they were used for unlawful earning, impermissible food and other prohibited actions. Our eyes will testify that they were used to look at  impermissible and obscene things. Our ears will relate that music and indecent conversations were heard with pleasure. The tongue will reveal that one was guilty of backbiting, lying, tale-bearing, and swearing. How will we save ourselves when our very own limbs testify against us? What excuse will we give? 

O those who love Allah’s Messenger! This Earth, day, night, the angels who record our deeds and even our limbs are witnesses over us. So how can we go about saving ourselves? Will we have a justified explanation? Of course not, but we do not understand, as we have no concern for these important issues and forget the Hereafter entirely. We have become heedless in worldly pleasures. Salvation is difficult, and yet we still do not refrain from sin. 

Who is the most ignorant?  

Once Caliph ꜤAbd al-Mālik bin Marwān asked the saint Manṣūr Ibn ꜤAmmār رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه, “I have two questions, and I will give you a year to find the answer to them. The question is: who is most intelligent, and who is most ignorant?”

The saint Manṣūr رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه left the palace in search of an answer, but as soon as he reached an open area, he immediately turned back.  When the Caliph saw him, he asked, “So, Manṣūr, did you find the answer?”

“Yes. The most intelligent one is he who is in awe of his Lord despite doing good deeds, and the most ignorant is he who sins but does not fear the wrath of Allah,” replied Manṣūr.

On hearing this the Caliph wept and said, “O Manṣūr! By Allah, you are correct! Recite a verse to me from the cure of hearts (meaning, the Quran).”