Chapter VIII: Self-Examination and Self-Accounting
MEDITATION AND INTROSPECTION
God says in verse 21 : 47 - 1 will set up a just balance for the day of Resurrection and nobody will get injustice even a bit. I shall produce a thing even to the weight of a musrtard seed. I am sufficient as a Reckoner. God says in verse 18 : 49 : The Book of Deeds will be placed. You will then see the sinners afraid of what will be therein and they will say: O woe to us! What is this record which does not leave anything small and great unrecorded? They will find present what they did and your Lord oppresses nobody. God says: On the day when God will raise them up all, He will inform them what they did. God says: On that day, the people will come up separate in order that they may be shown their deeds. Whoso does a good deed to the weight of an atom shall see it. God says: Then everybody will be given fully what he earned and he will not be oppressed. God says: On the day when every man will see before him what he did of good and bad deeds, he will wish if a long time had elapsed between him and his deeds. God warns you of this. God says: Know that God knows what is in your mind. So fear Him.
Know for certain that He will hot give you salvation without introspection of your passions, correct movements good thoughts, examination of breaths and time. Who takes account of himself before his accounts are taken, his accounts easy on the resurrection day as his reply will be ready will be at the time of question and his resting place wfll be good. He who does not take account of himself and his activities will be driven tota place of dishonour and chastisement. So God advices the believers by saying: O those who believe take to patience, compete in religion and be ready always - 13 : 200.
SIX STAGE OF SPIRITUAL EFFORTS: There are six stages of efforts. - (1) The first stage is Mosharata that is to bind oneself in a firm tie by setting up condition with passion. (2) The second stage is Morakaba i.e. to guard oneself and examine passion by good thoughts. (3) The third stage is Mohasaba i.e. to take account of passions. (4) The fourth stage is Moakaba i.e. to punish passions. (5) The fifth stage is Mojahada i.e. to disobey the dictates of passions by constant efforts. (6) The sixth stage is
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Moataba i.e. to rebuke passions. The basis of these stages is Mohasabah or to take account of oneself.