Sufi Quotes of Abdullah bin Abbas in English and Arabic

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Hello! Are you looking for an explanation of the Sufi quotes of Abdullah bin Abbas in English and Arabic? If your answer is "Yes," then congratulations! You are reading the right article. Why? Because that is exactly what I will explain in this article. So, you should read it until the end!

Brief Biography of Abdullah bin Abbas

Before I delve further into the Sufi quotes of Abdullah bin Abbas in English and Arabic, I will first provide a brief biography. You need to understand who Abdullah bin Abbas is, the person behind the Sufi words explained in this article.

Abdullah bin Abbas's full name is Abdullah bin Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib. He was born in Mecca in the 3rd year before the Hijra. He grew up during the early days of Prophethood. He accompanied Prophet Muhammad Saw in many matters. Additionally, he also narrated many Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad.

By the way, do you still remember the Hadith below:

اللَّهُمَّ أَعْطِهِ الْحِكْمَةَ , وَعَلِّمْهُ التَّأْوِيْلَ

O Allah! Grant him wisdom and teach him interpretation.

The above Hadith contains a prayer made by Prophet Muhammad for Abdullah bin Abbas. This is why Abdullah bin Abbas possessed extraordinary abilities to understand and explain the teachings of Islam. According to Hadith literature, he narrated 1,660 Hadiths recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

Read Also: Sufi Quotes of Ibrahim bin Adham in English and Arabic

Abdullah bin Abbas was one of the great companions of Prophet Muhammad Saw. Besides being known for his exceptional understanding of Islamic teachings, he was also known for his generosity, hospitality, and deep devotion during worship. It is even narrated that he had two black lines on his cheeks due to frequent crying during his prayers.

There are many inspirational aspects of Abdullah bin Abbas's life. Known as the "Interpreter of the Quran," "Sea of Knowledge," and more, it is unfortunate that I cannot explain everything now as it is not related to the main topic of this article. However, Muhammad Abdurrauf al-Munawi in his book titled "Al-Kawâkib ad-Durriyyah fî Tarâjumi as-Sâdah ash-Shufiyyah" categorizes Abdullah bin Abbas as one of the great Sufi figures of the first generation. Many aspects of his life serve as sources of inspiration in Sufism. He is considered one of the great Sufis in Islamic history.

Eventually, Abdullah bin Abbas passed away in Ta'if in the year 68 Hijri.

Sufi Quotes of Abdullah bin Abbas in English and Arabic

There are many Sufi quotes from Abdullah bin Abbas. Unfortunately, I cannot explain all of them now. In this article, I will only explain some of his Sufi quotes.

Some Sufi quotes of Abdullah bin Abbas in English and Arabic that I am referring to are as follows:

Sufi Quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on Fear of Allah

If you want to know Sufi quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on fear of Allah, refer to the Sufi quote below!

إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عِبَادًا أَصْمَتَتْهُمْ خَشْيَتُهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ بَكَمٍ وَلَا صَمَمٍ , وَإِنَّهُمْ لَهُمْ الْفُصَحَاءُ , حَتَّى إِذَا اشْتَاقُوْا تَسَارَعُوْا إِلَى اللهِ بِالْأَعْمَالِ الزَّاكِيَةِ[1]

Indeed, Allah has servants who are made silent by their fear of Him, not because they are mute by birth or deaf. They are truly eloquent speakers. When they long for Allah, they hasten to Him by performing acts of purity.

In the above Sufi quote, Abdullah bin Abbas explains about a group of Allah's servants who live with deep piety and fear of Him. They are described as being silent not due to physical inability, such as muteness or deafness, but because of their profound fear and anxiety before Allah. They choose to speak less because they understand the responsibility and consequences of every word spoken.

Although they may appear silent, they are actually eloquent speakers with good communication skills. However, they speak only when necessary and spend most of their time in worship and drawing closer to Allah. When they feel a longing for Allah, they promptly respond by increasing their acts of piety and beneficial deeds.

Sufi Quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on Doing Good

If you want to know Sufi quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on doing good, refer to the Sufi quote below!

[2]صَاحِبُ الْمَعْرُوْفِ لَا يَقَعُ , وَإِنْ وَقَعَ وَجَدَ مُتَّكَأً

The owner of goodness does not fall. If he falls, he relies on something.

In the above Sufi quote, Abdullah bin Abbas explains the nature of a person who possesses goodness within themselves. The meaning is that someone who constantly does good will not experience significant or fatal failure in their life. The phrase "The owner of goodness does not fall" indicates that the goodness a person possesses acts as a sort of protection or support that prevents them from total failure or destruction.

