Aslam

It is reported that a man of world renunciation left villages and towns and wished to stay over hillocks and mountains for a week and said: I will not seek food from anybody until my Lord supplied it. When he stayed there for seven days, he was about to die for want of food, but still it did not come to him. Then he said:
O my Lord, if you want me to live, send me such food as can keep me alive or else take my life to Thee. Then God revealed to the Prophet of that time: Tell him by My honour, I will not give you food till you return to inhabited places and keep company with men. Then he entered a town and kept company with men who took food for him and drink. He thus saved his life, but doubt arose in his mind. God sent him a voice from heaven: You have wished that you would change My law by your world renunciation you do not know that whatever I give to My servants as food, I consider it more proper to give it through the hands of My servants. If don't like to give it by the hand of My power. So to give up the means of sustenance is go against the natural law of God and hence it is contrary to the established laws of nature.

Question. What do you say about sitting idle without earning defending on God? Is it unlawful lawful or better?
Answer. When it is not unlawful to stay in jungles without destroying oneself, why will it be unlawful to sit in towns without destroying one- self. Provision will come to him from such a source as is unthinkable. But if he shuts up his doors preventing therein of any man, it will be unlawful. If he is about to die, he must seek his food. The Prophet said: Had you relied on God with due reliance, He would have provided you with food, as He provides it to beasts and birds. They go out in the morning and return with full belly in the evening. Jesus Christ said: Look

216 , TAUHID AND TAWAKKAL Vol-IV

at the bird. It does not sow crops, reap or store them. God provides them daily with food. If you say that your bellies are big, then look to the cows, buffaloes and elephants. Abu Eakub Susi said: The provisions of those who rely on God without efforts lie in the hands of men as those people remain busy to get provision.
A certain sage said : All people live in the middle of the provisions of God, but some of them get them by begging some by efforts like merchants, some by industry and some by other means.

(3) What can be done more within less time. This means to adopt measures to get this benefit. This goes out of God reliance as these people rely on causes of provision. The Prophet said :
those who rely on God do not care for charms and enchantments.
He did not say that they do not earns do not live with the people and do not accept anything from anybody. Causes are two kindsone cause which takes out of God reliance and another cause which does not take out of it.