Chapter V: Oneness of God and Trust in God
(3) At the time of going out he shall frame his mind in such a way that if even if his properties are taken away by thieves he would remain satisfied with the decrees of God. He should say :
What will be taken by a thief will be lawful for him or it will go in the way of God. If the thief is poor, it is a gift to him from me. If he is not poor, I will get benefit in three ways. Has theft will prevent him from committing sin. Similarly he will not commit theft in another's house if he gets my properties.
(4) The forth rule is that he shall not be sorry if his property is stolen, rather he should be pleased and say : Had there been no good in it, God would not have taken it away. If it is gifted in the way of God, there should be no search about it, as he has sent it in advance for his sake. It is related that one camel of Hazrat Omar was stolen. He became tired of searching it. Then he said : I gift it away in the path of God. He entered the mosque and prayed two rakats. Then a man came and said : O Abdur Rahman, your camel lies here. He put on his shoes and said : I am seeking forgiveness from God. Then he sat down. He was asked : Will you not go and take your camel ? He said : I gifted it away in the path of God. A certain sage said : I asked a Muslim in dream after he was dead :
What treatment has God meted out to you ? He said : He forgave me and accommodated me in Paradise. The house reserved for me in Paradise has been given to me and I saw it. The narrator said that inspite of that he was said. I asked: You have been forgiven and you have entered Paradise yet why are you sad ? He heaved a sigh and said : Yes, I shall remain in such condition till the Resurrection day. I asked : What is its reason ? He said : When I was shown my place in Paradise, I was shown in the highest Paradise such a place which I have never seen. I was overjoyed at
Vol-IV THE BOOK OF CONSTRUCTIVE VIRTUES 233
* it and I was about to enter there. But some one said to me : Go away from this, it is not for you. This is for one who keeps God's way alive. I asked : What is the meaning of keeping alive God's path ? I was told : You said for a thing : This is gifted in the way of God and then you accepted that thing. Had you filled up the path of God, I would haVe filled up your path.