One day, a few years ago, my respected Sheikh, Saeed Ali let me read a letter he wrote to a fellow murid brother. The letter touched me greatly. Although I do not have a copy of that letter, the contents of the letter made a marked impression on me and I up to this day remember the contents, and will Allah willing I will relate them;
“Take the example of a tree, a tree bears fruit, it gives shade and acts as a barrier. Mankind benefits from the fruit and the shade, but does the tree eat its own fruit? Does it benefit from its own shade? No. It just serves and provides humankind but does not benefit itself. So we should become like the tree, by caring and doing for others, selfless service to human beings.
Take the example of water, people wash and cleanse themselves with water, we drink water to quench our thirst. Ships ride on water, we benefit from using water, in fact we cannot live without water, but does water benefit from its own properties?, no. So we must become like water, serving mankind and animals, again this is selfless service to humanity.”
I once mentioned this to a Turkish friend of mine, this had made an impression on him too. After a few days he called me and had added another aspect in our discussion. He said “we should study a burning candle, a candle “burns” and destroys itself by giving light to others. So we should become like a candle, even if we cause ourselves pain by benefiting others, that too is selfless service to humanity”
How beautiful.
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Inspiring! Sufism teaches us about love, but care is one of the ingredients of love and if we can provide care and sincere love to the Almighty's creation then can we be at peace with ourselves!
ReplyDeletethis reminds me of an e -mail i once received, it reads as follows:
ReplyDeletea little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and he handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, and this is what it said:
For cutting the grass: R20.00
For cleaning up my room this week: R10.00
For going to the cafe for you: R5.00
Babysitting my brother and sisters while you went shopping: R10.00
Helping to take out the garbage: R5.00
For getting a good school report: R50.00
For cleaning up and raking the yard: R20.00
Total owed: R120.00
Well, his mother looked at him standing there, the boy could see the memories flashing through her mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he'd written on, and this is what she wrote:
For 9 months I carried you while you were growing inside me: No Charge.
For all the nights that I've sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you: No Charge.
For all the trying times, and all the tears that you've caused through the years: No Charge.
For all the nights that were filled with dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead: No Charge.
For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose: No Charge,
Son, When you add it up, the cost of my love is: No Charge.
A parents love is the purest love a child will ever receive... I thank My parents for blessing me with that sincere love.