emre

    “The wound is the place
    where the Light
    enters you.”

    Jalalu ‘d-Din Rumi

    My mercy embraces all things.

    The Qur’an, 7:156

    “If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astonishing results are the three criteria of a human genius, who could dare compare any great man in history with Muhammad?”

    Alphonse de Lamartine

    Prophet Eber (Hud) (peace be upon him) said:

    “I call God to witness, and you too are my witnesses, that I disown those you set up as partners with God. So plot against me, all of you, and give me no respite. I put my trust in God, my Lord and your Lord. There is no moving creature which He does not control. My Lord’s way is straight.”

    The Qur'an, 11: 54-56

    “The words of my songs speak for themselves.”

    Yusuf Islam

    Violence is almost an everyday occurrence in some Muslim lands: it should not be exacerbated by revenge attacks on more innocent families and communities.

    Yusuf Islam

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    God veils the faults of anyone who suppresses his anger.”

    “You know its a mysterious thing about how music is so powerful. I believe its something to do with the longing that human beings have for unification with something higher and more harmonious than their existence and their mundane lives. Wanting to grasp that somehow becomes possible through the vehicle of music”

    Yusuf Islam - Harold and Maude interview

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Beware of the intuition of the believer. Verily, he sees with the light of God.

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    I would not love to have the world or anything in it in exchange for this verse: O my servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of God. Verily, God forgives all sins, for He is the Forgiving, the Merciful. (39:53)

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “A person suffered from intense thirst while on a journey, when he found a well. He climbed down into it and drank (water) and then came out and saw a dog lolling its tongue on account of thirst and eating the moistened earth. The person said: This dog has suffered from thirst as I had suffered from it. He climbed down into the well, filled his shoe with water, then caught it in his mouth until he climbed up and made the dog drink it. So Allah appreciated this act of his and pardoned him. Then (the Companions around him) said: Allah’s Messenger, is there for us a reward even for (serving) such animals? He said: Yes, there is a reward for service to every living animal.”

    It is He who made the sun a shining radiance and the moon a light, determining phases for it so that you might know the number of years and how to calculate time. God did not create all these without a true purpose; He explains His signs to those who understand.

    The Qur’an, 10:5

    Once the Last Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was walking with his wife, Safiyyah bint Huyay, when two companions from the Ansar passed by them. The Prophet called them and said, ‘She is my wife, Safiyyah bint Huyay.’ They were surprised and asked him why he said that. He replied, ‘Satan flows inside people like blood, I feared maybe he put bad thoughts in your minds about me.’

    The reward of goodness is nothing but goodness.

    The Qur’an, 55:61

    Worship none but God; be good to your parents and kinsfolk, to orphans and the poor; speak good words to all people; keep up the prayer and pay the prescribed alms.

    The Qur’an, 2:83

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Whoever goes out in search of knowledge is on the Path of God until returning.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “He is not one of us who is not merciful to our young, nor respects the rights of our elders, nor enjoins good, nor forbids evil.

    There truly are signs in the creation of the heavens and earth, and in the alternation of night and day, for those with understanding, who remember God standing, sitting, and lying down, who reflect on the creation of the heavens and earth: ‘Our Lord! You have not created all this without purpose- You are far above that!

    The Qur’an, 3:190-191

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “The most virtuous behavior is to engage those who sever relations, to give to those who withhold from you, and to forgive those who wrong you.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Do not cause harm or return harm.

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Three practices will keep sincere your brother’s love for you: greeting him when you see him; making room for him in gatherings; and calling him by the most endearing of his names.”

    And The Messenger of God also said:

    “Hearts naturally love those who are kind to them and loath those who are cruel”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “O God, I seek refuge with You from anxiety, and sorrow, and weakness, and laziness, and miserliness, and cowardice, and the burden of debts and from being overpowered by men.”

    We have commanded people to be good to their parents: their mothers carried them, with strain upon strain, and it takes two years to wean them. Give thanks to Me and to your parents- all will return to Me.

