The Character of the Pious

ʿAllāmah ʿAbd al-Wahhāb Shaʿrānī r رحمه الله   writes in Aḥwāl al-Ṣ diqī that to fear Allāh giving one a bad death that will consequently veil him from Him in the fire of Hell is one of the qualities of the pious. Some of them used to remain so immersed in this anxiety that they didn’t even realise who was sitting near them.

Whenever Ḥasan al-Baṣrī رحمه الله heard the ḥadīth which informs that the last person to leave Hell will do so after one thousand years, he would say, ‘I wish for myself to be that person.’

He was asked, ‘Why do wish for this?’ He replied, ‘Will he not leave Hell [at some point]?’

In other words, there will undoubtedly be those who will forever remain in Hell, whereas this person is better than them, and there is a chance of me being one of them – something I dislike.

That is why I pray for myself not to be amongst those who will remain therein forever, but to be from those who will one day depart – even if that person is the very last one to leave, as he will at least be safe from this ordeal.

Sufyān al-Thawrī رحمه الله would say, ‘Whoever becomes content on his religion, Allāh will make him taste the repercussions of his fearlessness.’

Imām Abu Ḥanīfah رحمه الله used to say, ‘The Imaan of most people is seized at the time of death.

This is because Shayṭan digs deep and thus totally uses up his strength to lead astray. Very few survive his tricks. ُ

‘May Allāh safeguard us from him.’