The Merchant who Defied the Storm of Fate

A God-conscious Merchant who praised the Lord twice— upon hearing the sinking of his ship and then knowing the ship belonged to someone else. — by Mujeeb Jaihoon

May I relate
A wonderful incident:

Lived in a town
A Him-fearing merchant

A man came running
From another town
“Your ship has suffered
A terrible drown”

The merchant thought
For a little while
And then said
“Alhamdulillah!” with a smile

After some time
There came another news
“The ship that sank
Was not yours”

The merchant thought
For a little while
And then said
“Alhamdulillah!” with a smile

The people around
Struck with surprise:
‘What was this secret’,
They could not appraise

They wondered why
His reply was the same
For tragedy and joy
Similar was his exclaim

Said the merchant,

“When I heard
The ship had submerged
I checked my heart:
If it was disturbed

When I found
It was not shaken
I praised Him
For not being forsaken

Then when I heard
The ship was not mine
I checked my heart:
Did I any joy gain

When I found
It was like before calm
I praised Him
For keeping my heart firm”

Hey Tasbih!

The believer and world
Is like ship and ocean

As long as the ship
Is above the water
It shall smoothly sail
Over the latter

But when water enters
Inside the ship
It shall be destroyed
During its trip

In this world
Lives the believer:
Not the world
Inside his heart

June 12 2004