Al-Hasan [rahimahullaah] said:
A slave does not remember death a lot, except that it is seen in his actions. And he does not prolong his hopes [in the worldly things] except that his actions become evil.
[Az-Zuhd of Imaam Ahmad: page:269]
Abu Huraira reported: I invited my mother, who was a polytheist, to Islam. I invited her one day and she said to me something about Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) which I hated. I came to Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) weeping and said: Allaah’s Messenger, I invited my mother to Islam but she did not accept (my invitation). I invited her today but she said to me something which I did not like. (Kindly) supplicate Allaah that He may set the mother of Abu Huraira right. Thereupon Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: O Allaah, set the mother of Abu Huraira on the right path. I came out quite pleased with the supplication of Allaah’s Prophet (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) and when I came near the door it was closed from within. My mother heard the noise of my footsteps and she said: Abu Huraira, just wait, and I heard the noise of falling of water. She took a bath and put on the shirt and quickly covered her head with a headdress and opened the door and then said: Abu Huraira, I bear witness to the fact that there is none worthy of worship (in truth) but Allaah and Muhammad is His bondsman and His Messenger. He (Abu Huraira) said: I went back to Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) and (this time) I was shedding the tears of joy. I said: Allaah’s Messenger, be happy, for Allaah has responded to your supplication and He has set on the right path the mother of Abu Huraira. He (the Prophet) praised Allaah, and extolled Him and uttered good words. I said: Allaah’s Messenger, supplicate to Allaah so that He may instil love of mine and that of my mother too in the believing servants and let our hearts be filled with their love, whereupon Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: O Allaah, let there be love of these servants of yours, i. e. Abu Huraira and his mother, in the hearts of the believing servants and let their hearts be filled with the love of the believing servants. (Abu Huraira said: This prayer) was so well granted by Allaah that no believer was ever born who heard of me and who saw me but did not love me. [Sahih Muslim 2491]
http://www.sahihmuslim.com/sps/smm/sahihmuslim.cfm?scn=dspchaptersfull&BookID=31&ChapterID=1033
Amr Bin Thaabit (rahimahullaah) said: When Ali Ibnul Husayn (rahimahullaah) passed away and was being given a bath, they (i.e. those giving him a bath) looked at a black mark that was on his back; so they said, ”What is this (black mark)?” They (i.e. some other people who were present) said, ”He used to carry a sack of flour at night to give to the poor people of Madeenah.”
[Sifatus Safwa: 2/96]
Imaam Dhahabee (rahimahullaah) stated in the biography of Abdul Azeez Bin Yahyaa Al-Kinaanee Al-Faqee (rahimahullaah) that he had an unsightly appearance. Abee Aynaa said, ”Abdul Azeez entered upon Mamoon whilst his physical appearance was very unsightly, so Abu Ishaaq Al-Mutasim laughed”. He (Abdul Azeez) said, ‘O leader of the believers! Why is this person laughing? Indeed Allaah did not chose Yusuf (alayhis-salaam) due to his handsomeness, rather He chose him for His religion and clarification (of the truth).’ So Mamoon laughed and was amazed by him”.
[Source: Tareekhul Islaam: 17/231]
Maalik Ibn Deenaar (rahimahullaah) said, ”The people (i.e. some of them) exit the worldly life without tasting the most tasteful thing in it”; so they (i.e. the people) asked, ‘What is it O father of Yahya?’ He said, ”Knowledge and awareness of Allaah”.
