Chapter Introduction
Translation: [ Imam Abu-Hamid Al-Ghazali talked in detail about this topic. Below is a quotation from what he said on this topic taken from ' Ihya'a Ulum Al-Din (Revival of the Religious Sciences) '.
Translation: This rank entails that if one has taken his soul to account and has found it has committed a wrong, he should punish it retroactively.
If he found that it had slackened in doing the recommended deeds, he should punish it by burdening it in order to compensate for what it has missed, this is the way that the people of understanding used to behave.
Omar ibn Al-Khattab punished his soul by making an endowment of a garden worth two hundred thousand Dirhams when he missed a congregational Afternoon Prayer. When Ibn Omar missed a congregational prayer, he used to stand the whole night in prayer; when he delayed the Sunset Prayer until two stars had risen, he freed two slaves. This was their way to discipline their soul to gain salvation.
If you say: ' If my soul does not obey me in what I want to oblige it to do, what should I do? ' I advise you that you should emulate the way of the struggling people. Another means of assistance in this regard is by accompanying those who spare no effort is performing the acts of worship.
One scholar said: " When I slacken in my worship, I used to look at Muhammad ibn Wase'e performing the acts of worship. Having done this, I would emulate him for a week. '
Abu Al-Darda'a said: ' But for three things, I would not like life for even a day. Feeling thirsty at noon times for Allah's sake, prostrating in the depth of the night for Allah's sake, and sitting with the people who are as keen to speak good as the people are keen to sort out the fine dates. '
The daughter of Al-Rabe'e ibn Khaytham said to him: ' Father! Why do I see you not sleeping while the people sleep? ' He said: ' Your father fears that he would be taken by surprise. When his mother saw him in a state of weeping and crying, she said to him: ' O son! It looks as if you have killed a man! ' He said: ' Yes. ' She said: ' Tell us who is it that we would ask his relatives ' pardon. By Allah, had they seen you in this state, they would have pardoned you. ' He said to her: ' It is myself, mother! '
A man said: ' I came to Ibraheem ibn Adham as he completed the Evening Prayer, so I watched him. He wrapped himself in a cloak and slept and he did not move until the dawn. The caller to prayer delivered azan and Ibraheem did not perform ablution. I felt doubt in the heart and said to him: ' May Allah shower of His mercy on you. You have slept the night reclining then you stand for the prayer without performing the ablution! ' He said: ' I have passed the night wandering in Paradise's valleys and in the Fire's. Do you think that such a person can sleep? '
A man from the contemporaries of Ali ibn Abu-Talib said: ' I performed the Dawn Prayer behind Ali. When he completed the prayer, he turned to his right side with gloom covering his face. He stayed until sunrise, turned down his hand and said: ' By Allah, I have seen the companions of Muhammad. I have never seen the like of them. They used to spend the night standing and prostrating, reciting the Noble Book, and come in the morning yellow-faced and unkempt. They would weep profusely until their clothes became moistened. They would wave like the trees on a windy day, yet they would feel that they could not fulfill their obligation. "
This shows us the way that the righteous predecessors used to cling to in disciplining their souls. So, whenever your soul rebels against you and refuses to do righteous deeds punctually, remember the biographies of such people, because they do not exist any more.
If you are able to observe the like, it would be better and more effective. If you can not do this, try to listen to their stories. Then choose to be one of them or to emulate them, because they were the wise ones and the people with insight of the religion. Leave aside emulation of the ignorant ones from among your contemporaries. Do not let your soul emulate the foolish and unwise people.
The stories of the struggling people are too difficult to enumerate. If you need more information, read the book titled " " Hilyatol Awliya'a " that contains the biographies of the companions and those who followed them. In this way, you will come to understand how far you are from the ranks of the religious people.
If your soul suggests to you to emulate your contemporaries saying: ' Those people have attained such ranks, because there were many people helping them in their good aims. But, if you behave differently from them now, your contemporaries will accuse you of madness and mock you. So, behave as they behave, for a misfortune that is inflicted on all is an acceptable one. ' Beware lest you would be deluded by s uch temptations. Refute this allegation saying: ' If you see a mighty flood that is about to strike a village and its inhabitants remain standing in their places not knowing of the grave end they are about to face, while you are able to escape in a ship; do you then feel that the overwhelming disaster tastes good? Or would you disapprove and condemn their behavior, and be cautious of it?
So, if you (one's soul) should escape from this flood whose torture lasts for a very short time, why do you not escape from the eternal torture in the Hereafter? And how can a impending disaster taste good if each one will be called into account individually? You should remind it that the cause of the destruction of the disbelievers was their emulation of their contemporaries. Allah says:
Translation: " Just in the same way, whenever We sent a Warner before you to any people, the haughty ones among them said: ' We found our fathers following a certain religion, and we will certainly follow in their footsteps. ' * " (43: 23)
Translation: Consequently, if you start blaming your soul and compel it to be committed to diligent work and it refuses, do not abandon the effort as it might cease it from committing tyranny. "
Translation: Now, let us read what Imam Al-Nawawi compiled regarding this subject.]
Translation: Allah said:
Translation: “ And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty (death). * " (15: 99). And
Translation: " And remember the Name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with complete devotion. *** (73: 8)
Translation: " So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it. * " (99: 7)
Translation: " Verily, your Lord knows that you do stand (to pray) a little less than two thirds of the night, half of the night, or a third of the night, along a party of those with you, and Allah measures the night and the day. He knows that you are unable to pray the whole night, so He has turned to you (in mercy). So, recite you of the Koran as much as may be easy for you.
Translation: He knows that there will be some among you who are sick, others traveling through the land seeking of Allah's Bounty, and yet others fighting in Allah's Cause. So recite as much of the Koran as may be easy (for you), perform the prayer, give zakat, lend to Allah a goodly loan, and whatever good you send before you for yourselves, (the optional acts of worship) you will certainly find it with Allah a better and greater reward. And seek the Forgiveness of Allah. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. " (73: 20) And
Translation: " (Charity is to be given to) the poor, who, in Allah's Cause are restricted (from travel), and cannot move about in the land (for trade or work). The one who knows them not, thinks that they are rich because of their modesty. You may know them by their mark, they do not beg of people at all. And whatever you spend in good, surely Allah knows it well. * 99 (2: 273)
Translation: The verses related to this chapter are numerous and well known. As to the Hadiths, they are numerous. Below are examples of them, so let us go through them.