God Preservation…
Life has taught me that if you are watchful of Allah, then Allah will protect you
Whoever abides by Allah’s commandments, avoids prohibitions and does not transgress the ordained limits of Allah, then Allah will protect him
Whoever safeguards the head and what it contains and the belly and what is within it, Allah will protect him
Whoever safeguards what is between his jaws and what is between his legs, Allah will protect him
Whoever is watchful of Allah at times of prosperity, Allah will protect him at times of adversity
Whoever is watchful of Allah in his youth, Allah will protect him when he grows old and weak
Yet it is God (alone) who is the best of guardians, and He is the most merciful of the merciful. (Yusuf 12:64)
Here is Al-Aswad Al-‘Ansi, an ugly unjust sorcerer, who claimed to be a prophet in Yemen
Thieves and brigands gathered around him and they formed a gang that may be called ‘the gang of barring people from the path of Allah
He slew who preached for the Sake of Allah as well as many other ordinary Muslims. He also burnt many others
Moreover, he drove out many people and sexually molested many women. So, people fled to safeguard their religion
Among the preachers whom he tortured was Abu Muslim Al-Khawlani (May Allah be pleased with him)
He tortured him to make him abandon his faith but he had a firm belief like that of the Sorcerers of Pharaoh
He said, “By the One who originated us, never will I abandon my faith. So decree whatever punishment you will decree. You only decree in the life of this world”
What Al-‘Ansi did was that he gathered all the people
“If your preacher is truthful, then the truth will protect him. And if he isn’t, you will see,” said he
He ordered a big fire to be kindled. Next, he had Abu Muslim Al-Khawlani brought
He had him fitted in a catapult with both hands and legs tied. Then, they catapulted him into the fire
It was said that the flames of the fire were so great that it caused the birds that flew over to fall into it
Abu Muslim who was still between the ground and the sky only remembered Allah (Highly exalted is He, and most high). He was saying, “Allah is sufficient for us. And He is the most excellent Guardian!”
He was catapulted into the middle of the fire. This broke the hearts of the believers in the Oneness of Allah
They waited while the fire gradually faded away. To everyone’s surprise, the fire untied him
Moreover, his clothes did not catch fire. He was even smiling while walking barefoot on the burning wood
The tyrant was astounded and feared that the rest of people would accept Islam. So, he menaced them
As for this man, Abu Muslim, he set off to Medina where the Companions lived
This was during the Caliphate of Abu Bakr. He arrived at the mosque where he performed two rak`ahas (units) of prayer
‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) learned about the story of that man. So he came to meet him
“Are you Abu Muslim?” asked ‘Umar. The man replied in the affirmative
“Were you catapulted into the fire and Allah saved you?” he asked
“Yes.” replied Abu Muslim. Thereupon, with tears in his eyes, ‘Umar hugged him. Then, he said, “All praise is for Allah that he made me see one of the Muslim community of Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him peace)
who experienced the same trial as Abraham (peace be upon him)
Now, who saved Abu Muslim?
It is Allah alone. There is no god worthy of worship but Him. Abu Muslim was watchful of Allah, so Allah protected him
Yet it is God (alone) who is the best of guardians, and He is the most merciful of the merciful. (Yusuf 12:64)