#tazkiya

Whoever necessitates upon themselves to do hamd (to say Alhamdulillah; i.e. praising Allah), All forms of goodness will follow them.

Whoever necessitates upon themselves to do istighfar (to say Astaghfirullah, i.e to seek forgiveness), barriers, barricades and doors that were close for them, will open for them.

(Al Hilyatul Awliya, v8 p88, Arabic).

رأيت الذنوب تميت القلوب.. وقد يورث الذُّل إدمانها

وترك الذنوب حياة القلوب.. وخير لنفسك عصيانها

[شرح الطحاوية171/1]

Abdullah ibn Mubarak رحمه الله:

I found that sins kill the heart,

and they bring about humiliation by being addicted to them.

And abandoning sins gives life to the heart,

And it is better for your soul that you disobey it.

Abu al-‘Abbas ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنهما) reports: “One day I was riding (a horse/camel) behind the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), when he said,

"O young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice]: Be Mindful of Allaah and Allaah will protect you. Be Mindful of Allaah and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, then ask Allaah [alone]; and if you seek help, then seek help from Allaah [alone]. And know that if the Nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, they would not benefit you except with what Allaah had already prescribed for you. And if they were to gather together to harm you with anything, they would not harm you except with what Allaah had already prescribed against you. The Pens have been lifted and the Pages have dried.

“Make yourself patient upon the Sunnah, stop where the people (the companions) stopped, speak with what they spoke with, and refrain from what they refrained from. And follow the path of your Righteous Predecessors (Salafus Saaliheen) for verily, sufficient for you is that which was sufficient for them.”