A man has ten pens in front of him. He takes one and writes out a million rand cheque. He takes another and writes out a thousand rand cheque.
It will be the height of foolishness for the first pen to boast of its performance over the second pen by saying: I wrote out a million rand cheque and you only wrote a thousand rand cheque. Likewise for the second pen to boast to the other 8 that I have written out a thousand rand cheque while you’ve written nothing.
After all, this act was no real achievement on the part of the pens. Similarly, it does not behove man to boast about his efforts to a community, his charity, his earnings, etc.
For it is only Allah who allows one to do good deeds, and likewise, it is only Allah who grants sustenance.
Ten Pens: Story
