Joy and contentment
Ibrahim was a simple man who lived in a small village. He was a shoemaker and rather a good one. He was not very knowledgeable, nor very rich or very strong or handsome. He was a simple man. But he was a joyful and content man, always with a smile.
Ibrahim grew old and did not have children. His wife passed away long before him and he never got married again. He had no siblings or relatives. Until his last day, he used to wake up at dawn every day and go to the mosque to pray Fajr. From there he would go to his workshop where he would work diligently all day.
At his old age one day, a young man came to him. He wanted to learn Ibrahim’s trade, help him and inherit his workshop. Ibrahim accepted. His name was Abdullah.
One day Abdullah asked Ibrahim:
“How come you are so joyful and content when you have no family, wife or children. When God has not given you knowledge or wealth. When you are not known for anything other than being a good shoemaker and a kind person?”
Ibrahim smiled and answered:
“Perhaps God did not give me wealth because I would have been mean and it would have corrupted me. Perhaps He did not give me a lot of knowledge because it would have made me proud and arrogant. Perhaps He did not give me children because I would not have been a good parent and I would have raised them to be unjust.
As for my wife, I loved her very much, but she loved God more. How can I argue with that? She only went ahead of me and I expect to join them both soon.
But God gave me two hands and has taught me to make shoes so I did not have to beg, and I could give a little charity to make up for my errors. And He has given me a long life so I could worship him. How can I not be thankful and content?”
What made Ibrahim a thankful and content man?
His good opinion of God and of creation. Having a good opinion is to look for the good and expect goodness.
