were cutting their flesh and thrusting it in their mouth along with the blood. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked: ‘O Jibraeel! Who are these people?’ It was said: ‘They are those who would backbite other people and find flaws in them’.^[1]

On the night of Mi’raj, the Leader of the Prophets صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم witnessed people of Hell who were hanging from flames of fire. He صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked: ‘O Jibraeel! Who are these people?’ It was said: ‘They are those who would swear at their parents in the world’.^[2]

On this night, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم went to people of Hell who had rags hanging from their front and back and they were grazing like four-legged animals, eating thorny grass, a poisonous, thorny type of cactus, and stones that had been heated in the Hellfire. He صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم asked: ‘O Jibraeel! Who are these people?’ It was said: ‘They are those people who would not give Zakah on their wealth. Allah Almighty did not oppress them and Allah Almighty does not oppress the people.^[3]

O devotees of the Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! Whilst contemplating over the comforts and blessing of Heaven, also ponder over these punishments! Who can endure such punishments? I swear by Allah! Nobody has the ability to endure the punishment of the Hellfire. So focus on your weakness. Alas! The state of our weakness is such that a slight headache or fever leaves us anguished, so how will we bear this frightful punishment? For this reason, whilst we have time, have fear and immediately repent from sins, because if this opportunity is missed and death arrives before repentance then there will be only destruction.

Remember that the life of this world is very short, whereas the life of the Hereafter is forever. Indeed the successful one is the one who spends this life of a few days in bettering his hereafter. Perform those actions which are