**A scholar asked his student:**
*"How long have you accompanied me?"*
**The student replied:** *"For thirty-three years."*
**The scholar said:** *"And what have you learned from me during this time?"*
**The student answered:** *"Eight matters."*
**The scholar exclaimed:** *"To Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return! My lifetime was spent with you, and you have learned only eight matters?!"*
**The student said:** *"I have learned nothing else, and I do not wish to lie to you."*
**The scholar said:** *"Bring forth what you have, so I may hear."*
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### The Eight Matters
* **First:** I looked at creation and saw that every person takes a companion. But when he goes to his grave, his companion departs from him. So, I befriended good deeds, so that when I enter the grave, they enter with me.
* **Second:** I pondered the saying of Allah Almighty: *“But as for he who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from lower desire, then indeed, Paradise is the refuge.”* So, I exerted myself in pushing away desire until it settled upon obedience to Allah.
* **Third:** I looked at creation and saw that anyone who possesses something of value guards it so it will not be lost. Then I looked at the saying of Allah Almighty: *“Whatever you have will end, but whatever is with Allah is remaining.”* So, whenever something of value fell into my hands, I directed it to Allah so He would preserve it with Him.
* **Fourth:** I looked at creation and saw everyone boasting about their wealth, lineage, or noble status. Then I looked at the saying of Allah Almighty: *“Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.”* So, I worked in righteousness (*Taqwa*) so that I might be noble in the sight of Allah.
* **Fifth:** I looked at creation and saw them envying one another over worldly blessings. Then I looked at the saying of Allah Almighty: *“We have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of this world.”* So, I knew that the apportionment is from Allah, so I discarded envy and became content with what Allah apportioned to me.
* **Sixth:** I looked at creation and saw them taking each other as enemies, transgressing against one another, and fighting each other. Then I looked at the saying of Allah Almighty: *“Indeed, Satan is an enemy to you; so take him as an enemy.”* So, I abandoned hostility toward people and devoted myself solely to enmity against Satan.
* **Seventh:** I looked at creation and saw that every person struggles and humiliates himself in pursuit of provision, to the point of engaging in what is unlawful. Then I looked at the saying of Allah Almighty: *“And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision.”* So, I knew that I am one of these creatures, so I occupied myself with what Allah requires of me and left what is promised to me with Him.
* **Eighth:** I looked at creation and saw that every created being relies upon another created being like himself—this one on his wealth, that one on his estate, and another on his status. Then I looked at the saying of Allah Almighty: *“And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him.”* So, I abandoned reliance on creation and strived to rely upon Allah, the Creator.
**The Sheikh said to him:** *"I am your student from this day forward."*
---
How insignificant the world is in such moments!
*"There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah."*
This life is not pleasant except through His remembrance,
and the Hereafter is not pleasant except through His forgiveness.
I ask Allah to gather me with you in Paradise, and to make us among those regarding whom He said:
*(“Some faces, that Day, will be bright, laughing, rejoicing at good news”)*.
The best companion is the one who loves you for the sake of Allah, reminds you of Allah, instills in you a healthy fear of Allah’s anger, and makes you yearn to meet Allah.
*I shared this with you because I love you for the sake of Allah.*
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### Commentary & Reflection
A text fragrant with wisdom, resembling the purity of the stories of the early righteous generations (*Al-Salaf*), even if it lacks a verified chain of transmission (*Isnad*). Yet, in terms of meaning, it condenses a long journey of spiritual education and conduct into very few words.
Its beauty lies not in the quantity of the eight matters, but in their quality. They are not merely knowledge to be memorized, but a life to be lived. It is as though the student did not learn "abundance of speech," but rather "sincerity of transformation."
* In the **first matter**, he sets the scale of companionship: what benefits after death, not before it—elevating from the company of bodies to the company of deeds.
* In the **second**, he declares his ultimate battle: struggling against desires, which is the root of all righteousness or corruption.
* The **third and fourth** shift the heart from attachment to the transient toward working for the eternal, and from outward boasting to the hidden scale of righteousness.
* The **fifth and sixth** cleanse the heart of two grave diseases: envy and enmity, replacing them with contentment and directing hostility toward its true enemy.
* In the **seventh and eighth**, he reaches the peak of reliance (*Tawakkul*): striving without attachment, and taking the necessary means without placing ultimate trust in them.
What is striking is that these "Eight Matters" are not scattered thoughts; they are bound together by a single thread: **liberating the heart from everything other than Allah**—from people, desires, wealth, and status.
That is why the Sheikh’s final response was so profound: he was not impressed by how little was learned, but amazed by the greatness of what was understood.
If we were to summarize the spirit of this text in a single phrase:
**The point is not that we learn much, but that what we learn changes us.**
A text worthy of being read not merely for admiration, but for self-examination... for there is a difference between one who passes by wisdom, and one whom wisdom passes through and transforms.
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*Transmitted / Forwarded*
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