Al-Shafi'i Quotes & Sayings

When my heart became constricted and my paths became narrow
I took my hope in Your pardon and forgiveness as an opening and an escape
My sins seemed very great to me but when I compared them to Your forgiveness
I found Your forgiveness to be greater — Al-Shafi'i

The one who admonishes his brother secretly, he has advised sincerely and has honored him. If he does it outwardly (among others) then he has dishonored and shamed him. — Al-Shafi'i

Do not vie with others in the accumulation of wealth. Vie with them in Ibadaah. — Al-Shafi'i

Wealth remains behind on earth while ibadaah accompanies you into the grave. — Al-Shafi'i

Only someone who is sincere recognizes what showing off is. — Al-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. — Al-Shafi'i

To be able to thank Allah for a blessing is a blessing within itself. — Al-Shafi'i

To admonish your brother in private is to advise him and improve him. But to admonish him publicly is to disgrace and shame him. — Al-Shafi'i

How strange! You seek guidance, yet you do not tread its path, surely a boat does not sail on land. — Al-Shafi'i

Never do I argue with a man with a desire to hear him say what is wrong, or to expose him and win victory over him. Whenever I face an opponent in debate I silently pray - O Lord, help him so that truth may flow from his heart and on his tongue, and so that if truth is on my side, he may follow me; and if truth be on his side, I may follow him. — Al-Shafi'i

I complained to Waki' about the weakness of my memorisation,
So he instructed me to abandon disobedience;
He informed me that knowledge is a light,
And the light of Allah is not given to a sinner. — Al-Shafi'i

Whoever is not made glorified by taqwa can find no glory. — Al-Shafi'i

All humans are dead except those who have knowledge; and all those who have knowledge are asleep, except those who do good deeds; and those who do good deeds are deceived, except those who are sincere; and those who are sincere are always in a state of worry. — Al-Shafi'i

My sin burdened me heavily. But when I measured it against Your Grace, O Lord, Your forgiveness came out greater. — Al-Shafi'i

There is not on the face of the earth-after the Book of Allah - a book which is more sahih than the book of Malik. — Al-Shafi'i

You say that you are just a body, but inside of you is something greater than the Universe. — Al-Shafi'i

Knowledge is not what is memorised.
Knowledge is what benefits. — Al-Shafi'i