Hazrat Ibn Jalaa’ رحمه الله narrated that once while walking with Hazrat Zunnun Misri رحمه الله, he (Ibn Jalaa’ رحمه الله) intentionally stared at a very handsome lad. He said to Hazrat Zunnun Misri رحمه الله; “Hazrat! Will Allah Ta’ala really punish such a beautiful face?”
Hazrat Zunnun Misri رحمه الله said; “You will suffer the punishment of this evil gaze.”
Hazrat Ibn Jalaa’ رحمه الله said; “The consequence of my evil gaze surfaced twenty years later. I forgot the entire Qur’an Majeed.”
May Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله save us from the evil of our nafs and its calamities. Those who enjoy a lofty spiritual rank are severely punished for their sins and errors.
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Never Forget to Repent!
There are many pious people who at one stage had wallowed in sin and immorality. After reformation, their moral and spiritual life improved. With the passage of time, they sometimes become over-confident with the treasure of their piety. This develops into obliviousness of their past life of sin. Meanwhile, they have forgotten about Tawbah, labouring under the impression that their new found life of Taqwa and Tahaarah is an adequate compensation. The idea of their present of piety deceives them and lulls them into ghaflah (heedlessness). When one’s past life of transgression has been effaced without adequate repentance, one’s present state of piety sometimes produces over-confidence and even vanity which is an extremely subtle spiritual malady. Such pious people sometimes frown when they see others entrapped in sin and transgression; which once upon a time was their own lifestyle. The frown is evidence for the ujub (vanity) concealed in the folds of their Nafs. Therefore, occasional remembrance of one’s past state of corruption creates remorse and humility which diverts the gaze from one’s piety. It is essential to repent for all sins, those which one remembers and those which one cannot remember.
(Haven of Serenity)
Reflections
Let us never deceive ourselves when we are praised for our piety. In reality, the praises of people is in fact the mercy of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله where our sins have been concealed.