The day came and went, the sun rose and set, the night came and passed, stars appeared and disappeared – all of this, every particle of the universe, is an open book. It contains counsel and admonition for us. Would that we become those who fear, take admonition, and are   اُولِی الْاَبْصَار (i.e., those who reflect and view the world with an eye of admonition).

Statements of the noble saints regarding the eye of admonition

Sayyidunā Ḥātim al-Aṣamm رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه was asked, “How does a person become from the  اَھْلِ اِعْتِبَار (i.e., one who takes admonition)? He replied, “When he considers the end of everything in the world and reflects that this thing will soon perish, and very soon, its owner will also be buried in the grave.”^[1]

Sayyidunā Ḥātim al-Aṣamm رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه also stated: “The person from whose house a funeral procession leaves, and he does not take admonition from it, such a person gains no benefit from knowledge, wisdom, or counsel.”^[2]

How will we endure the heat of Hell?

Prophet Dāwūd عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم was deeply pious and conscious of divine retribution. One day, he passed by an oven where fire was burning. Seeing this reminded him of the fire of Hell. His heart became fearful, and in a state of restlessness, he fell to the ground and writhed so much that it was as if his joints would dislocate. During hot days, when Prophet Dāwūdعَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم stepped into sunshine, he would say, “O Allah! If we