THE STORY OF THE SAINT IN THE MOUNTAIN

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A certain dervish once went up a mountain pass and there made a promise to Allah:

"I am turning my back on all worldly connections. Now I shall remain here in solitude busy worshipping You. When I feel hungry, I shall wait for sustenance from Your side. I will not ask anything from any person. I will not pick any fruit of the trees of this mountain. But in the wind if any fruit falls from the trees, that I shall eat".

For some time he remained steadfast on this promise to the tests that came from Allah's side. The tests came along because in his vow, the dervish did not say: 'Insha-allah' - if Allah so pleases. This omission of 'lnsha-allah' gave a sign of the dervish's pride, arrogance and over-confidence in his own courage and ability. For this reason, the punishment for his deed involved him in a great test and the no or from his heart left him, so that the ability to bear the difficulties of hunger became lost. Allah ordered the wind not to blow in that part of the mountain. For five days, the wind failed to blow, as a result of which no fruit fell from the trees. The dervish suffered unbearable hunger. He could no more have patience and the hunger made him feel weak. He was forced now to break his promise to Allah. He began picking the fruit from the tree to eat. When that happened, Allah punished him, because it is a command of His:

"Carry out your promise."

This is what happened. A group of thieves came to hide along the foot of the mountain. Someone informed the Chief Police Officer of the town that a group of thieves were hiding in the mountain. Before the Police Officer could arrest the actual thieves, he saw the dervish and thought that he was one of them. Hence he immediately arrested him. The dervish made a big noise protesting his innocence and proclaimed that he was not a thief, but the Police Officer and the other soldiers did not listen to him. The punishment was that they cut off his right hand and his left foot.

At that time a traveller passed that way and when he saw what had happened, he scolded the Police Officer and the soldiers:

"You dogs, what have you done to this holy and saintly Dervish? He is a real saintly man and the abdaal of our era. He has broken away from the world to settle in solitude in the mountain ".

When the Police Officer heard this, he began trembling in fear. In fear and with great grief and sorrow he came to the dervish with his bare head and feet, crying bitterly over the mistake that he had made, saying:

"I swear, I did not know that you were a saintly man. I made a mistake and considered you as one of the thieves. For Allah's sake, forgive me, otherwise I will become a victim of Allah's anger and will be destroyed. "

The dervish replied: "Brother, it is not your fault. I am the guilty one. I broke my promise to my Lord and for that I have been given this. punishment. "

"I know the cause of this and my inner self is aware thereof
That for which sin of mine, this misfortune befell me.
I broke my agreement with Allah and as a result
The punishment for my deeds was the severing of my hand and      foot.
The sincere ones are at all times in danger, In Allah's path, there are great tests awaiting them.
Such promises and vows should not be made which you cannot fulfil.
And sit not in places of danger where you are bound to be tested    with trials."

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LESSON

Firstly a person should never take an oath for anything which is against the Shariat e.g. "I will not eat" or "I will not drink water" etc. The oath of the dervish was of this type. Secondly, a person should never depend upon his own courage and strength. In all matters one should depend upon Allah and seek His help. If one intends doing anything, then one should always say: 'Insha­ Allah'. If for some reason, one forgets to say so, then the moment he remembers it he should say 'Insha-Allah'. One must remember at all times that without Allah's power nothing can take place.

"Allah's one atom of favour is much better
Than a thousand efforts from the obedient ones.
Humility in the path of Allah and indigence
Is better than to be proud of our devotion and obedience."

One should, with steadfastness on the deen, pray to Allah at all times, "0 My Lord, do not leave me to my nafs for one moment. Rectify my condition in such a manner that at all times it is in accordance with Your pleasure, till You make my ending upon Imaan.
Ameen.

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