Achieving True Faith

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is taken from “Mercy Ocean, Hidden Treasures” by Shaykh Muhammad Nazhim Adil al-Haqqani (q.s.). 

A believer will always hold to his faith prepared to regard Allah (s.w.t.) as the First Cause of anything that befalls him.  This is a sign of real faith.  If someone is only pleased in the event of good happenings, and displeased with disagreeable events, then his does not possess real faith.  Our Grand Shaykh, Sulthan al-Awliya’ Shaykh ‘Abdullah al-Fa’iz ad-Daghistani (q.s.), gave us an example in the following story. 

Once upon a time there was a man who went walking through his grounds followed by his slave.  When they reached a certain place in the gardens where cucumbers were growing, that man cut a cucumber from its vine, tasted it, and finding it bitter, gave it to the servant.  The servant ate the whole cucumber. 

Then his master asked him, “O my slave, you ate that cucumber; did you not find it bitter?” 

The slave replied, “Yes, Master, it was.” 

“Then how could you eat it?” 

“O my lord”, the slave then said, “I have received so many favours from your generous hand and so many tasty foods, that it makes me ashamed to refuse something when for once it is not tasty.” 

Then his master turned to him and said, “O my slave, you have gained your release, you are free now, go as you please.” 

This is a short tale, but for everyone there is a big lesson contained in it, as to how we should behave with our Lord.  It is the highest level of adab.  Should we have that, we are fortunate indeed and have attained Allah's (s.w.t.) Pardon.  If we are pleased with our Lord, our Lord is Pleased with us.  When we are not pleased with our Lord, our Lord will also not be Pleased with us.