Like a Drop of Water – Abdur Rahman’s Corner

Peace, one and all…

Beloved Dhu al-Nun al-Misri is reported to have said:

‘Know that the fear of hellfire is like a drop of water thrown into the great ocean compared to the fear of separation . I do not know anything that so seizes the heart as the fear of separation’.
Quoted in Attar’s Tazkerat al-Owliya

There is much to ponder and reflect on in these words. This heart is drawn to understand, and thus begin to cleanse, all that holds it back from Allah, from all that holds it back from true life. Ultimately, sin brings separation, a sense of inward rupture, and that fear of removal from Divine Presence runs deeply within. I am brought back to the words of our weekly zikr, before we begin our chant of astaghfirullah (‘God forgive me’):

‘As long as we are in this world, we are not free from faults, from mistakes, from sins and from separation. When we are reminded, we long to return to the One Who loves to forgive’.

The Quran says: ‘So flee to Allah’ (51:50), and so our task is to turn to Allah, to run from every unhelpful, harmful behaviour towards our Most Merciful Creator.