Thursday, December 10, 2009

From being a governor to becoming a carpenter

One of the princes of antiquity was a governor and son of the Caliph. He lived a life of opulence in a large castle. Anything he wanted in this world was easy for him.
One day, looking down from a balcony in the castle, he saw a man toiling in the fields. On succeeding days, The prince paid more and more attention to the man and witnessed that he always worked straight through the morning, after which, he would take a break, make ablution from a stream, and pray two units of prayer. Only when the evening came would he quit his work and go home to his family. To learn more about him, The prince invited him one day and asked him many questions. He soon learned that the worker had a wife, two sisters, and a mother that were all under his care, and it was for their sake that he toiled so assiduously. He fasted everyday and when nightfall came, he would break his fast from what he had reaped during the day. The prince asked, “And do you have any cause to complain?” He answered, “No, All praise is due to Allah (GOD), Lord of all that exists.”
So impressed was he by the simple laborer, that The prince quit the castle, resigned from his position, and traveled abroad. He was found dead years later in the vicinity of Kharasan. After leaving the castle, he worked as a carpenter, and he found happiness in his new life, happiness that was foreign to him in his former one.

People who are devoid of virtues, who have low aims, and who easily succumb to their desires are among the most unbearable of people to share company with.

A poet said:
“Your company upon me is heavy, heavy, heavy, You are in appearance a man yet an elephant in the scale of bad company.’’


Patience, preordainment, and reward from Allah (GOD) are important issues to be considered when calamity strikes. And we should know that the One Who took away is the One Who gave in the first place.

A poet said: “Wealth and family are only loans for a period, And the day must come when a loan is returned.”

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