Download PDF: [S] How Allah saved the Drunkard

Even though this story has been mentioned once before, but will present it in the words of Ibn Jouzi. He writes:

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Yusuf bin Hasan – may Allah be pleased with him – mentions:

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Zun Nun Misri – may Allah be pleased with him – and I were once present next to a pond. Suddenly, our eyes fell on a very large scorpion which was sitting on one corner.

 

At the same time, a very large frog appeared from the pond and the scorpion jumped on the back of this frog. The frog then began to move speedily in the opposite direction of the pond with the scorpion on its back.

 

When the eminent Saint saw this, he said to me, “Come let us also follow this frog, perchance there might be some strange secret in this.”

 

We then walked in the opposite direction of this pond and we noticed that the scorpion had jumped off the back of the frog and began to speedily go in a certain direction. We also began to follow the scorpion. As we walked forward, we came across a most strange sight. We noticed a young man who was laying on the ground completely drunk. Suddenly, a snake appeared and climbed on the chest of this young who had passed out and was about to bite him.

 

However, at that precise moment, the scorpion attacked the snake and with his special sting, it pierced the snake. The snake tried to escape but within a few yards, it died from the scorpion’s bite. When the scorpion had completed its task, it again approached the pond and the frog was still waiting for it to arrive. Again the scorpion jumped on the frogs back and they returned to the pond.

 

We then approached the young man who was still sleeping. Hadrat Sayyiduna Zun Nun Misri – may Allah be pleased with him – shook the person and he opened his eyes. The great Saint then said to him, “Awake and see how your Lord has protected you. The dead snake which you see lying next to you was about to kill you. However, Allah Almighty had protected you through the means of a scorpion who had killed this snake.”

 

He then revealed the complete incident to the young man.

 

The great Saint then uttered the following words, “O that person who is oblivious! Allah Almighty certainly protects His creation from all evil which travels in the dark. Yet, how come your eyes remain oblivious in remembering the Divine Creator and it is through Him that you receive all Divine Grace.”

 

When the young man heard these words, it was like a veil had been removed from his eyes and he made sincere Taubah. He also mentioned, “O Allah! If this is the favour and bounty which You bestow upon those who do not obey You, imagine Your Divine Grace upon those who obey You.”

 

The young man then began to walk away. The Saint asked him where he was going to and he replied that he was retiring to the wild so spent his time in remembering Allah Almighty. He also swore that he will never again be deceived by the colourful world and will never ever enter the city again. (Uyunul Hikaayah)