Ibn Umar (رحمة الله عنهما) went on a journey once with some companions, and they saw a sheep herder. They invited the sheep herder to eat with them.The sheep herder said: ‘I am fasting’
Ibn Umar (رحمة الله عنهما) said: ‘You are fasting whilst it is so hot, and while you are between all these plants and sheep?’ The herder replied: ‘I'm taking advantage of my remaining days’ (i.e., the days before my death).
Ibn ‘Umar (رحمة الله عنهما) was moved by this reply and said: ‘Can you sell one of your sheep to us? We'll feed you from its meat when you break your fast, and we'll also pay you for it.’ The herder replied: ‘It does not belong to me. It belongs to my master.’
Ibn Umar (رحمة الله عنهما) asked (testing him): ‘So what would your master say if you told him that it was eaten by a wolf?’ The herder raised his finger to the sky and said: ‘What about Allāh?’
Ibn Umar ( رحمة الله عنهما) left. He was so moved by the response that he kept repeating the phrase (of the herder) to himself:
‘What about Allāh?’
‘What about Allāh?’
‘What about Allāh?’
When he (رحمة الله عنهما) arrived at the city, he went to the herder’s owner and purchased him and his sheep from him. He then freed the herder and gave him his sheep as a gift.
[Lataa'if al-Ma'aarif of Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali (rahimahullah), pg. 323].
LESSONS
A believer must strictly avoid doing or saying anything that will not please Allah. He must have the sensitivity not to take a single step that will be unpleasing to Allah, whom he loves with such a deep passion, in this world or the hereafter, and to do nothing to Him.