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Story: Prophet from Banu Israel

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Story: Prophet from Banu Israel
amatullah
04/27/04 at 15:44:59
Abu Said related that in the time of the children of Israel there was a
good
man who had a pious, judicious and tactful wife. An inspiration came
down to
the Prophet of that age saying:



'Inform that good man that We (i.e. God) have predestined him to spend
one
half of his life in poverty an done half of his life in wealth. Let him
choose now whether the poverty shall be during his youth or during his
old
age'



The young man on hearing this went to his wife and said, 'O wife, this
is
the command which has come down from God on high. How do you suggest I
choose?'



'What is your choice?' she asked



'Come' he replied, 'let us choose the poverty during our youth so that
when
hardship comes we may have strength to endure it. Moreover, when we
grow old
we shall need something to eat if we are to be free fomr cares and
capable
of properly obeying Allah's commands'



Thereupon his wife said, 'O husband, if we are poor during out youth,
we
shall be unable to obey God's commands properly; and thereafter, when
we
shall have thrown to the winds the prime of our life and grown weak,
how
shall we perform the duties involved in obeying Allah? Let us therefore
choose the wealth now, so that we may during our youth have strength
both to
obey God's command and to practice charity'



'Your opinion is the right one' said the husband, 'let us act
accordingly'



Then another inspiration came down to the Prophet of that age:



'Now that you are striving to obey Us (i.e. God) and that your
intention is
good, I who am the Sustainer of all life will cause you to pass
straight to
wealth. Continue striving to obey My commands, and of whatever I give
you,
give part for alms, so that both this world and the next may be yours'



[Ghazali, Counsel for Kings (Nasihat al-Mulk), p 161]


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