However, if that person does face difficulties or major challenges ("If he falls"), the goodness within them enables them to endure. The expression "he relies on something" signifies that a good person has something to lean on, whether it be faith, morality, or support from others. In other words, the goodness cultivated and practiced in a person’s life provides inner strength that prevents them from being completely crushed when facing problems.

Sufi Quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on Poverty

If you want to know Sufi quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on poverty, refer to the Sufi quote below!

الْحِرْمَانُ خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْإِمْتِنَانِ[3]

Poverty is better than receiving a gift accompanied by humiliation.

In the above Sufi quote, Abdullah bin Abbas presents the view that poverty, despite its hardships, is more honorable and dignified than accepting a gift that comes with humiliation. The main message is that one's self-respect and honor are more valuable than wealth or assistance received by degrading oneself or accepting undignified treatment.

In this context, poverty is not seen as something shameful but rather as a state that can be endured with dignity, as long as one maintains their honor. On the other hand, accepting help or gifts from others that come with humiliation means sacrificing self-respect for material gain. This is viewed as more detrimental because it undermines one's integrity and self-respect.

Sufi Quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on Kinship, Goodness, and Compassion

If you want to know Sufi quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on kinship, goodness, and compassion, refer to the Sufi quote below!

الْقَرَابَةُ تُقْطَعُ , وَالْمَعْرُوْفُ يُكْفَرُ , وَلَمْ نَرَ كَالْمَوَدَّةِ[4]

Kinship will be severed, goodness will be denied, and we will not see compassion.

In the above Sufi quote, Abdullah bin Abbas describes a situation where familial bonds, which should be strong and filled with affection, are neglected or broken. "Kinship will be severed" indicates that the important family ties and blood relationships are no longer valued and are even cut off, possibly due to selfishness or conflicts.

"Goodness will be denied" suggests that acts of kindness and good deeds are no longer recognized or appreciated, leading people to become indifferent towards one another.

Finally, "we will not see compassion" reflects the loss of love and care among people, both within families and in society. This depicts a social situation marked by emotional coldness and indifference, where noble values such as kinship, goodness, and compassion are no longer prioritized or upheld.

Sufi Quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on Being Cautious in Interacting with Others

If you want to know Sufi quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on being cautious in interactions with others, refer to the Sufi quote below!

لَا تُمَازِحْ سَفِيْهًا وَلَا حَلِيْمًا , فَإِنَّ السَّفِيْهَ يُؤْذِيْكَ وَالْحَلِيْمَ يَقْلِيْكَ . وَاعْمَلْ عَمَلَ مَنْ يَعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ مَجْزِيٌّ بِالْحَسَنَاتِ مَأْخُوْذٌ بِالسَّيِّئَات[5]

Do not play with fools or overly generous people. Indeed, fools will hurt you, and overly generous people will make you angry. Act like someone who knows that they will be rewarded for their good deeds and held accountable for their actions.

In the above Sufi quote, Abdullah bin Abbas provides advice on being cautious when interacting with certain individuals and encourages responsible behavior. "Do not play with fools or overly generous people" means to avoid casual or reckless interactions with these two types of people. Fools, due to their lack of understanding or wisdom, might unintentionally harm you, while overly generous people may make you angry because they fail to assess situations accurately.

This Sufi quote also reminds us to act like wise individuals who are aware that every good deed will be rewarded and every action will be accounted for. Essentially, the message emphasizes the importance of behaving wisely and responsibly in life, and carefully choosing whom we interact with.

Sufi Quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on Two Types of Hadas

If you want to know Sufi quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on two types of hadas, refer to the Sufi quote below!

[6]الْحَدَثُ حَدَثَانِ : حَدَثٌ مِنْ فَرْجِكَ وَحَدَثٌ مِنْ فِيْكَ

Hadas comes in two types: hadas that exits from the private parts and hadas that exits from the mouth.

In the above Sufi quote, Abdullah bin Abbas explains the two types of hadas that need purification:

  1. "Hadas that exits from the private parts." This refers to anything that comes out from the genital or anus, such as urine, feces, gas, or other bodily fluids. This type of hadas generally requires ablution (wudu) or a mandatory bath (ghusl) to restore one's state of purity.
  2. "Hadas that exits from the mouth." This refers to harmful speech that may hurt others' feelings. To purify oneself from this type of hadas, one should repent, recite Istighfar (seeking forgiveness), and engage in other forms of dhikr (remembrance of Allah).

Sufi Quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on the Ability of the Learned to Understand the Unseen

If you want to know Sufi quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on the ability of the learned to understand the unseen, refer to the Sufi quote below!

العَالِمُ يَرَى الْغَيْبَ , وَلَكِنْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ سِتْرٍ رَقِيْقٍ[7]

The learned person sees the unseen but from behind a thin veil.

