Bismillah Hir Rahmaan Nir Raheem Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatuallahi wa barakatuhu http://iskandrani.wordpress.com/2008/02/09/a-man-from-egypt/ A Man from Egypt
One of the wise men of the past said: “I passed by a village in Egypt seeking to engage in Ribat (guarding the Muslim frontier against the disbelievers), when suddenly I passed by a man in sitting in the dark. His was missing his eyes, as well as his hands and legs. He was suffering all types of difficulty, while saying: “Praise be to You, Allah - a praising that combines the praises of all of Your Creation - for what You have blessed me with, and preferred me greatly over many of those whom You have Created.” So, I said to him: “For what blessing are you praising Allah? For what preference are you thanking Him for? By Allah, I do not see any type of difficulty except that you are experiencing it!” So, he said: “Do you not see what has happened to me? By Allah, if He were to cause the heavens to rain fire down upon me, and I were to be burned up because of it, and He were to command the mountains to crush me, and He were to command the oceans to drown me, I would not increase except in praising and thanks to Him, and I request something of you: I have a daughter who used to serve me and break my fast with me. Can you see if you can find her?” I said to myself: “By Allah, I hope that in fulfilling the request of this pious servant, I will gain nearness to Allah - the Mighty and Majestic.” So, I went out looking for her in the desert to discover that she had been eaten by wild beasts. I said to myself: “To Allah we belong and to Him we return! How will I tell this pious servant that his daughter had died?” So, I went to him and asked him: “Are you better in the Sight of Allah than Prophet Ayyub? Allah put him to trial with his wealth and his children and family.” He replied: “No, rather, Ayyub is better!” I said: “Well, the daughter that you had asked me to find, I found that she has been eaten by wild beasts.” He said: “Praise be to Allah who has taken me out of this World without putting in my heart any love for it.” Then he collapsed and died. I said: “To Allah we belong and to Him we return! Who will help me to wash his body and bury it?” Suddenly, a group of horsemen engaging in Ribat passed by, so I motioned for them to stop. They came over, so I informed them of what had happend, so we washed the man’s body, shrouded it and buried it in this village, and the group of men then went on their way. I spent the night in the village unable to leave this man. When a third of the night had passed, I began dreaming that I was with him in a green garden. He was wearing two beautiful green garments, and he was standing up and reciting the Qur’an. I said to him: “Are you not my companion from yesterday?” He said: “Yes, I am.” I said: “How did you reach your current state (of health and happiness)?” He replied: “I have reached a level that none of the patient reach, except those who are patient during times of calamity and thankful during times of ease.”" [‘Sifat as-Safwah’; 2/452] Surah Isra 17 verse 80 Say: "O my Lord! let my entry be by the Gate of Truth and Honor and likewise my exit by the Gate of Truth and Honor; and grant me from Thy Presence an authority to aid (me)." Ameen,Thumameen. Transliteration :Wa qur rabbi adkhilni mudkhala sidqiw wa akhrijni mukhraja sidqiw wa-j'al li mil ladunka sulta_nan nasira_(n). Al-Tirmidhi HadithHadith 2482 Narrated by AbuHurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) used to say, " O Allah, grant me benefit in what Thou hast taught me, teach me what will benefit me, and increase my knowledge. Praise be to Allah in all circumstances. I seek refuge in Allah from the state of those who go to Hell." Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a tradition whose isnad is gharib. Ameen Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Go to http://messenger.yahoo.com/invite/