Did you hear of the story of the Shaykh from Azhar and the prostitute?

Qatada · 04-08-2008, 04:25 PM

Did you hear of the story of the Shaykh from Azhar and the prostitute?

http://www.ahlalhdeeth.com/vbe/showthread.php?t=1857

No ?

Well, there you go, as was narrated by Shaykh Ali Tantawi [May Allah have mercy on him] in his memoir about Shaykh Ahmad Al-Zayat [May Allah have mercy on him].

Shaykh Ali Tantawi said:

?The Shaykh (Ahmad Al-Zayat) was a teacher, who did not know anything of this world except: The Azhar where he used to teach, the house he used to live in, and the road between them.

As years passed by, and he got older, his health started to deteriorate, and he needed to rest. So the doctor forced him to take some time of, and suggested that he goes somewhere away from his place of work and residence, and advised him to enjoy the quietness and calmness of the parks next to the Nile.

So one day, the Shaykh went out and stopped a carriage (as cars were not that available at the time). He told the driver: My son, take me to a nice place were I can enjoy the view and relax.

The driver of the carriage, however, was a wicked person, and took the Shaykh to a place in Egypt, which at the time had several prostitution houses.

After arriving he told the Shaykh: Here [we are].

The Shaykh said: O son, Magrib prayer is drawing near, where can I pray? Take me first to the Masjid.

The Driver [pointing to one of those houses] said: The Masjid is over there.

The door [of the place] was open, and the lady running that house was sitting, in the manner those like her usually sit.

When the Shaykh saw her, he lowered his gaze. He saw a seat, so he headed there and sat, waiting for the Call for prayer (Adhan).

[The woman in confusion, just] stared at him.

What brought that man here?

He doesn?t look like any of her regular customers.

She kept thinking to herself, but did not dare ask him what he was doing here.

What kept her from asking was the shyness that remained in her heart, even as a prostitute. However, that shyness only appears in front of people of Piety.

He, on the other hand, kept doing Tasbeeh (saying Subhan Allah), whilst looking at his watch, until he heard the Adhan of Maghrib from far away.

He asked her: Where is the Moazin (Person who calls for prayers) here?

Why didn?t he call for prayer when the time entered?

Are you his daughter?

She ? kept silent.

He waited for a while, and then said: My daughter, Maghrib time is short, and it is not permissible to delay it, and I do not see anyone here, so if you have your Wudu (ablution) then pray behind me Jama?ah.

He gave the call for prayer, and without looking at her, as he was about to give the Iqamah, he noticed stillness behind him?!

He asked: What is wrong? Don?t you have your Wudu?

All of a sudden, as if her Iman (Faith) woke up and she remembered the old days. The days when she was filled with purity, and was away from sin, she started to cry loudly, and threw herself at his feet.

The Shaykh surprised, did not know in what way he can calm her.

She then, started narrating her story.

He saw in her words great regret, and felt the truth in her repentance. He realized the sincerity in what she was saying, so he told her: Listen, my daughter, to what the Lord of all creation says: {Say, ?O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the Mercy of Allah. Indeed Allah forgives all sins ??} (39:53).

All sins, my daughter, all sins ?

The door of repentance is open to every sinner and it is so wide that it can encompass them all no matter how heavy their load [of sins] is ? even Kufr.

So whoever disbelieves in the all Mighty, after he was a believer, but repents before the hour of his death comes, and he was sincere in his repentance, and he renewed his Islam, Allah will accept him.

Allah, my dear daughter, is the most Generous of all. Did you ever hear of anyone generous shutting the door in the face of those who come seeking him?

Stand up and go wash yourself, and cover yourself. Go and clean your skin with water and your heart with repentance and regret. Approach your Lord, and I will wait for you.

But do not delay, so that we do not miss Maghrib prayer.

She did as he asked, and returned to him with a new dress and a new heart. She stood behind him and prayed. She felt and tasted the sweetness of that prayer, and felt that this prayer purified her heart.

