This opening chapter of the Koran—very short as it is—contains the fundamental principles of the whole book—the doctrine of God, His infinite mercy,
One sole plea I have—my need of Thee;   But needing Thee my need is filled.   One only resource I have—to stand and knock;   And if unheard at Thy mercy-gate, to whom shall I go?   Whom shall I call, what Name shall I invoke,   If Thy needy servant shall in vain Thy bounty seek?   But far be it from Thee, God of grace, to refuse a sinner’s cry.   Too good and gracious art Thou to send me thus away.   Contrite, I stand at Thy door,   Believing that contrite prayer availeth much with Thee.   Suppliant, I stretch forth my hands,   And with all my soul look up to Thee.

A man said to another who had spoken evil of him: “If what you have said be true, may God forgive me; and if false, may He forgive you.”

There is no evil so great as ignorance.

The fool is an enemy to himself—how can he then be a friend to others?

No man’s religion can be right until his heart become right, nor can his heart become right until his tongue is right.

Keep to the truth though it may harm thee, and keep away from falsehood though it may profit thee. A man can be perfect only when he speaks the truth and acts according to the truth.

He who lives on expectations dies in poverty.

Three things are no disgrace to man—to serve his guest, to serve his horse, and to serve in his own house.

When you do a kindness, make a small thing of it, though it be a great; and when you receive a kindness, make much of it, though it be small.