01c. 1960 ADThe Sufi way is through knowledge and practice, not through intellect and talk. As Prince Dara Shikoh says, in a Persian poem: Do you wish to be included with the Lords of Sight? From speech (then) pass on to experience. By saying 'Unity', you do not become a monotheist; The mouth does not become sweet from the word 'SugarIdries Shah / quote ↗
02c. 1960 ADHumility cannot be taught by propaganda, though slavery can. Shouting for humility is a form of arrogance. One of my most abiding recollections is of a priest at a religious occasion once roaring, in the most threatening way imaginable: ‘O our Lord God, we most humbly pray…!’Real humility is not always the same as apparent humility. Remember that fighting against self-conceit is still fighting: and that it will tend to suppress it temporarily. It does not cure anything.Remember, too, that humility itself does not bring an automatic reward: it is a means to an end. It enables a person to operate in a certain manner.Idries Shah / quote ↗
03c. 1960 AD… the Sufi attitude is: ‘Let the real truth, whatever it may be, be revealed to me’.Idries Shah / quote ↗
04c. 1960 ADPeople who have fallacious objectives are like the barren soil. The flowers grow from soil which is composed of the right objectives.Idries Shah / quote ↗
06c. 1960 ADThe more wakeful a man is to the things which surround him, the more asleep is he, and his waking is worse than his sleep.Idries Shah / quote ↗
07c. 1960 ADMaterialism, attachment to things of the world, includes pride. Many religious people suffer from pride: taking pleasure or even delight in being good, or religious.Idries Shah / quote ↗
08c. 1960 ADSaying of the Prophet. The Bequest: I have nothing to leave you except my family.Idries Shah / quote ↗
09c. 1960 ADSaying of the ProphetHelping othersI order you to assist any oppressed person, whether he is a Muslim or not.Idries Shah / quote ↗
10c. 1960 ADTeaching:One hour's teaching is better than a whole night of prayer.Saying of the ProphetIdries Shah / quote ↗
12c. 1960 ADSaying of the ProphetObligation to LearnThe pursuit of knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim.Idries Shah / quote ↗
13c. 1960 ADSaying of the ProphetTruthSpeaking the truth to the unjust is the best of holy wars.Idries Shah / quote ↗
14c. 1960 ADSaying of the ProphetTHE PEOPLEIt is the people who are God's family.(Muhammad the Prophet)Idries Shah / quote ↗
15c. 1960 ADSaying of the ProphetSome behaviourI am like a man who has lighted a fire, and all the creeping things have rushed to burn themselves in it.Idries Shah / quote ↗
16c. 1960 ADSaying of the ProphetFoodNobody has eaten better food than that won by his own labour.Idries Shah / quote ↗
17c. 1960 ADSaying of the ProphetAccusationsAnyone reviling a brother for a sin will not himself die before committing it.Idries Shah / quote ↗
18c. 1960 ADSaying of the Prophet.Lies, promises, trustHe is not of mine who lies, breaks a promise or fails in his trust.Idries Shah / quote ↗
19c. 1960 ADSaying of the ProphetTasksWhoever makes all his tasks one task, God will help him in his other concerns.Idries Shah / quote ↗
20c. 1960 ADSaying of the ProphetPracticeWho are the learned? Those who put into practice what they know.Idries Shah / quote ↗
21c. 1960 ADSaying of the ProphetOppressionWhen oppression exists, even the bird dies in its nest.Idries Shah / quote ↗
22c. 1960 ADHelping othersI order you to assist any oppressed person, whether he is a Moslem or not.Idries Shah / quote ↗
23c. 1960 ADSaying of the ProphetDistributionGod it is who gives: I am only a distributor.Idries Shah / quote ↗