    The Qur’an, 31:14

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Gentleness never accompanies anything without enhancing it, nor is it ever removed from anything without demeaning it.” 

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Those most complete in faith are those best in character and kindest to their families.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “That person is nearest to God, who pardons, when he has someone in his power, one who would have injured him.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “One who is not thankful to people is not thankful to God.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    Pursue knowledge even to China, for its pursuance is the sacred duty of every Muslim.”

    By the sun in its morning brightness and by the moon as it follows it, by the day as it displays the sun’s glory and by the night as it conceals it, by the sky and how He built it and by the earth and how He spread it, by the soul and how He formed it and inspired it [to know] its own rebellion and piety! The one who purifies his soul succeeds and the one who corrupts it fails.

    The Qur’an, 91:1-10

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “There is no believer who plants a tree or sows a field, and a human, bird, or an animal eats from it, but it shall be reckoned as charity from him.”

    Prophet Jacob (Ya’qub) (peace be upon him) said:

    “My sons, God has chosen [your] religion for you, so make sure you devote yourselves to Him, to your dying moment.”

    The Qur'an, 2:132

    “Music is universally present in this world, even in the jungles, oceans and deserts; birds sing, seas crash and the wind howls. Nature has its own magnificent song in praise of the Creator.”

    Yusuf Islam

    When the Quran is recited, listen to it, and pay attention, so that you may experience mercy.

    And remember your Lord within yourself, humbly and fearfully, and quietly, in the morning and the evening, and do not be of the neglectful.

    Those who are in the presence of your Lord are not too proud to worship Him. They recite His praises, and to Him they bow down.

    The Qur'an, 7: 204-206

    It is God who is your protector, he is the best of protectors.

    The Qur'an, 3:150

    Say, ‘[God says], My servants who have harmed yourselves by your own excess, do not despair of God’s mercy. God forgives all sins: He is truly the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

    The Qur'an, 39:53

    Children of Adam, dress well whenever you are at worship, and eat and drink [as We have permitted] but do not be extravagant: God does not like extravagant people.

    The Qur'an, 7:31

    Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) (peace be upon him) said:

    “God is enough for us: He is the best protector.’

    The Qur'an, 3:173

    Prophet Solomon (Sulayman) (peace be upon him) said:

    “Would you give me wealth when what God has given me is better than all the riches He has given you? No, rather it is you who delight in your gift.”

    The Qur'an, 27:36

    “If you want to sing out, sing out, and if you want to be free, be free, cause there’s a million ways to be, you know that there are.”

    Yusuf Islam

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “If you are three, two amongst you should not converse secretly between yourselves to the exclusion of the other (third one), until some other people join him (and dispel his loneliness), for it may hurt his feelings.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Should you wish to act, ponder well the consequences. If good, carry on; if not, desist.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    When Allah loves a servant he tests him.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    Do not belittle any act of kindness, even that of greeting your brother with a cheerful countenance.”

    The only one who will be saved is the one who comes before God with a heart devoted to Him. 

    The Qur'an, 26:89

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “O God, I surrender myself to You, turn my face towards You, and entrust my affairs to You. I have entrusted my back to You for protection in hope and fear. There is no refuge and no escape from You except to You. O Lord, I have believed in Your Book, which you revealed, and Your Prophet, whom You sent.”

    Indeed, God will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.

    The Qur’an, 13:11

    “It is the nature of the self to manifest itself, In every atom slumbers the might of the self.”

    Muhammad Iqbal

    “Anyone who seeks God, will surely find Him. “

    Abdal Qadir Al-Jilani

    Prophet Jesus (Isa) (peace be upon him), the son of Mary, said:

    “Love of this world and love of the next world can never reside in the heart of a believer simultaneously, just as fire and water cannot be contained in a single vessel at the same time.”

    Ibn Kathir

    To God belong the East and the West; whithersoever you turn, there is the Face of God; God is All-embracing, All-knowing.

