GRATITUDE

A MAN ONCE ASKED ABU HAZIM, "O ABU HAZIM, WHAT IS THE GRATITUDE OF THE EYES?" HE REPLIED, "IT IS TO REVEAL WHATEVER GOOD THEY SEE AND TO VEIL WHATEVER BAD THEY SEE."

THE MAN SAID, "AND WHAT IS THE GRATITUDE OF THE EARS?" HE REPLIED, "IF YOU HEAR SOMETHING GOOD WITH THEM YOU UNDERSTAND IT, AND IF YOU HEAR SOMETHING BAD YOU REJECT IT."

THE MAN ASKED, "AND WHAT IS THE GRATITUDE OF THE HANDS?" HE SAID, "DO NOT USE THEM TO TAKE WHAT IS NOT YOURS, AND DO NOT RESTRAIN THEM FROM GIVING WHAT IS DUE TO ALLAH."

THE MAN ASKED, "AND WHAT IS THE GRATITUDE OF THE STOMACH?" HE REPLIED, "THAT ITS LOWER PART IS FOR FOOD AND ITS UPPER PART IS FOR KNOWLEDGE." (IT SHOULD NOT BE STUFFED FULL OF FOOD)

THE MAN ASKED, "WHAT IS THE GRATITUDE OF THE PRIVATE PARTS?" ABU HAZIM REPLIED BY RECITING THE AYAT OF THE QUR'AN: 'AND THOSE WHO GUARD THEIR CHASTITY, EXCEPT WITH THOSE TO WHOM THEY ARE MARRIED, OR THE SERVANTS WHOM THEY OWN, FOR THEM THERE IS NO BLAME; BUT THOSE WHOSE DESIRES EXCEED THESE LIMITS ARE WRONGDOERS.' (23:5-7)

THE MAN ASKED, "WHAT IS THE GRATITUDE OF THE FEET?" HE REPLIED, "IF YOU LEARN OF THE DEATH OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN WHO USED TO USE HIS FEET IN DOING GOOD DEEDS AND ACTS OF WORSHIP, THEN USE THEM IN THE SAME WAY AS HE DID; WHEREAS IF THE MAN WHO HAS DIED WAS SOMEONE DESPICABLE TO YOU, THEN TURN AWAY FROM WHAT HE USED TO DO AND BE GRATEFUL TO ALLAH.

"AND AS FOR THE ONE WHO USES ONLY HIS TONGUE TO EXPRESS HIS GRATITUDE, HE IS LIKE A MAN WHO ONLY COVERS HIMSELF WITH THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT WITHOUT PUTTING IT ON, SO IT IS OF NO USE TO HIM IN EITHER THE HEAT, OR THE COLD, OR THE SNOW, OR THE RAIN."

THE PURIFICATION OF THE SOUL, P.103-104