INFINITE MIND, FINITE WORLD

4. Avoid letting your thoughts wander: Keep your focus on one point. A story from around 800 years ago, as recounted in Al-Kamil Fi AtTarikh by Ibn al-Athir, illustrates how prayers are answered. During the reign of King Abdul Rahman, a powerful ruler of Andalusia, Spain, a severe drought struck. The land withered, and water became scarce for both humans and animals. The situation was dire. At that time, there was a respected Islamic scholar named Qazi Munzir. The king sent a messenger to Qazi Munzir, who was in the city of Cordoba. The messenger informed the Qazi that the king was in distress due to the lack of rain and the drought. The Qazi asked, “What is the king himself doing in this state?” The messenger replied, “I’ve never seen the king in such distress. Today, he removed his crown and shoes and fell to the ground in prostration. He was crying and saying, ‘Oh my Lord, will You punish the people because of me, even though You are the most Merciful of all?’” Qazi Munzir then said, “Go and bring rain with you. When the earthly king shows humility, the Heavenly King will show mercy and rain down His blessings.” When the soldier returned to the king, it had started to rain. The king, having put aside his pride and self-glory, descended to the lowest level of humility. He fell to the ground, weeping and praying, realizing that the distance between God and man is arrogance and self-glory. When a person removes their self-glory, ceases to feel proud of their own greatness, and reaches a point of helplessness, God immediately intervenes. The distance between us and God is our artificial sense of being great, rich, powerful, or a leader. This false sense of pride and arrogance creates the distance. Once we remove it, it disappears. The once-powerful king threw away his crown and humbled himself, reaching a state of true helplessness. According to a Hadith, God says, “Pride is My cloak and majesty is My robe; whoever competes with Me regarding either of them, I shall throw him into the Hellfire.” (Sunan Ibn Majah) Arrogance and egoism are the thoughts that make you believe you are great. 