    The Qur'an, 2:115

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    Should you wish to act, ponder well the consequences. If good, carry on; if not, desist.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Offer prayers and also sleep at night, as your body has a right over you.

    Do they not travel through the land, so that their hearts (and minds) may thus learn wisdom and their ears may thus learn to hear? Truly it is not their eyes that are blind, but their hearts which are in their breasts.

    The Qur’an, 22:46

    And be moderate in your walking, and lower your voice.

    The Qur’an, 31:19

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Gentleness never accompanies anything without enhancing it, nor is it ever removed from anything without demeaning it.”

    “Picking up the guitar made me feel just like I did when I first began to learn chords back in the sixties, like being an amateur again with nothing to lose; a flood of new music poured out…”

    Yusuf Islam

    O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you, as it has been prescribed for those before you so that you may be mindful of God. 

    The Qur’an, 2:183

    Read! In the name of your Lord who created: He created man from a clinging form.

    The Qur’an, 96: 1-2

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “God divided the Qur’an into three parts, and He made: “Say: He is God the One,” one part out of the (three) parts of the Qur’an.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “The upper hand is better than the lower hand, the upper hand being the one that gives and the lower hand being the one that receives.

    “You must accept the truth from whatever source it comes.”

    Maimonides

    And your Lord inspired the bee, saying, ‘Build yourselves houses in the mountains and trees and what people construct. Then feed on all kinds of fruit and follow the ways made easy for you by your Lord.’ From their bellies comes a drink of different colours in which there is healing for people. There truly is a sign in this for those who think.

    The Qur'an, 16:68-69

    And when they hear vain talk, they turn away from it and say: “To us our deeds, and to you yours; peace be to you: we do not seek out the ignorant.

    The Qur’an, 28:55

    A light [Muhammad] has now come to you from God, and a Scripture [The Qur’an] making things clear, with which God guides to the ways of peace those who follow what pleases Him, bringing them from darkness out into light, by His will, and guiding them to a straight path.

    The Quran, 5:15-16

    “I have always been particularly attached to the Muslim greeting – I thus greet you in the name of Peace.”

    Nelson Mandela

    We shall certainly test you with fear and hunger, and loss of property, lives and crops. But [Prophet], give good news to those who are steadfast, those who say, when afflicted with a calamity, ‘We belong to God and to Him we shall return.’ These will be given blessings and mercy from their Lord, and it is they who are rightly guided.

    The Qur’an, 2:155-156

    He is God: there is no god other than Him. It is He who knows what is hidden as well as what is in the open, He is the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy.

    The Qur’an, 59:22

    Not a messenger did we send before thee without this inspiration sent by us to him: that there is no god but I; therefore worship and serve Me.

    The Qur’an, 21:25

    The Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked whose actions were the best and he replied: 

    “To feed the hungry and to greet with words of peace those you know and those you do not know.”

    By [the passing of] Time
    Verily mankind is in loss
    Except such as believe
    and do good works,
    and enjoin on one another Truth,
    and enjoin on one another, patience.

    The Qur’an, 103:1-3

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “On the Day of Judgement, Fasting will say: “O My Lord I prevented him from food and desires so accept my intercession for him.”

    And indeed, you [Muhammad] stand on an exalted standard of character.

    The Qur’an, 68:4

    Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) (peace be upon him) said:

    “I devote myself to the Lord of the Universe.”

    The Qur'an, 2:131

    Those who distort the meaning of Our message are not hidden from Us.

    The Qur’an, 41:40

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Take benefit of five before five:

    your youth before your old age,

    your health before your sickness,

    your wealth before your poverty,

    your free-time before you become busy,

    and your life before your death.”

    Verily, for those who have believed and done righteous deeds, the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection. 

    Mary, The Qur'an, 19:96

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “God has sent me as an apostle so that I may demonstrate perfection of character, refinement of manners and superiority in behavior.

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “A kind word is charity.”

