BY ALLAH'S MERCY

The Prophet Muhammad SAWS told the story of two men, one of whom would commit sin and the other would strive to do his best in the world. When the man who exerted himself in worship continued to see the other in sin, he would say: "Refrain from (sinning)." The sinner replied: "Leave me alone with my Lord. Have you been sent as a watchman over me?" The man who tried to do his best then said: "I swear by Allah, Allah will not forgive you, nor will He admit you to Paradise." When they both died and came before Allah, He told the man who had striven hard in worship: "Did you have knowledge about Me or had you power over that which I had in My hand?" Allah then said to the man who sinned: "Go and enter Paradise by My mercy."

Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2298

PATIENCE IS A BLESSING

The Prophet Muhammad SAWS said: "No one can be given a blessing better and greater than patience."

Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 548

While the Prophet Muhammad SAWS was sitting with some of his companions, a man insulted one of them. The person who was insulted remained silent. He was again insulted, but controlled himself. He was insulted a third time, and then he retaliated. At that point, the Prophet got up (to leave). The man who was insulted said: "Are you angry with me?" The Prophet replied: "(While you were not reacting to the insults) an angel came down from Heaven and was rejecting what had been said (against) you. (But) when you retaliated, a devil came down. I was not going to sit when the devil came down."

Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2295