Friday, December 28, 2012
An Honest Businessman
Hassan bin Ziyaad (Rahmatullahi Alaihi) says: “Imaam Abu Haneefa
(Rahmatullahi Alaihi) bought a consignment of fabric which had a defect
in it. He sent the consignment to his partner to sell it off and
instructed him to clearly inform the customers of the defect. It
happened that the partner sold off the entire consignment but totally
forgot to inform the customers. He also could not recall who the
customers were. When Imaam Abu Haneefa (Rahmatullahi Alaihi ) learnt of
this he was extremely disappointed. He then gave away all the money from
that sale, the profits as well as the capital, as sadaqah. The total
amount came to thirty thousand dirhams (which will presently be
equivalent to several hundred thousand Rands). (Jawaahir Pare vol 2)
Hadhrat Abu Zar (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Three types of people Allah Ta’ala will not speak to on the day of Qiyaamah, nor will he look at them with the sight of mercy nor purify and cleanse them of their sins, and a severe punishment awaits them.” Hadrat Abu Zar (Radhiallahu Anhu) exclaimed: “Certainly such people are great losers and are doomed. O Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), inform us who are these people?” Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied: “The one who lets his garment flow beneath his ankles, the one who (after doing a favour to people), reminds them of his favours, and the one who takes false oaths when marketing and advertising his merchandise (i.e. he lies about the quality of the merchandise etc. to people with false oaths).
Hadhrat Abu Saeed (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: The businessman who deals with honesty and trustworthiness will be in the company of the Ambiyaa, the siddeeqeen, and the shuhadaa (martyrs).
Hadhrat Hakeem ibn Hizaam (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “If the purchaser and seller deal with honesty and disclose the faults of the merchandise, Allah Ta’ala will grant them barkat (blessing) in their business transaction. However, if they transact with dishonesty, thereby concealing the faults of the merchandise and speaking lies to each other, the blessing of the transaction will be taken away.
Hadhrat Abu Zar (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “Three types of people Allah Ta’ala will not speak to on the day of Qiyaamah, nor will he look at them with the sight of mercy nor purify and cleanse them of their sins, and a severe punishment awaits them.” Hadrat Abu Zar (Radhiallahu Anhu) exclaimed: “Certainly such people are great losers and are doomed. O Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), inform us who are these people?” Nabi (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) replied: “The one who lets his garment flow beneath his ankles, the one who (after doing a favour to people), reminds them of his favours, and the one who takes false oaths when marketing and advertising his merchandise (i.e. he lies about the quality of the merchandise etc. to people with false oaths).
Hadhrat Abu Saeed (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: The businessman who deals with honesty and trustworthiness will be in the company of the Ambiyaa, the siddeeqeen, and the shuhadaa (martyrs).
Hadhrat Hakeem ibn Hizaam (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “If the purchaser and seller deal with honesty and disclose the faults of the merchandise, Allah Ta’ala will grant them barkat (blessing) in their business transaction. However, if they transact with dishonesty, thereby concealing the faults of the merchandise and speaking lies to each other, the blessing of the transaction will be taken away.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Site of Ghazwah al-Ahzab (Battle of the Trench)
Also known as Jang-e-Khandaq and Ghazwa-e-Khandaq. The battle was a fortnight-long siege of Medina by Arab and Jewish tribes. The strength of nonbelievers was 10,000 men, while the Muslims numbered 3,000. The battle began on March 31, 627. The outnumbered Muslims led by prophet Muhammad (PBUH), dug a trench, which together with Medina’s natural fortifications, rendered the confederate cavalry useless, locking the two sides in a stalemate. The confederates tried to convince the Medina-allied Banu Qurayza to attack the city from the south but prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) diplomacy upset the talks, and broke up the confederacy against him. The well-entrenched Muslims, the crumbling of confederate morale, and poor weather conditions caused the siege to end in a failure.
site of Ghazwah Uhud
The Battle of
Uhud (Gazwah Uhud) was fought on 03 Shawwal, 3 AH (March 19,
625 .D) on the slopes and plains of Mount Uhud (Height: 1,077 m,
3,533 ft) between Muslims of Medina, led by prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.),
and a force of Meccans led by Abu Sufyan ibn Harb. The Meccans wanted to
avenge their defeat at Badr.