    For the soul of nobody knows, how a flower grows – how does a flower grow?

    Yusuf Islam

    “The verses of the Qur’an talked about other Prophets as brothers preaching the same unifying script of mankind, showing every man and woman the way to Paradise. I saw the names of Jesus, of Moses, of Abraham, of Jacob, of Noah and of course, crucially, the name of this last messenger, the last Messenger of God, Muhammad.”

    Yusuf Islam

    Prophet Jonah (Yunus) (peace be upon him) said:

    “There is no God but You, glory be to You, I was wrong.”

    The Qur'an, 21:87

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “O God, grant me light in my heart and light in my grave, light in my hearing and light in my seeing; light in my hair and light in my skin; light in my flesh, light in my blood and light in my bones; light before me, light behind me, light to my right side, light to my left side, light above me, light below me. O God, increase me in light and give me light and make light.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Shall I not tell you of the best of your works, the purest of them in the eyes of your Master, the highest of them in raising your stations, and better for you than to give gold and silver, and to meet your enemy and smite their necks, and they smite yours?” They said, “What is that, O Messenger of God?” and he said, “The Remembrance of God Mighty and Majestic.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    If God intends good for someone, then He afflicts him with trials.

    “I always knew looking back on my tears would bring me laughter, but I never knew looking back on my laughter would make me cry.”

    Yusuf Islam

    “You can argue with a philosopher, but you can’t argue with a good song. And I think I’ve got a few good songs.”

    Yusuf Islam

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    By the one in whose hand my soul is, the believer is like a bee which eats that is pure and wholesome and lays that which is pure and wholesome. When it lands on something, it doesn’t break or ruin it.”

    All the creatures on earth, and all the birds that fly with wings, are communities like you. We did not leave anything out of this book. To their Lord, all these creatures will be summoned.

    The Qur’an, 6:38

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “If you were to rely on God as He should be relied on, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds. They go out early in the morning hungry and return in the evening full.”

    O Children of Adam! Dress properly at every place of worship, and eat and drink, but do not be excessive. He does not love the excessive.

    The Qur'an, 7:31

    “You’ll find that a lot of songs were seeking answers. Now I didn’t have the answers. I was looking for answers. As a poet I’d be expressing myself. As a songwriter I would be expressing myself through my music, through my words but I wasn’t really providing any answers I was looking. So there was a gap, music in a way fills a certain need, Fulfils a certain need mainly when people are living in the kind of pressure of this modern life they need some relief.”

    Yusuf Islam - The Island Record Story 1980

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “He is not one of us who does not show mercy to our young ones and esteem to our elderly.”

    “Joy and sorrow are the light and shade of life;
    without light and shade no picture is clear.”

    Inayat Khan

    “I discovered something beyond the facade of what we are taught to believe about others particularly the muslim world and I had my misconceptions so I had to break through that”

    Yusuf Islam - TED talk 2017

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “O my God, grant me love of You and love of those who love You and love of whatever brings me closer to You. Make love of You dearer to me than cool water!”

    And in their (the earlier prophets) footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the law that had come before him. We sent him the Gospel, therein was guidance and light and confirmation of the law that had come before him, a guidance and an admonition to those who fear God.

    The Qur’an, 5:46

    Exalted is He who holds all control in His hands; who has power over all things; who created death and life to test you [people] and reveal which of you does best–He is the Mighty, the Forgiving.

    The Qur'an, 67:1-2

    “Allah, Most High, has truly blessed us. He has created just for us the mysterious spirit that He has breathed into us and by so doing distinguished us from all other physical creation. He has adorned us with our incomparable intellect, which further distinguishes us from all else in this creation. What other creature on this planet – another gift He has blessed us with – can even begin to create the likes of this Internet? Will we not stop, give thanks to our Merciful and Generous Lord? Will we not stop and realize how precious our lives are and begin to show each other more love, mercy, kindness and empathy? Will we not stop, take time, and reflect?”

