* From Where do Your Riches Come?
Quote:
| Imagine the servant of a master who is famed far and wide for hiswealth and goodwill, who is never known to refuse generosity andbeneficence. The servant could trust in his master's overflowinggenerosity and could look to his rich master to insure his wellbeing.This trust removed from the servant any distress from being preoccupiedwith himself. This situation is precisely what inspired Shaqiq al-Balkhi torenounce the world, repent and take up spiritual cultivation. He said,"I was traveling abroad in a time of famine. Suddenly I came across aslave boy who was singularly joyful and carefree despite the hardtimes. He was completely oblivious to the anxieties that plagued otherpeople's thoughts. I said to him, 'Hey, you arrogant boy, don't yourealize that other people are suffering?' He replied 'Why should I carewhen my master owns a whole town for himself and imports each daywhatever we need?' So I wondered to myself, 'If his master has a townall to himself, then my master possesses the treasure-house of thewhole earth and all heavens! How much more should I trust my Lord thanthis arrogant lad trusts his!'" This event was the singular cause ofShaqiq's spiritual awakening. |
The true One desired to put this human being to the test. So we weremade needy in so many ways. This was to see if we would try to dependon our powers of reason and calculation to make our own way, or if wewould rather turn to God to receive what is apportioned and appointedfor each of us. Seen from a different perspective, the true One wantsto enter into a loving relationship with the human servant. So when wefind ourselves in need of means to survive and raise those needs to Godto provide for us, we taste a kind of spiritual sweetness in the souland a refreshing restfulness in the heart. This sparks us to renew ourlove for the One who sustains us. The Prophet has taught, "Love God forwhat is given to you in blessing to feed you." Each moment we arereceiving a blessing of sustenance, there is the potential torejuvenate our love of God because of the blessing.
From another perspective, the true One wants to be thanked. So Godsubmerged us in need and took on the responsibility for meeting ourneeds. This is so that we might engage God in thanks for fulfilling ourneeds and gratefully acknowledge God's generosity and beneficence.Divine Speech pronounces, Consume then what your sustainer provides foryou, and give thanks-A wholesome land and a most forgiving Lord (Qur'an34:15).
From yet another perspective, we can say that God desired to open forus servants the door of petition and intimate conversation with God(munajat). Every moment that we need food or other blessings to fulfillour needs, we have the opportunity to turn to God with our fullattention in order to offer up our anxieties. In this way, we arehonored by the chance to petition God and have intimate conversationwith the divine about our need. If God had not poured out for us thecup of poverty, the vaast majority of people would never trouble theirminds to think of God. If people were not submerged in need, only thosefew people who are overcome by love and longing would ever open thedoor of petition and conversation with God. We can say that our povertyand need are subtle causes of our engaging in conversation with God.Such prayerful conversation is such an honor for us! It is almost amiraculous gift. It is certainly priceless.
-Shaykh Taj-ud-Din Ahmad ibn 'Ata'Allah al-Iskandari, The Book ofIllumination (Translated by Scott Kugle from the Imam's Kitab al-Tanwirfi Isqat al-Tadbir)
