2. WHOEVER HUMILIATES HIMSELF LOSES THIS LIFE AND THE HEREAFTER
There is no real life except in being content with that little one has. Whenever one becomes concerned with additional, worries increase and the attention scatters leaving man enslaved. As for the contented one, he does not need to mingle with those above his (material) rank, and does not care for those like him, for he has what he has.
Some people, particularly scholars seek a life of pleasure and never satisfy; they erode their faith and humiliate themselves. Becoming enslaved when frequenting ruling governments, even after witnessing atrocities taking place they are unable to reject them, having likely to have praised the oppressor to avoid his wrath.
What they gained of degradation and lack of faith is manifold from whatever pleasures they attained. The worst states include those who undertake judgments and giving testimony in order to pursue coveted positions.
‘Abdu’l-Hamid, the Judge, was never biased. He once sent for Al- Mu’tadidh and told him, “You have leased some endowments so pay their lease,’ which he did.
Al-Mutadidh told him, ‘Such-and-such has died when he owed us money.’ He told him, ‘Do you remember when you appointed me; you told me, ’I have taken this responsibility off my neck and put it on yours’. Therefore, I do not accept what you are saying unless you bring me two witnesses.’
The witnesses arrived. A group entered upon a Caliph, so the servant said, ‘Testify before our master regarding so-and-so,’ and they did, then Al-Majzu’I marched forward and said, ‘O Amir AlMu’minin! Shall I testify before you with regards to what is written in this parchment?’ He said, ‘Testify.’ He said, ‘This does not suffice. I will not testify until you say ’Yes’.’ He said, Yes.’
In our time, these rules have changed everyone, especially those who are offered money to testify, so you find them dragged to testify on what they did not see.
Abu’l- Ma’ali ibn Shaft told me, ‘I was carried to a Bedouin, who was imprisoned, and testify against him. I ask Allah’s forgiveness for that.’
Witnesses do not receive rations for doing that; what happens is a knock on the door and the identifier saying, ‘May Allah guard your blessings; (you are sought to give) a testimony!’
When Ibrahim Al-Nakha’i was told, You will be a judge,’ he wore a red shirt and sat in the market. They told him, ‘He is not fit for such position.
An old man entered upon Harun Al-Rashid, who brought him to appoint him as a judge. He greeted him and said, ‘How are you and how are the kids?’ They said, ‘He is mad.’
By Allah, that madness is sanity.
I do not think belief in the Hereafter is but shaken within most hearts.
We ask Allah Almighty for the soundness of faith, for He is Capable.
(Source: al-Hafiz Abu’l-Faraj ibn al-jawzl [d. 597AH] “CAPTURED THOUGHTS being” a translation of his masterpiece ‘Sayd al-K hatir)
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