“Behave well in your private life and Allah will make your public life excellent. Take care of what is between you and Allah, and he will take care of what is between you and the people. Work for your Hereafter and Allah will suffice your affairs in this world. Sell your worldly life for your Hereafter and you will profit in them both together, and do not sell your Hereafter for your worldly life or you will lose them both together.” (Ḥilyat al-Awliyā’)

Explanation of the Advice:

1. “Behave well in your private life and Allah will make your public life excellent.”
   This reminds us that inner sincerity and righteousness form the foundation of a good reputation and external success. A person’s private relationship with Allah, characterised by piety and obedience, translates into barakah (blessings) in their public life. True excellence is not achieved by appearances but by cultivating integrity in unseen moments.
2. “Take care of what is between you and Allah, and He will take care of what is between you and the people.”
   When a believer focuses on fulfilling their obligations to Allah—through worship, obedience, and avoiding sin—Allah facilitates their dealings with others. This includes earning respect, building trust, and resolving conflicts. The advice emphasises that spiritual priorities lead to social harmony.
3. “Work for your Hereafter, and Allah will suffice your affairs in this world.”
   Prioritising the Hereafter ensures that worldly matters fall into place, as Allah provides for those who focus on His pleasure. This principle reflects tawakkul (reliance on Allah) and the Quranic promise: “Whoever fears Allah—He will make for him a way out and provide for him from where he does not expect.” (Quran 65:2-3).
4. “Sell your worldly life for your Hereafter, and you will profit in them both together.”
   Devoting oneself to the Hereafter by sacrificing fleeting worldly pleasures brings success in both realms. By focusing on eternal rewards rather than temporary gains, a believer ultimately enjoys the best of both worlds—contentment in this life and salvation in the Hereafter.
5. “Do not sell your Hereafter for your worldly life, or you will lose them both together.”
   Placing worldly desires above the Hereafter leads to failure in both realms. This is a warning against short-sightedness: prioritising material success or indulgence at the expense of spiritual well-being results in dissatisfaction in this life and deprivation in the Hereafter.

Imam Sufyan’s advice is a roadmap for spiritual and worldly success, urging believers to prioritise Allah’s pleasure, maintain sincerity, and balance their focus between this life and the next. It encapsulates the essence of Islamic teachings: that ultimate success lies in aligning one’s heart, actions, and priorities with the eternal.

 اَللّٰهُمَّ اهْدِنِيْ لِأَحْسَنِ الْأَخْلَاقِ لَا يَهْدِيْ لِأَحْسَنِهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ ، وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّيْ سَيِّئَهَا لَا يَصْرِفُ عَنِّيْ سَيِّئَهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