An Islamic Treasury of Virtues
5. Piety
~ 141 ~
would not miss a single congregational prayer. No,
not even if I made a profit of forty dinars a day and
gave it all away in charity.” Abu Darda was asked
what had made him feel this way. “The rigours of
the Day of Reckoning,” was his reply.
(IBN ‘ASAKIR)
MAN PROPOSES, GOD DISPOSES
When Abdullah ibn Masud had built himself a
house, he asked Ammar ibn Yasir to come and have
a look at what he had built. So Ammar went and
saw the house. “You are planning a long way ahead,
but soon you will die,” was his only comment.
(HILYAT AL-AULIYA)
RETRIBUTION HERE AND NOW
Uthman ibn Affan, the third Caliph, said one day to
his slave, “Once I twisted your ear. Now take your
revenge.” The slave caught hold of Uthman’s ear
and the latter told him to twist it as hard as he
could. “How good that retribution should be meted
out in this world and not left to the next world,”
said the Caliph.