When the prayer was over, he told her: Come with me, and try to cut every relation you have with this place and everyone in it. Try to erase the time you spent here from your memory.

Consistently ask Allah for his forgiveness, and increase in doing righteous deeds.

Verily, adultery is not as big a sin as Kufr, and Hind [bint ?Utbah ? May Allah be pleased with her], who was a disbeliever and had animosity in her heart to the Prophet of Allah. After that she became from the righteous believers, and we started saying: Allah is well-pleased with her.

The Shaykh then took her to a house of righteous ladies, and then found her a righteous husband and advised him to take good care of her? 1/252.

[Original writer in Arabic forum said]: Notice [May Allah shower you with Mercy] the state of this woman, how she was and how she changed. It was nothing more than simple words from an old man that led her into changing her life upside down.

So if you only think how many people are just like this woman.

People who are drowning in filth, people who the dust from their sins gathered around their hearts shedding away its light.

These sins caused them to see the Truth as Falsehood and the Falsehood as Truth.

How much are they in need of one to take by their hands, and to clear the dust away from their hearts.

They do not need complicated educational and behavioral philosophical treatments, or theories in the manners of interaction and persuasion. Neither are they in need of complicated statements.

What they truly need is for someone to feel sorry for them and for their state ? Someone to understand their situation and to hope for their guidance ? Someone who would speak a word that would leave his heart, [and touch theirs]. A word which he seeks nothing from except the Face of Allah.

After this the light, that was for so long covered with sins, would emerge and their souls would return to its Fitrah, and would return to its harmony with the universe and to the true manner of life.

Original Arabic:
http://www.ahlalhdeeth.com/vb/showthread.php?p=671170

Al-Zaara · 04-10-2008, 01:18 PM

Selam aleykum we rahmetallahu

MashaAllah.

This story I loved!JazakAllah kheyr, brother, for sharing this with us!

reminds me of a true happening and I will narrate it inshaAllah:

If memory serves me right, this didn't happen too long ago. Just about 2 years ago, in one of the largest city in my home-country, Kosovo.
A young man, practicing Muslim and who had kept away from fitnah all his life, was suddenly dragged by friends to a place where the prostitues lived/worked. The friends persuaded him to find a prostitue he liked and sleep with her. The brother refused and refues and refused. In the end, he said he would find one, but only to embarrass her with words and laugh at her.

This brother hated prostitues deeply. He hated fitnah and most of all, he hated women who made themselves cheap.

So he went to a house and there the lady who owned the bordello and the prostitues nearby, gave him a handful of young, desperate lookin women. He saw how their faces had become hard and without emotions they stared at him, empty eyes. Yet one girl caught his attention. She was the only one who moved, her look was fierce and she gave him looks of hatred yet tried to avoid to look at anyone. She was very beautiful.

"I want her", our brother said and the reaction of the girl was fear. The fear was visible and her body shoke a bit. The first so lively eyes were suddenly empty and so she walked with him to a room. The brother payed the owner, who gave them a room.
As both of them had entered the room, the young girl started to undress. This had become a routine. The brother was shocked how fast she was to undress and yelled at her to dress back! She stared at him in unbelief and was clueless what to do next. Was he kidding or what?

"Don't. I am not her to use you or do anything with you", the brother started to talk, "I hate girls like you, you are filthy whores and worth nothing!"

He started to bash her and called her names of all kind. His hate towards her kind was obvious and it scared the girl, she didn't understand and she was embarrassed. Then she started to cry. Our brother felt bad. Was he really doing the right thing? Did she really deserve this kind of treatment?
His curiousty took over and he asked her to tell her story.

Why?

She had been forced, and this by her very own uncle. Her parents had died and she had to live alone, with her younger siblings. One day she suddenly woke up here, in this bordello. Shocked and traumatized that this had become her life, she wasn't ready to give up. She managed to escape once and ran to her uncle, her only living relative except her siblings. As he saw her, he yelled "How did you escape!?" This was her second shock of her life.
He took her back her, and laughed while telling her all the money she owned, he got and thanked her, for being such a beautiful girl and good for the business. It was his wife who owned the bordello.

