Haroon Seeks Advice
Bahlool had for a year left Baghdad and settled in Kufa. Thereafter he returned to Baghdad and when met by Haroon, he asked him:
"O Bahlool! Where have you been, I have been deeply keen of meeting you?" In reply, Bahlool said: "But I have never remembered you at all." To this Haroon responded:
"Let me hear some advice from you. O Bahlool." Bahlool said:
"Instead of hearing my words of advice, it would be better if you were to look at the magnificent palaces and also to the graves in the graveyard. Think of those palaces in which the kings of the past lived with all the pomp and splendour. And also think of these graveyards wherein the kings of the past are hidden beneath the earth.
One day you too are going to lie down in the grave. Therefore, fear that day when you are going to stand before Allah and made to account for your deeds. You would, because of your misdeeds, then look bewildered and would cry whilst others because of their good deeds would be smiling. Therefore, beware of your life after death." Hearing this .Haroon wept with tears rolling down on his cheeks.
How the past rulers and kings passed away from this world unable to defy death and leaving behind all their pomp and material possessions is the best way of deriving moral lesson. How short was the span of their lives during which they did what they liked irrespective of justice and truth. Finally, they departed from this world to account for their misdeeds.
Where are the Amalekites and the sons of Amalekites? Where are the Pharaohs? Where are the people of the cities of ar-Rass who killed the prophets, destroyed the traditions of the divine messengers and revived the traditions of the despots? Where are those who advanced with armies, defeated thousands, mobilised forces and populated cities?" (Nahjul- Balagha sermon 182)
In his foregoing sermon Ali b. Abi Talib (A.S) advises us to dig into the past history of those who ruled with arrogance and oppression and draw lesson from their ultimate fate.
Taken from the book “The Moral Stories (Part 2)”
Author: Ahmed .H. Sheriff
Other links:
DESCRIPTION OF THE VIRTUES OF ALI
