What is it worth?

GOD GRANTS abundant sustenance, or gives it in scant measure, unto whomever He wills; and they [who are given abundance] rejoice in the life of this world - even though, as compared with the life to come, the life of this world is nought but -a fleeting pleasure

What is it worth?

One day a boy deferentially approached Dhul-Nun al-Misri with the desire forsake his life of comfort, and to spend his entire wealth (worth about a hundred thousand dirhams) on him and his entourage of dervishes. However, Dhul-Nun turned him down as he was not mature enough to take that decision, and asked him to come back when he is of age.

When the boy came of age he returned with the same request, and this time, he was permitted to do so. Soon the money was gone and the youth started keeping company of the dervishes.

Some time had passed, and it happened that there arose somewhat of an emergency, but there was no money around to help the dervishes. The youth exclaimed that if only he could have had the wealth to spend on them again, upon which Dhul-Nun realized that he had not yet reached the inner truth of the mystic life, for worldly things still seemed important to him.

Dhul-Nun summoned the young man and assigned him to buy some items from an apothecary, for maybe a dirham, mix them into a paste, and make the paste into a rock shaped pellet and bring it to him. Dhul-Nun recited something on the pellet and it transformed into a red crystal.

“Now take this to different types of businesses around the marketplace and have it valued,” said Dhul-Nun. “But do not sell it.”

The youth took the stone to a beggar, who scolded him for asking for money for colored glass, then a merry fruit seller blithely offered him a few kilos of the choicest fruits in exchange for it. The vegetable and meat sellers were no different, wishing to trade it for some of their respective wares.

Each time the youth declined the offer.

Upon reaching a jeweler's store, he was offered a considerable sum of money. The jeweler tried to cajole him into selling, giving several counter offers, each higher than the previous one upon finding the youth adamant on not selling, was left disappointed.

Heading back home he dropped by a dealer in precious stones, and he asked her the value of this stone. She was flabbergasted, and kept on asking about the source of this stone. When pressed for an offer, she extolled: "No one in this country can afford to buy this, as this is a highest quality ruby of a value that surpasses everything that she has known her entire life. I really cannot put a price on it."

The youth could not fathom this discrepancy, and upon relating this story to Dhul-Nun, he was told to pound the stone back to powder and throw the powder into the wind.

“My child,” chided Dhul-Nun gently, “these dervishes do not lack wealth. Their state is due their own choice.  A trade-off for something better in the life to come. And the worth of this stone was decided by each of the businessmen based on their limitations of knowledge as well as resources.  What worth will you assign?”

This stirred his soul, and from then on the world had no longer any worth in his eyes.

What lures you away?

82:6 O MAN! What is it that lures you away from your bountiful Sustainer?

What lures you away?

Once a man pleaded with Ibrahim ibn Adham, "O Abu Ishaq, I am unable to control myself from sinning. Please help in anyway that you can!"

"If you are able to fulfill any one of five conditions," said Ibrahim, "then your mistakes, sins or disobedience will not have any adverse consequences for you."

The man was more than eager to hear what the conditions were,  and I have paraphrased them here.

1. When you want to disobey Allah, prepare for it by not eating or drinking anything Allah provides.
2. If we cannot do that, then at least let us move away from His Dominion whenever we want to sin.
3. If both of the above conditions are beyond our abilities, then at least let us make sure Allah does not see us during our acts of disobedience.

The man complained (and so do I), that it is impossible to to fulfill the above conditions, however, Ibrahim had a couple more ideas left up his sleeve, conditions that could do the trick:

4. When it is time to die, ask for reprieve so that we have time to repent and mend our ways.

However, if we are unable to get reprieve, and time to undo the damage that we have done to ourselves, then surely we will be packed off to face the consequences of our actions, in which case there is only one more thing left to do:
5. We must refuse to enter Hell-fire.

If we cannot do that, well, then what lures us away towards the path of disobedience of our Generous Lord?

Prepare for the Hereafter 2

19:39  hence, warn them of [the coming of] the Day of Regrets, when everything will have been decided-for as yet they are heedless, and they do not believe [in it].

Prepare for the Hereafter

A story is narrated of a country which would annually elect a ruler granting him or her absolute powers, with the caveat that at the end of the annual tenure, they would have to be exiled to a chosen deserted island.  Upon completion of their tenure, they would be dressed up in the finest raiment made of silk and brocade, made to tour the kingdom to bid farewell, however sorrowfully, and embark in a boat journey to be marooned at that island to fend for themselves, never to return.  Despite the obvious brevity of the tenure, the allure of absolute powers made sure that there was never any shortage of applicants.

Once it happened that the one nominated was a bright young fellow, who was curious and thoughtful by nature. Few days after coronation, he requested to be taken to the island for a visit. Although it was taboo for the people, they could not turn down the request of their absolute monarch.

No sooner that he had started exploring the island, he saw the place strewn with skeletons, possibly former rulers, some showing signs of having been savagely devoured by wild beasts.  He saw the former king on the brink of starvation, struggling with whatever the island had to offer. The former king told him of attacks by wild beasts and the inhospitable terrain of the island. The new king gave all his provisions to the erstwhile king and returned, remaining silent for most of the journey back, thoughtful, contemplating.

Upon his return he asked for hundreds of able bodied men, together with tools, provisions, saplings etc to accompany him for another visit to the island. He instructed them to clear the terrain, plant fruit bearing trees, make gardens and in other ways make it more hospitable. Also, he instructed them to create a beautiful palace. He would regularly visit this island whenever he would get a break from his busy schedule to monitor the progress. Since he led a simple life, whatever was bestowed upon him as a king, he would set aside and hence all his savings he invested in the island also, making a dock and some sailboats and trading boats, all in a span of a year.

At the end of the year, unlike other kings who were full of grief while touring the country, he embraced this farewell and was truly happy to be leaving, for he knew he was going to a comfortable place. And so he went joyfully, without any regrets, never to come back.