The transitory nature of life

The life which is beguiling you is such that when Hadhrat Nooh (May peace be upon him), whose life was of 950 years, was asked by the angel of death as to what he felt about life, he replied:  A house which has 2 entrances.  I entered from one and exited through the other.

 

Similarly consider your past life.  It will seem to be less than a day.  At the time of committing the crime, the prison seems very far, but when the time of punishment comes, it seems very much close.  Likewise, hell seems far to us, but at the time of punishment, it will seem very near.

 

Thus, consider this unstable life, in which a single moment can’t be relied upon, as a respite and develop love of Allah.  Otherwise, you will have much regret and at that time nothing can help.

 

Anecdote: One day Hadhrat Ibrahim Adham (May Allah shower His mercy upon him) decided to take bath at a public bathroom. When he reached the door, the owner of that bathroom told him that he can’t enter it unless he pays the fee.  Hadhrat Ibrahim Adham (May Allah shower His mercy on him) wept and addressed his self:  See O Self!  We are not allowed to enter a house of Satan without paying up.  How can we be allowed to enter paradise freely, which is home to the Prophets and great saints?"

 

Allah chides affectionately: "O foolish human being!  What has happened to you?  You purchase hell dearly but don’t want to buy paradise by paying some thing at least?

 

The only difference between a living being and a non-living is that the living being has life in it and the non-living one doesn’t have it.  Life is a very precious thing.  Everything depends on it.  Whatever a human being strives for, be it of this world or of the hereafter, it is solely for sake of his/her life.  Just think, if there was no life, then who will enter paradise?  Who will have the privilege of the vision of Allah Most High?  It is because of this life that today we have the opportunity to earn great rewards.  But our heedlessness has increased so much that we are unaware of everything.  Allah Most High and His beloved Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) mention the rewards of good deeds so that we may continuously make remembrance of Allah Most High, but we are such that we don't pay any attention towards them at all.

 

[From: Mawaaiz-E-Hasanah, Vol. 1 by Muhaddith-E-Deccan, Hadhrat Syed Abdullah Shah Sahab (May Allah shower His mercy upon him), 2006 edition, Pg. No. 198]