In the initial
battle, the greatly outnumbered Muslims (700 Muslims versus 30,000
Meccans), forced the Meccan Army back, leaving their camp unprotected.
When the battle almost looked to be a Muslim victory, a blunder was
committed by the Muslim archers, which shifted the result of the
battle. A breach of prophet’s (s.a.w.) orders by the Muslim archers, who
left their posts to seek the booty from the Meccan camp, paved way for a
surprise attack from the Meccan cavalry, led by Khalid ibn al-Walid.
This attack created disarray and many Muslims were killed. Prophet
Muhammad (s.a.w.) was also injured. After a fierce combat, the Muslims
withdrew and regrouped higher up on the slopes of Uhud. The Meccans’
cavalry was unable to climb the slopes of Uhud, so the fighting
stopped. The Prophet (s.a.w.) gathered his men together, rebuked them
for their folly, exhorted them to obey orders in future, and led the
chastened Medinites out to face the victorious Meccans once more. He
came up with them in the early hours of the next morning. When the day
dawned, the Meccans were running from battle field and Prophet PBUH had
turned the defeat into victory.
The Battle of
Uhud was a major setback for the Muslims. According to the Qur’an, the
misfortunes at Uhud, largely due to the negligence of the archers at
rear guard abandoning their post in order to seek booty, were partly a
punishment and partly a test for steadfastness. The Quranic
verses provided inspiration and hope to the Muslims. They were not
demoralized and the battle
reinforced the solidarity between them.
site of Ghazwa-e-Badr
The Ghazwa-e-Badr (Battle of Badr) was fought on 17 Ramadan, 2 AH (13 March, 624 AD) at the wells of Badr, 80 miles (130 km) southwest of Medina. It was fought between the Muslims and pagans of Mecca whose strength was three times larger than the poorly equipped Muslim Army. It was a decisive victory for Muslims with divine help. This battle is also mentioned in the Quran.The Qur’an describes the force of the Muslim attack in many verses, which refer to thousands of angels descending from Heaven at Badr to terrify the Quraish. It proved a milestone in Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) struggle with his adversaries and paved a way for spread of Islam in the Arabian peninsula.
Site of Ghazwa-e-Badr. Right arrow in the photo shows “Al Odoat Al Dunea” where Muslim Camp was located. Middle arrow shows the passage through which convoy of Abu Sufyan passed. Left arrow shows “Malaeka Mountain” where Angels Jebreal and Mekael were sent by Allah with 1,000 of Malaeka (angels) to help the Muslims against disbelievers.
Water Spring at Badr
The Intercessor of the Intercessors
Sahih Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Number 3:
Narrated Anas: The Prophet said, "On the Day of Resurrection the Believers will assemble and say, 'Let us ask somebody to intercede for us with our Lord.' So they will go to Adam and say, 'You are the father of all the people, and Allah created you with His Own Hands, and ordered the angels to prostrate to you, and taught you the names of all things; so please intercede for us with your Lord, so that He may relieve us from this place of ours.' Adam will say, 'I am not fit for this (i.e. intercession for you).' Then Adam will remember his sin and feel ashamed thereof. He will say, 'Go to Noah, for he was the first Apostle, Allah sent to the inhabitants of the earth.' They will go to him and Noah will say, 'I am not fit for this undertaking.' He will remember his appeal to his Lord to do what he had no knowledge of, then he will feel ashamed thereof and will say, 'Go to the Khalil--r-Rahman (i.e. Abraham).' They will go to him and he will say, 'I am not fit for this undertaking. Go to Moses, the slave to whom Allah spoke (directly) and gave him the Torah .' So they will go to him and he will say, 'I am not fit for this undertaking.' and he will mention (his) killing a person who was not a killer, and