In the era of Alamgir, the Shahi Mosque caught fire. The people made haste and ran to the noble King and submitted that the mosque had gone up in flames.
Upon hearing this news, the King immediately fell into prostration and thanked God. The King’s courtiers inquired in surprise: ‘Your Noble Majesty! What time is this for thankfulness? The house of God has caught fire and the hearts of the Muslims are in immense pain.’
The King responded: ‘I have been thinking and yearning for quite some time that this grand and magnificently built mosque is benefiting thousands of people, if only there was some way that I too could have a part in this good work. However, whenever I looked at this mosque, I would find it to be complete and flawless in every aspect, and so nothing would come to mind as to how I could partake of spiritual reward in this regard. So today, God the Almighty has opened a way for me by which I too can attain spiritual reward.
وَاللّٰہُ سَمِیۡعٌ عَلِیۡمٌ1
(Malfuzat, Vol. 1, p. 387)
1 Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:225). [Publisher]