A Brief and Tremendous Admonition Related to Self-Rectification Given By Khaalid Bin Safwaan to Umar Ibn Abdil Azeez
Ibraaheem Ibn Adham (rahimahullaah) said: It has reached me that Umar Ibn Abdil Azeez (rahimahullaah) said to Khaalid Ibn Safwaan (rahimahullaah), ”Admonish me and be brief”; so Khaalid said, ‘O Leader of the believers! Indeed there are a people who have been deceived by Allaah’s concealment of (their sins, blameworthy affairs, shortcomings etc) and are put to trial by the good praise (received from the people), so let not the ignorance of others about your (real state of affairs) prevail over what you know about yourself. May Allaah protect us and you from becoming deceived by Allaah’s concealment of (our real state of affairs), being delayed and negligent in that which Allaah has obligated and inclining towards desires.’ Ibraaheem said, ‘So he (Umar) wept and then said, ”May Allaah protect us and you from following desires.”
[Hilyatul Awliyaa 8/18]