so he will feel ashamed thereof before his Lord, and he will say, 'Go to Jesus, Allah's Slave, His Apostle and Allah's Word and a Spirit coming from Him. Jesus will say, 'I am not fit for this undertaking, go to Muhammad the Slave of Allah whose past and future sins were forgiven by Allah.' So they will come to me and I will proceed till I will ask my Lord's Permission and I will be given permission. When I see my Lord, I will fall down in Prostration and He will let me remain in that state as long as He wishes and then I will be addressed.' (Muhammad!) Raise your head. Ask, and your request will be granted; say, and your saying will be listened to; intercede, and your intercession will be accepted.' I will raise my head and praise Allah with a saying (i.e. invocation) He will teach me, and then I will intercede. He will fix a limit for me (to intercede for) whom I will admit into Paradise. Then I will come back again to Allah, and when I see my Lord, the same thing will happen to me. And then I will intercede and Allah will fix a limit for me to intercede whom I will let into Paradise, then I will come back for the third time; and then I will come back for the fourth time, and will say, 'None remains in Hell but those whom the Quran has imprisoned (in Hell) and who have been destined to an eternal stay in Hell.' " (The compiler) Abu 'Abdullah said: 'But those whom the Qur'an has imprisoned in Hell,' refers to the Statement of Allah: "They will dwell therein forever." (16.29)
Sahih Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Number 3:
On the Day of judgement , Every time Allah will fix a limit for whom the Holy Prophet Muhammed Salalaahu Alaihi wasallam has to allow in Jannah , but then after crossing the limit , the Holy Prophet Muhammed Salalaahu Alaihi wasallam will come back after letting that many people in jannah , and again Allah will fix a limit , the Holy Prophet Muhammed will come back 4 times, and finally he will say
I will come back for the fourth time, and will say, 'None remains in Hell but those whom the Quran has imprisoned (in Hell)
All those in heaven will only be granted heaven through the Intermediation of the Holy Prophet Muhammed Sallalaahu Alaihi wasallam directly or indirectly
Narrated Anas: The Prophet said, "On the Day of Resurrection the Believers will assemble and say, 'Let us ask somebody to intercede for us with our Lord.' So they will go to Adam and say, 'You are the father of all the people, and Allah created you with His Own Hands, and ordered the angels to prostrate to you, and taught you the names of all things; so please intercede for us with your Lord, so that He may relieve us from this place of ours.' Adam will say, 'I am not fit for this (i.e. intercession for you).' Then Adam will remember his sin and feel ashamed thereof. He will say, 'Go to Noah, for he was the first Apostle, Allah sent to the inhabitants of the earth.' They will go to him and Noah will say, 'I am not fit for this undertaking.' He will remember his appeal to his Lord to do what he had no knowledge of, then he will feel ashamed thereof and will say, 'Go to the Khalil--r-Rahman (i.e. Abraham).' They will go to him and he will say, 'I am not fit for this undertaking. Go to Moses, the slave to whom Allah spoke (directly) and gave him the Torah .' So they will go to him and he will say, 'I am not fit for this undertaking.' and he will mention (his) killing a person who was not a killer, and so he will feel ashamed thereof before his Lord, and he will say, 'Go to Jesus, Allah's Slave, His Apostle and Allah's Word and a Spirit coming from Him. Jesus will say, 'I am not fit for this undertaking, go to Muhammad the Slave of Allah whose past and future sins were forgiven by Allah.' So they will come to me and I will proceed till I will ask my Lord's Permission and I will be given permission. When I see my Lord, I will fall down in Prostration and He will let me remain in that state as long as