Quran 59:19 states:
Do not be like those who forget God and so God causes them to forget their own selves—they are indeed rebellious.
One day, Ākhūnd-e Kāshī, may God have mercy on him, was busy with ablutions when someone came in a hurry. This person hurriedly performed ablutions, entered the mosque, and stood for the ritual prayer. Because Ākhūnd-e Kāshī always performed ablutions with great care, observing every minor detail and pronouncing every last supplication, by the time he had finished, that man had already finished the noon and the afternoon prayers, and was exiting the mosque when he came face to face with the Ākhūnd.
Ākhūnd-e Kāshī asked, “What did you just do?”
The man said, “Nothing.”
Ākhūnd-e Kāshī said, “You didn’t do anything?”
The man said, “Nope.”
Ākhūnd-e Kāshī said, “Didn’t you perform the ritual prayer?”
The man said, “No.”
Ākhūnd-e Kāshī said, “But I saw you perform the ritual prayer with my own eyes.”
The man said, “No, sir, you’re mistaken.”
Ākhūnd-e Kāshī said, “So then what did you do in there?”
In response, the man said something that had a profound effect on the Ākhūnd. He said, “I just came to tell God that I’m no rebel and I haven’t forgotten you—that’s all.”
For a long time thereafter, whenever anyone would ask the Ākhūnd how he was doing, he would say, “I’m no rebel. My friends and I are no rebels, God. We’re your slaves and if we’ve made a mistake, it was out of ignorance. If nothing else, then accept this much from us.”
One of the basic tenets of Islam is that a person should be in a constant state of the remembrance of God and that his religiosity should not just be for appearances. If a person doesn’t forget God, then, even if he were to slip up, he would still remain in the light of guidance and he would ultimately be felicitous.
I first heard this anecdote from a graduate student and subsequently read it on hawzahnews.com.
Subhan Allah! Two jumu'ahs ago, I tried a new masjid in the Bay Area. The Imam, who is an Iranian for a 100% desi congregation, told this exact story!