Thursday 29 April 2010

Young Boy with Strong Belief

Shaykh Fath al-Mowsily relates, once I saw a young boy walking through the jungle. It appeared as if he
was uttering some words. I greeted him with Salaam and he replied accordingly. I inquired,

"Where are you going?"
Young boy retorted, "To the house of Allah, Kaaba in Makkah."
I further asked, "What are you reciting?"
"Noble Qur'an" he replied.
I remarked, "You are at a tender age, it is not an obligation that you are required to fulfill."

Young boy said, "I have witnessed death approach people younger than me and therefore would like to
prepare if death was to knock on my door."
I astoundingly commented, "Your steps are small and your destination far."
He responded, "My duty is to take the step and it remains the responsibility of Allah (SWT) to take me
to my destination."
I continued to ask, "Where is your provision and conveyance (means of transport)."
He replied, "My Yaqeen (certainty) is my provision and my feet's are my conveyance."
I explained, "I am asking you regarding bread and water."

Young boy replied! "Oh Shaykh if someone invited you to his house, would it be appropriate to take your own food?"
I exclaimed, "No!"
"Similarly, My Lord has invited His servant to His house, it is only the weakness of your Yaqeen (certainty)
that makes us carry provisions. Despite this, do you think Allah (SWT) will let me go to waste?"
"Never" I replied.

Young boy then left.

Sometime later I saw him in Makkah.
Young boy approached me and inquired, "Oh Shaykh are you still of weak belief?"


Tuesday 27 April 2010

Maths Jokes

It is only two weeks into the term that, in a calculus class, a student raises his hand and asks:
"Will we ever need this stuff in real life?"
The professor gently smiles at him and says:
"Of course not - if your real life will consist of flipping hamburgers at MacDonald's!"


Philosophy is a game with objectives and no rules.
Mathematics is a game with rules and no objectives.