This following piece by Ibn al-Jawzi (d.597H/1200CE) - Hanbali scholar, famous preacher, prolific author - is from his book Sayd al-Khatir. Part meditative, part autobiographical, part exhortational, the book is a rather frank account of his life, works, experiences, achievements, disappointments, hopes, burdens and aspirations. Since it was written over a period of twenty years,…