“One day a cloud from You spread its shade over us;
Its lightning shone for us, but its rain was slow to fall.
Neither does its cloud disperse, so that the hopeful might despair,
Nor does its rain arrive to quench those thirsting for it.”

The speaker of such words is more in need of Allah’s pardon and forgiveness for them than of being praised or taken as an example for them. There are many such instances, which we have discussed elsewhere when addressing the utterances that arise among some people: reproaching divine Lordship, invoking the bewildered madman to make a case against Him, offering excuses for the lover, and similar matters. Those who affirm what these utterances entail have sided with disbelief and heresy. Rather, one must acknowledge Allah’s grace, generosity, and kindness, and one’s own shortcomings and sins. As stated in the authentic hadith:

“The best supplication for forgiveness is for the servant to say: ‘O Allah, You are my Lord; none has the right to be worshipped but You. You created me, and I am Your servant. I abide by Your covenant and promise as best I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge before You Your favor upon me, and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for none forgives sins but You.’ Whoever says this in the morning with certainty in it and dies that day will enter Paradise; and whoever says it in the evening with certainty in it and dies that night will enter Paradise.”

And in an authentic divine hadith:

“Allah Most High says: ‘O My servants, it is only your deeds that I record for you, then recompense you for in full. Whoever finds good should praise Allah, and whoever finds otherwise should blame no one but himself.’”

And in an authentic hadith: