A strange patient

Sayyiduna Yunus عَـلٰى نَبِـيِّنَا وَعَـلَيْهِ الصَّلٰوةُ وَالسَّلَام once told angel Jibra`eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام that he wished to see the greatest worshipper of the world. Angel Jibra`eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام took him to a person whose arms and legs had severely decayed and separated from the body because of leprosy. Despite being in such a condition, the man uttered these words, ‘Ya Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! You benefitted me from these body parts as long as You willed, and took them back when You willed. I pinned all my hopes on Your mercy. O my Creator! The attainment of Your pleasure is the only aim of mine.’

Sayyiduna Yunus عَـلٰى نَبِـيِّنَا وَعَـلَيْهِ الصَّلٰوةُ وَالسَّلَام said ‘O Jibra`eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام! I asked you to take me to the person who offers Salah and fasts abundantly.’ Angel Jibra`eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام replied, ‘He was a worshipper of the same attributes before being afflicted with this adversity [and ailment]. Now I have been ordered to take away even his eyes.’ Therefore, Jibra`eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام pointed a finger at his eyes, causing them to come out of their sockets. But still that man uttered the same words, ‘Ya Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! You benefitted me from these eyes as long as You willed, and took them back when you willed. O my Creator! I pinned all my hopes on Your mercy. The attainment of Your pleasure is the only aim of mine.’

Sayyiduna Jibra`eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام then suggested the worshipper, ‘Let’s make Du’a together that Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ bless you with eyes and limbs so that you worship Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ like before.’ The man replied, ‘Not at all!’ Jibra`eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام asked, ‘But why not?’ The man responded, ‘If my Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is pleased with this [state] of mine, then I don’t need health.’ Sayyiduna Yunus عَـلٰى نَبِـيِّنَا وَعَـلَيْهِ الصَّلٰوةُ وَالسَّلَام commented, ‘Indeed, I have not seen a greater worshipper than this man.’ Sayyiduna Jibra`eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام remarked, ‘There is no path better than this for seeking the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ.’ (Raud-ur-Riyaheen, pp. 281)

سُـبْحٰـنَ الـلّٰــه عَزَّوَجَلَّ! This is how a patience observing person should be. After all, which calamity did that worshipper not face? To the extent that the light of his eyes was also taken away. However, there was no difference in his patience and perseverance. He had attained such pinnacle rank of “remaining content upon the Will of Allah Almighty” that he was not even