Provisions for That Journey

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is extracted from Qadhi Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Salamah al-Qudha‘i’s (r.a.) “A Treasury of Virtues: Sayings, Sermons and Teaching of ‘Ali (k.w.)”. 

Sayyidina ‘Ali ibn Abu Thalib (k.w.) said, “You have been Created by God’s Power and are Ruled by His Might.  You will be placed in the grave and turn to dry bones.  Every one of you will be Resurrected alone and held accountable for your deeds. 

May God have Mercy on the man who, having sinned, confesses; fearful of Punishment in the hereafter, he performs good deeds; dreading it, he hastens to the Straight Path; having been Given a long life, he takes heed; Warned, he is driven back from error; answering, he comes back to God; when he wavers, he repents; when he emulates, he takes good people as an example.  He hastens to seek knowledge.  He flees from error and is Saved.  He gives away entire treasures.  He purifies his heart.  He prepares for the return, gathering provisions for his day of departure when he will set forth on his path, for his moment of need and for his time of want.  He assembles supplies beforehand to take to his final abode.”