Muhammad bin Ka‘b relates that there was a great ‘ālim and ‘ābid in the Banū Isrā'īl. He loved his wife very much. Co-incidentally, she passed away. This person was so grieved by this that he locked his door and abstained from meeting and conversing with people. A woman from the Banū Isrā'īl heard about this so she went to him. She informed those who were guarding the entrance to his house that she wants to ask him a mas'ala and that it can only be asked directly to him. Saying this, she sat down stubbornly by the door. The person was informed of this and eventually permitted her to enter. She said: "I want to ask you a mas'ala." He replied: "Go ahead." She said: "I have a neighbour from whom I borrowed some jewellery. I am wearing it for quite some time now. Thereafter she sent a person asking for her jewellery. The question I want to ask you is that do I have to give it back to her?" The ‘ālim replied: "Yes, you have to give it back to her." The woman replied: "That jewellery was with me for a very long time. How can I give it?" The ‘ālim replied: "In such a case, you should give it even more happily because it was out of her kindness that she allowed you to use it for such a long time." When he said this, the woman replied: "May Allah have mercy on you? Why, then, are you so sad? Allah had loaned you something and when He wished, He took it back. (Because) it belongs to Him." Upon hearing this, the ‘ālim realized his mistake and benefited tremendously from this conversation.
Lesson: Look at how this woman put some sense into this man who was a great ‘ālim. O women! You should also bear this in mind when you have to encounter any difficulty or calamity. You should also explain this to others.
