On This Long Winding Road
Ali bin Abi Talib (radiyallahu anh), who was blessed with the honor of being the son-in-law of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), one of the first believers, one of the Ashara al-Mubashara (the ten companions who were blessed with Jannah while in the world) and one of the Rashidun (Four Great Caliphs) said:
“My son! Look at yourself with an inward eye to measure how you would react in assessing your behaviors towards others. Do not do unto others what you do not want done unto you. Do not oppress others just as you would not wish to be oppressed. Be good to others just as you would like others to be good to you. Compare everything to yourself. Do not tell about others what you do not want to be told about yourself. Know that as you treat others, others will treat you. Then, accept it. Do not demand or expect more than this.
Be brief in your discourses by statingthat you do not know even if you know a little. Be aware that you have a long road to walk ahead of you. Do not encumber yourself with more than what you need to walk the path. To journey on this path, you need to travel light. If a poor person asks to carry your weight in order to return it to you when necessary, seize the opportunity. Know that it is a blessing of Allah for you to be asked for a loanwhen in abundance to be reimbursed in times of hardship and scarcity.
Notice that the One who holds the heavens and the earth allowed you to pray to Him, promised to accept the prayers, and did not put any barriers between you and Himself. He opened the doors of repentance and let His mercy rain down on you when you sinned. He made purification from a sin an action that merits reward and made each sin be set down only as what it warranted while bestowing ten times the just reward for each good deed.
Those who have the day and the night as mount are in perpetual travel even if they stand still. Even if they remain seated, they continue to walk the path. This mount takes them across distances.
Do not be a slave to others,for Allah created you free. There is no good in what is obtained through wickedness. Stay away from depravity. It will bring you no benefit at all. On the contrary, these vulgar and worthless deeds will cause you to belittle yourself. Do not get caught up in covetous emotions.
It is easier to remedy an opportunity you miss by keeping silent than to get over the punishment for saying too much. If you keep company with good people, you will soon become one of them. Avoid leaning on empty dreams. That is the mainstay of the slackers. Ask Allah for help in all your affairs; there is no helper other than Him. I entrust you, your faith, and your life to Allah.”
