abdulhakeem
27-10-03, 09:51 PM
Abraham the Friend of God was well known for his proverbial hospitality. He even went so far that he ate only little when he was by himself, but when he had guests he took great care to offer them an opulent meal. He also used to just invite travellers who were passing by.
One day it happened that he had invited a passing stranger to be his guest. When the food was served, Abraham said, "Now say, 'In the name of God!' and start eating." The stranger replied, "But I do not believe in God," and he was about to start eating without saying a blessing. Abraham held his had back and said, "Those who does not remember God, the Giver of all gifts, cannot eat in my company." So the guest got up and went away without a farewell.
Thereupon God said to Abraham, "My friend, why did you let your guest leave?" Abraham replied, "He was not ready to remember You, the Giver of all gifts." God said, "Why do you, my friend, make such a condition? I let the sun shine for good and bad people, and I make the rain fall on believers and disbelievers. Go and get your guest back and give him something to eat."
Abraham felt ashamed. He went out to catch up with the stranger. When the man saw Abraham coming after him, he thought, "Alas! I just thought he was unpolite, but he seems to be a fanatic on top of that so that he is coming after me!" And he started running.
Abraham ran after him and finally caught up with him. "I want to apologize," he said, catching his breath. "God reproached me for my behaviour and told me to ask you to come back and to invite you for a meal because He also gives his gifts without conditions."
The traveller accepted the invitation and thought by himself, "A God who reproaches His messenger for my sake is someone I would like to know more about."
One day it happened that he had invited a passing stranger to be his guest. When the food was served, Abraham said, "Now say, 'In the name of God!' and start eating." The stranger replied, "But I do not believe in God," and he was about to start eating without saying a blessing. Abraham held his had back and said, "Those who does not remember God, the Giver of all gifts, cannot eat in my company." So the guest got up and went away without a farewell.
Thereupon God said to Abraham, "My friend, why did you let your guest leave?" Abraham replied, "He was not ready to remember You, the Giver of all gifts." God said, "Why do you, my friend, make such a condition? I let the sun shine for good and bad people, and I make the rain fall on believers and disbelievers. Go and get your guest back and give him something to eat."
Abraham felt ashamed. He went out to catch up with the stranger. When the man saw Abraham coming after him, he thought, "Alas! I just thought he was unpolite, but he seems to be a fanatic on top of that so that he is coming after me!" And he started running.
Abraham ran after him and finally caught up with him. "I want to apologize," he said, catching his breath. "God reproached me for my behaviour and told me to ask you to come back and to invite you for a meal because He also gives his gifts without conditions."
The traveller accepted the invitation and thought by himself, "A God who reproaches His messenger for my sake is someone I would like to know more about."