The Pious Man and the Shopkeeper

There lived a pious man all by himself, who spent most of his time in
praying, fasting and praising Allah. Almost all his waking hours were
utilised in meditation and devotions. He was very happy with his
spiritual progress. No wicked thoughts came to his mind and no evil
temptations entered his heart.

One night, he dreamt a rather disturbing dream. He saw that a shopkeeper
in the town was far superior to him in spirituality and that he must go
to him to learn the basics of true spiritual life.

In the morning, the pious man went in search of the shopkeeper. He found
him busy with his customers, selling goods and collecting money with a
cheerful face. He sat there in a corner of the shop and watched the
shopkeeper carefully. No signs of any spiritual life at all, he said to
himself. His dream could not be true. But then he saw the shopkeeper
disappear to pray his Salah. When he returned, he was busy dealing with
money matters again.

The shopkeeper noticed the pious man sitting in the corner and asked: "As Salamu Alaikum, would you like something, brother?"

"Wa Alaikum As Salam. Oh! No! No!" said the pious man. "I don't want to
buy anything, but I want to ask you a question." He then related his
dream.

"Well, that is very simple to explain," said the shopkeeper, "but you
will have to do something for me before I answer your question."

"I will do anything for you," replied the pious man.

"All right! Take this saucer; there is some mercury in it. Go to the
other end of the street and come back fast within half an hour. If the
mercury falls out of the saucer, you will hear nothing from me. There
you go now."

The pious man took the saucer and started running. The mercury nearly
wobbled out of the saucer. He saved it just in time, and slowed down.
Then he remembered he had to return within half an hour, so he started
walking at a fast pace. At long last he returned puffing and panting.
"Here is your mercury, safe and sound," he told the shopkeeper. "Now
tell me the true interpretation of my dream."

The shopkeeper looked at the pious man's weary condition and asked him:
"Well, friend, how many times did you remember Allah while you were
going from this end of the street to the other?"

"Remember Allah!" exclaimed the pious man. "I did not remember Him at all. I was so worried about the mercury in the saucer."

"But I do remember Him all the time," said the shopkeeper. "When I am
doing my business, I am also carrying mercury in a saucer. I am fair,
honest and kind to my customers. I never forget Allah Ta'ala in my
dealings with other men."

"Men whom neither trade nor sale (business)
diverts from the remembrance of Allaah (with heart and tongue) nor from
performing As‑Salaah (Iqaamat‑as‑Salaah) nor from giving the Zakaah.
They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned (out of the
horror of the torment of the Day of Resurrection). That Allaah may
reward them according to the best of their deeds, and add even more for
them out of His Grace. And Allaah provides without measure to whom He
wills" [Al Quran, Surah an-Noor 24:37-38]