BARSISA: The Worshipper

[Al Ansari]

At the time of Bani Israel, there was a man in a small village, called Barsisa. He was, what you call, a monk. But he was a true Christian. He believed in Tawheed and believed 'Isa (peace be upon him) was a messenger of Allah. One day three brothers decided to go for Jihad. But they had a sister and they did not want to leave her alone. So they went looking for someone to take care of her. The town people suggested to leave her with Barsisa, because of his piety. So they went to him and when they asked him, he said Audubillahi Mina Shaytani Rajeem:"I seek refuge from the cursed Shaytan" and said No! This was because he was scared of falling into sin ( due to the potential fitnah it may cause). Then Shaytan came to Barsisa in the form of Waswasah (whisperings). Shaytan is very smart and knew Barsisa had a soft heart. So he told Barsisa, "What if they can't find someone good and leave her with someone bad, wouldn't that be your fault?" Now Barsisa did not realise this was Shaytan whispering in his heart, and because of his compassion for others, he decided to accept their request and help the woman.

He let her stay in a house opposite the church. He did this so that it would be easy for him to leave her her food outside the church and she could come get it herself. But after sometime, shaytan returned. This time he told Barsisa, "Why don't you leave the food closer for her, so that people don't see her moving back and forth alone!" Barsisa agreed and started leaving the food outside the house. But shaytan wasn't happy with this either, so sometime later, he returned and ask Barsisa, "Why don't you go in and leave it on the table, so that no one sees her coming out and going in alone all the time!" Again, Barsisa agreed and he started leaving the food on the table.

Then as time went by, Shaytan returned and said to him, "Why don't you talk to her, she is all alone and has no one to talk to!"Barsisa agreed and started talking to her from behind a door (so as to screen himself). But this would lead them to almost shouting to each other to hear themselves. Shaytan asked Barsisa to just go in and talk to her, and finally, he (Shaytan) had got them alone in a room. The Abid then commited Zina with the woman. Shaytan had completed the difficult part. It wasn't after Barsisa and the woman committed fornication. (And to make things worse, she also became pregnant). As soon as the baby was born, Shaytan returned, and said to Barsisa, "What have you done? Look at the result of your evil (i.e the child), get rid of the evidence otherwise the brothers will kill you!" Barsisa killed the baby and buried it in the same room the woman was in. Shaytan then told Barsisa, "Do you think you can kill the child of a woman and expect her not to tell anyone?!"and So Barsisa killed her and buried her alongside the baby! He then made a fake grace outside and when her brothers returned, he informed them that she died of illness. After seeing the grave and making dua for her, they returned home and accepted Allah's decree.

Later that night, Shaytan came to them in their dream and informed them about what Barsisa had done and where the child and their sister could be found. The brother got up, upset and confused, and informed his brothers of the dream, and they both said they had the same dream. So they believed that it must be true, and when and dug up the fake grave and found it empty. They then dug the placed shaytan showed them in the dream and found the child and woman!

Furious, the brothers took Barsisa to the Leader to get his punishment. Barsisa knew that he would be given the death penalty. Shaytan came to Barsisa again, for the final time. This time he revealed himself and told him he was the one whispering the thoughts to him. And he said that he could save Barsisa, and as long as Barsisa makes sujood to him! Barsisa, out of desperation made Sujood to him , this confirmed his Kufr (disbelief) and Shaytan said to him "I am free of you, I fear Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)!" and left. Barsisa was stonned to death and on the day of judgement he will be resurrected making Sujood to Shaytan!

So look how shaytan tricked him. He came to him as a friend, but was in fact his biggest enemy!

(Their allies deceived them) like Shaitan (Satan), when he says to man: "Disbelieve in Allah." But when (man) disbelieves in Allah, Shaitan (Satan) says: "I am free of you, I fear Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)!"
(Al-Hashr 59:16)

Shaytan will never make you sin directly, he will always trick you using Waswasah (whispers) and he is more patient than any of us. So we should always seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan. Never think you have enough knowledge or are strong enough to take on Shaytan. This is why the Scholars of Islam are the ones with the most Taqwa: fear of Allah. So reflect on the story, if Shaytan told Barsisa to make sujood in the beginning, Barsisa would have said no straight away, but Shaytan had a plan in hand. It was a step by step policy that made Barsisa finally breakdown and commit Kufr.

Reference for above story:
Stories in the Quran - Ibn Kathir - 110

[BeTheChange]

This story scares me a LOT!

I read it many many years ago but it's still fresh in my mind and if i was to examine my life in detail i can see (or attempt to see) the small bad steps that shaytaan (or nafs) tells us to take...

I think the moral of the story is to check your emaan every second - one second you may have it the next it may be gone imsad

May Allah swa protect us all from evil & fitna and keep us aware of our surroundings and state of emaan Ameen