One of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once found himself in severe poverty. His wife advised him to go to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and request his help.
The man approached the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), but as soon as the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) eyes fell upon the man, he said:
If a person seeks something from me, I shall certainly grant it to him, but if he were to exhibit himself as being self-sufficient and free from want, Allah shall make him affluent.
Hearing this, the man said to himself, The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has intended me by this speech of his.
Without uttering a word, he returned home and narrated the incident to his wife.
His wife said, The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is also human; explain your dilemma to him and see what he has to say.
The man returned to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) for the second time but heard the same sentence from him and again came back home without saying a word.
When this was repeated for the third time, the man borrowed a pickaxe from one of his friends and set off towards the mountains. Throughout the day he worked hard to gather firewood, which he sold for some flour and that night, he and his wife had bread for dinner.
The next day, he worked harder and collected more firewood and this continued for several days till he was able to purchase a pickaxe for himself.
After some period, as a result of his hard work, he managed to purchase two camels and a slave, and slowly became one of the affluent ones.
One day, arriving before the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), he narrated to him the events of his life and the effect of his words, whereupon the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) responded:
I had said (before): "One who seeks to be independent (of others), Allah shall make him independent." |