Imam Ghazali’s disciple had asked him to establish some simple guidelines that he (the student) could follow so that he would be safe in the Hereafter. The following briefly explains the situation:
1. An indication or sign of Allah’s withdrawal from a worshipper is when the worshipper busies himself in that which does not concern Him. If an hour of a man’s life slips by other than which he was created in the way of worship, then it is proper that his affliction be extended. Imam Ghazali said that whoever passes that age of 40 without his virtue overpowering his vice let him get ready for Hell-Fire.
What this means is that one should not waste one’s time over useless thing – matters that have no reward with Allah. We were created alongside the jinn to serve Him. Allah says: “I have only created jinn and humankind that they may serve Me”. [Surah Dhariyat 51:56]. Therefore, if we deviate from this path, indulging in that which does not serve Allah’s cause, then it is only proper that our afflictions are extended. This is where a person is besieged with one problem after another, one calamity after another etc. And if by the age of forty there is no change in attitude, then one is bound to be domed to Hell-Fire.
Even when speaking, one should sum up things in a few meaningful words or keep silent. One should be brief and to the point truthfully or remain silent. Idle gossip and useless talk serve no purpose. This is the general advice of the Prophet (s.a.w.). One should be conscious of the fact that the angels are recording every word we say.
The age of forty has been mentioned probably due to the fact that the Prophet (s.a.w.) has said that the average age of a Muslim is between sixty to seventy years old. Some say that it is a ‘bonus’ if you live longer, while others say, that you are living on ‘borrowed time’. However, the Prophet (s.a.w.) did make mention that as the Day of Judgement draws near, the age of a person will shorten. Children will have grey hair. One can assume that this age decline is due to stress etc.
Don’t think that it is good to live long, because when you get to that point in time, you will be weak and sick. Your behaviour will revert to that of a child. Your children will say to you: “Don’t do this…”
2. Faith (Iman) is a verbal declaration, consent by the heart, followed by actions in accordance with the Five Pillars of Islam. And the evidence of peace is achieved, even though the worshipper attains paradise by the bounty and grace of Allah Almighty. Nevertheless, this is the result of being inclined through obedience to Him, and the worshipping of Him, since the mercy of Allah is near to those who do good.
But if it is said that one gets to Heaven as a result of faith (Iman), then we may ask: “When will he get there? How many difficulties will he have to go through and overcome before he arrives there? And the first of these is that of faith itself! And will he be safe from the denial of faith? And when he arrives will he be unsuccessful or successful?” Hasan al-Basri (r.a.) said: “Allah the Exalted will say to His worshippers on the Day of Resurrection, ‘O My worshippers, enter the Garden by My Mercy and divide between you according to your deeds’.”
For true faith in Allah to take hold within one’s heart it has to be expressed through sincere honest actions. If one is depending on mere faith without righteous deeds (amal), then one’s faith lacks perfection. Then the question of being successful or not becomes a serious one. Many pray but not with their hearts, and Allah knows whether you do so or not. Death will come and you cannot avoid it.
It is related that a man from the tribe of Israel worshipped God Almighty for seventy years, thus God desired to show him his reward, so He sent an angel to inform him that in spite of his worship, entering the Garden was not befitting for him. When he heard this, he replied, “We are created for worship and it is incumbent on us to worship Him.” When the angel went back he said, “O my God, You know best what was said.” God Almighty replied, “Since he did not turn away from worshipping Us, We will not turn away from Him. O My angels, We have forgiven Him.”
There is difference between Iman (true faith) and just believing. We all begin by believing by accepting Islam, but we must transcend from it to Iman. A Muslim, a Mo’min, and a Mohsin, are all Muslims, but a Muslim has to work towards becoming a Mo’min (a true Believer) and Mohsin (one who is conscience of Allah’s presence). These are three stages of development of a Muslim, who natures have been explicitly described in the Qur’an.
Often we fool ourselves when we say, “Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful”. This exists for only those who have Iman. Such is not available without any effort. One cannot simply say that Allah ‘understand, He is Merciful, Forgiving etc’ which making any effort to improve. This is a deception. It is cheating one’s self. It’s an excuse! So do what you must do and do so depending on His Mercy with Iman.
