بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
If Cleopatra visited Swarovski Jewellery store or Claire’s, I wonder how she would feel about her jewellery?
If Kisra, the ruler of Persia spent the night sleeping in YOUR bed, what would he think of his own royal bed?
Would Caesar be proud of his luxurious life; reclining on a couch and fanned by slave girls if he knew that my living room has a more comfortable reclining chair and an A/C unit that can make it feel like an igloo even in a Texan summer?
Would Qaroon strut arrogantly about the keys to his wealth that needed strong men to carry, if he knew that the keys to my wealth are carried in plastic cards in my wallet?
In the land of Mesopotamia so mesmerized by their chariots, what would they think if they saw a Toyota Corolla?
If the people of Baghdad and Cordoba, who used to pride themselves at the vastness of the collection of their libraries, saw the number of books that can be carried by a college student on their USB drive, how would they feel?
If the kings who used to pride themselves on the quickness of their messengers and carriers were introduced to email, text messages and WhatsApp, what would they think of how we were living?
If Al-Nu’man RH, the king of Arabia, who used to drink cold water kept in a specially made skin container and the people used to envy him for that, how would they feel if they saw the water fountain in our masjid?
If the ‘Abbasid Caliph Al-Mansour RH who used to have his slaves mix hot water with cold water to create a unique bath for himself and his people used to imagine what that was like, what he would think of trying out my jacuzzi?
If the people who used to dream about items and search for them all their lives knew that we simply search and purchase them on Amazon?
If the people who used to travel for months and maybe years to reach their destinations knew that it takes us only a few hours on planes, trains, cars or motorbikes!
My brothers and sisters, we live today better than many of the kings and royals of the past, but we can’t see it! We only have eyes for what others have, remember every time your eyes wander wide, your heart constricts!
“And do not extend your eyes toward that by which We have given enjoyment to [some] categories of them, [its being but] the splendor of worldly life by which We test them. And the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring.” (Taha v. 131)
Do not focus on what you DON’T have. Focus on what you DO have!
Comprehend the following statement with your heart and memorize it on your tongue:
When you are grateful to Allah and do what He asks of you, He will give you much more than what you ask of Him.
By Shaykh Waleed Basyouni