Text:Hadith of Mi'raj

In the Name of Allah, the All beneficent, the All merciful.	بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّ‌حْمَـٰنِ الرَّ‌حِيمِ
It is stated that Imam Ali (a) is quoted as having said that the Prophet (s) pleaded to his Lord during the eve of the ascension saying: O my Lord! Which deeds are the best?	رُوِيَ عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ص سَأَلَ رَبَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ لَيْلَةَ الْمِعْرَاجِ فَقَالَ يَا رَبِّ أَيُّ الْأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ
Allah, the most Exalted, said, "Nothing is better with me than reliance on me and acceptance of what I have allotted. O Muhammad! My love is mandated for those who love each other for My sake. My love is mandated for those who are affectionate to each other for My sake. My love is mandated for those who stay in touch with each other for My sake. My love is mandated for those who rely on Me. And there is no knowledge, nor limit, nor an end for My love. Whenever I take away some knowledge from them, I place for them another. These are those who look at the beings as I look at them, and they do not plead to creation when they need a thing. Their stomachs are light due to eating what is only permissible. Their joy in life is mentioning My Name, loving Me, and My Pleasure with them.	فَقَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى لَيْسَ شَيْ‏ءٌ أَفْضَلَ عِنْدِي مِنَ التَّوَكُّلِ عَلَيَّ وَالرِّضَا بِمَا قَسَمْتُ يَا مُحَمَّدُ وَجَبَتْ مَحَبَّتِي لِلْمُتَحَابِّينَ فِيَّ وَوَجَبَتْ مَحَبَّتِي لِلْمُتَعَاطِفِينَ فِيَّ وَوَجَبَتْ مَحَبَّتِي لِلْمُتَوَاصِلِينَ فِيَّ وَوَجَبَتْ مَحَبَّتِي لِلْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ عَلَيَّ وَلَيْسَ لِمَحَبَّتِي عِلْمٌ وَلَا غَايَةٌ وَلَا نِهَايَةٌ وَكُلَّمَا رَفَعْتُ لَهُمْ عِلْماً وَضَعْتُ لَهُمْ عِلْماً أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ نَظَرُوا إِلَى الْمَخْلُوقِينَ بِنَظَرِي إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَمْ يَرْفَعُوا الْحَوَائِجَ إِلَى الْخَلْقِ بُطُونُهُمْ خَفِيفَةٌ مِنْ أَكْلِ الْحَرَامِ نَعِيمُهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا ذِكْرِي وَمَحَبَّتِي وَرِضَائِي عَنْهُمْ
O Ahmad! If you love to be the most pious of people, be ascetic in this life and seek the Hereafter."	يَا أَحْمَدُ إِنْ أَحْبَبْتَ أَنْ تَكُونَ أَوْرَعَ النَّاسِ فَازْهَدْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَارْغَبْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ
The Prophet (s) asked, "O my God! How do I be ascetic in life and seek the Hereafter?"	فَقَالَ إِلَهِي كَيْفَ أَزْهَدُ فِي الدُّنْيَا
"Take from this life light food and drink as well as clothing; do not hoard for tomorrow, and keep remembering Me." He answered.	فَقَالَ خُذْ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا حَفْناً مِنَ الطَّعَامِ وَالشَّرَابِ وَاللِّبَاسِ وَلَا تَدَّخِرْ لِغَدٍ وَدُمْ عَلَى ذِكْرِي
The Prophet (s) asked, "O my Lord! How do I keep remembering You?"	فَقَالَ يَا رَبِّ كَيْف‏ أَدُومُ عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ
"Do so by staying aloof from people, by hating what is sweet and what is sour, by keeping your stomach and home empty from the wares of life.	فَقَالَ بِالْخَلْوَةِ عَنِ النَّاسِ وَبُغْضِكَ الْحُلْوَ وَالْحَامِضَ وَفَرَاغِ بَطْنِكَ وَبَيْتِكَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا
O Ahmad! Beware acting like a child who, upon seeing what is green and what is yellow, he loves it, and when he is given of what is sweet and what is sour, he is deceived by it." He answered.	يَا أَحْمَدُ احْذَرْ أَنْ تَكُونَ مِثْلَ الصَّبِيِّ إِذَا نَظَرَ إِلَى الْأَخْضَرِ وَالْأَصْفَرِ وَإِذَا أُعْطِيَ شَيْئاً مِنَ الْحُلْوِ وَالْحَامِضِ اغْتَرَّ بِهِ
The Prophet (s) asked, "O my Lord! Lead me to a deed whereby I seek nearness to You."	فَقَالَ يَا رَبِّ دُلَّنِي عَلَى عَمَلٍ أَتَقَرَّبُ بِهِ إِلَيْكَ
"Make your night a day and your day a night." He answered.	قَالَ اجْعَلْ لَيْلَكَ نَهَاراً وَنَهَارَكَ لَيْلًا
The Prophet (s) asked, "O my Lord! How so?"	قَالَ يَا رَبِّ كَيْفَ ذَلِكَ
"Turn your sleep into prayer and your food into hunger.	قَالَ اجْعَلْ نَوْمَكَ صَلَاةً وَطَعَامَكَ الْجُوعَ
O Ahmad! I swear by My Dignity and Greatness that no servant secures four merits from me except that I enter him Paradise: he keeps his mouth shut and not open it except about what concerns him, he safeguards his heart against delusion, he safeguards My knowledge and My seeing him, and the apple of his eye becomes hunger.	يَا أَحْمَدُ وَعِزَّتِي وَجَلَالِي مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ ضَمِنَ لِي بِأَرْبَعِ خِصَالٍ إِلَّا أَدْخَلْتُهُ الْجَنَّةَ يَطْوِي لِسَانَهُ فَلَا يَفْتَحُهُ إِلَّا بِمَا يَعْنِيهِ وَيَحْفَظُ قَلْبَهُ مِنَ الْوَسْوَاسِ وَيَحْفَظُ عِلْمِي وَنَظَرِي إِلَيْهِ وَيَكُونُ قُرَّةُ عَيْنَيْهِ الْجُوعَ
O Ahmad! Were you only to taste the sweetness of hunger, silence, solitude, and were you to taste their legacy!" He answered.	يَا أَحْمَدُ لَوْ ذُقْتَ حَلَاوَةَ الْجُوعِ وَالصَّمْتِ وَالْخَلْوَةِ وَمَا وَرِثُوا مِنْهَا
The Prophet (s) asked, "O my Lord! What is the legacy of hunger?"	قَالَ يَا رَبِّ مَا مِيرَاثُ الْجُوعِ
"It is wisdom, the safeguarding of the heart, the nearness to Me, continued grief, the carrying of a light burden compared to others, the saying of the truth without being concerned whether one lives in ease or in hardship." He answered.	قَالَ الحِكْمَةُ وَحِفْظُ الْقَلْبِ وَالتَّقَرُّبُ إِلَيَّ وَالْحُزْنُ الدَّائِمُ وَخِفَّةُ الْمَئُونَةِ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ وَقَوْلُ الْحَقِّ وَلَا يُبَالِي عَاشَ بِيُسْرٍ أَمْ بِعُسْرٍ
O Ahmad! Do you know during what time a servant becomes close to Me?" The Prophet (s) asked, "No, My Lord." "He does so when he is either hungry or prostrating.	يَا أَحْمَدُ هَلْ تَدْرِي بِأَيِّ وَقْتٍ يَتَقَرَّبُ الْعَبْدُ إِلَيَّ قَالَ [لَا يَا رَبِّ قَالَ‏] إِذَا كَانَ جَائِعاً أَوْ سَاجِداً
