The Magian and the Muslim

Once there was someone who belonged to the. He lived in Balkh (a Byzantine region) and had a wife and several daughters. They were living in luxury and prosperity. Then the husband died. His widow and daughters become so poor that they moved to another town to flee from the ghost of noticing their enemies rejoice at her misfortune. Having entered the town she resorted to a deserted mosque with her daughters. Then, she went out to bring them something to eat. She passed by two people, a Muslim and a magian.

She started by asking the Muslim and explained to him how she suffered a lot while she was an honored woman from the 'Alawyyeen sect. But he asked her to show evidence. She said she was stranger.

But, he did not pay attention to her. Then, she left feeling sad and again explained her case to magian and how she had four daughters who were orphans and in need. She recounted her story to a Muslim Sheikh.

The magian sent his ladies to bring her and daughters home. He fed them and clothed them well. They stayed with him in luxury and honor. At midnight, the Muslim who turned the woman away dreamt that it was the Day of Judgment. A banner was raised over the Prophet's head. There was a palace of green emerald whose windows were of pearls and corundum and also had domes of pearls and corals. He then asked the Messenger of Allah: "Whose palace is it?" For a Muslim who believes in Allah, the One.' O  Allah's Messenger I am a Muslim, the man said. But the prophet asked him to show the evidence that he was a Muslim.

The man was perplexed. Accordingly, the prophet said "When the 'Alawiyya woman asked you, you asked her to show an evidence that she was Alawiy. Thus, show me evidence that you are Muslim. Then, the man got up sadly for repelling the woman. He started to search for her in the town until he found her in the Magian's house. He asked him about the woman and her daughters, but the Magian refused and said many blessing were showered upon him because of them.

The man persisted to take them and even offered the Magian a thousand dinars but he refused again.  The Muslim said but I should take them. Then, the Magian said, what you want is mine and the palace which you saw in your dream was created for me. May you guide me to embrace Islam? By Allah, I did not sleep yesterday before my family and I embraced Islam at the hands of the woman. I had also the same dream. The Prophet asked me, "were the 'Alawiy woman and her daughters in your house?" I said 'yes', Messenger of Allah? He, then, said, the palace is for you and your family and all of you will enter Paradise. You were created a Muslim from the beginning of the creation. Then, the Muslim went away sadly.

 Behold! How Allah blesses those who treat widows and orphans tenderly in this world.  "He who works hard on behalf of old women and the indigent, is like a Mujahid (a warrior) in the cause of  Allah and the narrator thinks, he (Pbuh) added, "and like the person standing in prayer and who never  tires, and like one who observes the fast and does not break it.

Source: Major Sins by Imam Shamsu ed-Deen Dhahabi