Chapter VIII: Self-Examination and Self-Accounting
(1) First stage-Mosharata. The first stage of taking accounts of passion is to enter into an agreement with it before any action. The object of business of two partners is to get profit at the time of accounts of business. As a tradesman gets help from his partner and hands over to him capital for business and then takes account from his partner, so wisdom is the capital in the way of Allah for making profit in the world next. Its soul intention and profit is Tazkiatun Nafs or purification of one's soul from passion as there is success and salvation in it. God says: He who makes it pure gets salvation and he who corrupts it is destroyed - 91 : 9. His salvation depends on good works, and wisdom helps him in this business as it keeps it under control by keeping it engaged in works of correction. If the partner destroys the capital, he is considered as an enemy. For this reason terms and conditions are settled first with a partner. Secondly care is taken with regard to the principal money invested. Thirdly, the accounts are taken very strictly off and on. Fourthly if any defect is found, the partner is to be rebuked and if necessary punished. -Same is the case with the business of the affairs of the next world. Firstly conditions are to be settled with passion, duties are to be . fixed on it, the path of its salvation is to be shown, order is to be issued to it, so that it may tread the path and does not become careless for any moment. If it neglects it, it will be a loss to the principal. It then becomes like that treacherous servant who appropriates a property when he sees it left alone. Then at leisure time, it will take accounts of itself. This is a business of which the profit is eternal paradise and to live with the prophets and martyrs.
If strict accounts are taken in worldly affairs, how much is it necessary to take more strict accounts of one's actions for the attainments of happiness in the next world, as the latter is everlasting?
PRINCIPAL OF NEXT WORLD BUSINESS IS LIFE: Life is nothing but an accumulation of many breaths. So every breath is just a precious diamond which cannot be purchased with anything in the world. It is a priceless jewel which has got no substitute in value. So in movements, talks and in sorrows and happiness, such a priceless breath should not be spent in vain. To destroy it is to court destruction. An intelligent man cannot lose
336 THE BOOK OF CONSTRUCTIVE VIRTUES Vol-IV