O Ahmad! I wonder about three kinds of My servants: a servant who starts his prayers knowing Who he is raising his hands to and before Whom he stands, yet he is drowsy! and I wonder about a servant who has what sustains him of vegetation or something else yet he worries about tomorrow! and I wonder about one who does not know if I am pleased with him or if I am wrathful against him, yet he laughs!	يَا أَحْمَدُ عَجِبْتُ مِنْ ثَلَاثَةِ عَبِيدٍ عَبْدٍ دَخَلَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ وَهُوَ يَعْلَمُ إِلَى مَنْ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ وَقُدَّامَ مَنْ هُوَ وَهُوَ يَنْعُسُ وَعَجِبْتُ مِنْ عَبْدٍ لَهُ قُوتُ يَوْمٍ مِنَ الْحَشِيشِ أَوْ غَيْرِهِ وَهُوَ يَهْتَمُّ لِغَدٍ وَعَجِبْتُ مِنْ عَبْدٍ لَا يَدْرِي أَنِّي رَاضٍ عَنْهُ أَوْ سَاخِطٌ عَلَيْهِ وَهُوَ يَضْحَكُ
O Ahmad! There is a mansion in Paradise of a pearl on top of a pearl and of a jewel on top of a jewel that has never been cut nor joined. In it are the elite on whom I look every day seventy times and I speak to them every time I look on them. Whenever I look on them, I increase their domain seventy times, and when the residents of Paradise are pleased with food and drink, these find their pleasure in My speech, in remembering Me and in My talk."	يَا أَحْمَدُ إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ قَصْراً مِنْ لُؤْلُؤٍ فَوْقَ لُؤْلُؤٍ وَدُرَّةٍ فَوْقَ دُرَّةٍ لَيْسَ فِيهَا قَصْمٌ وَلَا وَصْلٌ فِيهَا الْخَوَاصُّ أَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً فَأُكَلِّمُهُمْ كُلَّمَا نَظَرْتُ إِلَيْهِمْ وَأَزِيدُ فِي مِلْكِهِمْ سَبْعِينَ ضِعْفاً وَإِذَا تَلَذَّذَ أَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ بِالطَّعَامِ وَالشَّرَابِ تَلَذَّذُوا أُولَئِكَ بِذِكْرِي وَكَلَامِي وَحَدِيثِي
The Prophet (s) asked, "O my Lord! What are their distinctive marks?"	قَالَ يَا رَبِّ مَا عَلَامَةُ أُولَئِكَ
"They are the imprisoned, their tongues are imprisoned against curious talk and their stomachs against unnecessary food.	قَالَ مَسْجُونُونَ قَدْ سَجَنُوا أَلْسِنَتَهُمْ مِنْ فُضُولِ الْكَلَامِ وَبُطُونَهُمْ مِنْ فُضُولِ الطَّعَامِ
O Ahmad! To love for the sake of Allah is to love the poor and to be close to them." He answered.	يَا أَحْمَدُ إِنَّ الْمَحَبَّةَ لِلَّهِ هِيَ الْمَحَبَّةُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالتَّقَرُّبُ إِلَيْهِمْ
The Prophet (s) asked, "Who are the poor?"	قَالَ وَمَنِ الْفُقَرَاءُ
"They are those who accept what is little, who are patient when hungry, who offer thanks when in ease, who do not complain about their hunger or thirst, who do not lie when they speak, who do not feel angry with their Lord, who do not feel depressed for what they lose, nor do they feel elated on account of whey they earn.	قَالَ الَّذِينَ رَضُوا بِالْقَلِيلِ وَصَبَرُوا عَلَى الْجُوعِ وَشَكَرُوا عَلَى الرَّخَاءِ وَلَمْ يَشْكُوا جُوعَهُمْ وَلَا ظَمَأَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَكْذِبُوا بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَلَمْ يَغْضَبُوا عَلَى رَبِّهِمْ وَلَمْ يَغْتَمُّوا عَلَى مَا فَاتَهُمْ وَلَمْ يَفْرَحُوا بِمَا آتَاهُمْ
O Ahmad! My Love is loving the poor; so, get close to the poor and let them get close to you, and keep away from the rich and keep them away from you, for the poor are the ones that I love.	يَا أَحْمَدُ مَحَبَّتِي مَحَبَّةُ الْفُقَرَاءِ فَأَدْنِ الْفُقَرَاءَ وَقَرِّبْ مَجْلِسَهُمْ مِنْكَ وَأَبْعِدِ الْأَغْنِيَاءَ وَأَبْعِدْ مَجْلِسَهُمْ عَنْكَ فَإِنَّ الْفُقَرَاءَ أَحِبَّائِي
O Ahmad! Do not wear soft outfits, do not eat tasty food, and do not sleep on soft beds, for the nafs (evil insinuating soul) is the haven of every evil and the companion of everything bad; you drag it to obey Allah while it drags you to disobey Him and opposes you when you try to obey Him. It obeys you in the doing of what you hate to do. It oppresses when it gets full, complains when hungry, is angry when impoverished, and it is arrogant when wealthy. It forgets when it gets arrogant and is inattentive when it feels secure. It is the companion of the devil. The similitude of the nafs is like the ostrich: It eats a lot, and when it is charged, it does not fly. And it is like oleander: Its color is good and taste is bitter.	يَا أَحْمَدُ لَا تَزَيَّنْ بِلَيِّنِ اللِّبَاسِ وَطَيِّبِ الطَّعَامِ وَلَيِّنِ الْوِطَاءِ فَإِنَّ النَّفْسَ مَأْوَى كُلِّ شَرٍّ وَرَفِيقُ كُلِّ سُوءٍ تَجُرُّهَا إِلَى طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ وَتَجُرُّكَ إِلَى مَعْصِيَتِهِ وَتُخَالِفُكَ فِي طَاعَتِهِ وَتُطِيعُكَ فِيمَا تكره [يَكْرَهُ‏] وَتَطْغَى إِذَا شَبِعَتْ وَتَشْكُو إِذَا جَاعَتْ وَتَغْضَبُ إِذَا افْتَقَرَتْ وَتَتَكَبَّرُ إِذَا اسْتَغْنَتْ وَتَنْسَى إِذَا كَبِرَتْ وَتَغْفُلُ إِذَا آمَنَتْ وَهِيَ قَرِينَةُ الشَّيْطَانِ وَمَثَلُ النَّفْسِ كَمَثَلِ النَّعَامَةِ تَأْكُلُ الْكَثِيرَ وَإِذَا حُمِلَ عَلَيْهَا لَا تَطِيرُ وَكَمَثَلِ الدِّفْلَى لَوْنُهُ حَسَنٌ وَطَعْمُهُ مُرٌّ
O Ahmad! Dislike life and its seekers, and love the Hereafter and its seekers." He answered.	يَا أَحْمَدُ أَبْغِضِ الدُّنْيَا وَأَهْلَهَا وَأَحِبَّ الْآخِرَةَ وَأَهْلَهَا
The Prophet (s) asked, "O my Lord! Who are the seekers of life and who seek the Hereafter?"	قَالَ يَا رَبِّ وَمَنْ أَهْلُ الدُّنْيَا وَمَنْ أَهْلُ الْآخِرَةِ
"One who seeks this world eats a lot, laughs a lot, and sleeps a lot, and his anger is a lot, too. He is pleased only a little. He does not apologize to those to whom he misbehaves, nor does he accept the excuse of those who apologize to him. He is lazy when being obedient [to Me] and courageous when disobedient. His hopes are high and destination is near. He does not hold himself accountable; he is of little benefit while being talkative. His fear is little and he is quite happy when it is time to eat. The seekers of this life do not express thanks at the time of ease, nor are they patient at the time of affliction. What people consider a lot to them is a little. They praise themselves for what they do not do; they claim what is not with them; they talk about what they hope; they mention people's faults and hide their merits." He answered.	قَالَ أَهْلُ الدُّنْيَا مَنْ كَثُرَ أَكْلُهُ وَضَحِكُهُ وَنَوْمُهُ وَغَضَبُهُ قَلِيلُ الرِّضَا لَا يَعْتَذِرُ إِلَى مَنْ أَسَاءَ إِلَيْهِ وَلَا يَقْبَلُ عُذْرَ مَنِ اعْتَذَرَ إِلَيْهِ كَسْلَانُ عِنْدَ الطَّاعَةِ شُجَاعٌ عِنْدَ الْمَعْصِيَةِ أَمَلُهُ بَعِيدٌ وَأَجَلُهُ قَرِيبٌ لَا يُحَاسِبُ نَفْسَهُ قَلِيلُ الْمَنْفَعَةِ كَثِيرُ الْكَلَامِ قَلِيلُ الْخَوْفِ كَثِيرُ الْفَرَحِ عِنْدَ الطَّعَامِ وَإِنَّ أَهْلَ الدُّنْيَا لَا يَشْكُرُونَ عِنْدَ الرَّخَاءِ وَلَا يَصْبِرُونَ عِنْدَ الْبَلَاءِ كَثِيرُ النَّاسِ عِنْدَهُمْ قَلِيلٌ يَحْمَدُونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ بِمَا لَا يَفْعَلُونَ وَيَدَّعُونَ بِمَا لَيْسَ لَهُمْ وَيَتَكَلَّمُونَ بِمَا يَتَمَنَّوْنَ وَيَذْكُرُونَ مَسَاوِئَ النَّاسِ وَيُخْفُونَ حَسَنَاتِهِمْ
