Harun al-Rashid
Al-Risala (English), October 1990, p. 24
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan is named as the default author of the periodical; a piece that carries another writer’s byline is credited to that writer.
Harun al-Rashid
1990 10 October 24 Harun al-Rashid (310) Historians say that when Harun, the Caliph of Baghdad, went on a pilgrimage to Mecca, he wished to meet Ibn Samak, the great Sufi. He went with his minister, Fazl Barmaki, to the Sufi’s home. Samak’s daughter opened the door of the house, which was in darkness. When Harun asked for a candle to be lit, the daughter answered that they had never had a candle. She took them to the roof where Ibn Samak was weeping and praying. When he had finished he turned around and asked, “Who are you?”
Fazl replied, “Harun is a great Caliph and we should all obey him.”
“Is he following the path of Abu-Bakr and Omar so that he should be obeyed?” Samak questioned.
When Fazl answered, “Yes”, Samak replied, “You are lying. In this holy city of Mecca everyone complains about his rule, so what must the situation be like in the rest of the kingdom?” Fazl remained silent.
The Caliph requested some advice and Samak counselled: “Oh Caliph! Be fearful of God! On the Day of Judgement there is only paradise or hell and no other place for you.” The Caliph wept.
Fazl said he was sure that the Caliph would go to paradise. Ibn Samak didn’t answer him but said, “O Caliph! Tonight, Fazl is with you, but not on the Day of Judgement. On that day he will not be able to speak for you and, even if he could, nobody would listen to him. Do justice to your people and be kind to them.”
Harun promised that he would, and before leaving he gave a sack of gold to Ibn Samak.
Samak was infuriated by this gesture and cried: “I am trying to save you from the fire of hell and you want to put me into it – take your gold and get out!”
Courtesy: The Firmest Bond
