learnt from it are numerous. Please read…
Imam al-Awza'i narrates from 'Abdullah ibn Muhammad that he said:
I went out to the shore as a patrolman and our patrolat the time was
in al-'Areesh in Egypt. When I arrived at the shore, I cameupon an
open area and there was tent on it. In the tent was a man who had no
hands and legs and he was hard of hearing and sight. None of his limbs
were of benefit to him but his tongue, and he was saying: 'O Allah,
grant me (the ability) to praise youa praise through which I can
sufficiently thank Youfor the favours You have bestowed upon me and by
which You have preferred me over many whom You have created a great
preference.'
Al-Awza'i said: 'Abdullah said: 'By Allah, I will certainly go to this
man and I shall certainly ask him about this speech. Perhaps it is an
understanding, or knowledge or inspiration which was inspired to him?'
So I approached the man and greeted him and said to him: 'I heard you
and you were saying: 'O Allah, grant me (the ability) to praise you a
praise throughwhich I can sufficiently thank You for the favours You
have bestowed upon me and by which You havepreferred me over many whom
You have created a great preference' so what favour from the favours
of Allah upon you are you praising Him for? And in what way did He
prefer you over others a great preference that you need to thank Him
for it?'
He said: 'Don't you see what my Lord has done? By Allah, if He sent
the sky to me as a fire which burned me, or ordered the mountains to
crush me, or the oceans to drown me, or the earth to swallow meup; it
would only cause meto be more grateful to my Lord for the favour of
this tongue He bestowed upon me.
However, O slave of Allah, as you have come to me, I have a need of
you! Perhaps you see me and the state I am in, I cannot harm nor
benefit myself. I had a young son who usedto come to me at the time of
prayer and help me do my ablution, and when I became hungry he'd feed
me, and if I became thirsty he'd provide me with a drink but I have
missed him for the last three days, so please look for him on my
behalf may Allah have mercy on you.'
I said: 'By Allah, no creaturecould fulfill the need of another which
is greater inreward with Allah than a need similar to yours.' So I set
out looking for the young boy, and I hadn't gone far before I came by
asand hill, and behold I found the boy who had been preyed upon by a
beast which ate his flesh! I did istirjaa' (saying 'inna lillahi wa
inna ilayhi raji'un') and said: How am Igoing to be able to face this
man with a gentle face?!'
As I was heading towards him, the dhikr (words of remembrance) of
Ayyub ('alayhisalam) came to my heart. So when I reached him I greeted
him and he responded and said: 'Are you not my companion?' I said
'Yes!' He said: 'What did you do about my need?' I said: 'Are you more
honourable in the site of Allah or was Ayyub the Prophet?' He said,
'Of course, Ayyub the Prophet.'I said: 'Do you know what His Lord did
with him? Did He not test him in his wealth, family and children?' He
said, 'Yes.' I said: 'How did He find him?' He said: 'He found him
patient, grateful and praising.' I said: 'He was not pleased with that
for him until his relatives and loved ones deserted him?' He said,
'yes.' I said: "How did His Lord find him?' He said: 'He found him
patient,grateful and praising; make this short may Allah have mercy on
you.' I said to him: 'The young boy you sent me in search of, I found
him in a sand hill having been preyed upon by a beast which had
eatenhis flesh. May Allah increasefor you tour reward and may He
inspire you with patience.'
The tested man said: 'Praise be to Allah Who did not create from my
progeny creations who would disobey Him and He would then punish them
by the fire. He then did istirjaa' and breathed a sigh and died.'
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