Assalmu 'alikum
(sample)Imam al-Ghazali ra My dear beloved son translation with Urdu original.
ghazali.org/books/My%20Dear%20Beloved%20Son.doc
My dear beloved son! Knowledge without actions is madness and actions without knowledge are useless. The knowledge that today, does not keep you away from sins and that does not evoke in you the desire to obey Allah, remember, will not save you tomorrow from Hellfire. If you do not perform righteous deeds today and do not make up for the time you wasted in the past then on the Day of Judgment you will be saying:
“Ferje’yna Na’mal Saaliha.â€
“Send us back [to the world, O our Lord!] so that we [can] perform the righteous deeds.â€
Then it will be said to you:
“O you the mindless one! That is where you are coming from.â€
My dear beloved son! Create courage in yourself and create movement in your body for struggle [on the Path of God]. Make efforts for performing pious deeds because then you will be going to the grave. Those, who already are in the grave before you, are waiting for you every moment to see when you come to them. Beware! Without fruits (good deeds) do not even get close to them. Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be pleased with him) says:
“Hazihil Ajsaadu Qafasut Tuyouri Awo Astabalud Dawab.â€
“These bodies are either cages of birds or dwellings of animals.â€
So think where you are in? If you are in the cage of birds then when you will listen to “Irji’I ila Rabbika!†“Return to your Lord!â€, you [will be liberated and] will fly to a very high place to sit.
“Ihtuzza ‘Arshur Rahmaani Limauti Sa’adibne Muadh.â€
“The Throne of the Compassionate One shook with the death of Sa’ad bin Muadh.â€
But God forbid if you are among the animals for whom it has been said:
“Uulaaika Kal An’aami Bal Hum Adallu.â€
“These people are like animals yet even more misguided.â€
Be certain that you will arrive carrying your luggage from the place of Zawiya (spiritual retreat) to the place of Hawiya (Hell), i.e., from this world to straight to the Hell. Once Shaykh Hasan Busri (May Allah shower His Mercy upon him) was given cold [and sweet] drink. As soon as he took it in his hand he took a sigh and fell unconscious. When he regained consciousness, people asked him what had happened to him. He replied:
“Zakartu Umniyyata Ahlin Naari Heena Yaquluna Le Ahlil Jannati Un Uufidu ‘Aleyna Minal Ma’i.â€
“I remembered the wish of the inhabitants of Hell when they will plead to the inhabitants of Paradise to give them a little water.â€
O beloved! If knowledge without actions had been sufficient for you and if you did not need actions then why Allah, the Exalted, would say at the dawn:
“Hul Min Ta ibin Hul Min Sa ilin Hul Min Mustaghfirin.â€
“Is there anyone who repents from sins? Is there anyone who asks [Me of anything]? Is there anyone who begs [Me] for forgiveness?â€
Then this proclamation of Allah, the Exalted, would have been useless. In fact, this proclamation of Allah, the Exalted, at dawn is for:
“Kanu Qaleelum Minal Laili Ma Yahja’oon.â€
“There are only a few [slaves of Allah] who sleep little in the last part of the night [right before dawn which is a blessed time for coming close to Allah].â€
Once a group of companions were praising Abdullah bin Umar (May Allah be pleased with them both) in front of the Messenger of Allah (May Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) on which the Messenger of Allah (May Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Nay’mur Rajula Huwa Lau Kana Yusalli Bil Laili.â€
“He is a good man. I wish he prayed the Tahajjud prayers (optional prayers in the blessed last part of the night before dawn which is indispensable for making spiritual progress in the Path of Allah).â€
One day the Messenger of Allah (May Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said to a companion:
“La Takthirin Nauma Bil Laili Fainna Kathratan Naumi Bil Laili Tad’oo Sahibahu Faqirai Yaumal Qiyamati.â€
“Do not sleep too much at night because the one who sleeps too much at night will be empty handed on the Day of Judgment (i.e. he/she did not avail the opportunity of coming close to Allah through Allah’s remembrance, prayers, and devotions to Allah at night especially in its last part).â€
“Waminal Laili Fatahajjad Bihi Nafilatal Laka.â€
“[O Beloved Prophet! (May Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)] And in [the last] part of the night perform the Tahajjud prayers [for the sake of Allah] which will be very beneficial for you.†(Quran)
In the above verse, it’s a commandment from Allah to His Prophet (May Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him).
“Wa Bil Ashaarihum Yustaghfiroon.â€
“And those [true slaves of Allah] at the time before dawn, plead for Allah’s forgiveness.†(Quran)
In the above verse, there is an expression of gratitude [from Allah to such slaves].
“Wul Mustaghfireena Bil Ashaari.â€
“And those [true slaves of Allah] seek [Allah’s] forgiveness at the time before dawn.†(Quran)
In the above verse, there is a mentioning [of such slaves of Allah].
Our master of both the worlds, the Messenger of Allah (May Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) says:
“Allah, the Exalted, really likes three sounds: of the rooster [that wakes people up for Tahajjud prayers], secondly of the recitation of the Holy Quran, and thirdly of those who in the last part of the night plead to Allah, the Exalted, for His forgiveness and repent [to Him].â€
Shaykh Sufyan Suri (May Allah shower His Mercy upon him) [who was an intimate of Allah], says:
“Inna Allaha Ta’ala Khalaqa Reehun Tahabbu Waqtal Ashaari Tahmilul Azkaara Wal Istighfaara Ilal Malikil Jabbari.â€
“Allah, the Exalted, has created a wind, that blows in the last part of the night. At that time, those [slaves of Allah] who engage in Allah’s remembrance and ask [Allah for His] forgiveness, their voices are presented [by this wind] to the Court of Allah, the Exalted.â€
Shaykh Sufyan Suri (May Allah shower His Mercy upon him) has also said:
“When the night begins, an angel from beneath the Throne (of Allah) makes the proclamation that all the worshippers should wake up, so those who are granted Tawfiq (good fortune/capability) by Allah get up and start praying. In the middle of the night, a second angel makes the proclamation that all obedient and respectful slaves of Allah should get up. Thus they get up and continue to pray until Sehr (the last blessed part of the night). When it’s time for Sehr then a third angel makes the proclamation that all those who seek Allah’s forgiveness should get up. Thus they get up and seek Allah’s forgiveness. When it’s time for dawn, then a fourth angel makes the proclamation ‘O you the heedless ones! Get up [the day break has come]!’ Then these people get up from their beds like the dead will get up from their graves [upon resurrection on the Day of Judgment].â€
Wa salam