Imam Ali As-Sajjad (‘as) said:
The character of the abstinent from the worldly pleasures and the desirous for the life to come is that they desert every mate and associate, and they abandon every friend that does not take their trend. The very wisher for the reward of the life to come is the abstinent from the transitory pleasures of this world, the ready for death, and the hardworking who precede caution before the fall of death and the coming of the inevitable event. God the Majestic says:
When death approaches one of the unbelievers, he says, ‘Lord, send me back again (23:99).
So that perhaps I shall act righteously for the rest of my life.’ (23:100).
You should regard your residence in this world as the residence of that who is returned to it and feeling regret for the past negligence of good doing.
O servants of God, you should know that he who anticipates waylaying leaves (laying on) the pillow, refrains from sleeping, and abstains from some of food and drink. This is for those who fear a powerful one in this world. Woe to you, son of Adam, how should you behave when you anticipate the waylaying of the powerful Lord, His painful attack, and His ambush for the committers of sins and acts of disobedience to Him, including the strikers of death at night and in day? That is surely the inescapable waylaying from which there is no shelter or getaway.
O believers, imitate the people of conviction and God-fearing in their fear of God’s waylaying, for God says:
This is for those who are afraid of Me and of My warning. (14:14).
Beware of the pleasures, deceit, and evils of this world and remember the harm that is originated from inclination to it, for its ornamentation is a trial and the fondness of it is a sin.
Woe is you, son of Adam, the severity of the gluttony, nature of the inclination (to this world), drunkenness of the satiation, deception of authority—all these matters cause laziness and tardiness from acting, make one forget the reference (to God), and divert from the imminence of death. Those who are afflicted with the fondness of this world are as same as the mad out of in-ebriety.
The mindful of God, the fearful of Him, and the hardworking for His sake train themselves and accustom to tolerate starvation, so that they will not long for satiation, in the same way racehorses are trained for competitions.
O servants of God, fear God like the fearing of those who desire for gaining His rewards and those who shrink from His punishment. God has certainly had enough excuses, warned, wrought up, and frightened. Nevertheless, you neither long for the abundant reward of which He has promised and work for it, nor do you fear the painful punishment with which He has threatened and stop. In His Book, He has told you that,
The reward of the righteously striving believers will not be neglected. We are keeping the record of their good deeds. (21:94).
He, the Exalted, then cited examples for you in His Book and simplified the evidences so that you may beware of the transitory pleasures of this world. He said:
Your property and children are a trial for you, but the reward (which one may receive from God) is great. (64:15).
Fear God as much as possible, listen, and obey.
Fear God and learn lessons from the examples that God cite.
I am sure that most of you were fagged by the consequences of your acts of disobedience to God before you could beware of them. Moreover, they (these acts of disobedience to God) injured the religion of most of you before you detest them. You should have heard God censuring and belittling them as He says:
Know that the worldly life is only a game, a temporary attraction, a means of boastfulness among yourselves and a place for multiplying your wealth and children. It is like the rain, which produces plants that are attractive to the unbelievers. These plants flourish, turn yellow, and then be-come crushed bits of straw. In the life hereafter there will be severe torment or forgiveness and mercy from God. The worldly life is only an illusion. (57:20).
Compete with one another to achieve forgiveness from your Lord and to reach Paradise, which is as vast as the heavens and the earth, and is prepared for those who believe in God and His Messenger. This is the blessing of God and He grants it to whomever He wants. The blessings of God are great. (57:21).
God also says:
Believers, have fear of God. A soul must see what it has done for the future. Have fear of God for He is All-aware of what you do. (59:18).
Do not be like those who forget about God. He will make them forget themselves. These are the sinful people. (59:19).
O servants of God, fear God, ponder over Him, and work for that for which you have been created. God has definitely not created you out of play and He will not leave you vainly after He has introduced Himself to you, sent His messengers, and revealed His Book in which He has presented the legal and illegal matters in addition to His arguments and examples.
Fear God Who has claimed against you (thoroughly). He said:
Have We not given him two eyes, (90:8).
a tongue, and two lips? (90:9).
Have We not shown him the ways of good and evil? (90:10).
This is God’s claim against you.
Do your best in the field of fearing God as long as all power belongs to Him and all entrustment is to Him.
God bless Muhammad the Prophet and his family.