Chapter V: Oneness of God and Trust in God
Imam Ahmed once engaged a labourer poor man in a certain work. He ordered Abu Bakr Masuji to give the labourer his waves and an additional sum but the labourer did not accept the additional sum. When The labourer went away, Imam Ahmed said to him : Go to him and give him this sum as he will accept it now. Then he went to him, gave him the sum and he accepted it.
On being asked the reason, Imam Ahmed said : He did not accept it first because he was greedy for it, When his greed when away he became dispaired and accepted it. When Ibrahim Khawas looked to any man at the time of accepting gift or feared his passion for that, he did not accept from him anything. He was asked : What wonder have you seen in you ? He said : I saw Hazrat Khizr in my company but I left his company fearing that my mind might be addicted to him and as a result my God-reliance might go.
Question. What is the sign of not relying on wealth?
Answer. It is when wealth is lost by theft or where there is loss in business or when any danger befalls a man, he remains contended and his peace of mind is not disturbed and his mind does not feel aggrieved and his mind keeps calm as before. He who becomes impatient at the loss of property, becomes contended if the gets it. The sage Basher Hafi used to make
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weaver's shuttles and then he gave it up. The reason is that the saint Boadi wrote to him a letter saying : I heard that you are taking the help of your livelihood by making weaver's shuttles.
Have you considered that if God deprives you of the power of hearing and sight, with what thing will you earn your livelihood?
When this fell in his mind, he gave up to make the implements of weaving. Some say that when he was expert in making spinning wheel, the people began to come to him and he gave it up. Some say that he gave it up after the death of his wife. The saint Suf iyan Saori had 40 dinars with which he carried on business. When his wife died, he gifted them away.
Question. Earning is impossible without money. How is it possible to be not addicted to money if one possesses it?