6. VIRTUES OF REFRAINING FROM THE DOUBTFUL
One time, my ‘self (nafs) acted foolishly as it sought something it desires on the grounds of a valid interpretation that was unjustified. In response to that I argued, ‘I ask you for Allah’s sake to be patient because the troubling waves of this life make me anxious not to drown us in its ocean, having no time to enjoy its wonders! If you decide to do anything then what I ask you to do first is to imagine that you have done it and then contemplate the possible consequences of your action and the fruits you will reap afterwards. Only then will you come to understand the least worst thing that could happen is to become remorseful, vet it is not even guaranteed that the sin will result in exposing you to the wrath of Allah and Him turning away from you. And woe to a matter that will take one away from Allah even if such a thing is Paradise itself.
Aside from all that, you should know that there is nothing in this life that goes unnoticed because the Scale of Justice detects even the atom. I urge you to think of those who have demised and those who are still alive, and then contemplate whose mention is spread in recounting goodness and whose mention is spread in recounting evil. Exalted is Allah! For He is the One who exhibited to the public the truthfulness of the pious in their privacy! This manifestation results in having the hearts of people to incline to the righteous and to despise the vile, without even being aware of eithers’ deeds.
Iblis argued back saying, ‘But by doing so, you are leaving that which you want just for the sake of people!’ [i.e. you will avoid it just because you want to have a good reputation among people].
I replied, ‘Not at all! What 1 have however just mentioned is some of the fruits that one will attain.’
See people who walk thirty miles just so they can be called seekers of knowledge, but the righteous earns the honour of good remembrance— though he did not look for it— in addition to the reward in the Hereafter:
“Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds—the Most Merciful will appoint for them affection.” [Maryam (19): 96]
The ‘self replied anxiously, ‘You ordered me to be patient though I am being tortured since leaving what I desire is a torture in itself.’
I said, ‘You will be reimbursed for such a sacrifice because you will be compensated for each thing you abandon [for the sake of Allah]! Besides, you are a servant created to fulfil a purpose; hence it is inappropriate for a hired person to rest during his working hours! I do not need to remind you that the lifetime of the righteous person is as short as the period he stays fasting during the day.
And whoever fears the punishment will certainly desert what’s desired and whoever wants to be close [to Allah] will surely abstain from the doubtful.
Indeed patience (sabr) has a sweetness (halawa) that only can be tasted after the consequences are revealed.
(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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