"Only Allah knows my pain and only He can save me. I do not need any pity."

The brother was furious. He knew the girl was telling the truth. And he felt ashamed that he had judged someone without knowing the true reasons behind his actions. This was a changing point for him, as a person and Muslim, he demanded change. He told her he wasn't interested in her and he didn't want any relationship with her, he wanted justice. Day after day, he returned to the girl and paid the price to be with her alone. He had told the lady of the house that he didn't want anyone else to touch her. He paid her well, so the lady held unto the deal.

Days had passed and the brother was ready. His friends hadn't believed his story but were ready to help him. They got help from relatives and with weapons and the police, the stormed the bordello, and the young girls were saved. For none of them were there by their own free will. And no one should either.
The uncle and his wife are currently in prison, were they have to spend many years inshaAllah.
The brother wanted to break contact with the girl, but his friends told him not to. The girl wanted to become a practicing Muslimah and so she did. Elhamdulillah, they married a year later and are happily awaiting their first child. Maybe they already have one.

My cousin's closest friend knew the brother and sister personally, as so did the whole neighbourhood.

Qatada · 04-11-2008, 11:55 AM

asalam alaikum

wow subhan Allah thats deep.. may Allah bless them, and their children. And aid others in a similar situation.. ameen.

asma · 06-02-2008, 06:05 AM

Assalam alaikum

subhanallah , the help of allah.

04-08-2008, 04:25 PM	#1
Qatada Administrator Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2,022 Gender: Way of life: Muslim Thanks: 79 Thanked 257 Times in 209 Posts	Did you hear of the story of the Shaykh from Azhar and the prostitute? Did you hear of the story of the Shaykh from Azhar and the prostitute? http://www.ahlalhdeeth.com/vbe/showthread.php?t=1857 No ? Well, there you go, as was narrated by Shaykh Ali Tantawi [May Allah have mercy on him] in his memoir about Shaykh Ahmad Al-Zayat [May Allah have mercy on him]. Shaykh Ali Tantawi said: ?The Shaykh (Ahmad Al-Zayat) was a teacher, who did not know anything of this world except: The Azhar where he used to teach, the house he used to live in, and the road between them. As years passed by, and he got older, his health started to deteriorate, and he needed to rest. So the doctor forced him to take some time of, and suggested that he goes somewhere away from his place of work and residence, and advised him to enjoy the quietness and calmness of the parks next to the Nile. So one day, the Shaykh went out and stopped a carriage (as cars were not that available at the time). He told the driver: My son, take me to a nice place were I can enjoy the view and relax. The driver of the carriage, however, was a wicked person, and took the Shaykh to a place in Egypt, which at the time had several prostitution houses. After arriving he told the Shaykh: Here [we are]. The Shaykh said: O son, Magrib prayer is drawing near, where can I pray? Take me first to the Masjid. The Driver [pointing to one of those houses] said: The Masjid is over there. The door [of the place] was open, and the lady running that house was sitting, in the manner those like her usually sit. When the Shaykh saw her, he lowered his gaze. He saw a seat, so he headed there and sat, waiting for the Call for prayer (Adhan). [The woman in confusion, just] stared at him. What brought that man here? He doesn?t look like any of her regular customers. She kept thinking to herself, but did not dare ask him what he was doing here. What kept her from asking was the shyness that remained in her heart, even as a prostitute. However, that shyness only appears in front of people of Piety. He, on the other hand, kept doing Tasbeeh (saying Subhan Allah), whilst looking at his watch, until he heard the Adhan of Maghrib from far away. He asked her: Where is the Moazin (Person who calls for prayers) here? Why didn?t he call for prayer when the time entered? Are you his daughter? She ? kept silent. He waited for a while, and then said: My daughter, Maghrib time is short, and it is not permissible to delay it, and I do not see anyone here, so if you have your Wudu (ablution) then pray behind me Jama?ah. He gave the call for prayer, and without looking at her, as he was about to give the Iqamah, he noticed stillness behind him?! He asked: What is wrong? Don?t you have your Wudu? All of a sudden, as if her Iman (Faith) woke up and she remembered the old days. The days when she was filled with purity, and was away from sin, she started to cry loudly, and threw herself at his feet. The Shaykh surprised, did not know in what way he can calm her. She then, started narrating her story. He saw in her words great regret, and felt the truth in her repentance. He realized the sincerity in what she was saying, so he told her: Listen, my daughter, to what the Lord of all creation says: {Say, ?O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the Mercy of Allah. Indeed Allah forgives all sins ??} (39:53). All sins, my daughter, all sins ? The door of repentance is open to every sinner and it is so wide that it can encompass them all no matter how heavy their load [of sins] is ? even Kufr. So whoever disbelieves in the all Mighty, after he was a believer, but repents before the hour of his death comes, and he was sincere in his repentance, and he renewed his Islam, Allah will accept him. Allah, my dear daughter, is the most Generous of all. Did you ever hear of anyone generous shutting the door in the face of those who come seeking him? Stand up and go wash yourself, and cover yourself. Go and clean your skin with water and your heart with repentance and regret. Approach your Lord, and I will wait for you. But do not delay, so that we do not miss Maghrib prayer. She did as he asked, and returned to him with a new dress and a new heart. She stood behind him and prayed. She felt and tasted the sweetness of that prayer, and felt that this prayer purified her heart. When the prayer was over, he told her: Come with me, and try to cut every relation you have with this place and everyone in it. Try to erase the time you spent here from your memory. Consistently ask Allah for his forgiveness, and increase in doing righteous deeds. Verily, adultery is not as big a sin as Kufr, and Hind [bint ?Utbah ? May Allah be pleased with her], who was a disbeliever and had animosity in her heart to the Prophet of Allah. After that she became from the righteous believers, and we started saying: Allah is well-pleased with her. The Shaykh then took her to a house of righteous ladies, and then found her a righteous husband and advised him to take good care of her? 1/252. [Original writer in Arabic forum said]: Notice [May Allah shower you with Mercy] the state of this woman, how she was and how she changed. It was nothing more than simple words from an old man that led her into changing her life upside down. So if you only think how many people are just like this woman. People who are drowning in filth, people who the dust from their sins gathered around their hearts shedding away its light. These sins caused them to see the Truth as Falsehood and the Falsehood as Truth. How much are they in need of one to take by their hands, and to clear the dust away from their hearts. They do not need complicated educational and behavioral philosophical treatments, or theories in the manners of interaction and persuasion. Neither are they in need of complicated statements. What they truly need is for someone to feel sorry for them and for their state ? Someone to understand their situation and to hope for their guidance ? Someone who would speak a word that would leave his heart, [and touch theirs]. A word which he seeks nothing from except the Face of Allah. After this the light, that was for so long covered with sins, would emerge and their souls would return to its Fitrah, and would return to its harmony with the universe and to the true manner of life. Original Arabic: http://www.ahlalhdeeth.com/vb/showthread.php?p=671170

