Asceticism
Asceticism and offering to God is a course in the programs of the
Islamic military education. Historians mention that when the Islamic
army,underthecommandmentofAmrbinal-As,directedtoEgypt,the
rulersentspies.Twodayslater,thespiesinformedoftheirastonishment
bythatarmy.Theysaid,“Wesawpeoplepreferdeathtolifeandmod-
estytoarrogance.Nonehadanydesireorcravingforthisworld.They
sat on dust and ate on the knees. Their commander was not distin-
guished.Nonecandistinguishthemodestfromthehigh-ranking,orthe
slavefrom the master.None of them waslate from the prayers. They
washedtheirlimbswithwaterandsubmittedintheirprayers.”Theruler
washighlyterrified.Hesaid,“Thosewouldremoveeventhemountains.
Wecannotfightthem.”HethensentamissivetoAmrinwhichhede-
manded with a group with whom he would conclude a peace treaty.
Ebadabinas-Samit,theblack,wastheheadofthegroupthatAmrsent
totheruler.Theruleraskedthemtotaketheblackawayandprecedean-
otheronehewoulddiscuss.Thegroupsaidinonevoice,“Thisblackis
thebestofus inopinionandknowledge.He isourmaster,leader,and
chief.Werefertohisopinion.”Therulercouldnolongerhidehispuz-
zlementwhenheasked, “Howdoyouacceptthatablackisthebestof
you?Heshouldbethemostmodest.”Theyanswered,“Heisthebestin
situation, precedence, opinion,and mentality. For us, blackness is not
shame.”
Hehadtodiscusswiththeblack;therefore,hesaid,“Well,youblack!
Comeand talk with me respectfully.” Ebadasaid, “I haveheard your
wording.Ihaveleftthousandmenwhoarelikemeorblacker.Ifyousee
them,youwillbe moreterrified.ThankstoGod,I,despitemyoldage,
never fear hundred men of my enemies even if they meet me collect-
ively.ThesamethingIcansayaboutmycompanions.Thisisforourde-
siretofightforGod’ssakeandseekHissatisfaction.OurfightingGod’s
enemiesisfor neitheraworldly desirenoran affairwe lack.Yet, God
haslegalizedthisforusandgivenusthespoils.Wedonotcarewhether
we havemanyrichesor lackasingledirham. Wedonot askformore
thanasinglemealbywhichwemeet ourhungerandacloakthatpro-
tectsus.Thisissufficientforus.Ifwehavemanyricheswewillspend
themforthesakeofGodandconfinetowhatwehaveinourhandsbe-
causetheearthlyblissinnotbliss.Theactualblissandluxuryarethose
oftheHereafter.ThisisthedecreeofourLordandtheinstructionofour