Allah mentions in a hadith qudsī, “Whoever is not pleased with my decree and is not patient upon my trials, let him seek a Lord other than Me.”^[1]

اَلْاَمان والحفیظ Dear Islamic brothers! These words should shake us to our core. Whoever is not pleased with the decree of Allah is being rebuked in this. They are being told they are not worthy of being Allah’s slave, as a true slave remains pleased and content with the decision of his Lord.

What does it mean to be a slave?

In earlier times, slaves were sold in marketplaces. Once, the saint Ibrāhīm bin Adham رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه needed one, so he went to a marketplace, bought a slave and brought him home.

He asked the slave his name, to which he responded, “Whatever you wish to call me, that will be my name.” The saint then asked what he was used to eating. “I shall eat whatever you give me”, was the answer.

When the slave was asked if he wanted anything, he explained, “I desire only what you desire. I am a slave, and a slave does not have any connection with such matters.”

Upon hearing this, Ibrahīm b. Adham رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه began to think, “If only I would obey Allah in this same dutiful manner.”^[2]

O those who love Allah’s Messenger! This is what true servitude is. A true slave is he who has no desires or wishes of his own; he only follows the will of his master. We should remain content with the decisions of Allah and never complain in any circumstance; come what may, be it poverty, worries or any kind of difficulty.