I was recently asked what my favourite quote is and I realized it’s hard for me to pick just one because so many different quotes have shaped the way that I think.
My notes app has always housed a collection of quotes I go to whenever I need a change in perspective. I find it interesting how a single sentence, phrase, or quote can instantly transform the way you view and respond to life. So I thought I would share some of the quotes that have had the most impact on me.
Starting with the quote saved on my lock screen which serves as a daily reminder that goes:
“And do not carry the anxiety for the future because it is in the hands of Allah.”
I think it’s so reassuring to remember that nothing and no one else is in control of your life but Allah. Every situation is a creation of Allah, He is fully aware of it and it is entirely under His control. If you think that nothing in your life is going according to your plans, remember that it is going perfectly according to the plan of the Best of Planners.
“The Lord who has taken care of you till today, will He not manage your affairs in the future?”
What is to come is under His control, everything happens only by His permission, and it is Him alone you can turn to for help with any difficulty because all help comes from Him.
“One day I was riding (a horse/camel) behind the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, when he said, ‘Young man, I will teach you some words. Be mindful of Allah and He will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him before you. When you ask, ask Allah, and when you seek aid, seek Allah's aid. Know that if the entire creation were to gather together to do something to benefit you- you would never get any benefit except that Allah had written for you. And if they were to gather to do something to harm you- you would never be harmed except that Allah had written for you. The pens are lifted and the pages are dried.”
at-Tirmidhi 2516
“But Allah is your protector, and He is the best of helpers.” [Surah Ali-Imran: 150]
Knowing that the Lord of All Worlds is your protector and helper is enough to quiet any worry.
The longer version of the quote reads:
Don’t ruin your happiness with worry and don’t ruin your mind with pessimism. Don’t ruin your success with deception and don’t ruin the optimism of others by destroying it. Don’t ruin your day by looking back at yesterday.
Do not carry the worries of this life, because that duty belongs to Allah. And do not carry the worries of sustenance, because it is from Allah. And do not carry the anxiety for the future, because it is in the Hands of Allah. Carry one thing: How to please Allah, because if you please Him, He pleases you, fulfils you, and enriches you. Do not weep from a life that made your heart weep. Just say, “Oh Allah compensates me with good in this life and the hereafter.”
Sadness departs with a Sajdah. Happiness comes with a sincere Du’a. Allah does not forget the good you do. Nor does He forget the good you did to others and the pain you relieved them from. Nor will He forget the eye which was about to cry, but chose laughter instead.
Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله
These next three quotes all revolve around the concept of how our minds often amplify our worries:
“You suffer more in your imagination than you do in real life.”
“My life has been full of terrible misfortunes. Most of which never occurred.”
“Don’t borrow grief from the future.”
The nature of our fears and anxieties is that they often exceed the reality of our experiences and much of our suffering is self-imposed through our thoughts and imaginations.
Have you ever found yourself worrying about something so much, anticipating suffering, and then the thing never comes to pass? Or the thing you feared does happen, but Allah makes it amazingly easy to get through. Despite the circumstances, it's almost as if you’re being shrouded in ease.
Picture how Ibrahim A.S was thrown into a raging fire, the flames scorching all around him, yet by the will of Allah, a fire meant to harm him became cool and gentle, offering him comfort and safety amidst the blaze.
“The flames were still there, but they did not burn for Allah had issued His command:
"O fire! Be cool and safe for Ibrahim." [Surah Al Anbiyah: 69]”
So your hardship becomes safe for you by Allah’s command. It does not harm you as much as you fear because truly, Allah does not burden a soul with more than it can bear.
Have you ever witnessed someone handle something terrible, like the death of a child, with such patience that you wonder “How could anyone go through that and be okay?”.
My aunt went through exactly that a few years ago and she endured it with so much patience and certainty in Allah. She’s the strongest person I know and I’ll never forget just how much she’s exemplified tawwakul to me. Allah carried her through it and blessed her so beautifully in ways that brought her peace, and I know even greater blessings await her in the next world.
We often don’t understand the full extent to which Allah can hold our hearts together and grant us true ease amidst hardship.
Think of the mother of Musa A.S when she put her newborn baby into a river not knowing what would happen to him or where he might end up.
And the heart of Moses’ mother became empty [of all else]. She was about to disclose [the matter concerning] him had We not bound fast her heart that she would be of the believers.” [Surah Al Qasas: 10]
Tawakkul (trust in Allah) precedes ease. When we find ourselves in situations where our only option is to place our trust in Allah completely, we learn just how true the promise of Allah is. We see how He has the ability to strengthen and calm our hearts even in the most difficult circumstances and bring manifold ease during and after our trials.
Musa A.S. faced many difficulties, each accompanied by lessons for us to take from his life. Allah always made a way out for him, sometimes at the dying moment, but it always required effort on his part as well.
“Allah did not take the sea away for Musa A.S; He parted it and made way for him. Sometimes Allah doesn’t remove your challenges but opens a path for you to navigate through them.”
I think this often applies to problems we encounter in our lives. You cannot pray away a hardship instantly because every hardship is sent for a reason. It has its own timeframe and will only be lifted when it has fulfilled its purpose.
Allah is The Most Subtle, so while you may not see all the good that will come out of a hardship immediately, trust that His wisdom is at work in ways beyond your understanding.
In Surah Yusuf, the story of Prophet Yusuf A.S concludes beautifully with his moving declaration to his father:
“O my dear father! This is the interpretation of my old dream. My Lord has made it come true. He was truly kind to me when He freed me from prison, and brought you all from the desert after Satan had ignited rivalry between me and my siblings. Indeed my Lord is subtle in fulfilling what He wills. Surely He ˹alone˺ is the All-Knowing, All-Wise.” [Surah Yūsuf: 100]
Trust that your story will unfold beautifully and remember that:
حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
Sufficient for us is Allah, and He is the best Disposer of affairs.
Whether Allah, by His will, averts what you worry about or, by His wisdom, allows it to happen, you will always be able to move forward because you are under His constant care and protection. Everything Allah gives and takes away is only out of His Mercy.
Next is a quote which helps me to refocus every time my mind wanders away from reality:
“Be where your feet are.”
I live in my head so much, and while it’s not a bad thing, I think it takes away from my ability to live in the moment sometimes.
This is a simple reminder to stay present and immerse myself completely in whatever I’m doing—whether it’s praying, reading, talking to a friend, working on a project etc. Sometimes I find myself thinking ahead to what I’m supposed to be doing next, later or tomorrow and it takes away from my ability to focus and do what I’m doing the best way.
“Verily, Allah has prescribed Ihsan in all things.” [Muslim]
It’s so important to do everything with Ihsan (excellence), and when we’re preoccupied with thoughts about the future or about being elsewhere, achieving Ihsan in our current task becomes difficult.
Whenever I remember this quote, it snaps me out of my distraction and helps me to focus on what is in front of me - at least for as long as I can manage to stay focused.
It’s a reminder that you’re always exactly where you need to be. So when you get worried, restless, anxious or just distracted remember to simply be where your feet are.
“The destination feels like the journey.”
I find this quote so meaningful that it deserves its own blog post. For me, it means that the attitude and perspective you carry through the 'downs' in life are the same ones you'll bring to the 'ups' of your journey.
If you’re impatient and ungrateful while striving to achieve your goals, you might find yourself still impatient and ungrateful even after reaching them, constantly aiming for the next achievement. This creates a never-ending cycle. As long as you’re alive, the journey continues, and there will always be another destination to pursue.
There is no final ‘happily ever after’ in this world, and tests are a constant part of life. If you believe you’ll only become the best version of yourself once you attain a specific position, status, or achievement, you’ll find that you never truly reach that ideal.
Instead, strive to embody the person you wish to become, now. Embrace the entire spectrum of experiences in your journey while also celebrating the destinations that you reach.
“That mountain you’ve been carrying, you were only supposed to climb”
I can’t express how profound I found this quote to be the first time I came across it. I think it conveys the idea that the challenges you face are not meant to crush you; they are simply meant to be lived through.
When you become an observer of your experiences, you don’t define yourself by them—you see them for what they are: just things that have happened or are happening along your path in life and as a part of your journey.
Hardships are meant to elevate you, not diminish or weaken you. Difficulties are meant to be navigated, not carried as burdens. A lot of the time we allow our struggles to weigh us down, dragging them with us long after we’ve passed through the hardest parts. We define ourselves by what has happened to us instead of moving forward with an open mind.
I think this quote provides such a great shift in perspective. Instead of carrying the weight of our hardships like a heavy load on our backs, we should approach them as something to overcome. Climbing a mountain is meant to be challenging, but it’s a process of moving forward, step by step, not of carrying the mountain itself.
When you view your difficulties this way, you can face them with the understanding that they are temporary obstacles that don’t define who you are or your life itself. You can keep on going without being weighed down by past experiences or trauma, focusing on what lies ahead instead of what’s behind you.
“…And know that what has passed you by was not going to befall you, and what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and hardship with ease.”
[Hadith 19, 40 Hadith an-Nawawi]
I’m sure this is going to be the first of many posts on quotes because I still have so many more to share.
I hope that any of these quotes have offered a new perspective and you’ve found something meaningful in any one of them.
Until next time.
اَلسَلامُ عَلَيْكُم وَرَحْمَةُ اَللهِ وَبَرَكاتُهُ
Dedications
This piece is dedicated to someone who inspires me so much every day—sending you your flowers Ikram 💐. Thank you for always putting a smile on my face and making every moment spent with you a lot brighter.
Love you so much 💗
So much wisdom in here, I really loved this🌷
This was so beautiful 🥹. Allahumma Barik🤍