On one occasion, a person called Abu Haashim (rahimahullah) intended to travel to Basrah. When he went to hire a boat, it so happened that he found a boat which was already boarded by a man and his slave girl. The man refused to allow him to board the boat saying, “There is no place here (for you)!” However, upon the request of the slave girl, he allowed him to join them.

While they were sailing, the man ordered that the food be brought. When it was brought, he exclaimed, “Call that pauper so that he may eat (with me).” Abu Haashim (rahimahullah) thus came and joined him in his meal.

When they finished partaking of the meal, the man asked the slave girl to give him wine to drink and ordered her to offer some to Abu Haashim (rahimahullah) as well. Abu Haashim (rahimahullah) refused saying, “May Allah have mercy on you. Indeed, the guest has a right (of choosing what he wants to partake of).” Thus, he did not pressurize him any further and left him.

As the man progressed in his intoxication, he instructed his slave girl to take her musical instrument and sing something. She thus took the instrument and began singing some couplets. After she had rendered the couplets, this man turned to Abu Haashim (rahimahullah) and challenged him saying, “Can you render something as good as this?” Abu Haashim (rahimahullah) replied that he could render something much better, and thereafter began reciting the first few verses of Surah Takweer. On hearing these verses, the man began to cry.

When Abu Haashim (rahimahullah) reached the verse, “And when the scrolls (of deeds) will be unrolled.” (Surah Takweer v10), the man exclaimed, “O slave girl! Go, you are free for the pleasure of Allah Ta‘ala.” He poured all the wine which he had into the water and broke the musical instrument. He then approached Abu Haashim (rahimahullah), embraced him and said, “O my brother, do you think that Allah will accept my repentance?” Abu Haashim (rahimahullah) responded by reciting the verse, “Indeed Allah loves those who turn (to Him) often in repentance and those who keep themselves pure.” (Surah Baqarah v222)

Abu Haashim (rahimahullah) subsequently enjoyed a brotherly relationship with this man for a period of forty years. After he had passed on, Abu Haashim (rahimahullah) saw him in a dream and asked, “Where have you ended up?” He replied, “In Jannah.” Abu Haashim (rahimahullah) then enquired, “By means of which action have you landed yourself in Jannah.” He replied, “Through you reciting (the verse), ‘And when the scrolls (of deeds) will be unrolled’ to me.”

(Kitaabut Tawwaabeen pg. 189)

Lessons:

1. In the very beginning of Surah Baqarah, Allah Ta‘ala introduces the Quraan Majeed as a book of guidance. History is replete with incidents of people changing their lives by merely listening to a few, or even a single verse of the Quraan Majeed. This generally happens when there is sincerity from the reciter or the listener. Hence, when Abu Haashim (rahimahullah) recited these few verses with sincerity, this man, although intoxicated at that time, changed his entire life and gave up all his wrong. If we too recite the Quraan Majeed with sincerity and devotion, Allah Ta‘ala will bless us with tremendous blessings and goodness.

2. No matter how sinful a person may be and how many sins he may have committed, Allah Ta‘ala will readily forgive him when he turns to Him in repentance. The forgiveness of Allah Ta‘ala supersedes all the sins a person may commit in his entire life. Thus, at no point should a person become despondent by looking at his sins. Rather, he should look at the immense mercy and vast forgiveness of Allah Ta‘ala, together with making an effort to stop the sins which he is involved in.