Part 29

Can anyone be called from all of these gates?" He said, "Yes, and I hope you are from among them."109 One day Imam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya went to visit his teacher, Imam Ibn Taymiyya, in prison, may Allah have mercy on them. Seeing the exhaustion on his teacher's face, he felt deeply touched by his condition and broke into tears. Ibn Taymiyya said to him, "O Ibn alQayyim, do not weep. The real prisoner is the one whose heart has restrained him from the remembrance of Allah and the real captive is the one whose desires have prevented him from obeying Allah. O Ibn al-Qayyim, how can my enemies harm me? If they imprison me, this is my khalwa; if they send me into exile, this will be my journey to fight jihad in the Way of Allah; and if they kill me, I will have died in the Way of Allah." Imam Ali said: "Do no lean towards the dunya and what is in it — because this world will definitely come to an end. Aim for the akhira, whose guardian is Ridwan, and where Ahmad will be your neighbour — and which Allah has created to last for ever." We ask Allah to include us among the people of Paradise and to bless our beloved Prophet Muhammad and grant him peace. Amin Shaykh Muhammad Mustafa Abu Ithar 109 Ahmed, AI-al-Bukhari, Muslim, Al-Tirmidhi, Al-Nasa'i' and see also Sahih al-Ja'mi', 2028. COUNSEL ON DEATH Prepare yourself for death, O my brother, for it will descend. Do not draw out your hopes in case your heart treats you harshly. Persevere in reflection which will make you aware and move you to do good works, for life will soon depart. Constantly reflect on the states of the Last Hour, the Rising, the Gathering, and the Balance of actions which is set up. Then there is the Bridge which will have obstacles laid out on it to make the crossing difficult for the rebellious. While whoever was obedient and sincere towards Allah will pass over it like a flash of lightning or a wind and will go on. If you wish to be given a drink from the Fountain on the Day of Gathering, you must love the Prophet and his descendants. And bless the Guide who intercedes for mankind. He is the one who will plead for us when creation is terrified. May the blessings of Allah be upon him in every land, and on his family and Companions and those who love him. I ask the Lord, Allah, for the gift of true happiness and a seal of goodness for me and those who draw near.