In the above Sufi quote, Abdullah bin Abbas describes the ability of a scholar, or someone with deep knowledge of religion, to understand the unseen, which refers to matters that are not visible or accessible to ordinary senses. However, this understanding is depicted as "seeing from behind a thin veil," meaning that although the scholar has deeper and more intuitive insight, their knowledge of the unseen remains limited.

This thin veil indicates that there is a boundary or barrier separating humans from a full understanding of the unseen world. Even though a scholar may have a better understanding compared to an average person, their knowledge is still imperfect because the complete essence of the unseen is known only to Allah.

Sufi Quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on Pomegranate Seeds

If you want to know Sufi quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on pomegranate seeds, refer to the Sufi quote below!

وَكَانَ إِذَا وَجَدَ حَبَّةَ رُمَّانٍ فِى الْأَرْضِ أَخَذَهَا فَأَكَلَهَا , فَقِيْلَ لَهُ فِيْهِ : فَقَالَ : بَلَغَنِيْ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ فِى الْأَرْضِ رُمَّانَةً إِلَّا تَلْقَحُ حَبَّةً مِنْ حَبِّ الْجَنَّة , فَلَعَلَّهَا هَذِه[8]

If he (Abdullah bin Abbas) found a pomegranate seed on the ground, he would pick it up and eat it. When asked about this, he said, “I have heard that there is no pomegranate on earth except that it originates from seeds in Paradise. May this be one of those pomegranates.”

In the above Sufi quote, Abdullah bin Abbas describes his own action, a companion of Prophet Muhammad known for his knowledge. When he found a pomegranate seed on the ground, he picked it up and ate it, even though it might seem trivial to others. When asked why he did this, Abdullah bin Abbas explained that he had heard that every pomegranate on earth is connected to the pomegranates in Paradise, as each fruit on earth comes from seeds that originated in Paradise.

With this belief, Abdullah bin Abbas hoped that the pomegranate seed he found was part of the blessings of Paradise. This Sufi quote also reflects Abdullah bin Abbas's deep faith and appreciation for every blessing that might come from Allah, showing his careful consideration in making use of every gift, no matter how small it may seem.

Sufi Quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on Locusts

If you want to know Sufi quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on locusts, refer to the Sufi quote below!

مَكْتُوْبٌ عَلَى الْجَرَادَةِ بِالسُّرْيَانِيَّةِ : إِنِّي أَنَا اللهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا وَحْدِيْ , لَا شَرِيْكَ لِيْ , الْجَرَادُ جُنْدٌ مِنْ جُنُوْدِيْ , أُسَلِّطُهُ عَلَى مَنْ أَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِيْ[9]

The sentence written on the body of the locust in Syriac reads, “Indeed, I am Allah. There is no god except Me. There are no partners with Me. The locust is one of My soldiers. I have granted authority over it to someone among My servants.”

In the above Sufi quote, Abdullah bin Abbas describes a belief or story about locusts bearing a divine message. It is stated that there is an inscription in Syriac (an ancient language used in the region of Syria and its surroundings) on the body of the locust declaring the oneness of Allah. The inscription affirms that Allah is the only God without partners and identifies the locust as part of Allah's "soldiers," meaning creatures that can be commanded by Him.

The Sufi quote also explains that Allah has absolute power over all His creatures, including locusts, and He can direct them to fulfill His will concerning humans. It serves as a reminder that even small creatures like locusts are part of Allah's plan and power, and can be instruments for conveying His will to humanity, teaching about His oneness and sovereignty over the entire universe.

Sufi Quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on the Importance of Solitude and Self-Reflection

If you want to know Sufi quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on the importance of solitude and self-reflection, refer to the Sufi quote below!

أَفْضَلُ الْمَجَالِسِ مَجْلِسٌ فِى قَعْرِ بَيْتِكَ , لَا تَرَى وَلَا تُرَى[10]

The most esteemed gatherings are those in the corner of your home, where you are neither seen nor seen.

In the above Sufi quote, Abdullah bin Abbas emphasizes the importance of solitude and introspection in spiritual and personal life. "The most esteemed gatherings" refers to the most valuable moments of reflection or contemplation. He suggests that the ideal place for such gatherings is in the "corner of your home," which can be interpreted as a private space or a secluded spot within one's home where one can be alone.

The phrase "neither seen nor seen" highlights the importance of a condition where one is not disturbed by the gaze of others or external distractions. It signifies a moment of deep solitude, where one can reflect, pray, or draw closer to Allah without interruption.

Sufi Quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on the Decline of Intellectualism in the Future

If you want to know Sufi quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on the decline of intellectualism in the future, refer to the Sufi quote below!