The Prophet (s) said, "O my Lord! Is there anything else wrong with the seekers of this life?"	قَالَ يَا رَبِّ هَلْ يَكُونُ سِوَى هَذَا الْعَيْبِ فِي أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا
"O Ahmad! The faults of the seekers of this life are many. Among them are ignorance, foolishness, they are not humble to those who teach them, and they consider themselves wise while those who know regard them as stupid.	قَالَ يَا أَحْمَدُ إِنَّ عَيْبَ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا كَثِيرٌ فِيهِمُ الْجَهْلُ وَالْحُمْقُ لَا يَتَوَاضَعُونَ لِمَنْ يَتَعَلَّمُونَ مِنْهُ وَهُمْ عِنْدَ أَنْفُسِهِمْ عُقَلَاءُ وَعِنْدَ الْعَارِفِينَ حُمَقَاءُ
O Ahmad! The countenance of the seekers of goodness and of the Hereafter is kind; their modesty is a lot, their foolishness is little, their benefit is a lot, their plotting is little. People are at ease on their account while their own souls are wearisome. Their speech is balanced. They hold themselves to account, wearing themselves out; their eyes sleep but not their hearts. Their eyes are tearful and hearts are in remembrance. When people are recorded as oblivious, they are written among those who remember. At the beginning of a bliss they praise [their Lord] and at its end they thank [Him]. Their supplication is raised with Allah, their speech is heard. The angels are happy on their account. Their supplication runs under the veils. The Lord loves to hear their speech just as a mother loves her child. Nothing distracts them from Allah for a twinkling of an eye, they do not want plenty of food, nor plenty of talk, or plenty of clothing. In their regard, people are dead while Allah is Living, Subsisting, Great. They call upon those who depart from them back to their generosity and seek those who approach them with kindness. Life in this world and in the Hereafter is one to them. People die once, while each of them dies seventy times a day because of self struggle and opposition to what he desires even though Satan runs in his veins. If the wind moves, it shakes them, yet when they stand before Me, they are like a strong building. I see their hearts being occupied by no creature; therefore, I swear by My Dignity and Greatness, I shall let them live a good life: If the soul of one of them departs from his body, I shall not send the angel of death unto him, and none shall seize his soul except Me, and I shall open all gates of the heavens for their souls, and remove all barriers, and order the Gardens to be decorated, the huris to be wedded, the angels to pray, the trees to produce their fruit, the fruits of Paradise to be more accessible, and I shall order a wind from those that blow under the Throne to carry mountains of camphor and fragrant musk to become fuel without fire to accompany him as he enters, and there shall be no veil between Me and his soul. At the time when his soul is seized, I shall say, 'Welcome to your return unto Me! Ascend with honors, glad tiding, mercy, pleasure, and gardens wherein they shall have a lasting felicity where they shall abide forever; surely Allah has with Him a great reward.' Had you only seen how each angel takes the soul and passes it on to another.	يَا أَحْمَدُ إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْخَيْرِ وَأَهْلَ الْآخِرَةِ رَقِيقَةٌ وُجُوهُهُمْ كَثِيرٌ حَيَاؤُهُمْ قَلِيلٌ حُمْقُهُمْ كَثِيرٌ نَفْعُهُمْ قَلِيلٌ مَكْرُهُمْ النَّاسُ مِنْهُمْ فِي رَاحَةٍ أَنْفُسُهُمْ مِنْهُمْ فِي تَعَبٍ كَلَامُهُمْ مَوْزُونٌ مُحَاسِبِينَ لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ مُتَعَيِّبِينَ لَهَا تَنَامُ أَعْيُنُهُمْ وَلَا تَنَامُ قُلُوبُهُمْ أَعْيُنُهُمْ بَاكِيَةٌ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ ذَاكِرَةٌ إِذَا كُتِبَ النَّاسُ مِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ كُتِبُوا مِنَ الذَّاكِرِينَ فِي أَوَّلِ النِّعْمَةِ يَحْمَدُونَ وَفِي آخِرِهَا يَشْكُرُونَ دُعَاؤُهُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مَرْفُوعٌ وَكَلَامُهُمْ مَسْمُوعٌ تَفْرَحُ‏ بِهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَيَدُورُ دُعَاؤُهُمْ تَحْتَ الْحُجُبِ يُحِبُّ الرَّبُّ أَنْ يَسْمَعَ كَلَامَهُمْ كَمَا تُحِبُّ الْوَالِدَةُ الْوَلَدَ وَلَا يُشْغَلُونَ عَنْهُ طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ وَلَا يُرِيدُونَ كَثْرَةَ الطَّعَامِ وَلَا كَثْرَةَ الْكَلَامِ وَلَا كَثْرَةَ اللِّبَاسِ النَّاسُ عِنْدَهُمْ مَوْتَى وَاللَّهُ عِنْدَهُمْ حَيٌّ كَرِيمٌ يَدَعُونَ الْمُدْبِرِينَ كَرَماً وَيَزِيدُونَ الْمُقْبِلِينَ تَلَطُّفاً قَدْ صَارَتِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةُ عِنْدَهُمْ وَاحِدَةً ً يَمُوتُ النَّاسُ مَرَّةً وَيَمُوتُ أَحَدُهُمْ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً مِنْ مُجَاهَدَةِ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَمُخَالَفَةِ هَوَاهُمْ وَالشَّيْطَانُ الَّذِي يَجْرِي فِي عُرُوقِهِمْ وَلَوْ تَحَرَّكَتْ رِيحٌ لَزَعْزَعَتْهُمْ وَإِنْ قَامُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ كَأَنَّهُمْ بُنْيانٌ مَرْصُوصٌ لَا أَرَى فِي قَلْبِهِمْ شُغُلًا لِمَخْلُوقٍ فَوَ عِزَّتِي وَجَلَالِي لَأُحْيِيَنَّهُمْ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً إِذَا فَارَقَتْ أَرْوَاحُهُمْ مِنْ جَسَدِهِمْ لَا أُسَلِّطُ عَلَيْهِمْ مَلَكَ الْمَوْتِ وَلَا يَلِي قَبْضَ رُوحِهِمْ غَيْرِي وَلَأَفْتَحَنَّ لِرُوحِهِمْ أَبْوَابَ السَّمَاءِ كُلَّهَا وَلَأَرْفَعَنَّ الْحُجُبَ كُلَّهَا دُونِي وَلَآمُرَنَّ الْجِنَانَ فَلْتُزَيَّنَنَّ وَالْحُورَ الْعِينَ فَلْتُزَفَّنّ وَالْمَلَائِكَةَ فَلْتُصَلِّيَن‏ وَالْأَشْجَارَ فَلْتُثْمِرَنَّ وَثِمَارَ الْجَنَّةِ فَلْتُدْلِيَنَّ وَلَآمُرَنَّ رِيحاً مِنَ الرِّيَاحِ الَّتِي تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ فَلْتَحْمِلَنَّ جِبَالًا مِنَ الْكَافُورِ وَالْمِسْكِ الْأَذْفَرِ فَلْتَصِيرَنَّ وَقُوداً مِنْ غَيْرِ النَّارِ فَلْتَدْخُلَنَّ بِهِ وَلَا يَكُونُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ رُوحِهِ سِتْرٌ فَأَقُولُ لَهُ عِنْدَ قَبْضِ رُوحِهِ مَرْحَباً وَأَهْلًا بِقُدُومِكَ عَلَيَّ اصْعَدْ بِالْكَرَامَةِ وَالْبُشْرَى وَالرَّحْمَةِ وَالرِّضْوَانِ وَجَنَّاتٍ لَهُمْ فِيها نَعِيمٌ مُقِيمٌ خالِدِينَ فِيها أَبَداً إِنَّ اللَّهَ عِنْدَهُ أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ فَلَوْ رَأَيْتَ الْمَلَائِكَةَ كَيْفَ يَأْخُذُ بِهَا وَاحِدٌ وَيُعْطِيهَا الْآخَرُ
O Ahmad! The people who seek the Hereafter are not pleased by food ever since they came to know their Lord, nor any calamity occupies their minds ever since they realized their sins. They weep on account of their sins, they wear their souls out and not seek their comfort. The restful time of the people of Paradise comes at the time of death, and the Hereafter is the restful abode of the worshipers. Their tears that overflow on their cheeks solace them and their sitting with the angels, on their right and on their left, and their soliloquy with the Great One Who is over His Throne. The hearts of the people of the Hereafter are inside them afflicted with ulcer; they wonder saying, 'When shall we get a rest from the vanishing abode and go to the abode of eternity?'	يَا أَحْمَدُ إِنَّ أَهْلَ الْآخِرَةِ لَا يَهْنَؤُهُمُ الطَّعَامُ مُنْذُ عَرَفُوا رَبَّهُمْ وَلَا يَشْغَلُهُمْ مُصِيبَةٌ مُنْذُ عَرَفُوا سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ يَبْكُونَ عَلَى خَطَايَاهُمْ يَتْعَبُونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَلَا يُرِيحُونَهَا وَإِنَّ رَاحَةَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ فِي الْمَوْتِ وَالْآخِرَةُ مُسْتَرَاحُ الْعَابِدِينَ مُونِسُهُمْ دُمُوعُهُمُ الَّتِي تَفِيضُ عَلَى خُدُودِهِمْ وَجُلُوسُهُمْ مَعَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ الَّذِينَ عَنْ أَيْمَانِهِمْ وَعَنْ شَمَائِلِهِمْ وَمُنَاجَاتُهُمْ مَعَ الْجَلِيلِ الَّذِي فَوْقَ عَرْشِهِ وَإِنَّ أَهْلَ الْآخِرَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ فِي أَجْوَافِهِمْ قَدْ قَرِحَتْ يَقُولُونَ مَتَى نَسْتَرِيحُ مِنْ دَارِ الْفَنَاءِ إِلَى دَارِ الْبَقَاءِ
O Ahmad! Do you know what the ascetics shall get from Me in the Hereafter?" He said.	يَا أَحْمَدُ هَلْ تَعْرِفُ مَا لِلزَّاهِدِينَ عِنْدِي
The Prophet (s) said, "No, my Lord."	قَالَ لَا يَا رَبِّ
"The beings are resurrected and questioned during the accounting, while they remain safe from all of that. The least that I shall give the ascetics in the Hereafter shall be the keys to the gardens, all of them, so they may open whichever gate they wish, and I shall not veil My countenance from them, and I shall let them enjoy the hues of pleasure from My speech. I shall let them be seated in seats of the truth, and I shall remind them of what they had done, how they were exhausted in the short life, and I shall open for them four gates: one for gifts from Me to enter upon them in the morning and in the evening, one from which they look to Me however they wish without any hardship, one from which they look at the fire and see how the oppressors are being tormented, and one from which the maids of honor and the huris enter upon them." He added.	قَالَ يُبْعَثُ الْخَلْقُ وَيُنَاقَشُونَ الْحِسَابَ وَهُمْ مِنْ ذَلِكَ آمِنُونَ إِنَّ أَدْنَى مَا أُعْطِي الزَّاهِدِينَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ أَنْ أُعْطِيَهُمْ مَفَاتِيحَ الْجِنَانِ كُلِّهَا حَتَّى يَفْتَحُوا أَيَّ بَابٍ شَاءُوا وَلَا أَحْجُبَ عَنْهُمْ وَجْهِي وَلَأُنْعِمَنَّهُمْ بِأَلْوَانِ التَّلَذُّذِ مِنْ كَلَامِي وَلَأُجْلِسَنَّهُمْ فِي مَقْعَدِ صِدْقٍ وَأُذَكِّرُهُمْ مَا صَنَعُوا وَتَعِبُوا فِي دَارِ الدُّنْيَا وَأَفْتَحُ لَهُمْ أَرْبَعَةَ أَبْوَابٍ بَابٍ يَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْهَدَايَا بُكْرَةً وَعَشِيًّا مِنْ عِنْدِي وَبَابٍ يَنْظُرُونَ مِنْهُ إِلَيَّ كَيْفَ شَاءُوا بِلَا صُعُوبَةٍ وَبَابٍ يَطَّلِعُونَ مِنْهُ إِلَى النَّارِ فَيَنْظُرُونَ إِلَى الظَّالِمِينَ كَيْفَ يُعَذَّبُونَ وَبَابٍ يَدْخُلُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْهُ الْوَصَائِفُ وَالْحُورُ الْعِينُ
The Prophet (s) asked, "O my Lord! Who are these ascetics whom you have thus described?"	قَالَ يَا رَبِّ مَنْ هَؤُلَاءِ الزَّاهِدُونَ الَّذِينَ وَصَفْتَهُمْ
"The ascetic is who has no house he feels agonized because of its ruin, nor a child he grieves for his death, nor anything he grieves for it loss, nor anybody knows him to distract him from Allah for a blink of an eye, nor extra food about which he is inquired, nor a soft outfit.	قَالَ الزَّاهِدُ هُوَ الَّذِي لَيْسَ لَهُ بَيْتٌ يَخْرَبُ فَيَغْتَمَّ لِخَرَابِهِ وَلَا لَهُ وَلَدٌ يَمُوتُ فَيَحْزَنَ لِمَوْتِهِ وَلَا لَهُ شَيْ‏ءٌ يَذْهَبُ فَيَحْزَنَ لِذَهَابِهِ وَلَا يَعْرِفُهُ إِنْسَانٌ لِيَشْغَلَهُ عَنِ اللَّهِ طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ وَلَا لَهُ فَضْلُ طَعَامٍ يُسْأَلُ عَنْهُ وَلَا لَهُ ثَوْبٌ لَيِّنٌ
O Ahmad! The faces of the ascetics are yellowish because of the exhaustion of the night and the fast of the day, and their tongues tire except when mentioning Allah the Exalted; their hearts are in their chests stabbed by their frequent opposition to their desires. They have made themselves lean because of being silent for so long. They willingly exert themselves not because they fear the fire, nor out of their eagerness for Paradise, but because they look into the domains of the heavens and the earth and come to know that Allah, the Praised and the most Exalted One, is worthy of being adored." He answered.	يَا أَحْمَدُ وُجُوهُ الزَّاهِدِينَ مُصْفَرَّةٌ مِنْ تَعَبِ اللَّيْلِ وَصَوْمِ النَّهَارِ وَأَلْسِنَتُهُمْ كِلَالٌ إِلَّا مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى قُلُوبُهُمْ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ مَطْعُونَةٌ مِنْ كَثْرَةِ صَمْتِهِمْ قَدْ أَعْطَوُا الْمَجْهُودَ فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ لَا مِنْ خَوْفِ نَارٍ وَلَا مِنْ شَوْقِ جَنَّةٍ وَلَكِنْ يَنْظُرُونَ فِي مَلَكُوتِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ سُبْحَانَهُ أَهْلٌ لِلْعِبَادَةِ
