You are the nearest to Allah

Sayyidunā Ꜥ Īsā  عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم  once passed by three men whose bodies were weak and whose colour was changed. He  عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم  asked: What has brought you to this state?  They replied: Fear of the fire of Hell. He  عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم  said: It is the promise of Allah to grant safety from Hell to those who fear it. He  عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم  then passed by three other people who were weaker than the previous ones and their colour had changed even more. He  عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم  asked them: What has brought you to this state? They replied: Yearning for Paradise. He  عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم  said: It is the promise of Allah to grant you what you yearn for. Then he   عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم  passed by three other people who were weaker than the previous groups, their colour had changed more but their faces were shining like mirrors of light. Sayyidunā ꜤĪsā  عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم  said to them: What has brought you to this state? They replied: We love Allah Almighty. Sayyidunā ꜤĪsā  عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم  said three times: You are the ones closest to Allah Almighty.

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                                     صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

O lovers of the Awliyā! Reflect for a moment! This is the state of people when they are immersed in Divine love! These great personages are mindful of the rights of Allah Almighty and His servants. They have immense love for virtuous deeds and deep hatred for sins. Abundant worship of Allah weakens their bodies and changes their complexion.

On the other hand, today a large number of people have become non-practising. They neither care for the rights of people, nor feel remorse for violating the rights of Allah Almighty. Performing good deeds has become very difficult for the nafs, whereas committing sins has become all too easy. Empty Masājid and crowded entertainment venues [where men and women mix] bring grief and anguish to the hearts of sincere and devoted Muslims. The number of people misusing TV, internet and social media is not small. The excessive striving to fulfil worldly needs and acquire comforts has made the vast majority of Muslims utterly heedless of the Hereafter.

Countless sins are fearlessly committed in our society like swearing, slandering, harbouring ill opinions of others, backbiting, tale-bearing, fault-finding,