    Zaid Shakir

    There is no compulsion in religion: true guidance has become distinct from error, so whoever rejects false gods and believes in God has grasped the firmest hand-hold, one that will never break. God is All-hearing and All-knowing.

    The Qur’an, 2:256

    Prophet Joseph (Yusuf) (peace be upon him) said:

    “Creator of the heavens and the earth, You are my protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Let me die in true devotion to You. Join me with the righteous.”

    The Qur’an, 12:101

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Truly God instructs me to be humble and lowly and not proud, and no one should oppress others.”

    [How] prosperous are the believers! Those who pray humbly and who shun idle talk.

    The Qur’an, 23:1-2

    “Knock, And He’ll open the door
    Vanish, And He’ll make you shine like the sun
    Fall, And He’ll raise you to the heavens
    Become nothing, And He’ll turn you into everything.”

    Jalalu ‘d-Din Rumi

    The truth is from your Lord, so do not be one of those who doubt.

    The Qur'an, 2:147

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “God is beautiful and loves beauty.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) would say:

    “O God! You are Peace, and peace emanates from You; Blessed are You, O Possessor of Majesty and Honour.”

    Can’t those who disbelieve see that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?

    The Qur’an, 21:30

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    The first matter concerning which judgment will be passed among the people on the Day of Resurrection will be bloodshed.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) used to seek refuge (with God) from four things: From knowledge that is of no benefit, from a heart that does not feel humble, from a supplication that is not heard, and a soul that is never satisfied.

    Do they not see the birds above them spreading and closing their wings? It is only the Lord of Mercy who holds them up: He watches over everything.

    The Qur’an, 67:19

    Prophet Jacob (Ya’qub(peace be upon him) said:

    “My sons, God has chosen [your] religion for you, so make sure you devote yourselves to Him, to your dying moment.”

    The Qur’an, 2:132

    Remember Me, and I will remember you. Be thankful to Me, and never ungrateful.

    The Qur’an, 2:152

    “Whenever a person feels sorry for the poor victims of (Palestinian) occupation such as orphans, the disabled, widows and medical cases, if you try to help give charity to them – be warned, you may be considered a terrorist.”

    Yusuf Islam

    “Study me as much as you like, you will not know me, for I differ in a hundred ways from what you see me to be. Put yourself behind my eyes and see me as I see myself, for I have chosen to dwell in a place you cannot see.”

    Jalalu ‘d-Din Rumi

    The Messenger of God is an excellent model for those of you who put your hope in God and the Last Day and remember Him often.

    The Qur’an, 33:21

    I once went through a stage where I turned my back on everything that I’d done before, but of course that was a radical and over zealous reaction to the spiritual happiness that I’d felt in Islam.

    Yusuf Islam

    Say, ‘If you love God, follow me, and God will love you and forgive you your sins; God is most forgiving, most merciful.’

    The Qur’an, 3:31

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Whoever believes in one God and the hereafter, should speak what is good or remain silent.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    You will not enter Paradise until you believe and you will not believe until you love each other. Shall I show you something that, if you did, you would love each other? Spread peace among yourselves.

    Mention in the Quran the story of Mary. She withdrew from her family to a place to the east and secluded herself away; We sent Our Spirit to appear before her in the form of a perfected man. She said, ‘I seek the Lord of Mercy’s protection against you: if you have any fear of Him [do not approach]!’ but he said, ‘I am but a Messenger from your Lord, [come] to announce to you the gift of a pure son.’ She said, ‘How can I have a son when no man has touched me? I have not been unchaste,’ and he said, ‘This is what your Lord said: “It is easy for Me- We shall make him a sign to all people, a blessing from Us.

    The Qur'an, 19:16-21

    “There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world. They were of all colors, from blue-eyed blondes to black-skinned Africans. But we were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe never could exist between the white and non-white.”

    Malcolm X

    “You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”

    Mohandas K. Gandhi

    Prophet Job (Ayyub) (peace be upon him) said:

    “Suffering has truly afflicted me, but You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.”

