Quran 51:50

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]