25. WHOEVER TASTES THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS LORD SHALL SAVOUR THE TASTE OF HIS LOVE
After I completed the preceding chapter, a call from inside my subconscious said to me, ‘Save me your explanation about enduring the Divine Decree (qadr) for 1 am sufficed with what you have presented so far.
However, 1 would like you to describe the state of being content and pleased with the Divine Decree because 1 find this topic bringing forth a breeze of comfort that eases the soul.’ 1 said, ‘O you who calls, listen to the answer and understand the truth.’
Being content and pleased with what Allah Decreed is from the fruits of knowing (thamartal-ma’rifa) the Ford because when you know Him you will be pleased and content (rida) with what He Decreed (qada). The bitterness of some of what He foreordained will be tasted by the contented, whereas the one who knows his Ford will experience less bitterness because the sweetness of this knowledge (halawa al-ma’rifa) is too strong. And, if the knower advances in this knowledge to reach the level of love (mababba), bitterness (mur’ra) of fate transforms into sweetness (halawa)
The voice within said to me, ‘Inform me about what I should be pleased and content with! Assume that I am content with Allah predestining sickness (marad) and poverty (faqr), but should I also be content with being too indolent to serve Him, and part from those whom He loves? Kindly explain to me what comes under the category of contentment and what does not.’
I replied: ‘Indeed, this is a good question, so take heed of the difference and be attentive to it just like a person who gives ear while his mind is attentive.’
Be content with what He has Decreed! As for indolence (laziness] and carelessness, they are two actions that are attributed to you [for you have assumed them by your freewill] therefore you should not be content with these actions of yours.
Observe His due rights upon you and push yourself to embark into what will draw you nearer to Him while refusing to be too indolent to struggle to achieve this goal.
As for what He has Decreed but is beyond your capacity, you should be content with that and be as Rabfah78, (may Allah engulf her with His mercy), when the story of a man from the worshippers who picked up his food from the trash dump was mentioned in her presence, and some people commented: ‘Why did he not ask Allah to grant his provision from a place other than that dirty place?’ She said: ‘Being content [with what Allah wrote for them] is not selective, and whoever tastes the knowledge [of knowing his Lord] will relish the taste of [His] love, therefore his contentment became natural and unquestionable.’
A person should, nevertheless exert effort and endeavour to seek this knowledge through evidences, then act upon this knowledge by being dedicated and devoted in worshipping Allah in the hope of being granted His love (mahabba).
Allah, Exalted be He, said in the divine hadith (qudsi), “My slave will keep drawing nearer to me by performing voluntary good deeds until I love him. If I love him, I will be his hearing with which he hears and his eyesight with which he sees.”
Indeed, this is the ultimate affluence…and woe to me for being poor!
(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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