He wishes and then I will be addressed.' (Muhammad!) Raise your head. Ask, and your request will be granted; say, and your saying will be listened to; intercede, and your intercession will be accepted.' I will raise my head and praise Allah with a saying (i.e. invocation) He will teach me, and then I will intercede. He will fix a limit for me (to intercede for) whom I will admit into Paradise. Then I will come back again to Allah, and when I see my Lord, the same thing will happen to me. And then I will intercede and Allah will fix a limit for me to intercede whom I will let into Paradise, then I will come back for the third time; and then I will come back for the fourth time, and will say, 'None remains in Hell but those whom the Quran has imprisoned (in Hell) and who have been destined to an eternal stay in Hell.' " (The compiler) Abu 'Abdullah said: 'But those whom the Qur'an has imprisoned in Hell,' refers to the Statement of Allah: "They will dwell therein forever." (16.29)
Sahih Bukhari Volume 6, Book 60, Number 3:
On the Day of judgement , Every time Allah will fix a limit for whom the Holy Prophet Muhammed Salalaahu Alaihi wasallam has to allow in Jannah , but then after crossing the limit , the Holy Prophet Muhammed Salalaahu Alaihi wasallam will come back after letting that many people in jannah , and again Allah will fix a limit , the Holy Prophet Muhammed will come back 4 times, and finally he will say
I will come back for the fourth time, and will say, 'None remains in Hell but those whom the Quran has imprisoned (in Hell)
All those in heaven will only be granted heaven through the Intermediation of the Holy Prophet Muhammed Sallalaahu Alaihi wasallam directly or indirectly
Abu Abdur Rahman Ahmad Nasai ابو عبد الرحمن احمد نسائی
امام ابو عبدالرحمن احمد بن شعیب بن علی بن بحر بن سنان بن دینار نسائی ٢١٥ ھ میں خراسان کے ایک مشہور شہر نَسا میں پیدا ہوئے۔ ابتدائی تعلیم کے بعد پندرہ سال کی عمر میں امام نسائی نے علم حدیث کی تحصیل شروع کی سب سے پہلے وہ قتیبہ بن سعید بلخی کی خدمت میں حاضر ہوئے اور ان کی خدمت میں ایک سال دو ماہ رہ کر علم حدیث حاصل کیا بعد ازاں دوسرے اساتذہ حدیث کی طرف رجوع کیا۔
امام نسائی بے حد عبادت گذار اور شب بیدار تھے۔ ایک دن روزہ اور ایک دن افطار صوم داؤدی کے طریقہ کو اپنایا ہوا تھا۔ طبیعت اور مزاج میں حد درجہ استغناء تھا اس لیے حکام کی مجلس سے ہمیشہ احتراز کرتے تھے۔ عبادات میں امام نسائی علیہ الرحمة کی کثرت کا اندازہ اس سے کیا جا سکتا ہے کہ حافظ محمد بن مظفر اپنے مشائخ سے روایت کرتے ہیں کہ امام نسائی دن کے وقت میں امیر مصر کے ساتھ جہاد کرتے اور رات ساری عبادت میں گزار دیتے تھے۔ طبعاً فیاض تھے اور مسلمان قیدیوں کو فدیہ دے کر چھڑایا کرتے تھے۔ انہوں نے اپنی ساری زندگی اسوہ رسول اللہ علیہ الصلوٰة والسلام کو اپنائے رکھا۔
امام نسائی نے دور دراز شہروں میں جاکر علم حدیث کا اکتساب کیا اور احادیث کی طلب اور روایت کی خاطر متعدد سفر اختیار کیے۔ جن شہروں میں جاکر آپ نے علم حدیث حاصل کیا ان میں حجاز، عراق ، شام ، خراسان ، مصر اور فلسطین خاص طور پر قابل ذکر ہیں۔ آ پ کا وطن خراسان ہے۔
قتیبہ بن سعید،
اسحاق بن راہویہ،
ہشام بن عمار،
عیسیٰ بن زغبہ،
محمد بننصر مروزی،
ابو کریب،
سوید بن نصر،
محمود بن غیلان،
محمد بن بشار،
علی بن حجر،
ابو داؤد سلیمان بن اشعث
اور ابو عبداللہ محمد بن اسماعیل البخاری۔
امام نسائی کے تلامذہ کا سلسلہ بھی بہت وسیع ہے متعد شہروں سے کثیر تعداد میں طلبہ آکر آپ سے اکتساب فیض کیا کرتے تھے چند تلامذہ کے اسماء یہ ہیں:
عبدالکریم بن احمد نسائی،
ابوبکر احمد بن محمد بن اسحق ابن انس،
ابو علی الحسن بن الخضر الاسیوطی،
الحسن بن رشیق العسکری،
حافظ ابو القاسم اندلسی،
علی بن ابو جعفر طحاوی،
ابو بکر بن حداد فقیہ،
ابو جعفر عقیلی،
ابو علی بن ہارون حافظ ،
ابو علی نیشا پوری،
ابو القاسم طبرانی۔
امام نسائی علیہ الرحمة نے کثرت مشاغل کے باوجود متعدد کتب تصنیف کی ہیں جن کی تفصیل یہ ہے:
(١) السنن الکبریٰ
(٢) المجتبیٰ
(٣) خصائص علی
(٤) مسند علی
(٥) مسند مالک
(٦) مسند منصور
(٧) فضائل الصحابة
(٨) کتاب التمیز
(٩) کتاب المدلسین
(١٠) کتاب الضعفا
(١١) کتاب الاخوة
(١٢) کتاب الجرح و التعدیل
(١٣) مشیخة النسائی
(١٤) اسماء الرواة
(١٥) مناسک حج
