Imam al-Ghazali told a legend from the life of Isa ibn Maryam.
One day Isa saw people sitting dejectedly by the side of the road. He asked them:
- Why are you sad?
They answered him:
- We are saddened by the fear of hell.
Isa went further and, having walked a little, saw other people sitting in inconsolable sadness by the road in various poses.
“What bothers you so much?” he asked them.
“The desire for paradise plunged us into this state,” the people answered.
Leaving them, Isa continued on his way until he met a third group of people. It was clear from them that they had suffered a lot, but their faces shone with joy. Isa addressed them:
— What brought you joy?
People replied:
- Spirit of truth. We saw reality and it made us forget our secondary goals.
“These are truly people of achievement,” said Isa. “On the day of resurrection they will appear before the face of God.”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru