Chapter II: Patience and Gratefulness
express gratefulness to Thee when I am unable to express it without another gift? To be able to express gratefulness to Thee is another gift from Thee to me. That gift compels me to express gratefulness to Thee. There is another Hadis: When you understand that gi.'t comes from Me. I am pleased with that gratefulness. Take an illustration - A certain king sent to his servant one conveyance, one dress and some cash money with this object that he would come to him from a distance using all these things. Two conditions arise out of these gifts. The first condition is that if he comes to the king, he may engage him in some important work. The second condition is that if he comes to him, his service may not be necessary and his glory will not be increased or decreased by his presence but it will do him benefit and not the king. The first condition does not apply to God as He is above all wants, but the second condition applies to Him. In other words, the gifts of God if utilised in proper manner will do him benefit and not God. A servant may be grateful or ungrateful. If he comes to the king by utilising his gifts, he will be grateful and if he does not care them and misuses his gifts, he will be ungrateful. Similarly if he utilises the gifts of God according to the ways prescribed by Him, it shall be expressing gratefulness to Him, but if he acts to the contrary, it will be expressing ungratefulness to Him. God says: (95 : 6Q). I have created man in the best mould. Then I threw him to the lowest abyss except those who believe and do good. For them there is great reward never to be cut off." By this help of the gifts of God, man can rise to the highest pinnacle of glory and if not utilised he may go down to the lowest abyss. Proper use, misues or absence of use will not affect God in the least, but they are linked with fortune and misfortune of man. To use God's gifts according to His will and directions is gratefulness.
ACTIONS DEAR AND NOT DEAR TO GOD: Know, O dear readers that gratefulness does not become perfect if we do not know the distinction between actions loved by God and actions not loved by God, because gratefulness means to spend His gifts in acts loved by God and ungratefulness means to spend them in acts not loved by Him or keep them without use. There are two subtle things for this distinction-(l) to hear the verses of the Quran and tradition of the Prophet and (2) to see with the eye of thought or knowledge. For this reason. God sent the apostles who showed them His ways. So these ways are the foundations
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82 PATIENCE AND GRATEFULNESS Vol-IV