more pious than them. In order to shake away negligence from these people, Hadrat Shaqeeq Balkhi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه states: ‘People speak of 3 things from their tongues but their actions do otherwise. (1) They say, we are the bondmen of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ but they do not perform actions like bondmen. Rather, they perform actions as if they are free. (2) They say, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is the one who provides us with sustenance but until they gather the things within this world, their hearts are not satisfied and this is totally contrary to their statement. (3) They say, eventually we will die but they perform such actions as if they will never die.’ (Mukashafa-tul-Quloob, pp. 45)

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب           صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic brothers! Today, certainly our conditions are becoming such that we are trying very hard for gaining the world but are negligent in thinking about the Hereafter. Day and night, we dream of becoming rich, roaming around in flashy cars and implementing the latest fashions, but we forget that one day we are going to die and we will have to leave this lively world empty-handed. Who among us knows when are we going to die? Is this our last night? No one from us can even guarantee that we will be able to breathe again after this breath. It is possible that this very breath we are taking now is our last and we cannot breathe again. We are hearing news frequently that so-and-so was perfectly fit and healthy. Apparently, there was no problem with him. But all of a sudden, the heart failed, he became a victim of death and reached the dark grave. To awaken ourselves from heedlessness, let’s listen to 2 admonitory parables, repent of our sins and become busy preparing for the hereafter:

1. He got drowned in the flood

It is narrated that a person built a house in an area where flood would come. When he was told that this is a very dangerous place, move away from here, he replied that I know this is a dangerous place but its beauty has made me curious. He was then told that all liveliness and beauties are a part of life. Therefore, you must safeguard your life and you must not put yourself in a dangerous position. He replied that I will definitely not leave this area. Then