11. FORTUNATE IS HE WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF AND ASKS FOR HIS WELL-BEING (‘AFIYA) FROM ALLAH
It is narrated that Hallaj, the Sufi, used to sit in the sun in severe heat, sweating. An intelligent person passed by him and said, ‘Foolish! This is an attempt to challenge Allah.’
What a beautiful statement he made! This is because that person has not placed Shari responsibility except on those things that are against human interests and sometimes the doer is put into such hardship that he cannot bear to remain patient (sabr). The foolish ignorant (al-jAhil al-ahmaq) who tries to challenge or asks for affliction, his actions are just like what another fool said, ‘in whatever you want to test me, test me.’
The fortunate is he who humbly asks from Allah to grant him wellbeing (‘ajiyd). The person may not be given a complete well-being since tests are meant to occur; yet an intelligent person continues to ask for wholesome well-being.
Thus that well-being overpowers most of his state, allowing him to exercise patience on small amounts of tests received. It is generally important for a person to realise that there is a clear and simple way towards his desired ambitions. For every sip of water, there is a catch in the throat and for every morsel a particle is stuck in the throat.
How many have loved the worldly life in the past, but there is no way leading to reunion.
In reality’, patience is not borne except on fate, and thus fate barely runs in parallel to the intentions of the self.
An intelligent person (‘aqil) persuades himself to be patient by taking into account the promise of reward and facilitation of the matter. When the time of affliction goes by without complaint, he then supplicates to Allah begging for well-being.
As for one who is stubborn (mutajjilid), he has never recognised Allah. We seek His protection from being ignorant about Him, and ask from Him to grant us His recognition.
Verily, He is Most Honourable and the Answerer of prayers.
(Source: al-Hafiz Abu’l-Faraj ibn al-jawzl [d. 597AH] “CAPTURED THOUGHTS being” a translation of his masterpiece ‘Sayd al-K hatir)
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