The Prophet (s) said, "O my Lord! Do you grant all of this to any from among my nation?!"	قَالَ يَا رَبِّ هَلْ تُعْطِي لِأَحَدٍ مِنْ أُمَّتِي هَذَا
"O Ahmad! This is the rank of the prophets and the truthful from among your nation and from other nations and people from among the martyrs." He answered.	قال: يَا أَحْمَدُ هَذِهِ دَرَجَةُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ مِنْ أُمَّتِكَ وَأُمَّةِ غَيْرِكَ وَأَقْوَامٍ مِنَ الشُّهَدَاءِ
The Prophet (s) said, "O my Lord! Who are the most numerous, the ascetics from among my nation or those of the Children of Israel?"	قَالَ يَا رَبِّ أَيُّ الزُّهَّادِ أَكْثَرُ زُهَّادُ أُمَّتِي أَمْ زُهَّادُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ
"The ascetics of the Children of Israel among those of your nation are like a black hair in a white cow." He answered.	قَالَ إِنَّ زُهَّادَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ فِي زُهَّادِ أُمَّتِكَ كَشَعْرَةٍ سَوْدَاءَ فِي بَقَرَةٍ بَيْضَاءَ
The Prophet (s) said, "O my Lord! How can this be while the number of the Israelites is much greater than that of my nation?"	فَقَالَ يَا رَبِّ وَكَيْفَ ذَلِكَ وَعَدَدُ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَكْثَرُ
"It is so because they doubted after being convinced and reneged after having testified." He answered.	قَالَ لِأَنَّهُمْ شَكُّوا بَعْدَ الْيَقِينِ وَجَحَدُوا بَعْدَ الْإِقْرَارِ
The Prophet (s) then said, "I, therefore, praised Allah and thanked Him a great deal and supplicated for ascetics saying, 'O Allah! Protect them, have mercy on them and safeguard their creed which You accepted for them, and bless them with the conviction of the believers beyond which there is neither doubt nor shirking, piety beyond which there is no desire, fear beyond which there is no inattention, knowledge beyond which there is no ignorance, reason beyond which there is no foolishness, nearness beyond which there is no distancing, submission beyond which there is no cruelty, remembrance beyond which there is no forgetfulness, honor beyond which there is no humiliation, patience beyond which there is no disaffection and clemency beyond which there is no haste. Fill their hearts, with the feeling of being shy about You so they may be timid on Your account at all times. Show them the perils of this life and those of their own selves and the hissings of Satan, for You know what my nafs contains; You know what is unknown.'"	فَحَمِدْتُ اللَّهَ لِلزَّاهِدِينَ كَثِيراً وَشَكَرْتُهُ وَدَعَوْتُ لَهُمْ فَقُلْتُ اللَّهُمَّ احْفَظْهُمْ وَارْحَمْهُمْ وَاحْفَظْ عَلَيْهِمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَيْتَ لَهُمْ اللَّهُمَّ ارْزُقْهُمْ إِيمَانَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِي لَيْسَ بَعْدَهُ شَكٌّ وَزَيْغٌ وَوَرَعاً لَيْسَ بَعْدَهُ رَغْبَةٌ وَخَوْفاً لَيْسَ بَعْدَهُ غَفْلَةٌ وَعِلْماً لَيْسَ بَعْدَهُ جَهْلٌ وَعَقْلًا لَيْسَ بَعْدَهُ حُمْقٌ وَقُرْباً لَيْسَ بَعْدَهُ بُعْدٌ وَخُشُوعاً لَيْسَ بَعْدَهُ قَسَاوَةٌ وَذِكْراً لَيْسَ بَعْدَهُ نِسْيَانٌ وَكَرَماً لَيْسَ بَعْدَهُ هَوَانٌ وَصَبْراً لَيْسَ بَعْدَهُ ضَجَرٌ وَحِلْماً لَيْسَ بَعْدَهُ عَجَلَةٌ وَامْلَأْ قُلُوبَهُمْ حَيَاءً مِنْكَ حَتَّى يَسْتَحْيُوا مِنْكَ كُلَّ وَقْتٍ وَتُبَصِّرُهُمْ بِآفَاتِ الدُّنْيَا وَآفَاتِ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَوَسَاوِسِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَإِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ مَا فِي نَفْسِي وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ.
He said, "O Ahmad! Hold tight to piety, for piety is the zenith of the creed, the middle of the creed, and the seal of the creed; piety brings a servant closer to Allah Almighty.	يَا أَحْمَدُ عَلَيْكَ بِالْوَرَعِ فَإِنَّ الْوَرَعَ رَأْسُ الدِّينِ وَوَسَطُ الدِّينِ وَآخِرُ الدِّينِ إِنَّ الْوَرَعَ بِهِ يُتَقَرَّبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى
O Ahmad! Piety is like the earrings among the jewels, the bread among the foods. Piety is the head of belief, the pillar of the creed. The similitude of piety is the ship: nobody is safe [from drowning] except those who are in it; likewise, no ascetic is safe except through piety.	يَا أَحْمَدُ إِنَّ الْوَرَعَ زَيْنُ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَعِمَادُ الدِّينِ إِنَّ الْوَرَعَ مَثَلُهُ كَمَثَلِ السَّفِينَةِ كَمَا أَنَّ الْبَحْرَ لَا يَنْجُو إِلَّا مَنْ كَانَ فِيهَا كَذَلِكَ لَا يَنْجُو الزَّاهِدُونَ إِلَّا بِالْوَرَعِ
O Ahmad! No servant ever came to know Me and humbled himself to Me except that everything is humbled to him.	يَا أَحْمَدُ مَا عَرَفَنِي عَبْدٌ وَخَشَعَ لِي إِلَّا خَشَعَ لَهُ كُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ
O Ahmad! Piety opens unto the servant the gates of adoration, so he is honored with the Creator, and it gets him to reach Allah, the most Exalted, the most Great.	يَا أَحْمَدُ الْوَرَعُ يَفْتَحُ عَلَى الْعَبْدِ أَبْوَابَ الْعِبَادَةِ فَيُكْرَمُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ عِنْدَ الْخَلْقِ وَيَصِلُ بِهِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ
O Ahmad! Take to patience, for the most sound of hearts are the hearts of the righteous and those who take to silence, and the most ruined of hearts are those of folks who talk about things which do not concern them.	يَا أَحْمَدُ عَلَيْكَ بِالصَّمْتِ فَإِنَّ أَعْمَرَ مَجْلِسٍ قُلُوبُ الصَّالِحِينَ وَالصَّامِتِينَ وَإِنَّ أَخْرَبَ مَجْلِسٍ قُلُوبُ الْمُتَكَلِّمِينَ بِمَا لَا يَعْنِيهِمْ
O Ahmad! Adoration is ten portions nine of which is seeking what is permissible; so, if you succeed in making sure that your food and drinks are permissible, you shall remain in My protection, under My care."	يَا أَحْمَدُ إِنَّ الْعِبَادَةَ عَشَرَةُ أَجْزَاءٍ تِسْعَةٌ مِنْهَا طَلَبُ الْحَلَالِ فَإِنْ أُطِيبَ مَطْعَمُكَ وَمَشْرَبُكَ فَأَنْتَ فِي حِفْظِي وَكَنَفِي
The Prophet (s) said, "O my Lord! What is the beginning of adoration?"	قَالَ يَا رَبِّ مَا أَوَّلُ الْعِبَادَةِ
"The beginning of adoration is silence and fast." He answered.	قَالَ أَوَّلُ الْعِبَادَةِ الصَّمْتُ وَالصَّوْمُ
