Love Hurts

Every Wednesday, after a series of hard spars, I come home to nurse a bruised body in preparation for much the same the coming week.

And as I limp between each session, I think, "Am I like the man who drinks for a moment's pleasure to be drunk and foolhardy an entire night?"

But then I look to the grossly out of shape worshipper and think, "How can a man, losing battle with his visible body, expect to approach mastery of his hidden Nafs?"

Rise

O sleepy slothful soul,

the sun has risen and you are still down?

Rise and ask your sluggish self,

who is more in need of running its course,

the one who will give account,

or the one who has no will?

Introspection

Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said,

"Weigh your actions before they are weighed,

and reckon with yourself before you are reckoned with,

for today's reckoning will be easier than tomorrow's.

And prepare yourself for the great appearance

(of the Judgement Day)."

What a sound advice,

and so I look at the person I was yesterday and think,

"Damn I would hate to be him",

and then I look with greater certainty to the day before,

"Damn how much more I would hate to be him",

but then, what is this revulsion compared to

how much I would hate to not hate the person I was yesterday

and to be content with the person I am today.