The Wise Sayings

1. Asking forgiveness from Allah is the solution to every problem

Hasan al Basri – Rahimullaah - mentioned:

 “That a man complained to him concerning drought so it was said seek forgiveness from Allah, another complained about another matter so it was said seek forgiveness from Allah, another complained about lack of rain for his land so it was said seek forgiveness from Allah another complained of no offspring so it was said seek forgiveness from Allah, then he (Hasan al Basri) recited:

“Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.” [Surah Nuh: 10-12]”

[Taken from: 'Fath al-Bari' Chapter: the Best Method of Seeking forgiveness]

2. No sin on backbiting of these types of people

Hasan Al-Basri said:

 “There is no backbiting in the case of a person of innovation or a person who openly commits sins.”

[Al Laalikaa'ee in Sharh Usoolul-l'tiqaad 1/140]

3. Debating creates doubt

A man came to Hasan al Basri and said,

"O Abu Sa'eed! Let me debate with you about the Religion."

Hasan replied, "As for me, I know my religion, if you have lost your Religion then go and look for it."

 [Al-Aajurree; ash-Sharee'ah [p.57]

4. Nothing beautiful than forgiveness

Al-Hasan al-Basri said:

"The best attribute a believer can have is forgiveness."

[adab Shar'iyyah 11/121]

5. Sell this life for the Hereafter

Al-Hasan al-Basri said:

"Sell this life for the next and you win both of them. Sell the next life for this and you lose both of them."

[al-Hilyah 2/143]

6. One loses reward by slandering a Muslim brother/ Sister

It was told to Imam Hasan al-Basri (rahimahullah):

"So-and-so has slandered you." He sent a tray of halwa [sweets] to the man, noting, "I hear that you have bestowed upon me your good deeds. I would like to repay you."

 [From Imam al Qushayri's al-Risalah]

7. Be Moderate

Imam Hasan al-Basri said:

"The Sunnah is - by Him besides whom none has the right to be worshipped - between those who exceed the limits and those who fall short.

So be patient upon it, may Allah have mercy upon you. For indeed, the (true) Ahlus-Sunnah were a minority from those who preceded and shall be a minority from those to come. They did not accompany the people who are excessive when

they exceeded the limits, nor the people of innovation when they innovated.

Rather, they persevered upon the Sunnah, until they met their Lord."

[Sunan ad-Darimi, Volume 1 pgs. 71-72]

8. Glorify Allah for His bounties lest you are punished

Al-Hasan al Basri was once asked about, who will be screaming in horror the most on the Day of Judgment, meaning from Allah's torment. He said:

"A man whom Allah had granted bounties, which he used in disobedience of Allah."  

[Al-Hasan Al Basri, p. 47]

10. Be content with little of this world

Al-Hasan Al-Basri said:

"Stay away from the busying aspects of life, and surely, life has abundant busying aspects. Every man who indulges in an aspect of life that fills his time, then the door he opened will open ten more doors of busying aspects for him."  

[Az-Zuhd, by Abdullah bin Al-Mubarak, p.189]

11. Death is the most certain Aspect of life

Al-Hasan al Basri said:

"You wish you could live as long as Noah (Peace be upon him) lived, even though Allah's order (death) strikes at someone's door every night!"

 [Az-Zuhd by Al-Hasan Al-Basri]

12. Reality of life: Remember death

Al-Hasan al Basri said:

"Death has exposed the reality of this life and did not leave chance for the wise person to delight in it."

 [Tarikh Baghdad, vol.14, p. 444]