    The Qur'an, 21:83

    Prophet Zechariah (Zakariyya) (peace be upon him) said:

    “Lord, from Your grace grant me virtuous offspring: You hear every prayer.”

    The Qur'an, 3:38

    “The days of life pass away like clouds, so do good while you are alive.”

    Ali ibn Abi Talib

    The worshippers of the All-Merciful are they who tread gently upon the earth, and when the ignorant address them, they reply, “Peace!”

    The Qur’an, 25:63

    Prophet Moses (Musa) (peace be upon him) said:

    “My Lord, forgive me and my brother; accept us into Your mercy: You are the Most Merciful of all who show mercy.”

    The Qur'an, 7:151

    “The media has played a rather non-positive role in creating my image and I think that its time that people listen to my words and what comes from my heart rather than what other people say about me”

    Yusuf Islam

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    If the Resurrection were established upon one of you while he has in his hand a sapling, then let him plant it.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    God the Almighty says:

    “I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than it. And if he draws near to Me a hand’s span, I draw near to him an arm’s length; and if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a fathom’s length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.” 

     

    “Law is the sum of conditions under which the wishes of one person can be united with the wishes of another in accordance with the universal law of freedom.”

    Immanuel Kant

    “I suppose that the media and their portrayal of Islam and the almost tribal separations and divisions of the Muslims are the greatest issues confronting Muslims in the United Kingdom.”

    Yusuf Islam

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Those who show mercy have God’s mercy shown to them. Have mercy on those here on earth, and the One there in Heaven will have mercy on you.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “None of you will believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “You will not enter Paradise until you believe and you will not believe until you love each other. Shall I show you something that, if you did, you would love each other? Spread peace among yourselves.”

    “Criticisms came from some small sections of the Muslim Community who quite incredibly assumed that because I was making music I had left Islam – God forbid!”

    (From ‘Why I Still Carry a Guitar’)

    Yusuf Islam

    We showed Abraham the site of the House, saying, ‘Do not assign partners to Me. Purify My House for those who circle around it, those who stand to pray, and those who bow and prostrate themselves. “And proclaim the Pilgrimage among men: they will come to thee on foot and (mounted) on every kind of camel, lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways; to attain benefits and celebrate God’s name, on specified days, over the livestock He has provided for them- feed yourselves and the poor and unfortunate-so let the pilgrims perform their acts of cleansing, fulfil their vows, and circle around the Ancient House.’

    The Qur'an, 22:26-29

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: an ongoing charity, or knowledge from which benefit is gained, or a righteous child who prays for him.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    O people, be gentle with yourselves for you are not calling upon one who is deaf or absent. Rather, you are calling upon the Hearing, the Seeing.

    It is to God that everything in the heavens and earth belongs: God is fully aware of all things.

    The Qur’an, 4:126

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Fast and flourish.”

    Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) said:

    “Our Lord, we have wronged our souls: if You do not forgive us and have mercy, we shall be lost.”

    The Qur'an, 7:27

    Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has faith, verily, to them will We give a new Life, a life that is good and pure, and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions.

    The Qur’an, 16:97

    ‘Call on Me and I will answer you’

    The Qur’an, 40:60

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “I am the nearest of all the people to Jesus, the son of Mary both in this world and the hereafter. The prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one.”

    The Messenger of God is an excellent model for those of you who put your hope in God and the Last Day and remember Him often.

    The Qur'an, 33:21

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    Charity does not decrease wealth.”

    Each community has its own direction to which it turns: race to do good deeds and wherever you are, God will bring you together. God has power to do everything.

    The Qur’an, 2:148

    The servants of the Lord of Mercy are those who walk humbly on the earth, and who, when the foolish address them, reply, ‘Peace’.

    The Qur’an, 25:63

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Consideration is from God, and haste is from the devil.”

