A sermon of a leaver

This is a set of psychological advices, wisdoms, and admonitions that were last written by Sheikh Safwat Ash-Shawadfy (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) who left our world, leaving behind this precious treasures for every Muslim who is keen to learn about his religion, so he may approach it with his heart, act accordingly, and invite his friends to them, a seek the reward from Allah; we ask Allah to make you and us benefit from.

Here are the advices:

Do not associate others with Allah in worship even if you killed or burnt.

Do not show ingratitude to your parents even if they command you to leave your family and money.

Do not leave an obligatory Salah intentionally, for the one who leaves out Salah intentionally commits a major sin.

Do not drink wine because it is the top of every major sin.

Beware of sins for sins bring about the wrath of Allah.

Stick to piety, for it collects all types of goodness.

Avoid the evils of people to escape their harm.

Leave out what does not concern you, for this is a desirable matter.

Seek knowledge for the sake of Allah and you will find that few things will suffice you.

Look at scholars with reverence, listen to them when they speak, and make your discussion with them a way of understanding not a way of stubbornness.

Know your time and pay attention to what concerns you, guard your tongue, and watch out your friends. Do not be tempted by the praise of people to you and do not believe them in things which you do not find in yourself.

Greet whomever you meet, enter upon, or pass by of Muslims. When you enter your house, greet your family and those who are with them, but if there is no one there, say: Peace be upon us and upon all of Allah's Righteous Servants.

Ask permission when you enter on your mother and your female unmarriageable relatives and always ask permission with your saying: "As-Salamu `Alaykum (Peace be upon you)," shall I enter? If you are given permission, otherwise you should go back.

Do not look at the `Awrah (private parts of the body that must be covered in public) of anyone except for a necessity, and do not show your `Awrah to anyone except your wife. Do not stay alone with a marriageable woman who is not a relative so as not to leave a way for Satan over you.

Command your children with Salah when they reach seven years old and beat them when they reach ten years old, for you shall be held accountable for them before Allah. Lower your gaze from what Allah has forbidden to find the sweetness of faith in your heart. Do not speak to people about things that take place between you and your husband, for this is prohibited.

Use Miswak (Arak tooth brush), for it is a purification to the mouth and pleases the Lord.

Honor your neighbor and guest, for this is one of the good manners of Muslims. Beware of lying and tale bearing, for both are bad-manners.

Do not abandon your Muslim brother beyond three days, and the best among you is the one who begins with Salam.

Do not accompany but believers and let only pious people eat your food.

When you enter a knowledge session, sit when you find a space and when you want to leave, greet them because as you did in the beginning, you should do at the end.

When you drink, give the one at your right first, and when you water some people, be the last of the drinkers.

Beware not to eat or drink with your left hand because this is the action of Satan. When you want to eat, mention the name of Allah, eat with your right hand, and eat from the part of the plate before your, do not blow in the food or drink, and praise Allah at the end.

When you want to relieve yourself, take coverage away from people, and do not speak to anyone when you answer the call of nature, for this is abominable.

When you yawn, shut your mouth as much as you can, place your hand on your mouth, and lower your voice when you speak.

When you sneeze, praise Allah in audible voice. When someone sneezes before you, you should say: May Allah bless you! And he should say to you: May Allah guide you and rectify your condition!

If you are with two persons, do not speak secretly with one of them without speaking to the other because that may cause sadness to him.

Beware of using prohibited matters in cure, for Allah did not place treatment in prohibited matters. Keep to the visit of the sick and do not sit with them for a long time.

Do not burden your servant beyond his capacity.

Be kind to animals when you ride on them or put a burden on them, for they cannot complain, and you shall be rewarded for treating them nicely but when you harm them, you shall gain a sin.

Do not wear silk and gold, for they are prohibited to men, and wear short clothes for they are more purifying to your clothes and show more pious to your Lord.

Beware of gambling, for it incurs the wrath of Allah.

Do not eat prohibited food, for that makes invocations void.

Do not raise your voice inside masjids and do not seek lost things inside them, for this is prohibited.

When you speak, say something good or keep silent, for silence is good.

Accompany good people, for it is better than loneliness, and loneliness is better than accompanying bad people.

When a gate of goodness is opened for you, hasten and keep to it.

Beware not to spread tale bearing among people, for that entails the torment of the grave.

Beware of envy, hatred, malice, and ill-thinking, for they are dispraised matters.

Recite the Qur'an properly, listen to it, ponder over its meanings, act accordingly, and hasten to obey the commands of Allah and avoid His Prohibitions.

Be truthful and do not lie, keep the promise and do not break it.

Be patient, courageous, keep secrets, be frank, and confess your mistake.

Be reverent and serious, do not joke except with truthfulness, humble yourself to people without submissiveness or worry, and the best humbleness is for a poor, an orphan, a needy, and a widow.

Consult people a lot to reach the correct opinion. Keep to conviction for it is an everlasting treasure.

Let it be known that death is coming, and every coming shall reach soon, so mention it a lot, and let it direct you away from the world and draw you nearer to piety.

Dear reader, you may benefit yourself and others by guiding them to goodness, for the one who guides to goodness is like its doer. So, you may write these advices on boards and put them in public places, masjids, or read them in lectures or to your neighbors and family by any proper means your consider.

We ask our Muslim brothers and sister to invoke Allah for the Sheikh with forgiveness, mercy, winning Paradise and salvation from Hell-Fire.