avoiding sins, and keeping secrets.

Beware of entertaining the thought that you should expect recompense from anyone to whom you have shown kindness or bestowed favors. Expecting recompense effaces the good deed, debases noble acts, turns gratitude into blame, and praise into loathing.

Patience in the Face of People’s Harm

You should not regard anyone as an enemy, but make it your practice to remain wary of everyone. Whoever comes to you with a demand or repeatedly causes you harm, do your utmost not to repay him in kind, and remain patient with him as far as you are able. No one has ever held fast to patience and forbearance without attaining honor and victory. Whoever is wronged will surely be granted victory by Allah. By Allah’s grace, I have put this into practice many times, found the outcome praiseworthy, and rejoiced at having refrained from repaying harm in kind.

Reliance upon Allah

Do not regard any of the vicissitudes of time as too great. Every matter that comes to an end is slight, everything great that does not endure is small, and every matter that passes away is brief. Await relief, for awaiting relief is an act of worship. Pin your hopes upon your Lord and place your trust in Him, for reliance upon Him is true felicity.

Seeking Help through Supplication

Seek help through supplication and take refuge in Him during adversity and affliction. Supplication is a ship that is never wrecked, a force that is never defeated, and an army that never flees.

Beware of departing from this path, believing otherwise, or clinging to anything besides it, lest you perish and lose both your religion and your worldly life. It may happen that you pray for something, yet even as you pray some hardship befalls you or some harm reaches you; then grow all the more