Smile in Public, Weep in Private

When you are with people, smile frequently and maintain a cheerful countenance, but when you are alone, cry frequently and be in a state of grief and sadness (on account of your sins).  For it has been conveyed to us — and Allah Knows best — that on the Day of Resurrection, the most things that a believer will find in his book of good deeds are the grief and the sadness (that he felt in this world on account of this sins) -Sufyān al-Thawrī

True Purpose of Seeking Knowledge

Knowledge is sought after only so that one can use it to fear Allah (and ward off His punishment); It is in this context that knowledge is deemed a superior thing; otherwise, it is like all other things.—Sufyān al-Thawrī 

USE SPARE TIMES TO DO GOOD DEEDS

Earn virtues in your spare time, because,

Your death might come upon a sudden, Many healthy people I have seen who were free of disease, But then their soul parted upon a sudden.—Muhammad b. Ismaa’eel al-Bukhari

Always In Need of Allah

 The servant is always in need of his Lord, from every perspective. This is because He is the object of his worship, and the source of all of his help. So no one can bring him any good except Him, and nothing can better the situation of the servant except His worship. And on top of all of this, the servant is sinning, and there is no way that he can avoid this. So he is always in need, sinning, and he is in need of the One who always Forgives, the One who is Ever-Merciful. The One who always Forgives (al-Ghafoor) will Forgive his sins, and the Ever-Merciful will show him Mercy and bless him and be kind to him. So the servant is eternally between the blessings of his Lord and the sins of his soul.- Ibn Taymiyyah 

Improve!

Some jurists would perform ablution after backbiting, just as they would perform ablution after they released impurities from their bodies.  

Improve your secret and private life, and Allah will improve your public and social life. 

Make matters well between you and Allah, and Allah will make matters well between you and people. Work for the Hereafter, and Allah will be enough for you in your worldly concerns.

Purchase the Hereafter, and use this worldly life as a method of payment for your purchase, and as a result, you will gain profit both in this world and in the Hereafter.  But do not purchase this world at the cost of the Hereafter, for if you do so, you will lose out on both worlds.- Sufyān al-Thawrī

Seekers of Knowledge

   “The only people who used to seek this knowledge were those who combined two characteristics: intelligence and devout worship. If a person was intelligent but not devout, it would be said that only the worshippers can attain this [knowledge], and so he would not try to seek it. And if a person was devout, but not intelligent, it would be said that only the intelligent can attain this [knowledge], and so he would not try to seek it.” Al-Sha’bî continued, “And I fear that today, people who are neither intelligent nor devout try to seek it.” - al-Sha'bi

Accepted Repentance

A man once went to Rabiah bint Ismail Al-Adawiyyah, who was known by the titles, ‘Mother of Goodness,’ and ‘The famous worshiper.’

He said, “Indeed, I have perpetrated a great number of sins. If I repent, do you think that Allah will accept my repentance?”

She said, “Woe unto you! Do you not see that He invites those who turn away from Him; then why wouldn't He accept the repentance of those who turn towards Him?”