WE went on an expedition to one of the lands of Rome; and among us was a youth of beside whom there was none amongst us more proficient in reciting The Qur'an, and none of us was more knowledgeable in fiqh and inheritance laws than him, one who used to fast the days and stand at night in prayer. Whilst in our expedition we passed by a fort – of which we were not ordered to stop for – (guarded by many soldiers); and this youth stopped close to the fort as if he was relieving himself. So he looked up the fort and he caught sight of a woman from among the women of the Romans who was looking from that fort, and she amazed him. And as such he desired her, so he talked to her in the Roman language: ‘Tell me the way to get to you?' So she replied: “For you to become a Christian, then we will open the door for you (to enter the fort); and I am yours.” And he answered that call of hers, and he entered the fort! In one narration it says : (The Muslims were not aware of the ongoings except that by the time they realized; he was with her!) (The narrator continues to say) Consequently we were covered in great distress and encountered hardship in our expedition because of that. It was as if each of our men took that to be as if it happened to his own child. After some time while on another expedition, we returned and passed by this same fortified town: and there he was with that woman, and the Christians; looking at us (from the fort). (So we said (to him): “O so-and-so what happened to your Qur'an? What happened to your knowledge? What happened to your fasting? What happened to your prayers!” And there he said to us: “I have forgotten all the Qur'an except Allah's statement: “Perhaps (often) will those who disbelieve wish that they were Muslims. Leave them to eat and enjoy, and let them be preoccupied with (false) hope. They will come to know!” (Qur'an, 15:1-2) Source: Al-Muntadham of Ibnul Jawzee, Taarikh al-Islam of Imam Adh-Dhahabi under the biography of Abduh Ibn Abdur Rahim, Taarikh Al-Dimashq of Ibn Asaakir : 37/379 Lessons: u The great benefit of lowering the gaze. u The Importance of fighting the desires, especially the fitna between the opposite genders. u Loving for your fellow Muslim that which you love for yourself, and hating for him that which you see is harmful to him. (And what is more of a calamity than seeing a Muslim leave the light of belief and choosing the darkness of shirk!) u The diligence of Satan and his allies in their greatest goal against Muslims – apostasy. Especially in the times of tribulations; the true colours of people come forth. As you see, indeed she didn't ask him for wealth or anything else. u Don't be amazed by the actions of a person, only Allah knows the reality of the end of a person. u Don't be amazed by your own deeds. u The importance of supplicating for steadfastness, and uprightness in the religion upto the end of one's life. Indeed the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to do so, and taught us to do so in the narration: “O, Turner of the hearts, turn our hearts to Your obedience.” (Musnad Ahmad – authenticated by Al
