Once the great Imam Al-Ghazali gathered with his disciples and asked six questions.
The first question was
“What is the closest thing to us in this world?”
His students have answered the parents, teachers, friends, and relatives.
Al-Ghazali replied:
“Those are quite correct but the closest to us is ‘DEATH’ because it was the promise of Allah Almighty that every soul shall taste death.” (Ali Imran 185)
Then the second question was
“What is the furthest from us in this world?”
His students answered China, moon, sun and stars.
Al-Ghazali replied:
“Those are quite correct but the furthest from us is ‘THE PAST’ because in whatever the circumstances, whoever we are and whatever vehicle we use we cannot return to the past. Therefore we have to keep this day and the days that will come with a deed in accordance with the teachings of Islam.”
The third question was
“What is the biggest in this world?”
His students answered the mountain, earth and sun.
Al-Ghazali replied:
“Those are quite correct but the greatest of which is the ‘DESIRE’. So we must be careful of our own desires. Don’t let them lead us to the Hellfire.” (Al A’raf 179)
The fourth question was
“What is the heaviest in this world?”
His students answered steel, iron, and elephants.
Al-Ghazali replied:
“Those are quite correct but the heaviest of all is ‘HOLDING TRUST’ Plants, animals, mountains, angels, and all creation of Allah could not bear to caliph (leader/vicegerents) on Earth when Allah asked them to. However, human beings were proud in carrying out this favour that led most of them to Hellfire due to their failures of keeping trust. (Al Ahzab 72)
The fifth question was
“What is the lightest in this world?”
His students answered wind, dust, cloud and cotton.
Al-Ghazali replied:
“Those are quite correct but the lightest for human is ‘LEAVING THE SALAAT (five times prayer)’ because of jobs and business.”
The last question was
“What is the sharpest in this world?”
His students responded in unison, sword.
Al-Ghazali replied:
“That is quite correct but the sharpest of all is ‘THE TOUNGE’. Because of it, Man can easily backbite and hurt his brothers.”
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