PRETENDING TO BE PIOUS

There are always people who pretend to be pious of getting worldly benefits, such as to attract innocent sisters, women who are less grateful to their husbands, widows or girls longing for a life partner.

Sometimes, these pretending people target their victims’ possessions, commit frauds in various modes, create a fake social gathering, offer a variety of attractive but fake investments, and such.

Sometimes they become politicians. Originally they were not religious people and even many ignored religious orders. However, to get votes, they portray themselves as if they are the most pious politicians.

Their characteristics in every age are almost the same: talking and acting like Oscar-winning actors.

In the time of Abu Bakr’s leadership, there was someone who had these characteristics. He, from Yemen, came to Medina, complaining that a Yemeni guardian chopped his hand off of committing theft.

One night, the man prayed diligently and fervently. Abu Bakr was amazed by his salah and then commented that such kind of salah is impossible for a thief to do.

But, soon after, Asma bint Umais (one of Abu Bakr’s wives) lost her necklace. The man joined in searching for it and even prayed “O Allah, give punishment upon the one who stole in this your pious servant’s house (meaning Abu Bakr)”. Finally, people found the necklace at the jewellery seller’s place.

The seller was then interviewed, and claimed that he obtained the necklace from a disabled man – a man without hand! In the end, the man was interrogated and finally, he admitted that he was indeed the thief!

Abu Bakr became very sad.

Malik narrated:

meaning:

“Narrated Abdurrahman bin Al Qasim, narrated his father, that a Yemeni man having his hand and foot cut off arrived and visited Abu Bakr As-Siddiq’s house. The man complained that a Yemeni official had mistreated him (for cutting off his hand and feet of theft). In a night, he performed the midnight prayer (tahajjud). Abu Bakr commented; “Your father became your ransom, a man who worships at night like you is not a thief.” Then people lost a necklace of Asma` bint ‘Umais, the wife of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, and the man (the thief) joined in looking for with them while praying; “O Allah, punish who has stolen this night from the righteous owner of the house.” Then people found the necklace on a jeweller. The jeweller claimed that the person who sold the necklace to him was a man without hand and foot. So the Yemeni man admitted it. So Abu Bakr As-Siddiq ordered to cut off his left hand, and then said, “By Allah, in my opinion, the bad prayer he did upon himself is worst than his theft.” (H.R.Malik)

Let’s be aware and cautious of these types of humans.

Let’s pray that God protects us from being characterised as them.

Author: Ustaz Muafa
Translation by Abu Ibrahim

Source: https://irtaqi.net/2019/11/16/pura-pura-salih/