There was a hermit in Bani Israel. He was absolutely free
from sins. Upon seeing this, the head Satan (Shaitan) called
his cohorts and asked which one of them could mislead
this man?
One of them volunteered and Satan asked what method he
would use? He said through women. The head Satan told him
that he would not succeed because the sage was oblivious to
sexual pleasure.
Another Satan rose up and said he would deviate him through
wine and sensuality. The head Satan said that he too was unsuitable
for this job because the sage was not interested in these things.
A third Satan stood up and said that he would cause him to err
through good deeds and noble character. The head Satan said that
indeed he was fit for the job. This Satan, at once went to the place
where the sage was engrossed in his meditation, and stood up beside
him and began to pray Salah (Salat, Namaz). The sage was feeling
sleepy but the Satan continued to perform prayers. When the sage
got tired he would take a rest but the Satan did not take a break.
The sage felt himself inferior and went to the Satan to ask him the
secret of his stamina in praying Salah (Salat, Namaz). The Satan did
not give any reply and the sage reiterated his question. Yet there
was no response from the Satan. When the sage asked him the
third time the Satan said, "The fact is that I had committed a great sin
(Gunah-e-Kabira) and since then whenever I remember my sin, I get
impetus to worship more."
The sage asked him what sin he had committed so that even he can
do it and gain the stamina to worship so much. The Satan said,
"Go to a particular prostitute in the town, pay her two dirhams and
fulfill your needs with her."
"From where can I get two dirhams?" asked the sage, "I don't even
know what a Dirham means". The Satan took out two dirhams from
under his feet and gave them to the sage and also gave him his
cloak and sent him towards the city.
The sage sought the address of the prostitute. The people guided him
thinking that he was going to her to guide her towards morality.
The sage gave the two dirhams to the woman and asked her to
entertain him.
The prostitute invited him inside with respect and said, "Pious people
like you do not visit prostitutes. Why have you taken such a step?"
The sage explained his aim in detail. The woman told him, "Actually,
avoiding a sin is easier than repenting for it. Because it is not necessary
that a sinner will get a chance to repent. I think that the one who has
advised you for this is Satan, who has assumed a human form to
mislead you. Go back to your place and you shall find him missing."
The sage returned home and by chance the prostitute died the
same night. In the morning people saw the following inscribed on
her door: "Take part in the funeral of this woman, she is from the
people of Paradise."
The people fell into doubt and were so astounded that for three days
they were not able to bury her. Till the Almighty Allah (SWT)
revealed upon His Messenger, Musa Ibn Imran (as) [Prophet Moses (pbuh)]
to recite her funeral prayer and also command the people to participate
in it. "Because she had prevented a servant of Mine from committing
a grievous sin. So I have forgiven all her sins and made Paradise
incumbent on her."
Have you refrained anyone today from committing a sin? How fortunate
are those who practice Amar Bil Maroof (enjoining the right) and
Nahi Anil Munkar (forbidding the wrong) everyday in an Islamic
Society/Muslim Society.
