Aslam

good. He becomes pleased to give something from his hand and I help him in his satisfaction. Once a man from Khorasan took some money to Junaid who said : Distribute it among the poor.
He said : I have not come to you with that intention. He said :
Shall I live up to the time of its enjoyment. He said : I don't wish that you should spend it in purchasing vegetables but in getting sweet things. He then accepted it. The man of Khorasan said :
There is nobody at Bagdad whose benefit is greater than yours.
The saint Junaid said : I should not accept from anybody but from men like you.

Second rule. If the donee gifts for acquiring merits, the poor receiver will examine whether the gift is fit to be accepted. If he falls in doubt, he should not accept it. If the poor acceptor is engaged in private sin and thinks that if the giver knows it, he will not gift it to him, his acceptance of gift in that case is unlawful.

Third rule. If the purpose of gift is to earn name and fame or show of honesty, it should be rejected. If accepted, it will help his dishonest purpose. Whatever was given to Sufyan Saori, he used to reject it and say : Had I known that they would not broadcast it.
I would have accepted it.

NECESSITY OF ACCEPTING GIFTS: The Prophet said:
When the receiver of gift accepts it on account of necessity the giver does not get more merit than him. He also said : Whatever is given without asking should be taken to be a provision from God. In other words, he shall not reject it. Some wise man said : If a man does not accept what is offered to him, he will fall in such a disaster that if he want something in future from others, they won't give it. The saint Sarri Sakti used to send presents to Imam Ahmed. Once he returned his present Sarri Sakti said to him : O Ahmed, fear the danger of rejection, as the danger of rejection is greater than that of acceptance. Imam Ahmed said to him : Say what, you have said : He repeated it. Imam Ahmed then said : I returned it as I have a provision of one month with me. Keep it with you and give it to me after one month. The Prophet said :
The son of Adam has got no right except in three things, such a food as can keep his backbone erect, (2) such a cloth as can keep his private parts concealed, (3) and such a house as can protect him from cold and heat. Beyond this, the extra wealth is included within wealth which is to be accounted for. There is merit in

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Vol-IV POVERTY AND RENUNCIATION 163 j.

whatever you take for these three things. If you accept things' beyond these without committing sins, you shall have to render accounts for them. And if you become disobedient to God, you shall have to receive punishment.