Translated by: Faizal Kara for https://salaficentre.com
In
the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Ibnul
Jawzee (rahimahullaah) said:
A
thought came to my mind about the calamities, hardships and great afflictions
that takes place in the world; so I said: Glorified is Allaah and free is He
from all imperfections! Indeed, Allaah is The Most Generous of all those who
show generosity, and generosity necessitates forbearance and forgiveness.
So
how do we look at those punishments? I contemplated
and saw that the presence of many people is as if they do not exist. They
neither study the evidences about the Oneness of Allaah (in His Lordship, Names
and Attributes and that He alone has the right to be worshipped), nor do they
abide the commandments and prohibitions of (Allaah), rather they carry on in
their habits like cattle.
And
unless the Islamic legislation agrees with what they want, otherwise they cling
to selfish interests. And after obtaining the Deenar (money), they do
not care whether it was (earned) through lawful or unlawful (means). They
pray when it is easy for them, otherwise they abandon the prayer. Amongst them
are those who openly commit great sins, whilst being aware of its
prohibition. And it may be that there is a scholar with robust
understanding, but his sins are grave indeed. So I came to know that even when
the punishments are great, they are lesser (in severity) than their crimes.
And
when punishments occur to wipe away sins, those (responsible for such sins)
say: ”Which sin is this for?”and they forget what has proceeded
(i.e. the sins). An old man becomes so insignificant to the extent that the
heart become symphathetic, whilst he is unaware of the fact that this is due to
not giving importance to the commandments of Allaah in his youth.
Source: Saydul
Khaatir, p.18-19 (Abridged & slightly paraphrased)
