Whenever Ḥasan al-Baṣrī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه came, it seemed as if he had just returned from burying a close friend. He lived his life as though fire was suspended above his head. He sat like a prisoner expecting to be sentenced at any moment. He would awaken in the morning as if he had just witnessed the Day of Judgement.

One day, someone asked him how he was, to which he replied, “A person on a sinking ship in the middle of the ocean is in better condition than me.” He was asked why and he answered, “I am sinful, and I am unaware of whether my good deeds have been accepted or will they be thrown in my face.”^[1]

‘Umar b. ‘Abd al-‘Azīz رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه and his worry for the Hereafter

Sayyiduna Sufyān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه states:

*   As people spoke in the gathering of ‘Umar b. ‘Abd al-‘Azīz رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, he remained completely silent. He was asked, “What’s wrong? Why are you quiet?” He replied, “I was thinking about the people of Paradise and how they will greet each other with happiness. On the other hand, the people of Hell will be distressed, calling out to each other for help.” After saying this, he began to cry.^[2]

*   On another occasion, Sayyiduna ‘Umar b. ‘Abd al-‘Azīz رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه was moved to tears. His wife, Fāṭimah bint ‘Abd al-Malik رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْهَا also began to cry, until every single person in the household also began crying. When the crying subsided, he was asked, “O Amīr al-Muʾminīn! Why were you crying?” He answered, “I was remembering about how we must stand before our Lord, after