    “I was searching for God all my life, and as I moved from one spiritual teaching to another, I came to see them as circles, so I decided to look at what it was at the center of each of these circles; I saw Christianity as a circle, and at the center of it was Christ. I saw Judaism as a circle, and at the center of it was the Jewish identity. I saw Buddhism as a circle, and at the center of it was the Self and overcoming it. When I came to Islam, I saw it as a circle, but at its center I found only God, and God was Whom I was looking for all my life”.

    Yusuf Islam

    You who believe, be steadfast in your devotion to God and bear witness impartially: do not let hatred of others lead you away from justice, but adhere to justice, for that is closer to awareness of God. Be mindful of God: God is well aware of all that you do.

    The Qur'an, 5:8

    Say, ‘He is God the One, God the eternal. He begot no one nor was He begotten. No one is comparable to Him.’

    The Qur’an, 112

    “Light will someday split you open, 

    Even if your life is now a cage. 

    Little by little, you will turn into stars. 

    Little by little, you will turn into 

    the whole sweet, amorous universe.”

    Hafez

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “There are for God one hundred mercies, of which only one was sent down among the Jinn, mankind, beasts, birds, and insects. Through it they incline towards each other, through it they show mercy to one another and through it they show affections towards their younger ones. And God has reserved for Himself ninety-nine mercies with which He will show mercy to His servants on the Day of Resurrection.

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “If the son of Adam had a valley of date palms, he would wish for another like it, then another and another, until he wished to have many valleys. Nothing will satisfy his belly but the dust of the grave.

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Beautiful Islam entails minding one’s own business.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Islam has been built on five [pillars]: testifying that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God, performing the prayers, paying alms, making the pilgrimage to the House, and fasting in Ramadan.

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “God does not regard your externals or your riches but rather your hearts and your deeds.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “O God, help me to remember You, to thank You and to worship You in the best of manners.”

    Prophet Noah (Nuh) (peace be upon him) said:

    “Ask your Sustainer to forgive you your sins – for, verily, He is all-forgiving!”

    The Qur’an, 71:10

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Practice humility until no one oppresses or belittles another.”

    Prophet Eber (Hud) (peace be upon him) said:

    “Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger.So fear Allah and obey me. And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds.” 

    The Qur’an, 26:125-127

    “With the rocks and mountains high,
    Let me call, my Lord, on Thee.
    At the dawn with birds that fly,
    Let me call, my Lord, on Thee.”

    Yunus Emre

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.”

    “Come, let’s get to know each other

    and make our work easier.

    Let’s love, let’s be loved.

    No one inherits this world.”

    Yunus Emre

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Keep God in mind wherever you are; follow a wrong with a right that offsets it; and treat people courteously.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    The son of Adam will not be dismissed from his Lord on the Day of Resurrection until he is questioned about five issues: his life and how he lived it, his youth and how he used it, his wealth and how he earned it and spent it, and how he acted on his knowledge.”

    Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) said:

    “So ask forgiveness from Him, and turn back to Him: my Lord is near, and ready to answer.”

    The Qur’an, 11:61

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Consider well contentment, for it is a treasure without end.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “O my God, grant me love of You and love of those who love You and love of whatever brings me closer to You. Make love of You dearer to me than cool water!”

    “Ashura, The 10th of Muharram, is a day for the Victorious. God gave victory to Moses over his enemy, and made him a symbol of victory for the oppressed; and He gave victory to Hussain over his enemy, and made him a symbol of steadfastness upon truth. So be like Moses and be like Hussain, and do not be content except in being of the victorious.”

    Habib Ali al-Jifri

    “People who rush to judge others simply because of a difference in fiqh (understanding) are more in danger than anyone to fall into error and should remember the dangers to themselves”

    Yusuf Islam

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Whoever believes in God and the Last Day, let him speak good or else keep silent.”

    “Your God and our God is one God. I mean what could be clearer? But then if you ask what the headlines say they would not imagine that that is what muslims believe.”

