Chapter V: Oneness of God and Trust in God
He said: The great God wished that the people should recognise Him. If he had supplied provision to every learned man and deprived every fool from it, they would have thought that only wisdom has supplied him provision. When they find it to the contrary they come to know that there is a great Giver of provision which has got no connection with the external causes.
The poet sings :- *
If provision flowed over the hillock of Haza,
Birds and beasts would have perished not knowing it.
CONDITION OF THE GOD-RELAYING MAN ABOUT CAUSFS: The people in relation to God are lire a company of beggars whq wait in the courtyard of an Emperor for food, Before them, the numerous servants of the emperor came out.
The emperor ordered them to give some beggars one loaf, some two loafs and not to deprive anybody. He ordered a proclaimer who proclaimed in the name of the emperor — "Keep silent and when my servants go out to you don't come to them, rather sit in one place in peace, and the servants will take food to you as ordered. Whose comes to the servants and takes two loafs giving them trouble, one servant will follow him after the opening of the courtyard and he will be entrusted to him and punishment will be meted out to him up a to a certain time but I will keep it secret. He who does not give trouble to the servants but remains satisfied with only one loaf coming from the servants and remains quiet, I will give him such reward on a day on which others will be punished. He who remains in his place and takes two loafs as ordered shall get no punishment or reward. If my servants does not find any one, they will not give him anything and he will remain hungry for the night, not being displeased with the servants nor informing them
226 TAUHID AND TAWAKKAL Vol-IV
of the King's order. I will appoint such a man as my minister and I will transfer my power to him.
After this proclamation, the beggars were divided into four classes. Belly prevailed over one section and they did not care for the promised punishment. They said : We are now hungry and there is a great distance between today and tomorrow. They went hurriedly to the servants, inflicted on them trouble and snatched from them each two loafs. Punishments were given to them within the promised time. They afterwards repented but to no effect.
(2) The second class of beggars gave up the company of the servants being fearful of punishment, but each took two loafs beings pressed by hunger. They escaped punishment but,did not get rewards.
(3) The third class of beggars said : We shall sit before the servants, so that they may not for get us. When they will give us, we shall accept and remain satisfied, so that we may get rewards.