Al-Uqud al-Durriyya - Ibn Abd al-Hadi - (الكتاب/442)

I have not written any of this so that it might be concealed from anyone (1), even from a detractor. The sheets that contained your replies have been washed. As for me, I am in good health, and my eyes are sound—better than they used to be (2). We are living in an immense, innumerable blessing, beyond all reckoning; and all praise is due to Allah (3)—praise that is abundant, wholesome, and blessed.

He then added further remarks and said:

“Everything Allah decrees is filled with goodness and mercy (4): ‘Indeed, my Lord is Subtle in what He wills; He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise’ (Yusuf 100). No harm reaches anyone except because of his sins: ‘Whatever good comes to you is from Allah, and whatever evil befalls you is from yourself’ (al-Nisa’ 79). Therefore, the servant must continually praise and thank Allah (5) in every circumstance and seek forgiveness for his sins. Gratitude brings an increase of blessings, while seeking forgiveness drives away calamities. Allah never decrees anything for a believer except that it is good for him: ‘If he is favored with prosperity, he is thankful and that is better for him; and if he is afflicted with hardship, he is patient and that is better for him.’ (6)"

(1) Manuscript F reads: “ilaykum ʿan wahid.” (2) Manuscripts F, K, and T read: “atyyaba ma,” whereas B has: “mimma kuntu.” (3) Manuscripts F, K, and T read: “fi niʿam,” while B reads: “fa lillahi al-hamd.” (4) Manuscripts F and K add the words: “wal-hikma” (and wisdom). (5) Manuscripts F, K, and T read: “yashkuru Allah wa yahmaduhu” (he thanks Allah and praises Him). (6) The phrase “in asabat-hu … khayran lahu” (if he is afflicted … it is better for him) is absent from manuscript B.

وما كتبتُ شيئًا من هذا ليُكْتَم عن أحد (١) ولو كان مُبْغِضًا. والأوراق التي فيها جواباتكم غُسِلت. وأنا طيِّبٌ، وعيناي طيبتان أطيب مما كانت (٢)، ونحنُ في نعمة عظيمة لا تُحْصَى ولا تُعَدُّ، والحمد لله (٣) حمدًا كثيرًا طيبًا مباركًا فيه. ثم ذكر كلامًا. . . وقال: وكلُّ ما يقضيه الله فيه الخير والرحمة (٤) ﴿إِنَّ رَبِّي لَطِيفٌ لِمَا يَشَاءُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ﴾ [يوسف: ١٠٠]. ولا يدخلُ على أحدٍ ضررٌ إلا من ذنوبه ﴿مَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ حَسَنَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ وَمَا أَصَابَكَ مِنْ سَيِّئَةٍ فَمِنْ نَفْسِكَ﴾ [النساء: ٧٩]. فالعبد عليه أن يحمد الله تعالى ويشكره (٥) دائمًا على كلِّ حال، ويستغفر من ذنوبه، فالشكر يوجبُ المزيدَ من النِّعم، والاستغفار يَدْفَعُ النِّقم، ولا يقضي الله للمؤمن قضاءً إلا كان خيرًا له «إن أصابته سرَّاء شكر فكان خيرًا له، وإن أصابته ضرَّاء صَبرَ، فكان خيرًا له» (٦). ***

(١) (ف): «إليكم عن واحد». (٢) (ف، ك، ط): «أطيب ما»، (ب): «مما كنت». (٣) (ف، ك، ط): «في نعم»، (ب): «فلله الحمد». (٤) (ف، ك) زيادة: «والحكمة». (٥) (ف، ك، ط): «يشكر الله ويحمده». (٦) «إن أصابته. . . خيرًا له» ليست في (ب).