Sharpen Yourself

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

The final straw which caused Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali to break the bonds with this world came one day when his brother Ahmad entered while he was preaching and recited:

أَخَذْتَ بِأَعْضَادِهِمْ إِذْ وَنُوا
وَخَلَّفَكَ الْجُهْدُ إِذْ أَسْرَعُوا 

You helped them in their state of weakness 
Yet you were left behind as they sped ahead of you.

وَأَصْبَحْتَ تَهْدِي وَلاَ تَهْتَدِي
وتُسْمِعُ وَعْظًا وَلاَ تَسْمَعُ

 You took upon the role of a guide, yet you were not guided
 You preach but do not listen (to yourself).

فَيَا حَجَرَ الشَّحْذِ حَتَّى مَتَى
تَسُنُّ الْحَدِيدَ وَلاَ تَقْطَعُ

O whetstone, for how long
will you whet iron, but will not (be sharp enough to) cut?