Download PDF: [S] Making False Taubah (Islamic story)

Mansur bin Ammar narrates:

 

There was a friend of mine who was always guilty of sinning. However, one day, he made Taubah and I noticed that he continued to perform noble deeds and to perform the Tahajjud. One day, I could not meet him and when I inquired about him, I was told that he was very ill. I then reached at his front door and after knocking on the door, his daughter appeared and asked me who I wanted to meet with. I then mentioned the name of this person.

 

After getting permission from her father, she invited me in the house. When I entered the house, I noticed that he was on his bed, but his face had become black. His eyes were also full of tears and his lips had become swollen. I obviously became very afraid when I saw the state of this person. I then advised him to read as much of the Kalimah as possible.

 

He then looked at me with great regret and he began to lose consciousness. I again asked him to read the Kalimah. I again mentioned to him to read the Kalimah on a third occasion. However, he opened his eyes and said, “My brother Mansur! There is a wall which exists between me and this Kalimah.” When I heard this statement, I read the “La hawla”.

 

I then asked him about his fasting, his Salaah and his Tahajjud and he replied, “All of this was for someone else. My taubah was nothing but a show. I only did all of these things so that I could look good in front of people and so that they could praise me. When I was alone in my house, I used to drink alcohol and used to continue disobeying the Allah Almighty. I continued to behave in this manner until I became ill. I also reached the stage where I was about to die. I then asked my daughter to bring the Qur’an and holding the Qur’an, I pleaded to the Allah Almighty to grant me a complete cure from this illness and I also made a promise to the Allah Almighty that I would never commit such transgression again.

 

“I was then blessed with health. However, when the Allah Almighty blessed me with good health, I again went back to my old ways. And I drowned myself in this sin and vice. The Satan also made sure that he misleads me. He also made me forget the promise I had with my Creator.

 

“Suddenly I became ill and again I reached a stage where I was about to die. My family also placed my bed in the lower floor of the house. I again asked for the Qur’an and then made Du’a in these words, ‘O Allah! I swear by the laws which are to be found in this Divine Book that if You cure me, I will never return to sin and transgression.’

 

“Allah Almighty accepted my words and once again, I became cured from this illness. Yet, it is unfortunate that instead of obeying my Creator and keeping to the promise which I had made to Him, I once again went against my promise and oath. And now once again, I have become sick. Again my family has placed my bed in the lower part of the house as you can see. I then asked for the Qur’an again, but this time I realized that my words and promises would not be accepted. I then raised my hands towards the sky and uttered the words, ‘O Allah! Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, please deliver me from this test and trial.’

 

“However, I heard someone say to me, ‘When you become ill, then you make Taubah from your sins. But, when you become well, you return to your sins. How many times has Allah Almighty delivered you from this calamity and every time you had shed tears. Did you not fear that death would certainly come to you and yet, you were tested all the time and failed?’

 

Mansur bin Ammar concludes, “I swear by Allah Almighty that as I left this person, I was also weeping and as soon as I reached the door, I heard the words that he had died.”