On self-examination

In the Quran, Allaah Says (what means): "We will set up the scales of
justice for the day of resurrection, and no soul shall betreated
unjustly at all. And if there is [even] the weight of a mustard seed,
We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We as accountants." [Quran,
21:47] Allaah also says, (what means): "Let every soul see what it
sends on before it for the day of account." [Quran 59:18] Caliph 'Umar
Ibn Al-Khattaab said,"Call yourselves to account beforeyou are called
to account."
The righteous men and women are always fully aware that they have come
into this world to carry on a spiritual undertaking the resulting gain
or loss of which is Paradise or Hellfire. He, therefore, is a wise man
who strife in worship and says to his soul, "O my soul, you have only
one life; no single moment that has passed can be recovered, for in
the counsel of Allaah the number of breaths allotted to you is fixed,
and cannot be increased. When life is over, no further spiritual work
is possible for you; therefore what you do, do now; treat this day as
if your life had been already spent and this were an extra day granted
toyou by the special favor of the Almighty. What can be greater folly
than to lose it?"
At the resurrection, a man will find all the hours of his life
arranged like a long series of treasure-chests. The lid of one will be
opened, and it will be seen to be full of light: it represents an hour
which he spent in doing good. His heart will be filled with such joy
that even a fraction of it would make the inhabitants of Hellfire
forget the fire. The lid of a second will be opened; it is pitch-dark
within,and from it issues such an evil odor as will cause every one to
hold his nose: it represents an hour which he spent in ill-doing, and
he will suffer such terror thata fraction of it would embitter
Paradise for the blessed. The lid of a third treasure-chest will be
opened; it will be seen to be empty and neither light nor dark within:
this represents the hour in which he did neither good nor evil. Then
he will feel remorse and confusion like that of a man who has been the
possessor of a great treasure and wasted it or let it slip from his
grasp.
Thus the whole series of the hours of one's life will be displayed,
one by one, to his gaze. Therefore a man should, say to his soul every
morning,"Allaah has given you twenty-fourtreasures; take heed lest you
loseany one of them, for you will not be able to endure the regret
that will follow such loss."
The Remembrance of Allaah
This consists in a man's remembering that Allaah observes all his acts
and thoughts. People only see the outward, while Allaah sees both the
outer and inner man.
When Zulaykhah, the king's wife, tempted Prophet Yoosuf (Joseph) she
cast a cloth over the faceof the idol she used to worship. Yoosuf said
to her, "O Zulaykhah, you are ashamed before a block of stone, and
should I not be ashamed before Him Who created the seven heavens and
the earth?"
'Abdullaah Ibn Deenaar related,"Once I was walking with the Caliph
'Umar near Makkah when we met a shepherd's slave-boy driving his
flock. 'Umar said to him, "Sell me a sheep." The boy answered, "They
are not mine, but my master's. Then, to try him, 'Umar said, "Well,
you can tell him that a wolf carried one off, and he will know nothing
about it." "No, he won't," said the boy, "But Allaah will." 'Umar
wept, then sent for the boy's master, purchased him and set him free.
He told the boy, "For this saying you are free in this world and shall
be free in the next."
The Degrees of Remembrance
There are two degrees of recollection of Allaah. The first degree is
that of those righteous people whose thoughts are altogether absorbed
in the contemplation of the majesty of Allaah and have no room in
their hearts for anything else at all.
Allaah the Almighty Says (what means): "The companions of the right
hand." [Quran 56:27] This is the second degree of the remembrance of
Allaah. The mentioned people are aware thatAllaah knows all about them
and feel abashed in His presence, yet they are not carried out of
themselves by the thought of His majesty, but remain clearly conscious
of themselves and of the world. Their condition is like that of a man
who should be suddenly surprised in a state of nakedness and should
hastily cover himself, while the other class resemble one who
suddenlyfinds himself in the presence of the King and is confused and
awestruck. The former subject every project which enters their minds
to a thorough scrutiny, foron the Last Day three questions will be
asked respecting every action: the first, "Why did you do this?" the
second, "In what way did you do this?" The third, "For what purpose
did you do this?" The first will be asked because a man should act
from divine and not merely Satanic or fleshly impulse. If this
question is satisfactorily answered, the second will test in what way
the action was done, wisely, or carelessly and negligently, and the
third question, whether it was done simply to please Allaah,or to gain
the approval of men. If a man understands the meaning of these
questions he will be verywatchful over the state of his heart, and how
he entertains thoughts which are likely to end in action.
In addition to such cautious discrimination before acting, a man
should call himself strictly toaccount for his past actions.
Everyevening he should examine his heart as to what he has done to see
whether he has gained or lost in his spiritual capital. This is the
more necessary as the heart is like a treacherous business partner,
always ready to cajole and deceive; sometimes it presents its own
selfishness under the guise of obedience to Allaah, so that a man
supposes he has gained, when in reality he has lost.
A righteous man named Amiya, sixty years of age, counted up thedays of
his life. He found them to be twenty-one thousand six hundred days. He
said to himself,"Alas! If I have committed one sinevery day, how can I
escape from the load of twenty-one thousand six hun­dred sins? " He
uttered a cry and fell to the ground; when they came to raise him they
found him dead. But most peopleare heedless, and never think of
calling themselves to account. People count on their rosaries with
self-satisfaction the numbers of times they have recited the name of
Allaah, but they keep no rosary for reckoningthe numberless idle words
they speak.
Finally, if a man finds himself sluggish and averse from austerity and
self-disci­pline, he should consort with one who is aproficient in
such practices so as to catch the contagion of his enthusiasm. One
righteous man used to say, " When I grow lukewarm in self-discipline,
I lookat Muhammad Ibn Waasi ' , and the sight of him rekindles my
fervor for at least a week " - - ▓███▓ Translator:->
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