Even if a person possesses an atom's weight of faith within him, Allah ta'ala guarantees Paradise for him. Success is due to faith. Paradise is a unique place, and its greatness is beyond imagination.
We spend our days complaining about what we lack in our lives, and with this mindset we eventually leave this world. To avoid feeling this way in the Hereafter—that something is lacking, that we could have achieved more—we should pull ourselves together in this world, stop lamenting, and strive for our Hereafter while we still can. It would be foolish to spend our time crying in both worlds.
We should not settle for less in Paradise. Instead of serving time in Hellfire and then entering Paradise, we should make good use of our time in this world and strive for the highest levels of Paradise without first being punished in Hellfire.
We will be judged for our faith. We should submit ourselves completely to Allah ta'ala and avoid becoming arrogant over our achievements.
After faith, the greatest blessing is attaining guidance. Without guidance, we are unable to worship Allah ta'ala properly and fulfil our prayers. Those who abandon prayer yet consider themselves successful do not possess true guidance in their lives. Without guidance, a person cannot attain Paradise, and this is why we should strive to acquire it.
Allah ta'ala has promised sustenance for all of mankind, regardless of religion or race. However, Allah ta'ala does not grant guidance to every person.
Allah ta'ala grants guidance to those who desire it and sincerely seek it from Him.
Allah ta'ala loves the people of faith and does not desire that they leave this world without guidance. Therefore, for those who desire guidance, Allah ta'ala has granted prayer, through which we ask Him for guidance. He has made it compulsory for us to recite Surah Al-Fatihah and ask for guidance, and without it our prayer is not accepted. Such is His love for the believers that He causes them to repeatedly utter this supplication seeking guidance.
As a result of continually asking for guidance in prayer, we are granted the ability to sit in gatherings of dhikr.
If a non-Muslim sincerely seeks guidance from Allah ta'ala, Allah ta'ala showers him with mercy and protection and guides him. If a person then commits sins after embracing Islam, this is wrong. Instead, he should appreciate Allah ta'ala's mercy, refrain from wrongdoing, and avoid becoming attached to the world.
We are only required to possess a sincere desire for guidance and leave the rest to Allah ta'ala. When a person truly desires guidance, Allah ta'ala immediately sends him to the company of a WaliAllah—a Sheikh.
Hadhrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi رحمة الله عليه mentions that there are four things which Allah ta'ala instils within a person who sincerely desires guidance.
First, he is granted the company of a WaliAllah. This is the first door through which a person acquires guidance and success. Through this blessed company, Allah ta'ala brings him onto the straight path.
Without good company, one cannot succeed on this path. The Sahabah became great individuals due to the blessed company of the Prophet ﷺ.
We should not hesitate when it comes to connecting ourselves to a WaliAllah; otherwise, we will only deprive ourselves. Wherever you see genuine rectification taking place, attach yourself to that place.
Through the teacher, a person is granted the second blessing, which is the light of dhikr.
The third blessing is that he begins to protect himself from sins. When a student acquires the light of dhikr, that light spreads and illuminates his heart. The sign of this illumination is that the person begins to flee from unlawful actions and sins.
Through the company of his teacher, right and wrong become crystal clear. He no longer struggles greatly to abandon sins. He begins to implement the laws of Shariah properly. He compares his life and actions to the reality of the Hereafter.
He gives priority to Deen and dhikr. He asks himself:
"Will this job negatively affect my Deen?"
"Will this spouse negatively impact my Deen, or will she strengthen it?"
A person who lives his life in this manner will never fall into deception. He will live a happy and content life. He will not be obsessed with accumulating wealth. Rather, he will earn only enough to fulfil his needs. These are the people who are truly guided.
On the other hand, a person who chases the world will continually face difficulties. Those who migrate solely for worldly gains will remain dissatisfied throughout their lives.
The fourth thing Allah ta'ala grants such a person is regret. If he makes a mistake, he does not rest until he seeks forgiveness from Allah ta'ala.
When a person is granted all four of these qualities, he is truly a person who has received guidance.
The Noble Companions asked the Prophet ﷺ whether there was a sign by which a person who has attained guidance could be recognised.
Nabi ﷺ replied that such a person turns his face away from the world. He distances himself from worldly pleasures, desires the Hereafter, and prepares for death before it arrives. His actions bear witness to this preparation.
One does not require excessive effort to become a sincere friend of Allah ta'ala. Rather, he must possess a genuine desire to leave the world for the sake of Allah ta'ala.
It does not take a long time nor require extraordinary effort to become pious. Rather, a person becomes a WaliAllah through making a sincere commitment to abandon attachment to this deceptive world and to seek the Hereafter.
When a person meets a WaliAllah, he should visit him solely with the intention of rectifying himself. If he does not come with this intention and lacks a genuine yearning for self-improvement, he is simply wasting his time.
When a person approaches his Sheikh with the intention of improving himself, he becomes careful to avoid mistakes and willingly follows the instructions of his Sheikh.
We are required to make sacrifices. We should not chase this world, for this world will soon come to an end. If we love this world and pursue it excessively, we will be unable to enjoy our prayers and attain closeness to Allah ta'ala.
A person who prepares for the Hereafter does not become overly concerned with worldly matters. Instead, he constantly occupies himself with preparing for the life to come.
We must first possess a sincere desire and ask Allah ta'ala for guidance. He will never leave us empty-handed. Immediately, He begins preparing the means for our guidance and sends us to a WaliAllah. We enjoy his company and develop love for him because the spiritual greatness of the WaliAllah naturally attracts the student.
Those who possess a sincere desire for guidance are delivered by Allah ta'ala to Paradise along with all the rewards He has promised.
"As for those who are rightly guided, He increases them in guidance and grants them their God-consciousness." [47:17]
Through the company of the Sheikh, they are granted taqwa, and eventually they become high-ranking WaliAllahs whom all of creation recognises and respects.
May Allah ta'ala grant us the ability to implement these precious pearls of wisdom.
