Only for Allah

[Intuition]

There was a pious man among the Banu Israel who always remained busy in the worship of Allah. A group of people came to him and told him that a tribe living nearby worshipped a tree. The news upset him, and with an axe on his shoulder he went to cut down that tree. On the way, Satan met him in the form of an old man and asked him where he was going. He said he was going to cut a particular tree. Satan said, "You have nothing to be concerned with this tree, you better mind your worship and do not give it up for the sake of something that does not concern you." "This is also worship," retorted the worshipper. Then Satan tried to prevent him from cutting the tree, and there followed a fight between the two, in which the worshipper overpowered the Satan. Finding himself completely helpless, Satan begged to be excused, and when the worshipper released him, he again said, "Allah has not made the cutting of this tree obligatory on you. You do not lose anything if you do not cut it.

If its cutting were necessary, Allah could have got it done through one of his many Prophets." The worshipper insisted on cutting the tree. There was again a fight between the two and again the worshipper overpowered the Satan. "Well listen," said Satan, "I propose a settlement that will be to your advantage." The worshipper agreed, and Satan said, "You are a poor man, a mere burden on this earth. If you stay away from this act, I will pay you three gold coins everyday. You will daily find them lying under your pillow. By this money you can fulfil your own needs, can oblige your relative, help the needy, and do so many other virtuous things. Cutting the tree will be only one virtue, which will ultimately be of no use because the people will grow another tree." This proposal appealed to the worshipper, and he accepted it. He found the money on two successive days, but on the third day there was nothing. He got enraged, picked up his axe and went to cut the tree. Satan as an!

old man again met him on the way and asked him where he was going. "To cut the tree," shouted the worshipper. "I will not let you do it," said Satan. A fight took place between the two again but this time Satan had the upper hand and overpowered the worshipper. The latter was surprised at his own defeat, and asked the former the cause of his success. Satan replied, "At first, your anger was purely for earning the pleasure of Allah, and therefore Almighty Allah helped you to overpower me, but now it has been partly for the sake of the gold coins and therefore you lost."

 

Source: From the book "Ihyaa-ul Uloom Ud Deen" by Imam Ghazzali (ra).

[Intuition]

http://www.islamcan.com

 

There was a Jew of Damascus who was reading a holy book one day when he came across the name of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) written in it. Not liking this, he removed the name. But the next day he found it there again. Again he took out the name; but on the third day it had appeared again. He thought: "Perhaps this is a sign that a true Emissary has come. I will journey southwards to Madinah."

 

And he forthwith started out, not tarrying until he reached the city of the Prophet. When he arrived there, knowing nobody, he was near the Mosque of the Prophet when the Sahabi Anas (ra) arrived. He said to Anas: "Friend, take me to the Prophet."

 

Anas (ra) led him into the mosque, which was full of people in anguish. Abu Bakr (ra) the successor was sitting there at the head of the assembly. The old man went up to him, thinking he must be Muhammad, and said: "O Chosen Envoy of God, a strayed old man has come to offer you peace." Hearing the title of the Prophet used, everyone present burst into a flood of tears. The stranger was uncertain as to what to do. He said: "I am a foreigner and a Jew, and I am unaware of the rites of the Faith of Submission to the Will of Allah. Have I said something untoward? Should I have remained silent? Or is this a ritual observance? Why do you cry? If it is a ceremony, I have never heard of it."

 

Omar (ra) said to him: "We do not weep because of anything which you have done. But you must hear, unfortunate one, that it is a but a week since the Prophet left the earth. When we heard his name, grief took possession of our hearts anew."

 

As soon as he heard this, the ancient tore his clothes in anguish. When he had recovered a little, he said: "Do me one favour. Let me have at least a robe of the Prophet. If I cannot see him, at least let me have this."

 

Omar (ra) answered: "Only Fatima (ra) could give us one of his robes." Ali (ra) said: "But she will not allow anyone to go near her." But they went to her door and knocked, and explained what they wanted.

 

Fatima (ra) answered: "Verily, the Prophet spoke truly when he said, shortly before he died: 'A wayfarer, who has love towards me and who is a good man, will come to the house. He will not see me. Give him, therefore, this patchwork robe as if from me, and for me treat him gently, offering salutations.'"

 

The Jew put the robe on himself and, professing Islam, asked to be taken to the Prophet's grave. It was at this place that he breathed his last.

 

Source: From the book "Ilahi-Nama" by Shaikh Farid Al-Din Attar.

[J.Lee]

Xasbunulaahu wa nicmal wakiil.

 

What I marvel at is that a man who has worshiped allah faithfully for the most part of his life easily took a wrong turn from the rightous path he was on which proves regardless of how strong one's Imaan is..that We're all sinners who need to be reminded of the will of allah.

 

The second story reminds me of the story my dad (may allah grant him enterance to paradise)told me regarding a man who sinned through out cimrikiisa. I don't recall if it was at the time of prophet Muse or Ciise (SCW)but anyway when this man became quite old he thought about the sins that he commited and how he hadn't seeked redemption from allah. He feared allah's wrath and understood because of sins he was headed to hellfire. He was so scared that he called all of his children to his house. He told them that when he dies they must cremate him and throw his ashes to the sea. In his ignorance he thought that would be a full proof way to escape hell for how could allah punish him in hell if he was already burned to crisp. so he died thinking he was safe. Unfortunately,in a matter of seconds his ashes was gathered together, much to his amazement but because his fear for allah was so great once he realized how he had transgressed while on earth, Allah pardoned him and granted him enterance to paradise.

 

During this story, I learned that allah's mercy is like a boundary that is boundless. Also, I learned how fortunate that I'm to be born a muslim who is given the chance of getting into paradise when so many others are born Ehelu Naar. Jazaa'kalaahu Khayr.

[jami]

Jazak'Allah Khair for that...was really interesting to read...sorry i'm bringing up old posts but i find them really kewl...Mash'Allah...keep it up