An Islamic Treasury of Virtues
2. What is Faith?
~ 71 ~
quantity of corn that fills the hands of a man of
moderate size.
SWALLOWING ONE’S ANGER INCREASES
ONE’S FAITH
Abdullah ibn Abbas records the Prophet as saying:
“The draught of one who swallows his anger is
dearer to God than any other. God fills with faith
one who swallows his anger for God’s sake.”
(AHMAD,
MUSNAD)
IMMUNE TO FLATTERY
A group of individuals, addressing themselves to
Umar ibn Khattab as Caliph, swore that they had
not seen anyone more just, more truthful or more
severe on hypocrites than he was. “Next to the
Prophet, you are the greatest of men.” Auf ibn
Malik happened to be present at the time. He swore
an oath that these people had lied: “We have seen
better than Umar since the time of the Prophet.”
“Who was that?” they asked him. “Abu Bakr,” Auf
replied. Umar’s response to this was to say that Auf
was right and that they were wrong. “By God,” said