04-10-2008, 01:18 PM	#2
Al-Zaara Hanafi Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Finland Posts: 16 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Selam aleykum we rahmetallahu MashaAllah. This story I loved!JazakAllah kheyr, brother, for sharing this with us! reminds me of a true happening and I will narrate it inshaAllah: If memory serves me right, this didn't happen too long ago. Just about 2 years ago, in one of the largest city in my home-country, Kosovo. A young man, practicing Muslim and who had kept away from fitnah all his life, was suddenly dragged by friends to a place where the prostitues lived/worked. The friends persuaded him to find a prostitue he liked and sleep with her. The brother refused and refues and refused. In the end, he said he would find one, but only to embarrass her with words and laugh at her. This brother hated prostitues deeply. He hated fitnah and most of all, he hated women who made themselves cheap. So he went to a house and there the lady who owned the bordello and the prostitues nearby, gave him a handful of young, desperate lookin women. He saw how their faces had become hard and without emotions they stared at him, empty eyes. Yet one girl caught his attention. She was the only one who moved, her look was fierce and she gave him looks of hatred yet tried to avoid to look at anyone. She was very beautiful. "I want her", our brother said and the reaction of the girl was fear. The fear was visible and her body shoke a bit. The first so lively eyes were suddenly empty and so she walked with him to a room. The brother payed the owner, who gave them a room. As both of them had entered the room, the young girl started to undress. This had become a routine. The brother was shocked how fast she was to undress and yelled at her to dress back! She stared at him in unbelief and was clueless what to do next. Was he kidding or what? "Don't. I am not her to use you or do anything with you", the brother started to talk, "I hate girls like you, you are filthy whores and worth nothing!" He started to bash her and called her names of all kind. His hate towards her kind was obvious and it scared the girl, she didn't understand and she was embarrassed. Then she started to cry. Our brother felt bad. Was he really doing the right thing? Did she really deserve this kind of treatment? His curiousty took over and he asked her to tell her story. Why? She had been forced, and this by her very own uncle. Her parents had died and she had to live alone, with her younger siblings. One day she suddenly woke up here, in this bordello. Shocked and traumatized that this had become her life, she wasn't ready to give up. She managed to escape once and ran to her uncle, her only living relative except her siblings. As he saw her, he yelled "How did you escape!?" This was her second shock of her life. He took her back her, and laughed while telling her all the money she owned, he got and thanked her, for being such a beautiful girl and good for the business. It was his wife who owned the bordello. "Only Allah knows my pain and only He can save me. I do not need any pity." The brother was furious. He knew the girl was telling the truth. And he felt ashamed that he had judged someone without knowing the true reasons behind his actions. This was a changing point for him, as a person and Muslim, he demanded change. He told her he wasn't interested in her and he didn't want any relationship with her, he wanted justice. Day after day, he returned to the girl and paid the price to be with her alone. He had told the lady of the house that he didn't want anyone else to touch her. He paid her well, so the lady held unto the deal. Days had passed and the brother was ready. His friends hadn't believed his story but were ready to help him. They got help from relatives and with weapons and the police, the stormed the bordello, and the young girls were saved. For none of them were there by their own free will. And no one should either. The uncle and his wife are currently in prison, were they have to spend many years inshaAllah. The brother wanted to break contact with the girl, but his friends told him not to. The girl wanted to become a practicing Muslimah and so she did. Elhamdulillah, they married a year later and are happily awaiting their first child. Maybe they already have one. My cousin's closest friend knew the brother and sister personally, as so did the whole neighbourhood.

Similar Threads for: Did you hear of the story of the Shaykh from Azhar and the prostitute?
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Can Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) hear those who call upon him?	alee_002	Aqeedah and Methodology	3	01-07-2012 09:00 AM
Shaykh ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah	Ibn Al Akwa	The Noble Companions & Scholars	24	02-23-2010 08:32 AM
Qur'anic Recitation Beautiful Recitation by Shaykh Saud Al-Shuraim	salman	Audio/Video	0	05-17-2008 02:23 PM
Shaykh Riad Ouarzazi - Mars and Venus:	abu bakr	Audio/Video	0	11-19-2007 11:29 PM

04-11-2008, 11:55 AM	#3
Qatada Administrator Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 2,022 Gender: Way of life: Muslim Thanks: 79 Thanked 257 Times in 209 Posts	asalam alaikum wow subhan Allah thats deep.. may Allah bless them, and their children. And aid others in a similar situation.. ameen.

06-02-2008, 06:05 AM	#4
asma Full Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 51 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Assalam alaikum subhanallah , the help of allah.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)