Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume I — Page 328
! ! 328 using his medicine and shiny tools. However, he also needs his mental capabilities. If he is not capable, then no number of tools or medicine can be of any use. Some characteristics help develop capabilities. One is to be grateful. Gratitude generates many good morals and with gratitude comes the means to improvement and progress. The practice of being thankful generates unity and love in a nation. When you fulfill your obligation by thanking someone for their virtuous actions, it leads to the development of good morals. Haz rat Junaid rh (or Shibli) was a respect ed elder , who had previously been the governor of a province. He was such a pious and righteous man that people name d their children after him ( for instance, our Qazi Ahmed ’ s children’s names are Junaid and Shibli). When he was a governor, the King awarded him a robe of honor for his excellent service. When he came before the King in his robe of honor, he suddenly sneezed and wiped his nose on that elegant robe. The K ing saw this and believed that he was dishonoring the robe. He ordered his servants to immediately confiscate his robe. They did so and then they proceeded to throw him out of the court , accusing him of failing to understand what it was to be thankful for the R oyal honor bestowed to him. It is said that he had been a harsh and cruel governor , b ut after this incident he became a kindhearted , humble man of God. He knocked on the doors of everyone he had wronged and asked for the ir forgiveness for his shortcomings. He repented and immersed himself in the worship of Allah. This was all due to an incident concerning a robe. He realized that ‘ O my Lord! If one could be so greatly punished for dishonoring a robe , then not showing gratitude for all Thy bl essings will certainly deserve punishment. ’ Consequently, after showing his gratitude, he became one of Allah’s saints. Therefore , you should become more grateful. The Holy Prophet Muhammad sa said that he observed more women in H ell, for they are [generally] ungrateful. Moreover , women lack cooperation. This occurs not only in our country, but women in Europe are also not cooperative. In continuation of this subject , Haz rat Khalifa t - ul - Masih II ra said : “When I went to Europe, a woman asked me , ‘ Do you have doors in your