To understand the importance of Islaah we will present some examples.
In the Hadith Shareef Rasulullah is reported to have said that the fire of Jahannam will be kindled with an Alim, a generous person and a Mujahid. These people had done great work, the Mujahid had spent his entire life in Jihaad, the wealthy person had spent generously in the path of Allah, and the Alim had learnt and taught Deen, but Islaah was not done — therefore they did not have any Ikhlaas, thus the fire of Jahannam will be kindled with these three people.
We should not think of ourselves as Ulema and generous people. When these people had served Deen so greatly yet this will be their final result, then what will our condition be? Even though a person had served the Deen of Allah will have to go to Jahannam because he had not corrected his heart and made his Islaah.
Very similar to this, it is mentioned in the Hadith Sharif that on the day of Qiyamaah, there will be people who will have markings on their forehead due to their Tahajjud Salaah. In other words these people will be regarded as extremely pious, yet the angels will be grabbing them and throwing them headlong into the fire of Jahannam. Why? These people had used Deen for the sake of the Dunya (to acquire the worldly possession). They had carried out the various...