QUANTUM LEAP Posted December 17, 2003 Once upon a time. There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best. He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He's very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men. He too, loved his 2nd wife. She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times. Now, the merchant's 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her. One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, "Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I'll be!" Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word. The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant's heart. The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is so good over here! I'm going to remarry when you die!" The merchant's heart sank and turned cold. He then asked the 2nd wife, "I always turned to you for help and you've always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to your grave." The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated. Then a voice called out: "I'll leave with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, "I should have taken much better care of you while I could have!" Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives. The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll leave us when we die. Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others. The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we're alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave. The 1st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material wealth and sensual pleasure. Guess what? It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we're on our deathbed to lament. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
7_steps_2_Heaven Posted December 18, 2003 maasha allaah maasha allaah shaaqsii, thank u ever so much for this, now i'm gonna go and take good care of my "1st wife" I better strengthen it now b4 it gets 2 l8 Thank u once again Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SuNsHyNe Posted December 18, 2003 Enjoyed reading every single word, Thanks Shaqsii Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nur Posted February 27, 2005 Let me add my favored Sufi story Once upon a time, there was a wealthy man who had many children. One day he summoned his childern and told them that " I feel sick and I am about to die, if I die, I would give all my wealth to the son/daughter who can spend the first night in the grave with me." When the father died, his kids asked each other who among them was willing to claim all the wealth by spending only a single night with their father in the grave. No one volunteered, as they were discussing the issue, a beggar who was wearing a rag and a pair of slippers showed up and knocked their door asking for a donation. The kids, cheerfully offered the beggar all of their fathers wealth if he can brave to spend the first night in the grave with their fallen dad. The beggar,who had nothin to loose accepted on the offer and subsequently, he was lowered to the grave next to the dead wealthy man. In the morning, the kids dug up the grave and helped the dazed beggar out of the grave, as he walked past the grave, they congratulated him for being a wealthy man as he met the condition and earned the wealth. The beggar declined accepting the wealth, when the kids asked him why? " When you lowered me to the grave and I laid next to your dead father" responded the beggar, "I was overcame by heavy sleep, and immediately a horrible dream began. An angel asked who was in the grave with the dead man, another angel answered that it was a living human. The angel then ordered that I should be interrogated first, instead the dead man, the next twelve hours, I was being questioned to account for the possession of the pair of slippers that I was wearing, where I got them how I got them and what I did with them, where did I walk wearning them, had I helped anyone while wearing them.......etc. When you dug me out, I woke up the happiest man living, knowing that the angels did not even finish the interrogation of the slippers let alone the worn out rag I was wearing. Now, do you expect me to inherit all that wealth and go through that grueling interrogation that will take ages before my soul can rest in peace? No thanks, i have enough wealth, more than enough on me, keep your wealth to yourselves." Nur 2005 e-Nuri Sufi Classics Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RendezVous Posted February 27, 2005 ............I agree. The 1st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material wealth and sensual pleasure. We should have in the first place.. place a great virtue attached to the First wife by not marrying a second one.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hot_chocolata Posted March 13, 2005 Mashallah and JAZKALLHU KHAIR for those stories. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
juba Posted March 13, 2005 just brilliant Shaqsii Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RendezVous Posted March 13, 2005 Why would one imagine to have 4 wives?Is it a derivaty of love and affection or is it tilted to finding Total love/problems.. I thought our real problems normally start from having thoughts of marrying 4..in the first place.. May we 'BELIEVERS' prosper Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sky Posted March 13, 2005 that was a beautiful story, maasha allaah. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
