a wooden beam would be fastened to the donkey’s back, and as it walked in circles the millstone would turn and grind the grain.

Likewise, the man who is flung into Hell will revolve around his own intestines—Allah’s refuge is sought—just as the donkey circles the mill. The people of Hell will gather around him and say, “What is the matter with you? What brought you here when you used to command what is right and forbid what is wrong?” He will admit, “I did indeed command what is right, yet I did not do it.” He would tell the people: “Pray!” but he would not pray; “Give zakah on your wealth!” but he would not give it; “Be dutiful to your parents!” but he was not dutiful to his own. In short, he enjoined good but failed to practice it himself.

“And I used to forbid evil, yet I committed it.” He would say to others, “Do not backbite; do not consume riba; do not cheat in sales; do not mistreat your spouses; do not harm your neighbors,” and other forbidden acts. Yet he himself would fall into them—Allah’s refuge is sought—trading in riba, cheating, mistreating, and harming his neighbors. Thus he commanded good without doing it and forbade evil while indulging in it—may Allah grant us safety. For that he will suffer this punishment and bear this disgrace.

It is therefore obligatory for a person to begin with his own soul: command it to do good and forbid it from evil, for after the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) no one has a greater claim upon you than your own self:

Start with your own self and curb it from its stray desire;
When it refrains, you will be truly wise.

Begin with yourself, then strive to advise your brethren—enjoining them to good and forbidding them from evil—so that you may be righteous and a reformer. We ask Allah to make me and all of you among the righteous who reform others. He is Most Generous, Ever Kind.