The world is gathering its skirts and has announced its departure. Its familiar things have become strange, and it is rapidly retreating, pushing its inhabitants toward annihilation and driving those who dwell in its vicinity toward death. Its sweet (pleasures) have become bitter, and its clear and pure (moments) have become turbid. From the world, only as much remains as a little water saved in a vessel or a measured sip of water that, if a thirsty person drinks it, will not quench his thirst. O servants of Allah! Make up your mind to leave this world, for which decline is a certain matter for its inhabitants. Lest desires overcome you and you consider the duration of this few-days life to be long. By Allah, if you cry like those she-camels who have lost their young, and wail like those pigeons (who have been separated from their companions), and scream like those reclusive monks who have left their homes, and also raise your hands from wealth and children, for the purpose that you may attain nearness to the divine court with the elevation of rank in His presence, or with the forgiveness of those sins that are recorded in the book of deeds and remembered by the noble scribes, then all that restlessness and wailing, in view of the reward I hope for you and in consideration of the punishment I fear for you, will be very little. By Allah! Even if your hearts completely melt and your eyes shed blood from hope and fear, and you live forever (in that state), your deeds, even if you have left no stone unturned, cannot repay the forgiveness of His great blessings and guidance toward faith.