Aslam

your thoughts will be diverse and God will not care in which valley you will perish. If you cannot do these things, you can soften your mind by hearing the stories of God fearing men regarding these things. The wisdom of the Prophets and their companions and the saints and pious men was not less than that of yours. Think then why they took such rigours of life, why they wept for fear of God, why they sacrificed their lives in the way of God. They were not hypocrites or cheats. If that does not make your heart soft, then know that the hearts of the heedless are hard like stone and harder still, as sometimes stones also gush forth torrents of waters.

STORIES OF FEAR OF ANGELS AND PROPHETS

(1) Hazrat Ayesha reported that whenever there was vehement blowing of winds and storms, the face of the Prophet became changed. He then walked to and for within the room being fearful of the punishment of God. Once while reciting the chapter Waqeah he fell into swoon.

(2) Once the Prophet saw the real figure of Gabriel and fell down senseless.

(3) It has been reported that when the Prophet stood in prayer, sound of his breast was heard like the sound of the boiling waters in a cauldron.

(4) The Prophet said: Whenever Gabriel came to me he used to instill fear of God in me. He was asked: Why has the condition of the devil become worse? Then Gabriel and Mechael began to- weep. God then revealed to them: Why do you weep? They said:
O Lord, we are not secure from your plan. God said: So don't be secure from My plan.

(5) Muhammad-b-Munkader reported: When Hell was created, the hearts of the angels flew away from their proper places. When the children of Adam were created, those hearts came back. Once the Prophet asked Gabriel: Why do I not see Michael laugh? Gabriel said: It is said that since the creation of Hell, the angels did not laugh being fearful of God's punishment.

(6) It has been reported from Ibn-Omar: I came out once with the Prophet. He entered the garden of an Ansar took some dates and began to eat them. He said: O Ibn-Omar why don't you eat dates? I said: O Prophet of God, I have got no relish. He said: I

Vol-IV THE BOOK OF CONSTRUCTIVE VIRTUES 137

have got relish. Ihave not eaten anything for the last four days having had nothing to eat. If I had prayed to my Lord. He would have certainly given me the kingdoms of Persia and Byzantium.

0 Ibn Omar, what will be your condition when you will live among such people who will hoard up their annual food and whose faith will be weak? He said: By God, soon this verse was revealed: How many an animal there are who do not bear their provisions. God gives them provision and He is Hearing, Wise-29:60. The Prophet then said: God has not ordered you to hoard up wealth and to enjoy therewith the comforts of this transient life, as life is in the hand of God. Beware, I shall not hoard up dirhams and dinars and shall not hoard up food for tomorrow.