Page 11 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 15 “My dear son, avoid the company of the wicked people, for no good can be expected to come out of associating with them. Moreover, if at any time, Allah’s punishment befalls them, you will also he affected by it.” He says: “A father’s punishment is as beneficial for a child as is the water for the fields.” He says: “My dear son, since the day you were born, everyday, you are getting closer to the Hereafter with your back towards this world. So, your abode in the Hereafter is far nearer to you (because you are advancing towards it everyday, at all times) than your house in this world (because you are moving farther and farther away from it day by day).” He says, “My dear son, avoid incurring debts; for a debt is a humiliation by day and a grief by night. (One is disgraced when the creditors make demands by day, and one spends the night in grief, worrying about his debts.)” “My dear son, entertain hopes of mercy from Allah, but let not your hopes make you bold in committing sins; be fearful of Allah but let not your fear make you despair of His mercy.” “My dear son, if someone comes to you with the complaint that so and so has taken both his eyes and you actually see both his eyes missing, do not form any judgement about the person until you have heard the other side. For, this man might have hit the other person first and taken out four eyes earlier.” When the last hour came for Luqman, he said to his son, “My dear son, I have given you a lot of advice during my lifetime; now that I am leaving the world, I would like to advise you about six points: (1) Busy yourself in the affairs of this world to the extent of the remaining period of your life (which is nothing when measured against the eternity of the Akhirah (the Hereafter). (2) Worship Allah according to the measure of your dependency on Him (and, obviously, one needs His help in everything). (3) Make preparations for the Hereafter according to the extent of your stay in that world (and, obviously, one shall have to stay there eternally, for there is no other place to go to after death). (4) Continue to struggle for redemption from Hell-fire till you are sure you have attained it. (It is common knowledge that, if someone is under trial for a grievous offence, he continues to make efforts for his acquittal till he is sure that the case is going be decided in his favor.) (5) If you have the audacity to indulge in sins, do so to the extent that you can endure Hell-fire (for, punishment of sins is dictated by law and you are never sure whether the Sovereign, however infinite His mercy may he, will grant you mercy petition.) (6) When you want to commit a sin, look for a hiding place that is not being watched by Allah and His angels (for, everybody knows the consequences of engaging in a revolt before the eyes of the Sovereign Himself or in the presence of his secret agents.) “Give me some advice”, someone asked. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said, “Be not angry.” No person has drunk a better draught than he who has swallowed anger for God’s sake. Verily the most beloved of you to me and nearest to me in the next world are those of good disposition; and verily the greatest enemies to me and the furthest from me are the ill-tempered. Verily, anger corrupts faith like as the juice of bitter plants corrupt honey. Whoso suppresses his rage, while he has the power to show himself, God will call on him on the day of resurrection before all creation, and reward him exceedingly. “Who do you imagine to be strong or powerful?” asked the Prophet (PBUH). “He who throws people down,” replied his disciples. “Nay!” said the Prophet, “It is he who masters himself when angry.” Verily, anger is a live coal in the heart of the son of Man; do ye not see the redness of his eyes, and the swelling of his two juglar veins? ...Whoso then feels anything of that, let him stick to the earth. When one of you is angry while standing, let him sit down; and if his anger goes off from him, (then well and good), otherwise let him lie down. My Lord has bidden me do nine things: the fear of God in secret and in public; a just word amidst anger and pleasure, and a middle way in poverty and affluence; and that I perform my relative duties to him who cuts off all ties with me, and give to him who denies me, and forgive him who wrongs me, and that my silence be for reflection, and my speaking be for remembrance (of God), and my eye (sight) be to take example, and that I bid justice. Abu Bakr relates that he heard the Holy Prophet (PBUH) say: “Let no judge decide a case between two parties while he is in a rage.” Verily, Anger is from Satan. Hadith on Anger
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