Controlling of Nafs

Unusual way to stay awake

The King of Saints, Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (Ghaus-e-Azam) (R.A), was reported to have said to His disciples, “For forty years I made wuzu for Isha and read Fajr with the same wuzu. Every single day for fifteen years I would finish the whole Quran in the Nafl after Isha. At the beginning, I would fasten a rope around my waist and the other end to a hook in the wall so that if I did fall asleep, I would wake up due to the pull.”

“One night while I was worshipping, my Nafs gave me some advice that I was tired so I should go to sleep for a while and then pray. In order to punish my Nafs for giving me this negative advice, I stood on one leg and finished the whole Quran”. (Bahja-tul-Qadiriya &Bahja-tul-Asrar wa ma 'danul anwaar, P118)

Inscription serving as a warning

Hazrat Sayyiduna Abu Zakariya Teemi (R.A) said, “Khalifa Sulaimaan bin Abdul Malik was in Masjid-e-Haram when a rock with an inscription was brought to him. He called for a person who could read the inscription. A while later, Hazrat Wahab bin Munab'bhi (R.A) came and read the inscription”.

“It said, O’Son of Aadam! (A.S) If you knew how close death was, you would stop making long plans and would not dream about earning worldly wealth. Remember! If your feet slip, you will be embarrassed and ashamed on the Day of Judgment”.

“Your friends and family will be fed up with you and will leave you in pain and distress. You will be separated from your mother and father and your loved ones. Your children and your close relations won't help you. You won't be able to return to the world and neither will you be able to do anymore good deeds”.

“Prepare something for the Hereafter before that time of embarrassment comes”. (Dammul hawa, Chapter 50. P498, Dar-ul-Kutubul llmiva Beirut)

Hazrat Abdullah Bin Umar (R.A) reported that the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W) caught hold of my shoulder and said, “Live in this world as if you are a stranger or one who is passing through.” Ibne Umar (R.A) used to say, “When you enter the evening, do not expect to see the morning and when you enter the morning, do not expect to see the evening. Take something from your health for your illness and something from your life for your death”. (Bukhari Shareef)