3. Imam Ghazali says: “Call yourself to account before you are taken to account. And weigh up your deeds before they are weighed up for you.”[Qur’an]. Sayyidna Ali (r.a.) said that ‘whoever wished to achieve his goal without effort, he is a wishful thinker. And whoso believes he will reach his goal by the expanding of efforts is presumptuous’. Al-Hasan (r.a.) said, “Seeking the Garden without action is a sin,” and he said, “An indication of the true state of affairs is to give up paying attention to actions – not to give up actions.” The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said, “The strict man is one who passes judgement on himself and works for what is after death. And the fool is one who pursues vain pleasures and counts on Allah to realise his wishes.”
Amal (deeds) is the key here. One should ask, “How is my Amal?” Do not die wasting your time in useless matters. One needs to live and to earn an income, do so in accordance with Allah’s commands. On the Day of Judgement, Allah will ask you to show Him what good have you done. He will say: “Do you think that My angels write down whatever they like? Here are the books, your records – are these not your own actions?” And if you deny them, your hands, feet etc will bear witness against you [Qur’an]. Therefore, if you want to do something, ask yourself whether Allah likes it or not. If He does not, then do not do it.
4. Imam Ghazali said that it is narrated that Hasan al-Basri (r.a.) was given a cup of cold water. As he took he fainted and the cup of water fell from his hand. When he recovered, they asked him what had happened. He replied, “I recalled the longing of the people of Hell, when they said to the people of the Garden, ‘pour down water upon us and whatever Allah has bestowed upon you.” This situation has been mentioned in Surah A’raf.
The Qur’an is explicitly clear that whatever is in Hell is prohibited to the people of the Garden, and whatever is in the Garden is prohibited to the people of Hell. Maulana Syed Affifuddin al-Gylani made mention of a man in Baghdad who went to the butcher’s to buy some meat. He stroked the carcass of a sheep, and after much debate did not purchase any meat. This annoyed the butcher, who said in silence that he would not forgive the man. When they both died, the butcher who was in hell said to the man who was in heaven, “I need to touch you just as you touched the meat I sold.” So he touched the man on the neck. The man woke up from his dream shouting in pain, and when he looked at his neck he found a black spot where the butcher had placed his finger. He immediately when to look for the butcher to make payment over what he had done.
Maulana Syed Affifuddin al-Gylani said that Abu Lahab, the uncle of the Prophet (s.a.w.) who is condemned to Hell in Surah Masad (the 111 Chapter of the Qur’an), enjoys two fingers of water on Mondays because on that day, when good news was brought to him concerning the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) by his slave, he released her as a mark of joy, saying, “You are free. You are no longer a slave.” The question that arises here is: “Do you want to be content with two fingers of water on just one day in a week, over a deed like that, or do you want to be comfortable always?
5. Imam Ghazali said to his murid: “O disciple! Live as long as you want, but you must die. Love whatever you want, but you will become separated from it. Do what you want and you will be repaid for it.
O disciple! Knowledge without action is madness, and action without knowledge is useless. Know that knowledge that does not remove you from sin today, and does not convert you to obedience, will not remove you tomorrow from Hell-Fire!
O disciple! Get serious in respect of the spirit. Subdue it in respect of the ego, and humble it in respect of the body, for your destination is the grave, and the people of the grave expect to meet you at any moment. Beware lest you meet up with them without provision.”
Just reflect upon this: “To possess life without knowledge – to invest in what? To be proud of what?” You will only realise the truth of this when you know Allah from within your heart. Without such, you will be led by your self-justification, your freedom of choice, your human rights to lead you along a path that is dictated by your nafs (desire) and what other useless people have to say. Protect your body and soul from that which displeases Allah. Your grave has already been prepared the day you were born. Repent! If only you could hear the people of the graves! Don’t reach your grave empty handed!
The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) is reported to have said that for the true believers, their time of examination on the Day of Judgement is from Zohor to Asr’, whereas for the rest it is a day, and one day with Allah is a thousand years. In this instance it is a thousand years of suffering. [Based on a talk by Maulana Syed Affifuddin al-Gylani (Wangsa Maju) on Imam Ghazali’s Letter to his Disciple’]. |
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