Neither the first nor the last

You are not the first person who has whatever you have, nor are you the last person. Before you, there were those who possessed whatever you possess and after you also, there will be people who will possess whatever you possess. One's beginning is from soil and one's end will also be in soil.

Before you, there were those who were very rich but look for them today! One will not even find a trace of them. The thing that you possess did not start with you and it will not end with you. Before you, there were rich people and after you also, there will always be. In this manner, one must contemplate. One must take the example of those who have already left before one. Wealth, beauty, popularity, honour will all come to an end when one goes under the ground. Only those things that were used to please one's Rabb which will be beneficial. That small amount of money which you spent secretly, those few Tasbeeh which you did while praising your Rabb, those few drops of tears that you shed for your Rabb, are the things that will be beneficial for you. Imagine for a while if you perform five times Salaah on time, observe the fasts of Ramadhaan, recites a little of Qur'aan daily and distances yourself from all those things that displease your Rabb, then how beneficial will it be for you in the future!

[English version of "Pas premier pas dernier" – Al Jamiat – Vol.5 No.10]