Page 71 - Why Do You Deceive Yourself ?

The Advantages of Sincerity Over Self-Deception 69
other way. The finest and most beneficial way for a person is to be con-
stantly aware that each moment brings him a little closer to death and
the Day of Judgment, and that every act and every thought which
crosses his mind is known to Allah.
Know that this is the way which leads to sincerity towards Allah
and that it is actually the simplest. After a little thought and a clear de-
cision, a person can live his entire life in the clarity of knowledge
which that decision brings. Once he gains this clarity of knowledge, it
will not allow him to do himself any serious damage by deceiving

himself.
Do not forget that deceiving yourself is like playing with fire.
While a person is enjoying himself and devoting himself wholly to
worldly things, he may at any moment find angels at his side who
have come to take his life. Will he be able to continue the same game
and the same deception when the angels, as a verse of the Qur'an has
it, "pluck out harshly"?
Will he be able to say, "How well I have done. Throughout my life
in the world I have eaten, drunk, traveled, enjoyed myself and ignored
my responsibilities and my duty of obedience"? Of course not. This is
an idea which would not occur even to the most heedless person. On
the contrary, at that moment he will experience indescribable panic
and terror, and that is just the beginning. When he enters the gates of
Hell this terror and remorse will be unbearable, and he will suffer eter-

nal torment.
This is a truth which should not be neglected even for only a mo-
ment. Allah points this out in the Qur'an and describes the remorse
and helplessness of the ones who deceive themselves as follows:
Turn to your Lord and submit to Him before punishment
comes upon you, for then you cannot be helped. Follow the