آپ علیہ الرحمة کو جب دمشق کی مسجد میں لوگوں نے زود و کوب کیا تو خدام اٹھا کر آپ کو گھر لے آئے آپ نے فرمایا کہ مجھے فوراً مکہ معظمہ پہنچا دو تاکہ مکہ یا اس کے راستہ میں میرا انتقال ہو جائے چنانچہ مکہ معظمہ پہنچے پر ١٣ صفر ٣٠٣ھ کو آپ کا انتقال ہوگیا وصال کے بعد صفا اور مروہ کے درمیان آپ کو دفن کردیا گیا اور بعض روایات کے مطابق مکہ جاتے ہوئے راستہ میں رملہ (فلسطین) کے مقام پر آپ کا وصال ہوگیا اور وہاں سے آپ کا جسد مبارک مکہ معظمہ پہنچایا گیا۔ (تذکرة المحدثین صفحہ ٢٩٦ ، ٢٩٧ و حالات مصنفین درسِ نظامی صفحہ ١٥٢)
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Kindness In Islam
Nasiruddin was the slave of a king, and very fond of
hunting. One day he came across a very pretty baby deer and picked it
up and rode away. The mother deer saw Nasiruddin take her baby and
followed him anxiously. Nasiruddin, pleased with the baby dear, was thinking about presenting it to his children to play with.
After a time, he chanced to look back and saw the mother deer following him, her expression full of grief.
He noticed too that she did not seem to care about her own safety.
Moved to pity, Nasiruddin set the baby deer free.
The mother deer nuzzled and licked her baby fondly and the two deer
leapt happily away into the forest. But many times the mother deer
looked back at Nasiruddin, as if to express her thanks.
That night Nasiruddin dreamt that the revered Prophet (s.a.w.s.) was addressing him :
" Nasiruddin, your name has been entered in the list of Allah, and you will one day have a kingdom.
" Nasiruddin, your name has been entered in the list of Allah, and you will one day have a kingdom.
But remember that when you are king you will also have many responsibilities.
Just as you have shown mercy to the deer today, you
should be merciful to all Allah’s creatures. You should not forget your
people by falling into a life of luxury."
This dream came true and Nasiruddin did become king, Amir Nasiruddin Subaktagin, father of Sultan Muhammad.
The Moral Of The StorY .... is that if we wish Allah to be merciful to us, we must be eager to show mercy to all the living creatures of the earth.
When a flower blooms,its colour and scent first touch the garden near it, and then spread.
In the same way, a Muslim’s acts of human kindness should first touch those nearest to him, his family and his neighbours.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Hasan Basri and the Fire-Worshipper
Hasan Basri is revered as one of the greatest saints of early Islam.
Brought up in Basra, he met many companions of the Holy Prophet
Salalaahu Alaihi wasallam including seventy of those who fought at the
Battle of Badar.
Hasan Basri’s neighbour Simeon, a fireworshipper, fell ill and was on death bed. Hasan called on him and found him discoloured with fire and smoke.
Fear God, Hasan counselled him. You have passed all your life amid fire and smoke. Embrace Islam so that God may have mercy on you.
Three things keep me from becoming a Muslim,
Simeon replied. First, you speak ill of the world, yet you run after worldly things day and night. Second, you fear facing death, yet you do not prepare for it. Third, you believe in seeing God’s face, yet you do everything contrary to His good pleasure.
This is the token of those who know truly, Hasan commented. Now if believers act as you describe, what have you to say? They acknowledge the unity of God whereas you have spent your life in fire worship. You who have worshipped fire for seventy years and I who have never worshipped fire - we are both carried off to Hell. Hell will consume both you and me. God will pay no regard to you; but if God so wills, the fire will dare not burn one hair
of my body. For fire is a thing created by God; and the creature is subject to the Creator’s command. Come now, you who have worshipped fire for seventy years; let us both
put our hands into the fire, then you will see with your own eyes the impotence of fire and the omnipotence of God. Saying that, Hasan thrust his hand into the fire and held
it there. Not a particle of his body was affected or burnt.