[11]يَأْتِى عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ يُعْرَجُ فِيْهِ بِعُقُوْلِهِمْ حَتَّى لَا تَجِدَ أَحَدًا ذَا عَقْلٍ

A time will come for humanity when they will be elevated by their intellects until no one remains who possesses intellect.

In the above Sufi quote, Abdullah bin Abbas describes a future projection in which human intellectual conditions experience a drastic decline. This statement implies that there will be a period when human cognitive abilities are so diminished that no individual will possess adequate intelligence or wisdom.

"A time will come for humanity" indicates that this is a prophecy about the future. "They will be elevated by their intellects" may refer to a situation where people gain status or recognition based on intellectual abilities. Ironically, however, "no one remains who possesses intellect" suggests that, despite intellect being valued or utilized at some point, ultimately no one truly understands or uses their intellect effectively.

The Sufi quote serves as a reminder of the potential decline in intellectual quality and wisdom in the future and underscores the importance of maintaining and developing one's cognitive abilities.

Sufi Quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on the Importance of Helping Others

If you want to know Sufi quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on the importance of helping others, refer to the Sufi quote below!

لَئِنْ أَعُوْلَ أَهْلَ بَيْتٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ شَهْرًا أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ حَجَّةٍ بَعْدَ حَجَّةٍ[12]

Certainly, helping a Muslim family for more than a month is more pleasing to me than performing Hajj repeatedly.

In the above Sufi quote, Abdullah bin Abbas emphasizes the importance of helping others within the community, especially in the context of assisting a Muslim family. The author expresses that providing support to a Muslim family for over a month is considered more valuable than performing Hajj multiple times.

The phrase "more pleasing to me than performing Hajj repeatedly" indicates that the author believes that concrete actions, such as long-term assistance to a family, offer greater benefits and satisfaction than repeatedly engaging in the ritual of Hajj. This highlights the practical and social value of direct aid to those in need, suggesting that such actions are more spiritually and socially beneficial compared to merely performing ritual worship without having a tangible impact on others' lives.

Sufi Quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on Changes in Human Values or Character

If you want to know Sufi quote of Abdullah bin Abbas on views on changes in human values or character, refer to the Sufi quote below!

ذَهَبَ النَّاسُ وَبَقِيَ النَّسْنَاسُ . قِيْلَ : مَا النَّسْنَاسُ ؟ قَالَ : الَّذِيْنَ يُشْبِهُوْنَ النَّاَس وَلَيْسُوْا بِالنَّاسِ[13]

Human beings have gone, and only human-like beings remain. When asked, "What are human-like beings?" the answer is, "People who resemble humans but are not truly human."

In the above Sufi quote, Abdullah bin Abbas reflects on the changes in human values or character over a certain period. "Human beings have gone, and only human-like beings remain" means that those who truly possess the qualities of genuine humanity have disappeared or are no longer present.

When asked, "What are human-like beings?" the response is, "People who resemble humans but are not truly human." This describes a state where individuals may appear human physically but lack the essential traits or character that should define a human, such as integrity, empathy, and morality.

In other words, although they are human in appearance, they do not embody the true essence or values of humanity. The Sufi quote highlights the decline in genuine human qualities and its impact on society.

That concludes the discussion of some Sufi quotes of Abdullah bin Abbas in English and Arabic. Do you understand? If you have any questions, please write them in the comments section.

I believe that's enough for this article. I hope it was beneficial. Ameen.

See you again in the next article!

Source Citations

[1] Muhammad Abdurrauf al-Munawi, Al-Kawâkib ad-Durriyyah fî Tarâjumi as-Sâdah ash-Shufiyyah (الكَوَاكِبُ الدُّرِّيَّةُ فِى تَرَاجُمِ السَّادَةِ الصُّوْفِيَّةِ), vol. 1 (Cairo: Maktabah ad-Dar al-Arabiyah li al-Kitab, 2009), 252.

[2] Muhammad Abdurrauf al-Munawi, Al-Kawâkib ad-Durriyyah fî Tarâjumi as-Sâdah ash-Shufiyyah (الكَوَاكِبُ الدُّرِّيَّةُ فِى تَرَاجُمِ السَّادَةِ الصُّوْفِيَّةِ), vol. 1, 253.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Muhammad Abdurrauf al-Munawi, Al-Kawâkib ad-Durriyyah fî Tarâjumi as-Sâdah ash-Shufiyyah (الكَوَاكِبُ الدُّرِّيَّةُ فِى تَرَاجُمِ السَّادَةِ الصُّوْفِيَّةِ), vol. 1, 254.

[12] Ibid.

[13] Ibid.

Akhmad Syafiuddin
Akhmad Syafiuddin An expert in Islamic discourse and law, and a graduate of Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.

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