story of the Shaykh from Azhar and the prostitute

"Mohd Yaakub" akob73@yahoo.com

Did you hear of the story of the Shaykh from Azhar and
the prostitute?
http://www.ahlalhde eth.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-Zayaat [May Allah have mercy on
him].

Shaykh Ali Tantawi said:

�The Shaykh (Ahmad Al-Zayaat) 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.ahlalhde eth.com/vb/ showthread. php?p=671170