saints said, "We were once sailing in a boat. A gush of wind blew away
our boat to an island where we saw a man busy adoring an idol. We
asked him what he was worshipping. He pointed towards the idol. We
said to him that this idol was made with his own hands.How could he
worship it? The God whom we worship creates all such things Himself,
and so deserves to be worshipped, alone." He then asked us, who do you
worship? We told him, "We worship the Great God (Allah) who lives in
the highest heaven. He alone controls the heavens and the earth. All
other creatures whether human or animaldepend on Him for their
sustenance." He further asked how we came to know about this Glorious
God. We replied, "He sent His final Messenger (Peacebe Upon him) to
the whole of mankind to teach them about His Greatness." He proceeded
to enquire "Let me know of the place where this Prophet of God is?" We
replied, "After the Prophethad completed his mission by conveying the
message of God he died and returned to his Lord". He continued to ask,
"Did this Messenger of God leave behind a thing for your guidance?" We
explained, "Yes, he left behind a Book (the Qur'an), which was
revealed by God. He askedto see the book. We offered him the Holy
Qur'an. He told us he was unable to read and so we recited a few
verses for him instead. During the course of its recital he repeatedly
wept until we stopped. He finally asserted, "This can only befrom
Allah, the Most High", and immediately confirmed his Faith in Allah
and His Messenger. We informed him about the duties of Islam and also
explained some verses of the Holy Qur'an.
After the late night prayerwe went to bed and the man continued to ask
questions. "Does Allah sleep at night? he wondered aloud as we
laycomfortably in our beds."Our Exalted God is Everliving and
Everlasting.He does not sleep or rest!"we exclaimed. On hearing this
he cried, "What disobedient slaves you are! Your Lord keeps awake,
whereas you sleep!" We were dumbstruck by his remark.
When we were about to return from this island, hebegged us to take him
with us to allow him to learn more. We agreed. On reaching the city of
'Aabadan, says Abdul Wahid, I said to my companions, "This man is our
brother, therefore we should provide him with some livelihood". Some
dirhams were offered to him but he refused to accept them and
exclaimed, "What is this?"We replied, "These are some dirhams for your
expenditure." He said, "It is enough that you have shown me the right
path. I was upon error and Allah guided me. I did not even worship him
yet He neither destroyed nor killed me. I am so gratefulto Him and
you.
After a few days, we weretold that he was about to breathe his last.
We went to see him and asked him if there was any need of his to be
satisfied. He said no and that he was happywith all that he had gained
from Allah. Abdul Wahid said, "I was all of a sudden, overcome by
sleep and hence slept there. While sleeping, I saw a very fertile
garden wherein was a very fine vault; a throne occupied by a very
beautiful girl, a beauty that I had never seen before. She said to me,
'By Allah, I returned him to His Lord quickly', By seeing her in such
a state I became very anxious. He added, ''WhenI woke up, the man had
passed away. We managed to bury him immediately.'' Again at night,
said Abdul Wahid; ''I witnessed the same garden, the same vault and
the same girl sitting besides the man who had died. She was reciting
the following Qur'anic verse, the translation of which is''And the
Angels visit them from each door and send them their compliments, glad
tidings for peace and safety against each kind of misfortune. All this
is the fruit of your contentment (and steadfastness for the religion
of Islam). There is therefore a good reward for you in the
Hereafter.''
This story of the idolator shows the Greatness of Allah and His Mercy
towards the man who previously worshipped idols. He sent the people to
the island as a means to guide the idolator and thus rewarded him a
magnificent reward in thehereafter.
''O Master of the world ! Whom Thou giveth to, nobody can withhold and
whom Thou giveth not, no one can confer upon him.''
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