*🌻 Lesson-Giving Humor* During the days of Ramadan, a lawyer jokingly asked Attaullah Shah Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him), "Hadrat, scholars are highly expert in interpretation and explanation; please tell me such a prescription/method where a person keeps eating and drinking, and the fast still doesn't break." Hadrat replied, "This is very easy! Appoint a person who keeps beating you with shoes from morning to evening; you keep eating those shoe-beats (taking the beating) and keep drinking (swallowing) your anger. This way, you will keep eating and drinking, and your fast will not break." This is an interesting and lesson-giving incident that demonstrates the quick-wittedness of Hazrat Attaullah Shah Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him). When a lawyer jokingly asked for a method to not break the fast, Shah Ji gave a sarcastic advice of taking shoe-beats and swallowing anger, the purpose of which was to show that fasting is not merely the name of refraining from eating and drinking, but it is the name of abstaining from sins and evil deeds. Keep eating shoe-beats: Meaning, endure hardship to keep your inner-self (Nafs) under control. Keep drinking anger: Controlling anger is a great virtue for a fasting person. This incident points towards the true spirit of Ramadan that fasting is not just the name of remaining hungry, but it is the name of gaining control over one's self.