He (s) said, "O my Lord! What is the legacy of fast?"	قَالَ يَا رَبِّ وَمَا مِيرَاثُ الصَّوْمِ
"Fast lets one inherit wisdom; wisdom lets one inherit knowledge and knowledge lets one inherit conviction. Once a servant reaches conviction, he does not care about how he starts his day, whether in hardship or in ease, and when such a servant is in the state of dying, angels stand at his head, in the hands of each angel is a cup of the water of Kawthar and a cup of wine. They give his soul to drink till his stupor and bitterness are gone, and they convey to him the greatest glad tiding and say, 'Good, you are, and good is your abode! You are going to the most Great One, the Wise, the Near One!' His soul will then fly away from the hands of the angels and ascend to Allah Almighty faster than the blinking of an eye, and no veil, nor a curtain remains between it and Allah Almighty, while Allah, the Great, the Sublime, is eager to receive it. It sits at a spring near the throne, and it is said to it, 'How did you leave the world [behind]?' It will say, 'My Lord! By Your Greatness and Honor! I know nothing about life! Since You created me, I remained fearful of You!' Allah Almighty will then say, 'You, O My servant, have said the truth; your body was in life while your soul was with Me. You are in My view, I see what you hide and what you reveal; ask Me and I shall give you, and make a wish, and I shall be generous to you by granting you this Paradise of Mine which you desire, and this is my neighborhood, so live in it.' The soul will then say, 'Lord! You made me know You, so I was enriched by it and did not need besides it any of Your creation. By Your Greatness and Honor! Had Your pleasure been that I should be cut to pieces and be killed seventy times in the most severe way whereby people are killed, achieving Your Pleasure would have been more dear to me. How can I like myself while I am helpless unless You honor me, vanquished unless You grant me victory, weak unless You strengthen me and dead unless You give me life through Your remembrance? Had it not been for your covering, I would have been scandalized the very first time when I disobeyed You. Lord! How can I not seek Your Pleasure while You have perfected my reason till I came to know You, to know right from wrong, bidding from forbidding, knowledge from ignorance and light from darkness.' Allah, the most Great and the most Honored, will say, 'By My greatness and Honor! I shall not have a veil between Me and you at any time; thus do I fare with the ones that I love.'" He answered.	قَالَ الصَّوْمُ يُورِثُ الحِكْمَةَ وَالحِكْمَةُ تُورِثُ الْمَعْرِفَةَ وَالْمَعْرِفَةُ تُورِثُ الْيَقِينَ فَإِذَا اسْتَيْقَنَ الْعَبْدُ لَا يُبَالِي كَيْفَ أَصْبَحَ بِعُسْرٍ أَمْ بِيُسْرٍ وَإِذَا كَانَ الْعَبْدُ فِي حَالَةِ الْمَوْتِ يَقُومُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ مَلَائِكَةٌ بِيَدِ كُلِّ مَلَكٍ كَأْسٌ مِنْ مَاءِ الْكَوْثَرِ وَكَأْسٌ مِنَ الْخَمْرِ يَسْقُونَ رُوحَهُ حَتَّى تَذْهَبَ سَكْرَتُهُ وَمَرَارَتُهُ وَيُبَشِّرُونَهُ بِالْبِشَارَةِ الْعُظْمَى وَيَقُولُونَ لَهُ طِبْتَ وَطَابَ مَثْوَاكَ إِنَّكَ تَقْدَمُ عَلَى الْعَزِيزِ الْكَرِيمِ الْحَبِيبِ الْقَرِيبِ فَتَطِيرُ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَيْدِي الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَتَصْعَدُ إِلَى اللَّهِ تَعَالَى فِي أَسْرَعَ مِنْ طَرْفَةِ عَيْنٍ وَلَا يَبْقَى حِجَابٌ وَلَا سِتْرٌ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَاللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَيْهَا مُشْتَاقٌ وَيَجْلِسُ عَلَى عَيْنٍ عِنْدَ الْعَرْشِ ثُمَّ يُقَالُ لَهَا كَيْفَ تَرَكْتِ الدُّنْيَا فَيَقُولُ إِلَهِي وَعِزَّتِكَ وَجَلَالِكَ لَا عِلْمَ لِي بِالدُّنْيَا أَنَا مُنْذُ خَلَقْتَنِي خَائِفٌ مِنْكَ فَيَقُولُ اللَّهُ صَدَقْتَ عَبْدِي كُنْتَ بِجَسَدِكَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَرُوحُكَ مَعِي فَأَنْتَ بِعَيْنِي سِرُّكَ وَعَلَانِيَتُكَ سَلْ أُعْطِكَ وَتَمَنَّ عَلَيَّ فَأُكْرِمَكَ هَذِهِ جَنَّتِي مُبَاحٌ فتبيح فَتَبَحْبَحْ فِيهَا وَهَذَا جِوَارِي فَاسْكُنْهُ فَيَقُولُ الرُّوحُ إِلَهِي عَرَّفْتَنِي نَفْسَكَ فَاسْتَغْنَيْتُ بِهَا عَنْ جَمِيعِ خَلْقِكَ وَعِزَّتِكَ وَجَلَالِكَ لَوْ كَانَ رِضَاكَ فِي أَنْ أُقَطَّعَ إِرْباً إِرْباً وَأُقْتَلَ سَبْعِينَ قَتْلَةً بِأَشَدِّ مَا يُقْتَلُ بِهِ النَّاسُ لَكَانَ رِضَاكَ أَحَبَّ إِلَهِي كَيْفَ أُعْجَبُ بِنَفْسِي وَأَنَا ذَلِيلٌ إِنْ لَمْ تُكْرِمْنِي وَأَنَا مَغْلُوبٌ إِنْ لَمْ تَنْصُرْنِي وَأَنَا ضَعِيفٌ إِنْ لَمْ تُقَوِّنِي وَأَنَا مَيِّتٌ إِنْ لَمْ تُحْيِنِي بِذِكْرِكَ وَلَوْ لَا سَتْرُكَ لَافْتَضَحْتُ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ عَصَيْتُكَ إِلَهِي كَيْفَ لَا أَطْلُبُ رِضَاكَ وَقَدْ أَكْمَلْتَ عَقْلِي حَتَّى عَرَفْتُكَ وَعَرَفْتُ الْحَقَّ مِنَ الْبَاطِلِ وَالْأَمْرَ مِنَ النَّهْيِ وَالْعِلْمَ مِنَ الْجَهْلِ وَالنُّورَ مِنَ الظُّلْمَةِ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَعِزَّتِي وَجَلَالِي لَا أَحْجُبُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ فِي وَقْتٍ مِنَ الْأَوْقَاتِ كَذَلِكَ أَفْعَلُ بِأَحِبَّائِي
O Ahmad! Do you know which living is the most pleasurable and which life is the most enduring?"	يَا أَحْمَدُ هَلْ تَدْرِي أَيُّ عَيْشٍ أَهْنَى وَأَيُّ حَيَاةٍ أَبْقَى
The Prophet (s) answered, "O Allah! No".	قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ لَا
