The Fox & the Tiger

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The fox that lived in a forest, survived with just its hind legs.  Perhaps it lost its two legs in the front due to some accident or while escaping from a trap.  A man who lived by the village happened to see the fox from time to time and wondered how it could feed itself.  One day, he hid behind a bush when he happened to see a tiger approaching with its kill.  It fed itself contently and left the place.  The lame fox then fed on the remnants of the tiger’s meal.  The man thought that since the Provider provides for everyone, what need is for him to work.  Hence he stopped work and starved with faith waiting for Allah (s.w.t.) to Provide for him. 

Days passed and the man was reduced to almost a skeleton without food, counting on the Higher Power.  Ultimately when he was about to lose his consciousness, he heard a voice that echoed, “O you have misunderstood the truth.  Look at it clearly now.  Instead of imitating the handicapped fox, you should have followed the way of the tiger!” 

Mawlana Jalal ad-Din Muhammad ar-Rumi (q.s.) said, “You have feet; why pretend that you are lame?”