Al-Fudayl Ibn ‘Iyaad (may Allah have mercy upon him) stated:

O poor one, you are one who does evil but you see yourself as one who does good. You are ignorant but you see yourself as one who is knowledgeable. You are one who is stingy but you see yourself as being generous. You are an idiot but you see yourself as being one who is intelligent. Your appointed time is short but your hope (for life) is long.

Imam adh-Dhahabee (may Allah have mercy upon him) stated commenting on the statement of al-Fudayl:

By Allah he (Al-Fudayl) has spoken the truth. And (I add) that you are an oppressor but you see yourself as being one who is oppressed. You are one who consumes the Haraam but you see yourself as being one who is fearful of Allah. You are a criminal but you believe that you are just. You are one who seeks knowledge for the Dunyaa and you see yourself as being one who seeks knowledge for Allah.

Source: Siyar ‘Alaam an-Nubalaa, vol. 8, pg. 440

Translated by Abu Yusuf Khaleefah
21st of Rabee’ ath-Thaani, 1436 H (02-10-2015)
Masjid Nur Allah, Queens, NYC

Original Arabic

!انتبه من غفلتك يا مسكين

:قال الفضيل بن عياض رحمه الله تعالى

يا مسكين أنت مسيء وترى أنك محسن! ، وأنت جاهل وترى أنك عالم! ، وتبخل وترى أنك كريم! ، وأحمق وترى أنك عاقل
!أجلك قصير، وأملك طويل

!قال الإمام الذهبي رحمه الله معلقا : إي والله صدق

!وأنت ظالم وترى أنك مظلوم ! ، وآكل للحرام وترى أنك متورع ! وفاسق وتعتقد أنك عدل! وطالب علم للدنيا وترى أنك تطلبه لله

(سير أعلام النبلاء (440/8