Aslam

dirhams before he became Caliph and said : How good it would

have been if it had not been rough. When he accepted Caliphate,

he purchased a cloth with five dirhams and said : How good it

would have been had it not been thin. He was asked: O

Commander of the Faithful, where are your dresses,

conveyances and scents? He said : My nature was desirous of

constant enjoyment of happiness, I enjoyed i{ once in the world

and do not desire to enjoy it again. I like to enjoy happiness which

is greater than that. Even I enjoyed the happiness of rule which is

the highest worldly pleasure. There is still greater enjoyment

near God which I now want to enjoy.

Once the Caliph Omar-b-Abdul Aziz was leading the prayer of Jumma with clothes having stitches in front and back. One man said to him : O Commander of the Faithful, God has given you wealth. It would have been better if you had put on good dress. He said : The time of wealth is the best time for good actions and the time of power is the time of pardon, the Prophet said: He who gives up adornent for pleasure of God gives up fine dresses being modest to Him for His pleasure. It becomes then the duty of God to dress him with fine dresses in Paradise. The Prophet said : Eat and drink, put on clothes and give charity but don't be extravagant and don't take pride. God loves that the sign of his gifts is expressed on His servant. Jesus Christ said : What has become of you that you come to me with clothes of a hermit while your heart is like a ferocious beast ? Dress with the dresses of kings but make your hearts soft with God-fear.

(9) Another sign of pride is that when anyone rebukes you, gives you trouble and realises his dues, he does not keep patience. The example of the Prophet is to be following Hazrat Abu Sayeed Khodri said : Eat for pleasure of God, drink for pleasure for God and dress for pleasure of God. If there is show and name and fame in these things, there will be sin. Keep such habits in your house which the Prophet had in his house. He used to give food to animals with his own hands, sweep his house,

Vol-NI Pride and self-praise 265

milk his goats, put on shoes, sew his sandals, sew his clothes, take food with servants, help them when they became tired, purchase necessary things from market, carry the necessary things, help his wives in their works, handshake with everyone, rich and poor. He used to salute those who came in his front, young or old, white or black, slave or master. He had not^auter and inner garments and when anybody invited him, he did not feel shame to accept it though it came from one dishevelled in hairs and laden with dust. He did not reject invitation. He used not to hate the food served to him. He did not hoard the night food for the next morning. He remained satisfied with little food.