Principles of Islam
46. Signs of God
~ 137 ~
46. SIGNS OF GOD
The Indian writer Khwajah Hasan Nizami
(1878-1955) once wrote an article in Urdu entitled
“Story of a Fly.” In it he complained to a fly about
the bother it caused people. “Why don’t you let us
sleep in peace?” he remonstrated. “The time for
sleep and eternal repose has not yet come.”
the fly
replied. “When it does, then you can sleep in peace.
Now it is better for you to remain alert and active.”
This little exchange shows that if one, remains open
to admonition, one will find a lesson for one’s life
even in such mundane events as the buzz of a fly. If
one’s mind is closed, on the other hand, then not
even the roar of bombshells and artillery fire will be
able to break through its barriers. Only the tempest
of the Last Day will bring such people to their
senses, but that will not be the time to take heed:
that will be a time for retribution, not constructive
action.
The Qur’an tells us of one who is admitted to
paradise bringing before God “a sound heart”
(26:89). There is a saying of the Prophet to much the
same effect. “Whomsoever God wishes good for,”
