The Path To Guidance

Ibn al-Qayyim said: "Get up (and hurry) in entering upon Allah and accompanying Him in the Home of Peace, without any tiredness, hardship or fatigue, but in fact by the nearest of paths and the easiest (of them). And this is (by realizing) that you are in a time between two times which is (what constitutes) your life, and this is the present time which is between what has passed and what is yet to come. Then that which has passed, you can correct by repentance, remorse and seeking forgiveness. This is something in which there will be no tiredness, fatigue, or any straining efforts (required on your behalf). It is (nothing but) the action of the heart ... And there is due from the servant to Allah, in every moment from his time, servitude which will advance him or bring him nearer to Allah. So if he spends his time in servitude to Allah, he will advance to His Lord and if he busies himself with desires, or relaxation or inactivity, he will lag behind. And the servant never ceases either to be moving forward or falling behind, and there is no stopping whilst on the path, ever." Every harm that enters upon a servant, is caused by the heart's corruption. The corruption of the heart in turn brings about the removal of the heart's right upon Allah, the Exalted, and a diminution of its degree and rank in the sight of Allah.