Rejoice O Abu Abd Allah, in every circumstance, you have the degrees (the leading position) in the sight of Allah"
One day Ali bin Abi Talib, then a khalifah, met his best friend Salman al-Pharisee. Ali greeted him, "How are you, Salman?"
Salman said, "O Amir al-mu'minin, I am plagued by four troubles !!"
"What trouble?" Ali asked.
Salman explains, "The distress of the family for needing bread (the staple food), the distress of the commandment of God to obey, the distress of the temptation of slander that always invites immorality, and distress for the coming of the angel of death to take my life !!"
Ali's reaction was surprising: "Rejoice, Abu Abd Allah, in every circumstance, you have the title (the leading position) with Allah"
Salman was confused, of course, at the reaction of the Prophet's friend and son-in-law. Then Ali recounts that when the Prophet (s) was still alive, one morning he met with him and he said, "How is your morning, Ali?"
"O Messenger of Allah," Ali said, "I am in sorrow for four things. I have nothing (to eat) except water only, I am saddened in doing obedience to Allah (is it acceptable?), I am sad about the reward of charity (is it more good?), And I am sad to come the angel of death (will it be khusnul khotimah?). "
Hearing the answer of Ali, with a smile the Prophet SAW said, "Rejoice O Ali, the sadness of the family is the veil of hell, and the sadness of obedience to Allah al Khaliq is (key) your security from doom, the sadness of the reward of charity is jihad, it is better than worship for 60 years, and your sadness over the angel of death is kafarat (fuser, redeemer) of your sins. Know, O Ali, God's sustenance to His servant is not because of the sadness. Sorrow does not affect anything (over the division of sustenance from God) unless it increases the reward. Be grateful and trustworthy, surely you will become lovers of God !! "
Ali asked, "With what (on what) I thank God?
"With Islam !!"
"With what I obey?" Ali asked again.
"Say: Laa haula wa laa quwwata illaa billaahil 'aliyyil' azhiim ... !!"
Ali asked again, "What should I leave?"
The Prophet SAW said again, "Leave anger, for it will remove the anger of your Lord, incriminate the scales of charity (good) and bring you to heaven !!"
Hearing the explanation of Ali, Salman said, "Really I really hard to think about it, especially about the family !!"
Of course, Salman's intention was not a feeling of sadness or pain because he regretted it. But sadness in order to expect the good as described by the Prophet Muhammad. Living a life of sadness / distress willingly to reach the joy in the hereafter.
Responding to Salman's words, Ali said, "I've heard the Messenger of Allah said: Whoever never grieves over his family, he is not entitled to heaven!"
Salman replied, "Did not Rasulullah SAW also said: People who have family will not be happy forever ??"
"It's not like that, Salman," Ali said, "If your work is lawful, then heaven will always miss those who are sorrowful and sorrowful in searching for a lawful sustenance, in order to support his family !!"
