30 sourced Islamic quotes about life: what it is for, how short it is, and how to live it well. Each one names its surah and ayah, its hadith collection and grading, or the book a scholar's words come from. Copy a quote, or make an image to share.
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَٱلْحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًۭا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْغَفُورُ
[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving -.
Life and death were created as a test of deeds. From Surah Al-Mulk, which the Prophet ﷺ recited every night.
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.
Quran 51:56, Surah Adh-Dhariyat
The purpose of life in one sentence: worship, which includes every good act done for Allah.
وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا مَتَٰعُ ٱلْغُرُورِ
And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.
Quran 3:185, Surah Al-Imran, part of the ayah
The end of the ayah that begins "Every soul will taste death".
وَمَا هَٰذِهِ ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَآ إِلَّا لَهْوٌۭ وَلَعِبٌۭ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلْءَاخِرَةَ لَهِىَ ٱلْحَيَوَانُ ۚ لَوْ كَانُوا۟ يَعْلَمُونَ
And this worldly life is not but diversion and amusement. And indeed, the home of the Hereafter - that is the [eternal] life, if only they knew.
The real life, the Quran says, is the one to come.
ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَٰقِيَٰتُ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًۭا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًۭا
Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope.
What lasts is the good you do, not what you collect.
وَٱبْتَغِ فِيمَآ ءَاتَىٰكَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلدَّارَ ٱلْءَاخِرَةَ ۖ وَلَا تَنسَ نَصِيبَكَ مِنَ ٱلدُّنْيَا
Seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and [yet], do not forget your share of the world.
Quran 28:77, Surah Al-Qasas, part of the ayah
Advice given to Qarun, the rich man of Musa's people: balance, not abandoning the world.
ٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌۭ وَلَهْوٌۭ وَزِينَةٌۭ وَتَفَاخُرٌۢ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌۭ فِى ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَوْلَٰدِ
Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children.
Quran 57:20, Surah Al-Hadid, part of the ayah
The ayah goes on to compare worldly life to plants that bloom after rain, then dry up.
بَلْ تُؤْثِرُونَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا ﴿١٦﴾ وَٱلْءَاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌۭ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ
But you prefer the worldly life, While the Hereafter is better and more enduring.
From Surah Al-Ala, which the Prophet ﷺ often recited in the Jumuah and Eid prayers.
رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةًۭ وَفِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ حَسَنَةًۭ وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ
Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
Quran 2:201, Surah Al-Baqarah, part of the ayah
The dua of balance, and one the Prophet ﷺ made often (Sahih al-Bukhari 6389).
فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ﴿٥﴾ إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًۭا
For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.
Said twice in a row: ease comes with hardship, not only after it.
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا
Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity.
Quran 2:286, Surah Al-Baqarah, part of the ayah
From the last ayat of Al-Baqarah. Whatever life puts on you, you were given the strength for it.
أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ
By the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.
Quran 13:28, Surah Ar-Rad, part of the ayah
Where the heart finds its rest.
كُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَأَنَّكَ غَرِيبٌ أَوْ عَابِرُ سَبِيلٍ
Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveller.
Sahih al-Bukhari 6416
نِعْمَتَانِ مَغْبُونٌ فِيهِمَا كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ: الصِّحَّةُ وَالْفَرَاغُ
There are two blessings that many people lose out on: health and free time.
Sahih al-Bukhari 6412, narrated by Ibn Abbas
اغْتَنِمْ خَمْسًا قَبْلَ خَمْسٍ: شَبَابَكَ قَبْلَ هَرَمِكَ، وَصِحَّتَكَ قَبْلَ سَقَمِكَ، وَغِنَاكَ قَبْلَ فَقْرِكَ، وَفَرَاغَكَ قَبْلَ شُغْلِكَ، وَحَيَاتَكَ قَبْلَ مَوْتِكَ
Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before you are busy, and your life before your death.
Al-Mustadrak of al-Hakim, narrated by Ibn Abbas. Graded sahih by al-Hakim and al-Albani
عَجَبًا لِأَمْرِ الْمُؤْمِنِ، إِنَّ أَمْرَهُ كُلَّهُ خَيْرٌ، وَلَيْسَ ذَاكَ لِأَحَدٍ إِلَّا لِلْمُؤْمِنِ، إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ، وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ صَبَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ
How wonderful is the affair of the believer: all of it is good, and that is for no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful, and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he is patient, and that is good for him.
Sahih Muslim 2999, narrated by Suhayb
لَيْسَ الْغِنَى عَنْ كَثْرَةِ الْعَرَضِ، وَلَكِنَّ الْغِنَى غِنَى النَّفْسِ
Richness is not having many possessions. Real richness is the richness of the soul.
Sahih al-Bukhari 6446; Sahih Muslim 1051
انْظُرُوا إِلَى مَنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنْكُمْ، وَلَا تَنْظُرُوا إِلَى مَنْ هُوَ فَوْقَكُمْ، فَهُوَ أَجْدَرُ أَنْ لَا تَزْدَرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ
Look at those below you and do not look at those above you. That is more likely to keep you from belittling Allah's favour on you.
Sahih Muslim 2963, narrated by Abu Hurayrah
الْمُؤْمِنُ الْقَوِيُّ خَيْرٌ وَأَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِ الضَّعِيفِ، وَفِي كُلٍّ خَيْرٌ، احْرِصْ عَلَى مَا يَنْفَعُكَ، وَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْجِزْ
The strong believer is better and more loved by Allah than the weak believer, and there is good in both. Be keen on what benefits you, seek Allah's help, and do not give up.
Sahih Muslim 2664, narrated by Abu Hurayrah
مَنْ أَصْبَحَ مِنْكُمْ آمِنًا فِي سِرْبِهِ، مُعَافًى فِي جَسَدِهِ، عِنْدَهُ قُوتُ يَوْمِهِ، فَكَأَنَّمَا حِيزَتْ لَهُ الدُّنْيَا
Whoever wakes up safe among his people, healthy in his body, with his food for the day, it is as if the whole world has been given to him.
Jami at-Tirmidhi, narrated by Ubaydullah ibn Mihsan. Graded hasan
أَحَبُّ الْأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ أَدْوَمُهَا وَإِنْ قَلَّ
The deeds most loved by Allah are the most constant, even if they are small.
Sahih al-Bukhari 6464; Sahih Muslim 783
احْفَظِ اللَّهَ يَحْفَظْكَ، احْفَظِ اللَّهَ تَجِدْهُ تُجَاهَكَ
Be mindful of Allah and He will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him before you.
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2516, narrated by Ibn Abbas. Graded hasan sahih
اتَّقِ اللَّهَ حَيْثُمَا كُنْتَ، وَأَتْبِعِ السَّيِّئَةَ الْحَسَنَةَ تَمْحُهَا، وَخَالِقِ النَّاسَ بِخُلُقٍ حَسَنٍ
Fear Allah wherever you are, follow a bad deed with a good one and it will wipe it out, and treat people with good character.
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1987, graded hasan
ارْتَحَلَتِ الدُّنْيَا مُدْبِرَةً، وَارْتَحَلَتِ الْآخِرَةُ مُقْبِلَةً، وَلِكُلِّ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُمَا بَنُونَ، فَكُونُوا مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ، وَلَا تَكُونُوا مِنْ أَبْنَاءِ الدُّنْيَا، فَإِنَّ الْيَوْمَ عَمَلٌ وَلَا حِسَابَ، وَغَدًا حِسَابٌ وَلَا عَمَلَ
The world has set off, going away, and the Hereafter has set off, coming closer, and each of them has its children. So be children of the Hereafter, and do not be children of this world. Today there is action and no reckoning, and tomorrow there is reckoning and no action.
