Sunday, September 27, 2009

In Search of Sincerity

by Muhammad Alshareef

In one of the battles that the Muslims waged against the Romans, the Muslims - under the commandment of Maslamah( rahimahullah) - surrounded a city that had a tall and well-fortified wall. The siege went on for months.

Then one night, one of the Muslim soldiers came to General Maslamah and told him of a hole that he had accomplished to bore through the wall.
" It is only large enough for a slim soldier".
He knelt closer.
"Quickly, send with me someone who can squeeze through and fight the army on the inside until he has opened the gates for all of us to enter".

Maslamah sent out the news, and that night someone volunteered. In a sweeping assault the gate was opened and the Muslim were victorious.

Maslamah, overwhelmed with happiness, sent out the word that the soldier that entered the hole should come forward. No one showed. A day passed and the request was repeated. Another day, then another. No one arrived to take credit.

On the fourth day, a soldier approached Maslamah, his face wrapped in a scarf.
He said to him, "I have news of the soldier that entered the hole"
Maslamah sat up sharp, " Tell me who it is?"
"First, however" said the soldier,"he has three conditions before exposing himself, do you agree to this?"
"Off course" Maslamah said.
"The first is that you do not try to compensate him for what he did. The second is that you do not tell anyone who he is. And the third is that you shall not ask for his presence ever again. Do you agree to these conditions?"
"It is agreed" Maslamah said.
The soldier, uncovering his scarf said, " It is I, I went through the hole only for the sake of Allah"
Then, turning, he walked away.

After that day, Maslamah was often heard praying to Allah,
" O Allah, (on the Day of Resurrection) grant me companionship with the soldier of the hole"

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