Chapter II: Patience and Gratefulness
Hadis: The Prophet said: He who expresses gratefulness after taking food shall have rank equal to the rank of one who fasts with patience. Hazrat Ayesha said: All the actions of the Prophet are wonderful. One night the Prophet slept in my bed, so much so that my body touched his. Then he said: O daughter of Abu Bakr, leave me, will you worship my Lord? Hazrat Ayesha said: I wish to spend some time in your company, but I like what you wish. Then the Prophet made ablution an stood up for prayer. He wept so much in prayer that his tears flowed down his breast. Bilal came and asked him: O Prophet of God why do you weep while your past and future sins have been forgiven? The Prophet said: Shall I not be a grateful servant? Then the following verse was revealed: In the creation of heavens and earth and in the changing of night and day, there are surely clear signs for those who are intelligent- 3 : 190Q.
So it appears that weeping should never be stopped. This is understood from the following anectode. A certain Prophet was passing by a small stone which was then gushing forth abundant water. He was greatly astonished. Then God gave it the power of speech and it began to say: Since I heard the following verse of God "The fuel of Hell will be men and stones (2 : 24Q).' I have been weeping being afraid of it." The Prophet then prayed to God for saving it from Hell and the prayer was granted. After some days, the Prophet saw it in previous condition and asked: Why do you weep now? The stone said: I wept before out of fear, but no w I weep out of joy and gratefulness.
The mind of man is hard like stone, rather harder than stone and the hardness is removed by a state arising out of fear and gratefulness. The Prophet said: It will be proclaimed on the Resurrection Day: Rise up those who proclaimed the glory of
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God. Then a party will rise up with banners and they will enter paradise. He was asked: Who are the proclaimers of glory? He said: Those who express gratefulness to God in happiness and adversity. The Prophet also said: Praise is the sheet of the Merciful. God revealed to Jacob: I am pleased with My friend for his gratefulness. God then revealed to him describing the qualities of the patient. "Their abode is the abode of peace. They will enter therein. They will be busy in gratefulness." That is the good speech. They will pray more at the time of gratefulness.
Then I will grant them My vision." When the following verse was revealed about hidden treasure "Those who hoard up gold and silver and do not spend them in the way of God give then-mews of severe chastisement (9 : 35Q)." Hazrat Omar asked the Prophet: What wealth shall we keep? The Prophet said: A remembering tongue, a grateful heart and a believing wife.