Imam ash-Shafi`i Quotes

“He who thinks that he is free from the criticism of people is a madman for even the Lord of the Worlds Himself has been wrongfully criticized.

Imam ash-Shafi`i

“When my heart was hardened, and my courses constrained; I made my hope a stairway to Your forgiveness. My sins burdened me heavily, but when I measured it by Your forgiveness, Lord, Your forgiveness was the greater.

Imam ash-Shafi`i

“Be unattached to the worldly life, constantly seek the Hereafter, and be sincere to Allah the Almighty in all your dealings, and you will be among those who succeed.

Imam ash-Shafi`i

“The dua made at tahajjud (voluntary night prayer) is like an arrow which does not miss its target.

Imam ash-Shafi`i

“Knowledge is that which benefits, not that which is memorized.

Imam ash-Shafi`i

“The loftiest in status are those who do not know their own status, and the most virtuous of them are those who do not know their own virtue.

Imam ash-Shafi`i

“The one who oppresses himself the most is: The one who humbles himself for one who does not honor him, and strives in the friendship of one who does not benefit him, and accepts praise from one who does not know him.

Imam ash-Shafi`i

“Be harsh on yourself, and easy on others.

Imam ash-Shafi`i

“My heart is at ease knowing that what was meant for me will never miss me, and that what misses me was never meant for me.

Imam ash-Shafi`i

“If you are on the way towards Allah, then run.
If it was hard for you, then jog.
If you got tired, then walk.
And if you can’t, then crawl, and never stop or go back.

Imam ash-Shafi`i

“O soul of mine! It is not but a few days of patience; as if the extent were but a few dreams. O soul of mine! Pass on quickly through this world; and leave it, for indeed life lies ahead of it.

Imam ash-Shafi`i

“There is no single event that may take place to the people of the religion of Allah but there is a guide in the book of Allah on how to handle it.

Imam ash-Shafi`i

“Don’t allow your tongue to utter the fault of another person, because you are covered in faults and everyone else has tongues too. Don’t allow your eyes to fall on the faults of others. Turn away your eyes and say to your eyes, ‘oh eyes, other people have eyes too.’

Imam ash-Shafi`i

“My sin burdened me heavily. But when I measured it against Your Grace, O Lord, Your forgiveness came out greater.

Imam ash-Shafi`i

“As long as you have a contented heart, then you and one who owns everything are equal and the same.

Imam ash-Shafi`i

“I never argued with anyone with the intention to win; rather, my intention was to seek the truth.

Imam ash-Shafi`i

“Knowledge is not measured by how much is memorized, but rather by how much it is acted on.

Imam ash-Shafi`i

“Allah has created you free, therefore be free the way He has created you, work solely for Allah and stop trying to please people.

Imam ash-Shafi`i