Chapter IV: Poverty and Renunciation
Hazrat Imran-in-Hussain reported : I had honour and status in the eyes of the Prophet. He told me once : O Imran, you have got honour before us. Will you go to see the ailing Fatima, daughter of the Prophet ? I said : O Messenger of God, my parents be sacrificed to you. I will go. He rose up and I also accompanied him. When we reached the house of Fatima, he knocked at the door and said : Peace be on you, shall we enter ?
Hazrat Fatima said : O Prophet of God, enter. He said : Myself and my companion ? Fatima said : O Prophet of God, who is with you ? He said : Imran. Fatima said : By One who sent you as Prophet, I have got no wearing cloth except a blanket. He said : Do such and such and he hinted it with his hand. Fatema said : If I cover my body therewith, my head remains uncovered. What shall I do. The Prophet had an old sheet with him. He gave it to her and said: Cover your head with it. Then Fatema gave the Prophet permission to enter with his companion. When they both entered, the Prophet said : O my darling, peace be on you. How are you, Fatema said : By God. I have got pain which has been increased by my hunger. Want of food and also hunger afflicted me very much. The Prophet wept and said : O my darling, don't be worried. By God, I got nothing to eat for the last three days though I am much more honorable to God than you. If I had asked food from my Lord, He would have certainly given it to me, but I preferred the next world than this world. Then he placed his hand on his thigh and said : I give you good news that you would be the leader of the inmates of Paradise. Fatema said : In that case, what will be the position of Pharaoh's wife Asia and Mary, daughter of Imran. The Prophet said : Asia will be the leader among her contemporary women and Mary will be the leader among her contemporary women and you will be the leader of your contemporary women. You will live in Paradise made of emeralds and jewels. Then there will be no sorrow, no noise and no want of peace. By God, I got you married to such a person who is the leader of both this world and the next.
Hazrat Ali reported that the Prophet said : When the people will hate the poor, construct lofty buildings in the world, vie with one another in amassing wealth, God will send on them four kinds of punishment — prevalence of famine, oppressions of kings and rulers, breach of agreements and oppression of the foes.
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152 THE BOOK OF CONSTRUCTIVE VIRTUES Vol-IV
SAYINGS OF SAGES