Aslam

So there is no gift in this world which has got no possibility of turning into danger. There is also no calamity which has got no possibility of turning into gift. There are many men whose good lies in poverty and disease. Had they been sound in health and solvent in riches, they would have grown rebellious and naughty. God says: If God had given His servants abundant riches they would have surely become rebellious in the earth.
God says: Never, man is inordinate as he sees himself free from want. The Prophet said: God saves his believing servant from this world though He loves him just as one of you saves a patient from water. Such is the condition of sixteen kinds of gifts, such as wives, children and relatives. There lies therein fortune and also misfortune. Knowledge is a gift but it sometimes becomes a danger. At that time, ignorance is a bliss. When a man does not know the time of his death, it is a bliss for him. Had he known it, his life would have been troublesome. Similar is the case with the secret sins of a man. If his relatives would have known them, he would have fallen from their estimation. There is good is not knowing some matters - the time of resurrection, the blessed night, the auspicious momentof Jumma day.

Question: Patience and gratefulness are opposed to each other. How can they unite? Patience does not come but in calamity and gratefulness does not come but in happiness.

Answer: One thing becomes an object of happiness for one purpose and a cause of sorrow for another purpose. So patience is in calamity and gratefulness is in happiness. There are five matters in poverty, disease, fear and worldly calamities. A wise man becomes grateful being pleased with them.

(1) First matter: In every calamity or disease, there is a greater calamity or disease. So for a lesser calamity or disease, a man should be grateful.

Vol-IV THE BOOK OF CONSTRUCTIVE VIRTUES

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