When Simeon saw this he was amazed. The dawn of true knowledge began to break. For seventy years I have worshipped fire, he groaned. Now only a breath or two remains to me. What am I to do? Become a Muslim, Hasan replied.
If you guarantee in writing that God will not punish me, said Simeon, then I will believe. But until I have it in writing, I will not believe. Hasan wrote it down and the witnesses endorsed the document. Then Simeon wept bitterly and accepted Islam. He spoke his last testament to Hasan. When I die, bid them wash me, then commit me to the earth with your own hands, and place this document in my hand. This document will be my proof. Having charged Hasan thus, he spoke the attestation of faith and died. They washed his body, said the prayer over him, and buried him with the document in his hand.
That night Hasan went to sleep pondering what he had done. How could I help a drowning man, seeing that I am drowning myself? Since I have no control over my own fate, why did I venture to prescribe how God should act? With this thought he fell asleep and saw Simeon in a dream glowing like a candle; on his head a crown, robed in fine raiment, he was walking with a smile in the garden of Paradise. How are you, Simeon? Hasan inquired.
Why do you ask? You can see for yourself, Simeon answered. God Almighty of His bounty brought me nigh His presence and graciously showed me His face. The favours He showered upon me beggar description. You have honoured your guarantee; so take your document. I do not need it anymore.
When Hasan awoke, he saw that parchment in his hand. O God, he cried, I know well that what You do is without cause, save of Your bounty. Who shall suffer loss at Your door? You grant a fire worshipper of seventy years to come into Your near presence because of a single utterance. How then will You exclude a believer of seventy years?
Hasan Basri’s neighbour Simeon, a fireworshipper, fell ill and was on death bed. Hasan called on him and found him discoloured with fire and smoke.
Fear God, Hasan counselled him. You have passed all your life amid fire and smoke. Embrace Islam so that God may have mercy on you.
Three things keep me from becoming a Muslim,
Simeon replied. First, you speak ill of the world, yet you run after worldly things day and night. Second, you fear facing death, yet you do not prepare for it. Third, you believe in seeing God’s face, yet you do everything contrary to His good pleasure.
This is the token of those who know truly, Hasan commented. Now if believers act as you describe, what have you to say? They acknowledge the unity of God whereas you have spent your life in fire worship. You who have worshipped fire for seventy years and I who have never worshipped fire - we are both carried off to Hell. Hell will consume both you and me. God will pay no regard to you; but if God so wills, the fire will dare not burn one hair
of my body. For fire is a thing created by God; and the creature is subject to the Creator’s command. Come now, you who have worshipped fire for seventy years; let us both
put our hands into the fire, then you will see with your own eyes the impotence of fire and the omnipotence of God. Saying that, Hasan thrust his hand into the fire and held
it there. Not a particle of his body was affected or burnt.
When Simeon saw this he was amazed. The dawn of true knowledge began to break. For seventy years I have worshipped fire, he groaned. Now only a breath or two remains to me. What am I to do? Become a Muslim, Hasan replied.
If you guarantee in writing that God will not punish me, said Simeon, then I will believe. But until I have it in writing, I will not believe. Hasan wrote it down and the witnesses endorsed the document. Then Simeon wept bitterly and accepted Islam. He spoke his last testament to Hasan. When I die, bid them wash me, then commit me to the earth with your own hands, and place this document in my hand. This document will be my proof. Having charged Hasan thus, he spoke the attestation of faith and died. They washed his body, said the prayer over him, and buried him with the document in his hand.
That night Hasan went to sleep pondering what he had done. How could I help a drowning man, seeing that I am drowning myself? Since I have no control over my own fate, why did I venture to prescribe how God should act? With this thought he fell asleep and saw Simeon in a dream glowing like a candle; on his head a crown, robed in fine raiment, he was walking with a smile in the garden of Paradise. How are you, Simeon? Hasan inquired.
Why do you ask? You can see for yourself, Simeon answered. God Almighty of His bounty brought me nigh His presence and graciously showed me His face. The favours He showered upon me beggar description. You have honoured your guarantee; so take your document. I do not need it anymore.
When Hasan awoke, he saw that parchment in his hand. O God, he cried, I know well that what You do is without cause, save of Your bounty. Who shall suffer loss at Your door? You grant a fire worshipper of seventy years to come into Your near presence because of a single utterance. How then will You exclude a believer of seventy years?
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