Bahlul: Sufi Accused of Murder (Section II-end)

 

Bahlul: Sufi Accused of Murder

After listening to the killer's testimony, the judge finally decided to punish the killer and release Bahlul. Even the judge made amends for his accusations against Bahlul by compensating Bahlul to stay in the palace as long as he wanted.

"However, Your Majesty," Bahlul interrupted, "the Almighty God is none other than the Most Loving Essence. He loves those who forgive and love others. He is the Best of the Good, and loves those who treat His servants with kindness and compassion. Therefore, it is a divine act if His Majesty frees this person and forgives his guilt. Because he has confessed and regretted his crime.”

The judge was silent for a moment and then said, "Friend, has not Allah the Almighty appointed us as His vicegerents or vicegerents on earth to prevent humans from doing injustice to others and carrying out His will?"

"It is true. But maybe we don't really know what that will is. Only He alone knows all hearts and can enlighten the guilty and the innocent. In God's sight, a person who we think is a murderer may be innocent, and a righteous person may be a sinner. Only Allah knows everything.”

The judge couldn't hide his admiring smile for Bahlul. “I feel uncomfortable speaking in front of you. Since executing the perpetrator of this murder will not bring a dead person back to life, and since he has already confessed his guilt full of remorse, I have released him, provided that the victim's family agrees to accept the ransom paid by this person in accordance with the provisions of Islamic law."

After everything was settled and the judge and Bahlul were alone, the two of them took a walk in the judge's garden. They were silent for some time. Then the judge broke the silence by asking a question that bothered him, “If you will believe me, tell me something, my friend. I heard that you are very calm when it comes to execution. What makes you sure that you will not be killed?”

"My calm," replied Bahlul, looking into the judge's eyes, "not because I was sure that I would not be hanged. I believe that whatever Allah has ordained is the best, and rightly so it should be. So, the servant really submits and surrenders to His will. In turn, this makes the servant so peaceful and calm."

Even though he had obtained a fairly clear answer, the judge was even more curious about this strange person and wanted to know more. “Tell me, my friend, what did you say in your last prayer before the leash was put around your neck? I was told that no one before had the courage to do so.”

"I don't pray as Your Majesty means. Because, a person who fully believes in God knows that the Creator of all things knows what He is doing. It is not our business to ask Him to change the events He has ordained. For a lover of Allah, whatever happens is for the best.” Bahlul paused for a moment while stroking his beard, and continued his answer, “Indeed, what I am doing is talking to Him. I tell Him that He knows very well that I love Him and that nothing He does will stop me from changing my love for Him, unless He wills it. If he chooses to give me a bitter and deadly poison, then I will accept it as sweet sugar and a gift from Him."

That is the story of the Bahlul, the Sufi who was accused of murder. His toughness and steadfastness in dealing with problems are based on the basis of husnudzan (good prejudice) against God's destiny. How about us? Think about it!