Aslam

In connection with these causes, there are three classes of God- reliant men. The first class included saints like Ibrahim Khawas and others. They wandered in jungles without taking provisions They remained relying on the mercy of God for a week or more without taking food. They used to take leaves of jungles and such other things available in jungles. If these things were not available, they kept themselves ready for death. ■

The second class of God-reliant men sit in a town or village or in their houses or mosques. They are less than first class God- reliant men, still they rely on God. They receive food through the charity of people, but their minds are kept turned up towards God and not towards men. The third class of God-reliant men earn their livelihood in the name of God. Their minds do not turn away from God in earning money. This look is not tdwards the pen but to the master of pen who passes orders in writing.

When Abu Bakr became Caliph, he still continued to go to markets with his bundle of cloth for sale. The Muslims asked him:
Why do you do this ? You have been invested with the power of rule after Prophethood, He said : Don't prevent me from earning livelihood for the members of my family. If I destroy them I would be able to destroy others. At last the people fixed an allowance for maintenance of his family members. When he got the allowance he got opportunity for helping the general public

Vol-IV THE BOOK OF CONSTRUCTIVE VIRTUES 217

of the Muslims. It is seen from this that he, being a God reliant men, did not give up earning his livelihood which was necessary.
He did not however hoard. Abu Jafar Shaddad was the spiritual guide of Hazrat Junaid Bagdadi and was a God reliant man. He said : I kept my God reliance secret for the last 20 years. I used to go to market daily and earn a dinar, but I did not go to bed leaving even a dinar, I used to take bath in the public bath room for a kirat and spent all the money before the advent of night.
Hazrat Junaid did not talk of God-reliance before him. He used to say : I feel ashamed to speak of the stages of God reliance before him.

Question. Which is better-to sit at home or to earn from outside?

Answer. Know, O readers that it is better for one it keep seated at home, if he gives up earning in order to find time for good thought, Zikr and sincere divine service, and it is better to earn on the part of one who becomes impatient if he keeps seated at home and loves the company of man.