The Story of the sultan and the cucumber

“Don’t you see that Allah has made in service to you all that is in the Heavens and on Earth, and has made His bounties flow to you in abundant measure, seen, and unseen.” (Qur’an 31:20)

A famous Sultan once shared a cucumber with one of his most sincere and closest advisers by the name of Ayaz. The servant was grateful that the Sultan shared his cucumber with him and joyfully began to eat his half. When the Sultan bit into his half of the cucumber he was surprised by how bitter it tasted that he instantly spat it out into his hands. The perplexed king then asked Ayaz, “My friend how could you eat something so bitter and horrible tasting!” Ayaz smiled and said, “Oh my King! I have tasted so many delicious blessings from your hand and enjoyed so many joyous moments because of your generosity that whatever you give me is sweetened by the fact that I know it came from you.”

Reflection: How would your life change if you approached God the way that Ayaz approached the king?