"The pain and suffering a believer feels over their sins is far greater than the suffering of a bird when it is struck or thrown down."

— Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-Aas (R.A) [Al-Zuhd wal-Raqa'iq by Ibn al-Mubarak: 63]

If you see him in solitude, he is weeping, his heart turned to ashes, wailing in grief and sorrow, and shedding streams of tears from his eyes. If you see him (without knowing him beforehand), you would imagine that someone dear to his soul has departed.

However, that is not the case.

He is consumed by the worry of his faith (Deen)—fearful that some calamity might afflict it. Let the world slip away if it must, as long as his religion remains safe. This Deen is his entire asset, and its loss is what he truly fears.

— Al-Ghuraba by Al-Ajurri

(O Allah, do not make this world the center of our grief)

"I wish I were mere ashes that the winds would blow away."

— Sayyidina Imran bin Husain (R.A)

Imam Ibn Aqil al-Hanbali (R.A) states:

"I observed the conditions of the people and found a very strange matter... They weep over destroyed homes, sigh over the death of loved ones, lament over financial constraints, and curse the times! Yet, they see the structure of Islam collapsing, the religion divided into sects, Sunnahs being erased, innovations (Bid'ah) prevailing, and sins multiplying! But none among them weeps for their Deen, no one regrets wasting their life, and no one grieves over losing their time!! I see only one reason for all of this: religion has become insignificant in their eyes, and the world has become the focal point of their thoughts!"

— [Al-Adab al-Shar'iyyah by Ibn Muflih: 3/240]

"Solitude on the face of this earth is what suits me best. I live alone, eat alone, and contemplate alone. I am alone in times of joy, and I have no companion in my sorrows. If this solitude is a source of pleasure and comfort, then it is merely a passing comfort of this mortal world, and that's it! And if this solitude causes pain and longing, even then, it is just a grief of this world, and nothing more..."

— [Jamharat Maqalat al-Sheikh Mahmud Muhammad Shakir: 2/842]

Saying: "O Lord, my heart is ruined, and if I meet You in this state, I fear You will punish me."

— Sheikh Samir Mustafa

"The sickness of the body ends with death, but the sickness of the heart remains a torment even after death."

— [Mukhtasar Minhaj al-Qasidin by Ibn Qudamah: 188]

"Broken Hearts"

"Kindness should also be shown to the 'Munkasireen' (the broken-hearted)—those who have been hurt by some calamity and are broken. This is not the breaking of bones, but the breaking of the heart. For instance, if someone faces a disaster and goes bankrupt, or if a close friend or relative passes away and their heart shatters! In any case, showing empathy to them is essential; that is why the Shariah has given the concept of condolence (Ta'ziyah)."

— [Sharh Riyadh al-Salihin by Ibn Uthaymeen: 3/80]

"O seeker of fleeting pleasures! Have you prepared anything for the hardships of death?! Have you ever calculated your profit and loss?! Do you think that by reclining on soft, luxurious beds, you will reach the ranks of the honorable?! Never!..."

— [Al-Mudhesh by Ibn al-Jawzi (R.A): 206]

"This world is merely a dwelling place of grief and calamities."

— Hasan al-Basri [Al-Zuhd by Ibn Abi al-Dunya: 478]

"Cling to supplication (Dua) as if you know no other remedy besides it!"

"Do not say: 'O Lord, I have a great worry.' Instead, say: 'O worry, I have a Great Lord!'" 🌻

Imam Malik bin Dinar (R.A) states:

"The Pious Predecessors (Salaf al-Salihin) used to advise three things: holding the tongue, seeking forgiveness abundantly (Istighfar), and staying aloof from people!"

— [Sifat al-Safwah: 3/196]

Tahir al-Maqdisi (R.A) states:

"The secret to safety lies in staying away from people, and true happiness lies in seclusion (Khwalah) with Allah, the Almighty."

— [Tabaqat al-Awliya, p. 394]

Imam Wuhaib bin al-Ward (R.A) states:

"Out of ten parts of wisdom, nine are in silence, and the tenth is in keeping away from people!"

Al-Khattabi says: "The best part among these is isolating oneself from people!"

— [Al-Uzlah, 1/18]

The Imam of the World, Ahmad bin Hanbal (R.A) states:

"I have an impossible wish: that there were a place where no human could come."

"I feel that solitude pleases my heart much more."

"My heart desires to make a valley in Makkah my dwelling place, so that no one who knows me would be there."

"Tell Abdul Wahhab to embrace obscurity (remain unknown), for I have been severely tested by the trial of fame."