Arif Billah, Hazrat Maulana Shah Hakim Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (hafizahullah)

Shaytan misleads many people into indulgence in sins by making them think, “Enjoy yourself while you’re still young! Then make taubah later….You’ve got plenty of time!” Those who have this dreadful misconception should read the following story and take heed.

Hazratwala (daamat barakaatuhum) says: “One horrible consequence of persisting in sins which has been witnessed, may Allah Ta`ala protect us all, is that Allah Ta`ala takes away the tawfeeq to repent.

In Nazimabad, a section of Karachi Pakistan, there used to be a man who would commit evil deeds day and night. When he was on his deathbed a friend advised him, “Brother, you are on the brink of death now, at least make tawbah for the sins you’ve committed.”

So that man uttered a terribly frightening statement which is a lesson for all of us. He said, “I can utter any word you want right now. Tell me to say, doctor… or medicine… or tea…or biscuits…any of these words you ask me, I can say it. But that specific word that you are asking me to say, is just not coming out of my mouth.”

Tell me, how much admonition is in this story?! Why is it that a person can utter any word except for tawbah? What is so difficult about uttering these four letters, (ت، و، ب ، ه ( ?

Also, this is not a story from a long time ago. This is an incident that I have witnessed with my own eyes. So repent before that day comes wherein the ability to repent gets snatched away from you. Audacity in committing sins, shamelessness, and immodesty must have some limit! Have you completely lost all sense of shame and modesty?

It is for this reason that after the command اتقوا الله (Fear Allah…) Allah Ta`ala has commanded us to :
كونوا مع الصادقين (Be with the truthful ones…) In other words, those who are true and sincere in their piety and fear of Allah. Because it is through the company of these sincere people who are always fearful of Allah Ta`ala, that Allah Ta`ala will grant us the tawfeeq to make sincere repentance.

(Irshadat-e-Dard-e-Dil; Pg. 243 )

“Happiness and contentment in life is not based on wealth, but on the joy of oneself and the soul (spiritual self). Spiritual happiness is based on the relationship with the Deen and Allah Ta’aala. Thus, a person who has Deen but little material possessions has a pleasant life. On the other hand, without Deen the Dunya (material possessions) also becomes unpleasant.

If a person possessing wealth is seen to be in happiness then it is either because of the portion of Deen that he has in him or the observer has been fooled by the external condition of that person. If his internal condition is investigated, nothing but distress and unhappiness will be found. It is also possible the observer is unaware of the reality of genuine happiness. He (the observer) has taken superficial comfort to be true happiness. The secret is that true happiness and contentment is different and the means of happiness is different. (Do not misunderstand the material means and possessions to be actual happiness).
If those material things which people consider to be the means of happiness are not so, then Wallaah! In reality they are Adhaab – punishment. Allah Ta’aala says in the Qur’aan:

وَلاَ تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَالُهُمْ وَ أَوْلاَدُهُمْ إِنَّمَا يُرِيْدُ اللهُ أَنْ يُّعَذِّبَهُمْ بـِهَا فِى الدُّنْيَا وَ تَزْهَقَ أَنْفُسُهُمْ هُمْ كٰفِرُوْنَ

And do not let their wealth nor their offspring impress you. Allah’s plan is to punish them with these things in this world, and that their souls shall depart while they are disbelievers. (Surah Taubah)

It is not necessary that a person in possession of the material means of comfort be in actual comfort. Also, it does not necessarily mean a person not in possession of these material things is not happy and contented.

It is the way of Allah to deprive a person from comfort who is neglectful towards the Deen. Neglect towards the Deen results in the destruction of worldly comfort too. “

- Hakeem-ul-Ummah Hazrat Thanwi (RA)

Hazratwala (DB) mentioned once that those whom Allah is pleased with will automatically be given paradise.  The actual goal is to attain the pleasure of Allah.  We ask for paradise because it is the residence of the lovers of Allah.