"As for the pleasurable living, it is that of one who never ceases remembering Me, nor does he forget My bliss, nor is he ignorant of My right. He seeks My Pleasure day and night. As for the enduring life, it is that of one who labors for [the good of] his soul till life becomes worthless in his eyes and diminishes while the Hereafter becomes magnified; he favors what I desire over what he desires; he seeks what pleases Me, respects the right of My greatness, remembers that I know all about him, so he remains vigilant in the night and the day whenever he does anything wrong or commits any act of disobedience. He purifies his heart from anything that I hate. He hates Satan and his hissings and not permits any path for Satan to his heart. Once he has done all of that, I shall let his heart be occupied by love, so much so that his heart becomes Mine when empty and when full, and I will then be his main concern. His speech will be of the blessing which I bestowed upon those whom I love from among My creation. I shall open the eyes of his heart and of his hearing till he hears with his heart and looks with his heart at My Greatness and Honor, and I shall let life be straitened on him and let him hold this life in contempt and hate every pleasure in it. I shall warn him against life and everything in it just as the shepherd warns his flock against the places of perdition. When he becomes as such, he shall flee away from people and be transported from the abode of extinction to the everlasting abode, and from the home of Satan to the home of the most Merciful One.	قَالَ أَمَّا الْعَيْشُ الْهَنِي‏ءُ فَهُوَ الَّذِي لَا يَفْتُرُ صَاحِبُهُ عَنْ ذِكْرِي وَلَا يَنْسَى نِعْمَتِي وَلَا يَجْهَلُ حَقِّي يَطْلُبُ رِضَايَ لَيْلَهُ وَنَهَارَهُ وَأَمَّا الْحَيَاةُ الْبَاقِيَةُ فَهِيَ الَّتِي يَعْمَلُ لِنَفْسِهِ حَتَّى تَهُونَ عَلَيْهِ الدُّنْيَا وَتَصْغُرَ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ وَتَعْظُمَ الْآخِرَةُ عِنْدَهُ وَيُؤْثِرَ هَوَايَ عَلَى هَوَاهُ وَيَبْتَغِيَ مَرْضَاتِي وَيُعَظِّمَ حَقَّ عَظَمَتِي وَيَذْكُرَ عِلْمِي بِهِ وَيُرَاقِبَنِي بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ عِنْدَ كُلِّ سَيِّئَةٍ وَمَعْصِيَةٍ وَيَنْفِيَ قَلْبَهُ عَنْ كُلِّ مَا أَكْرَهُ وَيُبْغِضَ الشَّيْطَانَ وَوَسَاوِسَهُ لَا يَجْعَلُ لِإِبْلِيسَ عَلَى قَلْبِهِ سُلْطَاناً وَسَبِيلًا فَإِذَا فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ أَسْكَنْتُ فِي قَلْبِهِ حُبّاً حَتَّى أَجْعَلَ قَلْبَهُ لِي وَفَرَاغَهُ وَاشْتِغَالَهُ وَهَمَّهُ وَحَدِيثَهُ مِنَ النِّعْمَةِ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتُ بِهَا عَلَى أَهْلِ مَحَبَّتِي مِنْ خَلْقِي وَأَفْتَحَ عَيْنَ قَلْبِهِ وَسَمْعَهُ حَتَّى يَسْمَعَ بِقَلْبِهِ وَيَنْظُرَ بِقَلْبِهِ إِلَى جَلَالِي وَعَظَمَتِي وَأُضَيِّقَ عَلَيْهِ الدُّنْيَا وَأُبَغِّضَ إِلَيْهِ مَا فِيهَا مِنَ اللَّذَّاتِ وَأُحَذِّرَهُ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا فِيهَا كَمَا يُحَذِّرُ الرَّاعِي غَنَمَهُ مِنْ مَرَاتِعِ الْهَلْكَةِ فَإِذَا كَانَ هَكَذَا يَفِرُّ مِنَ النَّاسِ فِرَاراً وَيُنْقَلُ مِنْ دَارِ الْفَنَاءِ إِلَى دَارِ الْبَقَاءِ وَمِنْ دَارِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِلَى دَارِ الرَّحْمَنِ
O Ahmad! And I shall decorate him with awe and greatness, for such is the pleasurable living, the enduring life and the status of those who are pleased. If anyone acts upon My pleasure, I shall let him stick to three merits: I shall acquaint him with appreciation that is not mixed with ignorance, remembrance that is not mixed with forgetfulness, and love wherein he does not prefer to love creatures over loving Me. When he loves me, I shall love him and open the eye of his heart to see My Greatness, and I shall not hide from him the elite from among My creation. I shall address him in the darkness of the night and in the light of the day till his talk with the creatures stops, and he stops keeping them company. And I shall let him hear My speech and the speech of My angels and inform him of the secret which I kept from My creation. And I shall outfit him with the outfit of modesty till all beings become shy of him, and he shall walk on the earth forgiven, his heart aware and seeing, and I shall not hide anything from him, whether of felicity or of torment, and inform him of the horrors and hardships which people will have to endure on the Day of Judgment, how I shall hold the rich and the poor to account as well as those who are ignorant and those who know. I shall let him sleep in his grave and send him Munkar and Nakir to ask him, and he shall not see the adversity of death or the darkness of the grave and the tomb, or the horror of leaving the grave. Then shall I install the scales for him and spread his record, and I shall place his book in his right hand; he shall read it wide open, and I shall not let between Me and himself any interpreter, for these are the merits of those who love Me.	يَا أَحْمَدُ لَأُزَيِّنَنَّهُ بِالْهَيْبَةِ وَالْعَظَمَةِ فَهَذَا هُوَ الْعَيْشُ الْهَنِي‏ءُ وَالْحَيَاةُ الْبَاقِيَةُ وَهَذَا مَقَامُ الرَّاضِينَ فَمَنْ عَمِلَ بِرِضَائِي أُلْزِمُهُ ثَلَاثَ خِصَالٍ أُعَرِّفُهُ شُكْراً لَا يُخَالِطُهُ الْجَهْلُ وَذِكْراً لَا يُخَالِطُهُ النِّسْيَانُ وَمَحَبَّةً لَا يُؤْثِرُ عَلَى مَحَبَّتِي مَحَبَّةَ الْمَخْلُوقِينَ فَإِذَا أَحَبَّنِي أَحْبَبْتُهُ وَأَفْتَحُ عَيْنَ قَلْبِهِ إِلَى جَلَالِي فَلَا أُخْفِي عَلَيْهِ خَاصَّةَ خَلْقِي فَأُنَاجِيهِ فِي ظُلَمِ اللَّيْلِ وَنُورِ النَّهَارِ حَتَّى يَنْقَطِعَ حَدِيثُهُ مِنَ الْمَخْلُوقِينَ وَمُجَالَسَتُهُ مَعَهُمْ وَأُسْمِعُهُ كَلَامِي وَكَلَامَ مَلَائِكَتِي وَأُعَرِّفُهُ السِّرَّ الَّذِي سَتَرْتُهُ عَنْ خَلْقِي وَأُلْبِسُهُ الْحَيَاءَ حَتَّى يَسْتَحِيَ مِنْهُ الْخَلْقُ كُلُّهُمْ وَيَمْشِيَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ مَغْفُوراً لَهُ وَأَجْعَلَ قَلْبَهُ وَاعِياً وَبَصِيراً وَلَا أُخْفِي عَلَيْهِ شي‏ء [شَيْئَاً] مِنْ جَنَّةٍ وَلَا نَارٍ وَأُعَرِّفَهُ بِمَا يَمُرُّ عَلَى النَّاسِ فِي يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ مِنَ الْهَوْلِ‏ وَالشِدَّةِ وَمَا أُحَاسِبُ بِهِ الْأَغْنِيَاءَ وَالْفُقَرَاءَ وَالْجُهَّالَ وَالْعُلَمَاءَ وَأُنَوِّرُ لَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ وَأُنْزِلُ عَلَيْهِ مُنْكَراً يَسْأَلُهُ وَلَا يَرَى غَمَّ الْمَوْتِ وَظُلْمَةَ الْقَبْرِ وَاللَّحْدِ وَهَوْلَ الْمُطَّلَعِ حَتَّى أَنْصِبَ لَهُ مِيزَانَهُ وَأَنْشُرَ لَهُ دِيوَانَهُ ثُمَّ أَضَعُ كِتَابَهُ فِي يَمِينِهِ فَيَقْرَأُ مَنْشُوراً ثُمَّ لَا أَجْعَلُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ تَرْجُمَاناً فَهَذِهِ صِفَاتُ الْمُحِبِّينَ
O Ahmad! Let your worry be only one; let your tongue be only one, and let your body be alive so you may not be oblivious of Me. Anyone who is indifferent to Me, I shall not care in what valley he shall perish.	يَا أَحْمَدُ اجْعَلْ هَمَّكَ هَمّاً وَاحِداً فَاجْعَلْ لِسَانَكَ وَاحِداً وَاجْعَلْ بَدَنَكَ حَيّاً لَا تَغْفُلْ أَبَداً مَنْ غَفَلَ عَنِّي لَا أُبَالِي بِأَيِّ وَادٍ هَلَكَ
