to me; Allah will surely forgive me; these narrations, punishments, and horrors are for others, not for me.”

O devotees of the Prophet! Do not think this way. Allah Almighty is Independent; He is not dependent upon anyone. I must ponder: what is the hidden plan of Allah regarding me? I must be concerned regarding this. Today I am a salah-offering person, but alas! If I fail to remain steadfast in prayer tomorrow, what will be my fate? Today I am righteous, but if this enablement is taken away from me tomorrow, what will become of me? Alas! I am unable to find enablement to repent; I am unable to abandon sins. If this is part of the hidden plan of Allah, and if I am unable to depart from this world with my faith intact, what will happen to me? Where will I go? At whose door will I then seek refuge?

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                          صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Would That I Were That Fortunate One!

Dear Islamic brothers! What will be the end of others? What is the hidden plan of Allah concerning the person sitting beside me? I do not need to worry about these matters. Rather, I must contemplate: what will be my own end? What is the hidden decree of Allah regarding me? Our noble elders were exactly like this; they would remain constantly anxious regarding their own end.

It is related concerning the renowned walī of Allah, Imam Ḥasan al-Baṣrī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه:

He once narrated a hadith which mentioned the very last person to enter Paradise. The essence of the narration was that when all the dwellers of Paradise have entered Paradise and all the denizens of Hell have reached Hell, one final individual will be brought out of Hell and admitted into Paradise.

Upon narrating this, Imām Ḥasan al-Baṣrī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه cried out in spiritual anguish: “Would that I were that last inhabitant of Paradise!” People asked: “Your eminence! Why are you saying so?” He رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه