The Definition and Destructiveness of Negligence
Negligence is when a person forgets the purpose of their creation, the constant observation (murakaba) of their Lord, and the absolute certainty of death, becoming immersed in the temporary pursuits of this world. Abdülkadir Geylani (q.s.) strongly advises people to gather their senses and “wake up from the sleep of negligence and wash your face with the water of clarity.” For a heart that forgets Allah gradually becomes spiritually blind; even if it performs acts of worship, it cannot go beyond a soulless form. Remaining negligent of the dealings and commands of Allah is the greatest calamity that can befall a servant 15; for those who are negligent take courage to sin by seeking refuge in Allah’s mercy.
Being the Son of Time: Making the Most of the Moment
In Sufi tradition, time is very precious; a person is obligated to give due consideration to the “moment” they are in. Ibn Ataullah al-Iskandari summarizes this as follows: “If you are in the world, your time is for the world; if you are in the hereafter, your time is for the hereafter. If you are joyful, your time is joy, if you are sorrowful, your time is sorrow.” That is to say, a person’s spiritual orientation shapes the meaning of their life accordingly. Struggling with past regrets or dreaming about the future (tul-i emel) causes the servant to lose the “present moment” they have in hand (waktu fevt). True reliance on Allah involves purifying time from the ambiguity of expectation by not grieving over the past and not looking towards the future.
Preserving Time and Eternal Salvation
For those who possess gnosis, the greatest act of worship is to spend every breath in the remembrance and presence of Allah. “The most virtuous of acts of obedience is preserving time.” The servant should spend their time not for the desires of their ego, but in accordance with the pleasure of Allah. For a servant who manages time well and spends their time in remembrance, contemplation, and service, the afterlife becomes an abode of eternal happiness. It must be remembered that those who awaken spiritually by attaining the secret of “dying before death” in this world before the angel of death arrives have made the greatest preparation for the terrifying scenes of the hereafter while still in this life.