500
Years of Worship
Angel Jibrail (as) told Rasulullah (peace be upon him) the
follwing incident about a man in the past who worshipped Allah
Ta'ala continuously for 500 years. He was granted a shelter
on top of a mountain that was surrounded by salty water. However,
Allah caused a stream of sweet water to flow through the mountain
for that individual. The man would drink from this water and
use it to make ablution. Allah Ta'ala also raised a pomegranate
tree from which the man would eat one fruit every day.
One day, this person supplicated to Allah that, "Oh Allah,
bring my death while I am in the state of prostration." Allah
accepted this dua of his. Whenever Jibrail (as) came down
to the Earth, he found this man prostrating to Allah. Jibrail
(as) said that on the day of Judgement, Allah will tell the
angels to take this individual to Paradise through His mercy.
However, this man will insist that he should enter paradise
through the good deeds that he had performed.
Then, Allah will tell the angels to compare his good deeds
with the blessings that were given to him in the world. It
will be seen that 500 years of his worship does not even equal
to the gift of eye sight that was given to him by Allah. The
angels will be asked to take him towards the hell fire. Then
the man will plead, "Oh Allah! Enter me into Paradise only
through Your mercy." At that point, the following discussion
will take place between Allah and that man.
Allah: Oh my servant, who created you?
The worshipper: Oh Allah, You have created me.
Allah: Were you created because of the good deeds you have
done or because of My mercy?
The worshipper: Because of Your mercy.
Allah: Who granted you the ability to worship for 500 years?
The worshipper: Oh the Almighty! You have granted me that
ability.
Allah: Who placed you on the mountain surrounded by the ocean?
Who caused a stream of sweet water to flow in between the
salty water? Who caused a pomegranate tree to grow for you?
Who granted you death while in the state of prostration?
The worshipper: Oh the Sustainer of the Worlds! You have
done all of these.
Then Allah will say, "All these have happened due to My mercy
and you too will enter Paradise only through My Mercy."
We can never thank Allah for the blessings that He has given
us. Let us use these blessings to recognize Allah before our
death.
Source: Obtained from the book "Tambihul Ghafileen" by Shaikh
Abul Laith Samarkandi.
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