WHO IS ON THE RIGHT PATH?

Some day an atheist came to Malik ibn Binar and said:

-O Malik! I am on the right path! My way is the right one!

Malik answered:

-No. I am on the right path and you are one of those, who are in false belief«

The atheist repeated:

-My path is the right one!

The great sheikh said to him:

-Slow down man! Now we will see!

-How?

-We will hold our hands and put them in fire. The hand which burns, is certainly from the person, who is in delusion!

-OK!

Then they hold their hands and put them in the fire… The angry fire surrounded both hands but it hadn't any effect.

Malik was so sad that he immediately went home and made a sujood to Allah and then he cried:

»Master Merciful! I served you for 70 years and now I am equal to an atheist!«

He prayed so sincere till his tears covered the floor, on which he was making his sujood. For a moment a voice stroke his soul:

»O Malik!... You think that he is equal to you?.... His hand didn't burn, because his hand was with yours. Otherwise the food for an atheist is fire!

Malik was always serious, always thinking. Nobody saw him smiling…

Some day his son moved to Ahiret (the Other world) and then he smiled.

Everyone asked him:

-So many years you didn't smiled, but why now?

He lifted his face towards the shy and answered:

-My Lord took my son. I realized that he is pleased with me. If God is pleased with a person, why shouldn't such smile?