Emulating the Pious

Hazrat Shaikh Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya (rahmatullahi ‘alaih) once mentioned:

I have heard our buzrugaane-deen and pious elders say: ‘Those who only look at the last portion of our lives and aspire to become like us will not succeed in acquiring their goal. On the contrary, those who look at the earlier phase of our lives and wish to emulate us, they will be successful. The reason for this is that the earlier part of our lives was spent in continuous striving in the path of Allah Ta’ala and making great sacrifices for Deen. As for the latter part of our lives, Allah Ta’ala has blessed us with great ease and comfort and allowed the fruits of our efforts to flow far and wide. Hence, the one who views the latter portion of our lives and makes that the standard for him to follow, he will not succeed in acquiring his goal. (Suhbate Baa Awliyaa pg.55)