A young man, 32 years old, feels weary of life and wishes he had never existed. Despite his success in life and his faith in God, he desires neither Paradise nor Hell, nor does he wish to feel the pain of death. He quotes Mary’s words, "Oh, would that I had died before this and had become a thing forgotten, completely forgotten." He speaks of the trust (amanah) that the heavens and the earth refused to bear but which man bore, and he wishes he were like a rock or a tree in a forest that neither feels nor speaks.

You are a weak creature, created by Allah Almighty, and you had no choice in your creation. You bore the trust of divine commandments, and you were not given a choice in that either. You must hope for Paradise and strive for it. True fear leads to obedience and action, not to despair and hopelessness. Allah Almighty is the Creator, He creates what He wills, and everything besides Him is a created, subservient, weak being, dependent on Him. Praiseworthy fear is that which drives the servant to flee to Allah and strive in His obedience.