    Yusuf Islam - TED talk 2017

    “There is only what He wills.
    So leave your cares and abandon them.
    Leave your preoccupations
    which distract you and you will have rest.”

    Yaqut al-‘Arishi

    God is the ally of those who believe: He brings them out of the depths of darkness and into the light. As for the disbelievers, their allies are false gods who take them from the light into the depths of darkness.

    The Qur’an, 2:257

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Let him who believes in God and the Last Day either speak good or keep silent, and let him who believes in God and the Last Day be generous to his neighbor, and let him who believes in God and the Last Day be generous to his guest.

    The Qur’an that our young pupils learn at Islamia is full of stories and lessons from the history of humanity as a whole. The Gospels and the Torah are referred to; Jesus and Abraham are mentioned.

    Yusuf Islam

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “The similitude of mine and that of the Apostles before me is that of a person who built a house quite imposing and beautiful and he made it complete but for one brick in one of its corners. People began to walk round it, and the building pleased them and they would say: But for this brick your building would have been perfect. Muhammad (ﷺ) said: And I am that final brick.”

    “I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.”

    Socrates

    God will find a way out for those who are mindful of Him, and will provide for them from an unexpected source; God will be enough for those who put their trust in Him. God achieves His purpose; God has set a due measure for everything.

    The Qur'an, 65: 2-3

    On that Day, people will come forward in separate groups to be shown their deeds: whoever has done an atom’s-weight of good will see it, but whoever has done an atom’s-weight of evil will see that.

    The Qur’an, 99:6-8

    “Those who refuse to listen should not expect to be heard.”

    Gai Eaton

    Prophet Solomon (Sulaiman) (peace be upon him) said:

    “My Lord! Inspire and bestow upon me the power and ability that I maybe grateful for Your Favors which You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do righteous good deeds that will please You, and admit me by Your Mercy among Your righteous slaves.”

    The Qur’an, 27:17-19

    When the Messenger of God (peace be upon him), awoke at night, he said:

    “There is no god but You, glory be to You, O God, I ask Your pardon for my sin and I ask You for Your mercy. O God! advance me in knowledge: do not cause my heart to deviate (from guidance) after You have guided me, and grant me Your mercy: verily You are the Ever Giving.”

    In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy!

    The Qur’an, 1:1

    It was only as a mercy that We sent you [Muhammad] to all people.

    The Qur’an, 21:107

    Those who spend their wealth in the way of God, and then do not follow up what they spent with reminders of their generosity or with insults, will have their reward with their Lord—they have nothing to fear, nor shall they grieve.

    The Qur'an, 2:268

    Prophet Jesus (Isa) (peace be upon him) said:

    “O Children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad.”

    The Qur’an, 61:6

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    Fulfilment is not plenty of goods; rather, it is self-fulfilment.

    He is the All Hearing, the All Seeing.

    The Qur'an, 42:11

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “I have been sent to perfect good character.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “The proud will not enter paradise, nor a violent speaker.”

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “The one who looks after and works for a widow and for a poor person, is like a warrior fighting for God’s Cause or like a person who fasts during the day and prays all the night.”

    We tested them with blessings and misfortunes, so that they might all return [to righteousness].

    The Qur'an, 7:168

    [Muhammad], have you heard the story of the honoured guests of Abraham? They went in to see him and said, ‘Peace.’ ‘Peace,’ he said, [adding to himself] ‘These people are strangers.’ He turned quickly to his household, brought out a fat calf, and placed it before them. ‘Will you not eat?’

    The Qur'an, 51:24-27

    They give food to the poor, the orphan, and the captive, though they love it themselves, saying, ‘We feed you for the sake of God alone. We seek neither recompense nor thanks from you. We fear the Day of our Lord-a woefully grim Day.’

    The Qur’an, 76:8-10

    ‘We feed you for the sake of God alone: We seek neither recompense nor thanks from you. We fear the Day of our Lord––a woefully grim Day.’

    The Qur'an, 76:9-10

    The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said:

    “Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a wayfarer.”