In Book Four of Jalaluddin Rumi's Masnavi, an anecdote describes a Jew challenging Imam Ali to throw himself from a high palace roof to prove his trust in God's divine protection. Imam Ali rebukes him, establishing a fundamental theological principle regarding the master-servant relationship between humans and the Divine.

Ali explains that it is entirely inappropriate, audacious, and arrogant for a servant to test God. The dynamic of testing (imtihān) flows strictly in one direction: it is solely God's prerogative to test His servants, not the other way around. This narrative illustrates that true reliance on God (tawakkul) does not involve reckless endangerment, demanding miracles to validate faith, or forcing God's hand; instead, it requires humble submission to God's will and recognizing the absolute boundary between the Creator and the created.