[Source: Maktabah Shaamilah- Seeratus Salaf As-Saaleh’ by Imaam Ismaaeel Bin Muhammad Bin Fadl Al-Asbahaanee (535AH: Chapter: A mention of those who followed the companions in righteousness]
Knowledge and Awareness of Allaah: knowledge and awareness that makes the person accept whatever He (Allaah) has prescribed and laid down, and causes him to submit to that, and to judge by the Prescribed laws which the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) came with…..[For further details see: Translation of the Explanation of the three fundamental principles page 38 – By Ustaadh Abu Talhah Daawud Burbank (may Allaah have mercy on him and his wife. Aameen]
Ataa Ibn Deenaar (rahimahullaah) narrated from Saeed Bin Jubayr (rahimahullaah) who said: Indeed reverential fear is that you fear Allaah until it becomes a barrier between you and disobedience. This reverential fear is Dhikrul Allaah (Remembrance of Allaah) and obedience to Allaah. Therefore, whoever obeys Allaah is one who (truly) remembers Him, and whoever does not obey Allaah is not one who (truly) remembers Him even if he utters a lot of Tasbeeh (Glorification of Allaah) and recites the Qur’aan a lot.’’
[Hilyatul Awliyaa: 4/276]
Haatim Al-Asam (rahimahullaah) said: The knowledgeable one [i.e. the one who possesses sound knowledge and it truly has an effect on him] becomes more fearful of Allaah every day because every hour brings him closer to death.
[Source: Maktabah Shaamilah- (Seerah As-Salaf As-Saaliheen’ by Imaam Ismaa’eel Ibn Muhammad Al-Asbahaanee (rahimahullaah); Section: Those who followed the Taabi’een in goodness)]
Abdullaah Ibnul Mubaarak (rahimahullaah) said: ”From the greatest calamities for a man is that he knows of a shortcoming of his, yet he neither cares nor grieves”.
[Source: Shu’ab Al-Eemaan 1/894- Shared by Dawood [Markaz Mu’aadh (may Allaah protect us and them. Aameen)]
In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
Imaam Fudayl Ibn Iyaad (rahimahullaah) said: ”O miserable one! You are disobedient yet you see yourself as a good-doer; you are ignorant yet you see yourself as a scholar; you are miserly yet you see yourself as a generous person; you are an idiot yet you see yourself as a sensible person, and your lifespan is short yet your hopes are prolonged”.
Imaam Dhahabi (rahimahullaah) said: ”I swear by Allaah, (Fudayl) spoke the truth! You (O miserable one) are an oppressor yet you see yourself as one who is oppressed; you eat haraam yet you see yourself as one who fears (Allaah); you are a rebellious evil person yet you see yourself as someone who is just; you seek knowledge for the sake of the worldly things yet you see yourself as one who seeks it for the sake of Allaah”. [End of Quote] [Source: Siyar A’laam An-Nubulaa: 8/440]
Repentance
Allaah (The Most High) said:
قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
Say: “O ‘Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [39:53]
وَأَنِيبُوا إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا لَهُ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ
“And turn in repentance and in obedience with true Faith (Islamic Monotheism) to your Lord and submit to Him, (in Islam), before the torment comes upon you, then you will not be helped. [39:54]
وَاتَّبِعُوا أَحْسَنَ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ بَغْتَةً وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ
“And follow the best of that which is sent down to you from your Lord (i.e. this Qur’an, do what it orders you to do and keep away from what it forbids), before the torment comes on you suddenly while you perceive not. [39:55]
أَن تَقُولَ نَفْسٌ يَا حَسْرَتَا عَلَىٰ مَا فَرَّطتُ فِي جَنبِ اللَّهِ وَإِن كُنتُ لَمِنَ السَّاخِرِينَ
Lest a person should say: “Alas, my grief that I was undutiful to Allah (i.e. I have not done what Allah has ordered me to do), and I was indeed among those who mocked [at the truth! i.e. La ilaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), the Qur’an, and Muhammad and at the faithful believers, etc.] [39:56]
أَوْ تَقُولَ لَوْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ هَدَانِي لَكُنتُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ
Or (lest) he should say: “If only Allah had guided me, I should indeed have been among the Muttaqun (pious and righteous persons) [39:57]
أَوْ تَقُولَ حِينَ تَرَى الْعَذَابَ لَوْ أَنَّ لِي كَرَّةً فَأَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
Or (lest) he should say when he sees the torment: “If only I had another chance (to return to the world) then I should indeed be among the Muhsinun (good-doers) [39:58]
