man asked the reason for this invitation, and Abu ‘Abd al-Rab continued, “So you may eat something with us, and we can present you things which will remove the need for this mat you are wrapped in.”

The man said, “I do not need them.” After Abu ‘Abd al-Rab had his invitation denied, he returned to his encampment at the riverside. He himself says:

I considered myself worthless (after hearing what the man wrapped in the mat had said). In my heart, I said to myself, “I have not found anyone richer than me in the whole of Damascus, yet I still search for more.” I then called out to Allah and said, “I repent to You about my current condition.” In this way, I repented without anybody getting wind of it.

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                                                                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic brothers, think for a moment. That man was wrapped in a mat, far away from civilization, far away from his friends and family, all by himself. Even then, he was exclaiming the praise of Allah Almighty so loudly; it could be heard from a distance. Even then, he was thankful to Allah for everything. Even then, he was grateful and patient. When Abu ‘Abd al-Rab, the richest person of Damascus, asked about what led to him being wrapped in a mat and left alone, that righteous servant of Allah did not even say a word of complaint. Instead, he simply gave thanks to Allah and remained content with what his Lord decreed. His reliance on Allah is indeed a characteristic we all need to plant deeply within our hearts and adopt. When Abu ‘Abd al-Rab offered him various conveniences and offered to host him, this pious person’s self-respect made him turn down his invitation.

Dear Islamic brothers, there are a number of us who have received the bounty of taking part in the religious activities of Dawat-e-Islami by taking on a responsibility of some kind. One brother works to serve Islam in one department, whilst another works in another field. Some serve