A Beautiful Story

[ncarolinahs]

'Abdullah Ibn Ahmad Ibn Hanbal رحمة اللہ علیه narrates: I would frequently hear my father beseeching Allaah's mercy and forgiveness for Abul Haitham. One day, I asked, "Father, who is Abul Haitham?"

He replied, "When I was led out for lashing and my hands were stretched out, I felt somebody tugging at my clothing. I turned around and saw a young man who asked me, 'Do you recognise me?'

I replied that I did not and he continued, 'I am Abul Haitham, the notorious scoundrel and criminal, whose name appears in the criminal records of the state. I have been lashed a total of eighteen thousand times, on various occasions. I have endured these lashes with patience in obedience to Shaytan and for the sake of this fleeting world. You should bear your lashes with patience as you are in the obedience of Allaah and are being punished for the sake of Islam.'

I was then given eighteen lashes compared to his eighteen thousand. Thereafter a servant of the Ameerul Mu'mineen emerged, saying that I had been forgiven." [Sifatus Safwah, p 436]

Honoured are those souls who bear the punishment of tyrants in defence of the truth. [Pearls from the Path]