The Shaykh’s remarks on patience with the divine decree and destiny of Allah.

The Shaykh : If Allah grants him wealth, he praises Allah; if He does not grant him wealth, he is patient with the divine decree of Allah. If He marries him to a woman who pleases his eye, praise be to Allah; otherwise, he is patient. And so on. If a son is born, he praises Allah; if a daughter is born, he likewise praises Allah, because a Muslim does not know where the good lies, in males or females. As you know in the Noble Qur'an, some are made barren, having two spouses who live for a long time without being granted a son or a daughter.

The questioner : Our master Zakariyya (peace be upon him).

The Shaykh : This one who is not granted a son or a daughter, what does he say? He says, "Send me one." If it is so and so, it is not permissible for him to be satisfied with the divine decree and destiny of Allah.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Among the benefits that remained in my memory from what I gathered from my father is that he related a story about a friend of his, who was there in Albania. This friend was wealthy, rich in money, and had a righteous wife who was given a share of beauty. But he remained with her for years and was not granted a child from her. Every time my father’s friend and the others gathered for an evening or sat in a session, this wealthy man would lament, saying, "Oh, if only Allah would send me a son, just a son." My father would advise him like this, saying, "So-and-so, be satisfied with what Allah has written for you, and you will be the most worshipful of people." He would go for two or three days, sit, and say, "Oh, if only He would send me one." My father would remind him again. Then Allah sent him a son. Do you know how much a wealthy, rich man who has nothing to occupy him besides his son wants to pamper him and fulfill all his desires? The boy grew up and reached the age of discretion. Later, every time he sat in a session, he would say, "May Allah deliver me from him."

The questioner : Glory be to Allah.

The Shaykh : May Allah deliver me from him, good! My soul reached this point. The summary is that he turned out to be wicked and did not listen to his words, despite the fact that he pampered him and cared for him, and so on. We have a saying in Syria: "The stars wished for him in broad daylight."

The questioner : In broad daylight.

The Shaykh : My father would say to him, "Remember, remember when you used to say, 'Oh, if only my Lord would send me a son.' I tell you, my brother, be patient, be patient, it is better for you. You do not know where the good is. You persist and lament, and this is what Allah sent you. Now you wish for his death. Why? Because you are not satisfied with the divine decree and destiny of Allah. The believer is not like this. The believer, as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is the secret of the Muslims' victory over the disbelievers, because the Muslim lives in light of this Prophetic guidance. That means if he lives, it is good; if he dies, it is good; if he is safe, it is good; if he is wounded, it is good. So he does not care about death. As for the disbelievers, they enjoy themselves as livestock enjoy themselves. This is the secret of why the small Muslim army overcomes the large disbeliever army, because the Muslims do not care about their lives, whether they are in hardship or in comfort. Welcome.

The questioner : May Allah give you life.

The Shaykh : How are you?

The questioner : Praise be to Allah.

The Shaykh : And you have resolved to travel?

The questioner : By Allah, if Allah wills, tomorrow.

The Shaykh : Tomorrow.

The questioner : If Allah wills.