The Value of Promises

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

Once a dervish went into a masjid and sat there with the intention of observing i’itikaf.  He had no provision of food or drink with him. 

The imam of the masjid advised him that as a destitute person, it was better for him not to observe i’itikaf; he should rather do some job to earn his daily bread.  The dervish made no reply.  The imam again insisted that he should go and earn his living, but he remained silent.  After the imam had repeatedly asked him to do so for the third and the fourth time, the dervish said, “Beside the masjid, there is a shop owned by a non-Muslim, who has promised to send me two loaves of bread every day.” 

The imam said, “If he has promised to provide you food, it is well and good.  Then you may observe i’itikaf.” 

The dervish said in a reprimanding tone, “It would be far better if you did not lead the prayers; with such a weak faith in tawhid, how can you dare to lead the prayers?  You have great reliance on the promise made by an disbeliever but you put little trust in the Promise made by Allah (s.w.t.) to Provide sustenance to all living things.”