“Every time you feel the loneliness of isolation, remember your companions who have preceded you and be eager to join them; and do not be concerned with others, for they will not avail you at all before Allah. And if they call out to you during your journey, do not turn to them, for whenever you respond to them, they will take you and set you in another direction.” 

Ibn Qayyim 
[Madarij Al-Salikeen]

Advice from Imaam Sufyaan Ath-Thawree

….Beware of doing that which will spoil your deeds, and know that it is showing off that spoils a person’s deeds; and if it is not showing off then it is conceitedness- for you to imagine that you are better than one of your Muslim brothers, when in reality he performs more good deeds than you do; or perhaps he stays further away from that which Allah has prohibited than you do; or perhaps he performs his deeds with purer intention that you do. And even if you are not conceited, beware of developing a love for praise. Be ever so careful not to come to love other people’s praise of your good deeds, or the respect they feel for you and bestow upon you because of your good deeds. And beware of desiring that others should help you in your personal affairs just because they have become impressed by your good deeds. You surely claim (as does everyone else), after all, that you are doing good deeds only for the sake of Allah, well, then turn that claim into reality….

- IMAAM SUFYAAN ATH-THAWRI (RAHIMAHULLAH) 

[THE BIOGRAPHY OF SUFYAAN ATH-THAWRI]

Companions...

"Mix with those who have patience, for their hearts are the softest."

— Umar ibn Al-Khattab (radiAllaahu anhu) [Abu Na’im, Hilyat-ul-Awliya]

We must choose companions...

Advice from Shaykh Hasan.

 
• By Abdur-Raqeeb

Yesterday, shaykhunaa, waalidunaa Hasan Abdul-Wahhaab Marzouq Al-Bannaa, hafidhahullahu ta’aalaa, advised us on the importance of Ashaabus-Saalih (righteous companions). He said we must choose companions based upon At-Tawheed. We must choose companions based upon Manhaj, because At-Tawheed and the correct Manhaj (method/methodology) are one. We must choose companions who we see are trying to be obedient to Allah. We must choose companions who remind us of Allah. Companions who remind us of His Messenger Muhammad, salallahu alayhi wa sallam. We must choose companions who aid us in calling to all that which is good and forbidding all that which is evil. We must choose companions who fear Allah.

Shaykhunaa, also advised us