Sufyan of Basra asked Rabia, "Is there anything you desire?"
"Despite all your learning, you understand nothing," Rabia replied. "I am God's slave, and what does a slave have to do with desire? What God desires, I desires. I have everything I desire."
"I understand your words, Rabia," said Sufyan. "Now help me to understand myself."
"You would be a good man if you didn't love the world so much," she said.
Then Sufyan prayed, "O God, be content with me!"
"How can you ask God to be content with you," Rabia exclaimed, "when you are not content with God?"
Inspired by: Sufi Women by Javad Nurbakshsh
Notes: This story is on p. 43 of the book. You can find out more about Rabia of Basra and also about Sufyan al-Thawri at Wikipedia.
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