Our Reality, If We Take Heed

[Shehzad Sattar]

Fudhayl Ibn Iyadh (may Allah have mercy upon him) said:

Oh unfortunate one! You are a wrong doer but you see yourself as a good doer, and you are an ignorant person but you see yourself as a scholar, and you are stingy but you see yourself as generous, and (you are) a fool but you see yourself an intelligent one, your time is short but your hopes are big.

Imam Ath-Thahabi said, commenting on this statement:

Yes! By Allah, He spoke the truth, and you are an oppressor but you see yourself as oppressed, and (you are) a consumer of unlawful things and you see yourself as pious, and (you are) a evil doer but you see yourself as upright (in your actions), and (you are) a seeker of knowledge for this world and you see yourself as a seeking it for Allah.

Taken from Siyar A'lam an-Nubala.
Translated by Hussain Suleman Abdul Sattar.