525 – Muḥammad ibn Idrīs al-Ḥanẓalī told me; ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ismāʿīl ibn Yazīd ibn Ḥujr, the grandson of al-Awzāʿī through his daughter, narrated to us. He said: My father related that he had found, in your grandfather al-Awzāʿī’s notebooks and in his own handwriting, the following words:

“Child of Adam, work for your own soul and make haste, for you have already been given from every side. Wail like the lament of a shackled captive, and do not devote the remainder of your life to the world, chasing it to the ends of the earth. What of it has come to you is enough; you will soon surrender willingly. Therefore steel yourself for the day of your poverty and need. Remember the wakefulness of the people of Hell, in everlasting eternity, and fear that you might be turned away from Allah and cast into the Fire—so that this would be your last meeting with Allah and all hope would be cut off.

Recall that you are almost at the finish line and only a final breath remains. Aim straight, with patience and dignity. Do not crave to spend what is left of your life on this world. Take from it only what will carry you to the Hereafter, and leave whatever will distract you.”