Islamic Story: When a Bedouin Refuses an Invitation to Eat with the Governor

 

Islamic Story: When a Bedouin Refuses an Invitation to Eat with the Governor

Al-Hajjaj was a governor. Once, he went to perform the pilgrimage. On the way, feeling tired he rested in a place between Mecca and Medina. The place has a spring. The plan, in that place, while resting, he will eat lunch.

Feeling uncomfortable when eating alone, al-Hajjaj asked his guards to find someone to eat with. He said, "Find someone who can eat with me and you can ask some questions!".

The guard does his job. He looked at a mountain. He saw someone sleeping. He is a bedouin who is sleeping in a thick blanket (in duplicate).

The guard immediately approached him and woke the bedouin. But, unfortunately, the way is very rough. He kicked the Bedouin with his foot.

"Let's get up and immediately meet the governor!" ordered the guard to the bedouin.

The Bedouin immediately got up and rushed to the governor's place.

Seeing the Bedouin beside him, the governor told him to wash his hands and then eat with him. However, al-Hajjaj's invitation or order was rejected by the Bedouin.

“There is someone better than you and He commands me. I also fulfill his orders, " explained the Bedouin to al-Hajjaj.

Curious as to who sent the Bedouin, the governor asked him, "Who is he?"

The Bedouin replied with great steadfastness that the one who ruled over him was Allah, the Lord of the worlds. He then explained that Allah had told him to fast that day. So, automatically, he could not eat food with the governor.

Hearing the answer of the Bedouin who was fasting, the governor was shocked beyond measure. Because it was a very hot day. He also confirmed it to the Bedouin about his astonishment.

However, the Bedouin replied in a very relaxed and wise manner. "I fasted this so that it became my provision to live on a day that was hotter than today."

"Just cancel your fast. After all, you can still fast tomorrow!," ordered governor al-Hajjaj.

The Bedouin refused with a question, "Can you guarantee that I will still be alive tomorrow?"

Al-Hajjaj did not dare to guarantee.

The Bedouin then asked again about his surprise at the governor's attitude, "Then why do you tell me to throw away things that already exist (today's fast, namely by canceling it) to get something that doesn't exist (tomorrow's fast) and you yourself can't guarantee it. ?”

"This food is really delicious," replied the governor, a little seductively.

The Bedouin replied, “The thing that makes the food delicious is not you and neither is the chef cooking. However, a healthy body."

***

In addition to the determination to keep fasting despite temptation, the story above also teaches us about health. Health is an expensive thing. Without it, any amount of pleasure can never feel good.

The command to perform prayers, fasting, and hajj is proof that Islam is very concerned about health issues. Logically, how could an unhealthy person be able to perform the three acts of worship?

(Although, in practice, when a person is sick, these prayers can be performed in a slightly different way than usual (sitting prayers, for example) or even replace them at a later time (fasting and hajj).

As a result, health is an important thing for a person. Unfortunately, one often forgets about it. In a hadith narrated by Imam al-Bukhari, the Prophet said, "Two pleasures that are often forgotten by most people are health and leisure."