Thursday, February 16, 2006

Being thankful

Something reminded me of an incident I was told of a long time ago.

It is said that once Hasan al-Basri had a very sharp headache, so he tied a bandana over his head. Rabia Basri saw him and inquired the cause for the bandana, to which Hasan al-Basri told her of the headache.

Rabia Basri asked him if this headache is something he gets often. Hasan al-Basri replied that Allah has blessed him with good health and it is after many years that he had a headache this severe.

“Is it not strange that Allah gave you good health for years, and then when He afflicts you with some pain, you wear a banner on your head to advertise your pain?”

Hasan al-Basri says that after that day he never ever complained of any harship he faced.

I don’t know the authenticity, but I often marvel at the lesson. How thankful are we in the times of ease and how we complain in the times of difficulty? May Allah save us from hypocrisy.

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