Ali ibn Abi Talib, reported by al-Bukhari in his Sahih without a chain (Book of Softening the Hearts)
إِذَا أَمْسَيْتَ فَلَا تَنْتَظِرِ الصَّبَاحَ، وَإِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ فَلَا تَنْتَظِرِ الْمَسَاءَ، وَخُذْ مِنْ صِحَّتِكَ لِمَرَضِكَ، وَمِنْ حَيَاتِكَ لِمَوْتِكَ
When you reach the evening, do not wait for the morning, and when you reach the morning, do not wait for the evening. Take from your health for your illness, and from your life for your death.
Abdullah ibn Umar, Sahih al-Bukhari 6416, after the hadith "Be in this world as if you were a stranger"
وَجَدْنَا خَيْرَ عَيْشِنَا بِالصَّبْرِ
We found the best of our life in patience.
Umar ibn al-Khattab, reported by al-Bukhari in his Sahih without a chain (Book of Softening the Hearts)
O son of Adam, you are nothing but a number of days. Whenever a day goes, a part of you goes with it.
Al-Hasan al-Basri, reported by Abu Nuaym in Hilyat al-Awliya
Wasting time is worse than death, because wasting time cuts you off from Allah and the home of the Hereafter, while death cuts you off from this world and its people.
Ibn al-Qayyim, al-Fawaid
In this world there is a paradise. Whoever does not enter it will not enter the Paradise of the Hereafter.
Ibn Taymiyyah, as his student Ibn al-Qayyim reports in al-Wabil as-Sayyib
He meant the sweetness of knowing Allah, loving Him and remembering Him.
Let the days do as they will, and be at peace when the decree arrives.
Attributed to Imam ash-Shafii, from the Diwan of poems collected under his name
The opening line of a well-known poem. The poems in the Diwan were gathered long after him, so we say "attributed".
Tap Copy to copy a quote with its source, or Make image to download a 1080x1080 picture. Images are drawn in your browser and nothing is uploaded. Quran Arabic: Tanzil Uthmani text; English: Sahih International. Hadith and scholars' English is our translation.
Guide
The best Islamic quotes about life say three things again and again: life has a purpose, it is short, and it is a test that can be passed. The Quran puts the purpose in one line, "I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me" (51:56), and the test in another, "who created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deed" (67:2). The Prophet ﷺ added the practical side: be in this world like a traveller, and use your health and free time before they are gone.
Many "Islamic quotes" on social media have no source at all. Lines are often put in the mouth of Ali ibn Abi Talib, Rumi or Imam ash-Shafii without any book behind them. Many sayings credited to Ali come from Nahj al-Balaghah, a collection put together about 350 years after his death without chains of narrators, so scholars treat them with caution. The Prophet ﷺ warned: "Whoever lies about me deliberately, let him take his seat in the Fire" (Sahih al-Bukhari 110). If a quote says "the Prophet ﷺ said" and names no collection, check it before you share it.
Pick one quote and act on it this week. The hadith of the five before five is a good start: name one thing you would do if you were ill or busy, and do it now while you are healthy and free. The scholars of the early generations read these words as instructions, not decorations. Al-Hasan al-Basri said a person is nothing but days, and each day that goes takes part of him with it.
For quotes on one theme, see death, patience, prayer and peace, or read Quran verses about life with audio.
Other themes: quotes about death, quotes about patience, quotes about prayer, quotes about peace, and Quran quotes in Arabic.
Questions
"Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveller" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6416), and from the Quran, "the home of the Hereafter, that is the [eternal] life, if only they knew" (29:64).
To worship Allah (51:56) and to be tested in doing good (67:2). Worship covers every good act done sincerely for Allah, not only prayer.
Yes. Al-Hakim reports it from Ibn Abbas in al-Mustadrak, and he and al-Albani graded it sahih.
Some, yes, such as his words on the world and the Hereafter reported by al-Bukhari. Many others have no reliable chain, so check the book before sharing one.
Yes. Tap Make image to download a 1080 by 1080 picture with the source printed on it, free to share on Instagram, WhatsApp or Pinterest.