The soul will never become pious and purified except through undergoing afflictions. It is the same as gold that can never be pure except after removing all the base metals in it.

If a heart becomes attached to anything other than Allah, Allah makes him dependent on what he is attached to. And he will be betrayed by it.

This wordly life is like a shadow. If you try to catch it, you will never be able to do so. If you turn your back towards it, it has no choice but to follow you.

A person’s tongue can give you the taste of his heart.

When Allah tests you it is never to destroy you. When He removes something in your possession it is only in order to empty your hands for an even greater gift.

Happiness is attained by three things: being patient when tested, being thankful when receiving a blessing, and being repentant upon sinning.

Women are one half of society which gives birth to the other half so it is as if they are the entire society.

A real man is one who fears the death of his heart, not of his body.

Be sincere in your aim and you will find the support of Allaah surrounding you.

As long as you are performing prayer, you are knocking at the door of Allah, and whoever is knocking at the door of Allah, Allah will open it for him.

If you knew the true value of yourself, you will never allow yourself to be humiliated by committing sins.

Vashti was seized with the terrors of direct experience. She shrank back into the room, and the wall closed up again.

Reason is our soul's left hand, faith her right.

I don't know why I go to extremes.

Better try to stay wide awake, or you might end up found dead by the lake.

An evil deed, like fresh milk, does not go bad suddenly. Smouldering, like fire covered by ashes, the evil deed follows the fool.

I wasn't that into crime novels at all, but a friend introduced me to the work of Jim Thompson - I loved all his books.

I could be the Greta Garbo of comedy, very secluded, but Garbo had a man who was beyond rich to support her.

The decisive moment in the defeat of upper class, capital-S, Society may have come when, in newspapers all over the nation, what used to be call the Society page was replaced by the Style section.

Comic books to me are fairy tales for grown-ups.