O Ahmad! Use your mind before it is gone, for anyone who uses his mind does not err, nor does he oppress.	يَا أَحْمَدُ اسْتَعْمِلْ عَقْلَكَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَذْهَبَ فَمَنِ اسْتَعْمَلَ عَقْلَهُ لَا يُخْطِئُ وَلَا يَطْغَى
O Ahmad! Have you not come to know for what thing I have preferred you over all other prophets?"	يَا أَحْمَدُ هَلْ تَدْرِي لِأَيِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ فَضَّلْتُكَ عَلَى سَائِرِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ
He (s) said, "O Allah! No".	قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ لَا
"I favored you with conviction, with good manners, with being outgiving, with having mercy to the beings; so are the pillars of the earth: They did not become pillars except thus.	قَالَ بِالْيَقِينِ وَحُسْنِ الْخُلُقِ وَسَخَاوَةِ النَّفْسِ وَرَحْمَةٍ بِالْخَلْقِ وَكَذَلِكَ أَوْتَادُ الْأَرْضِ لَمْ يَكُونُوا أَوْتَاداً إِلَّا بِهَذَا
O Ahmad! When a servant feels hungry, if he safeguards his tongue, I teach him wisdom even if he may be an unbeliever; his wisdom will be evidence against him and perdition. If he is a believer, his wisdom will be light for him, proof, healing and mercy; so, he shall know what he did not and see what he could not. The first that I shall let him see will be his own faults so he will be distracted from the faults of others, and I shall let him see the minute things of knowledge so Satan may not enter upon him.	يَا أَحْمَدُ إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا جَاعَ بَطْنُهُ وَحَفِظَ لِسَانَهُ عَلَّمْتُهُ الحِكْمَةَ وَإِنْ كَانَ كَافِراً تَكُونُ حِكْمَتُهُ حُجَّةً عَلَيْهِ وَوَبَالًا وَإِنْ كَانَ مُؤْمِناً تَكُونُ حِكْمَتُهُ لَهُ نُوراً وَبُرْهَاناً وَشِفَاءً وَرَحْمَةً فَيَعْلَمُ مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ يَعْلَمُ وَيُبْصِرُ مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ يُبْصِرُ فَأَوَّلُ مَا أُبَصِّرُهُ عُيُوبُ نَفْسِهِ حَتَّى يُشْغَلَ بِهَا عَنْ عُيُوبِ غَيْرِهِ وَأُبَصِّرُهُ دَقَائِقَ الْعِلْمِ حَتَّى لَا يَدْخُلَ عَلَيْهِ الشَّيْطَانُ
O Ahmad! No part of adoration is dearer to me than silence and fast; so, whoever fasts but does not safeguard his tongue is like one who stands for prayers but does not recite anything [any verses from the Qur'an]. I will then grant him the rewards of standing but not those of the worshipers.	يَا أَحْمَدُ لَيْسَ شَيْ‏ءٌ مِنَ الْعِبَادَةِ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِنَ الصَّمْتِ وَالصَّوْمِ فَمَنْ صَامَ وَلَمْ يَحْفَظْ لِسَانَهُ كَانَ كَمَنْ قَامَ وَلَمْ يَقْرَأْ فِي صَلَاتِهِ فَأُعْطِيهِ أَجْرَ الْقِيَامِ وَلَمْ أُعْطِهِ أَجْرَ الْعَابِدِينَ
O Ahmad! Do you know when a servant becomes an adorer?" He said.	يَا أَحْمَدُ هَلْ تَدْرِي مَتَى يَكُونُ لِيَ الْعَبْدُ عَابِداً
He (s) answered, "No my Lord".	قَالَ لَا يَا رَبِّ
"He becomes so when seven merits meet in him, piety that shields him from committing what is prohibitive, silence which suffices him from what does not concern him, fear which every day increases his tears, modesty whereby he feels shy of Me when he is alone, eating only what he has to, hating the world because I hate it, and loving the righteous ones because I love them.	قَالَ إِذَا اجْتَمَعَ فِيهِ سَبْعُ خِصَالٍ وَرَعٌ يَحْجُزُهُ عَنِ الْمَحَارِمِ وَصَمْتٌ يَكُفُّهُ عَمَّا لَا يَعْنِيهِ وَخَوْفٌ يَزْدَادُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ مِنْ بُكَائِهِ وَحَيَاءٌ يَسْتَحِي مِنِّي فِي الْخَلَاءِ وَأَكْلُ مَا لَا بُدَّ مِنْهُ وَيُبْغِضُ الدُّنْيَا لِبُغْضِي لَهَا وَيُحِبُّ الْأَخْيَارَ لِحُبِّي إِيَّاهُمْ
O Ahmad! Not everyone who says he loves Allah truly loves Me till he takes what only sustains him, wears less than what he really needs, sleeps prostrating, prolongs his standing [for prayers], takes to silence and relies on Me. He weeps a lot and laughs a little. He opposes his desires, takes the mosque as a home, knowledge as a companion, asceticism as a fellow, scholars as loved ones, the poor as companions, seeking My Pleasure, fleeing from the disobedient ones, keeping remembrance of Me, always praising Me, fulfilling his promise, remaining sincere to his word, his heart remaining pure, purifying himself with prayers, exerting himself in doing what is obligatory, desiring the rewards with Me, fearing My torment and remaining as a friend and companions of the ones whom I love.	يَا أَحْمَدُ لَيْسَ كُلُّ مَنْ قَالَ أُحِبُّ اللَّهَ أَحَبَّنِي حَتَّى يَأْخُذَ قُوتاً وَيَلْبَسَ دُوناً وَيَنَامَ سُجُوداً وَيُطِيلَ قِيَاماً وَيَلْزَمَ صَمْتاً وَيَتَوَكَّلَ عَلَيَّ وَيَبْكِيَ كَثِيراً وَيُقِلَّ ضَحِكاً وَيُخَالِفَ هَوَاهُ وَيَتَّخِذَ الْمَسْجِدَ بَيْتاً وَالْعِلْمَ صَاحِباً وَالزُّهْدَ جَلِيساً وَالْعُلَمَاءَ أَحِبَّاءَ وَالْفُقَرَاءَ رُفَقَاءَ وَيَطْلُبَ رِضَايَ وَيَفِرَّ مِنَ الْعَاصِينَ فِرَاراً وَيَشْغَلَ بِذِكْرِي اشْتِغَالًا وَيُكْثِرَ التَّسْبِيحَ دَائِماً وَيَكُونَ بِالْعَهْدِ صَادِقاً وَبِالْوَعْدِ وَافِياً وَيَكُونَ قَلْبُهُ طَاهِراً وَفِي الصَّلَاةِ ذَاكِياً وَفِي الْفَرَائِضِ مُجْتَهِداً وَقَيِّماً عِنْدِي مِنَ الثَّوَابِ رَاغِباً وَمِنْ عَذَابِي رَاهِباً وَلِأَحِبَّائِي قَرِيباً وَجَلِيساً
O Ahmad! Had a servant of Mine prayed as much as the [beings in the] heavens and the earth pray, and had he fasted as much as they fast, eating as angels eat, wearing as much as those who have no clothes wear, then I see in his heart as much love for the short life as the weight of an atom or as much as it is spacious, or coveting authority in it, ornaments or outfits, he shall not be My neighbor in My abode, and I shall take away from his heart any love for Me. May My peace be with you and My mercy."	يَا أَحْمَدُ لَوْ صَلَّى الْعَبْدُ صَلَاةَ أَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَصَامَ صِيَامَ أَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَطَوَى مِنَ الطَّعَامِ مِثْلَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَلَبِسَ لِبَاسَ الْعَارِي ثُمَّ أَرَى فِي قَلْبِهِ مِنْ حُبِّ الدُّنْيَا ذَرَّةً أَوْ سُمْعَتِهَا أَوْ رِئَاسَتِهَا أَوْ حُلْيَتِهَا أَوْ زِينَتِهَا لَا يُجَاوِرُنِي فِي دَارِي وَلَأَنْزِعَنَّ مِنْ قَلْبِهِ مَحَبَّتِي وَعَلَيْكَ سَلَامِي وَمَحَبَّتِي‏