Useful work does not wear a person out. What exhausts a person is useless and harmful work. If a human being…

Useful work does not wear a person out. What exhausts a person is useless and harmful work. If a human being looks at his life and finds that he is not living as his heart would wish, he must realize that he is wasting his life. The waste of life is being busy with things that bring no benefit. Whether it is play and amusement or some other occupation — if a person has even a little conscience, then when he senses that he has done nothing useful for either this world or the Hereafter, he feels oppressed and falls into sorrow. If he does not grieve, then he is dead while still alive. For one who does useful work, it is important to discover the benefit of that work and to believe in it. If what he is doing today does not bear fruit tomorrow, there is no need to be upset: most great and mature results come from long years of unceasing work. A person who firmly believes, “I am busy now, I am occupied with the most necessary work,” and does not stop, will certainly see the result as the years go by. That honest result is entirely his. He owns it with a clear conscience and with joy. But one who did not labor, who showed no patience and fortitude, loses. After the years have passed, he is left empty-handed. A person who spends his time in useful work is at peace. Yes, he has not yet tasted the fruit of his work, but he is at peace, because he did not simply squander this time in vain; he did not live in sin and disobedience — and that is enough for comfort and consolation. On the contrary, one who lived idly — however much he deceives people about being busy with “great” deeds, even if all mankind thinks, yes, he really is busy — has this lie proven in two ways: first, the person understands in his heart that he is lying; second, tomorrow there will be no result in his hands. For there to be a result, one must work today. Action is needed today. Struggle is needed today. One must not stop. This gives strength for the next tasks, while lying drains a person's strength. Thus, one who does useful work does not tire: the work spurs him on to the next work. But the idler is exhausted; he has no strength for the next step, and remorse and regret devour him. One must strive for useful work right now.

Akrom MALIK