Marginal notes on a hadeeth........

A man came to the Holy Prophet(sws) and related this incident of his pre-lslamic days of ignorance:

"I had a daughter who was much attached to me. When I called her, she would come running to me. One day I called her and took her out with me. On the way we came across a well. Holding her by the hand I pushed her into the well. Her last words that I heard were: Oh father, oh father!!"

Hearing this the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) wept and tears started falling from his eyes. One of those present on the occasion said: O man, you have grieved the Holy Prophet.

The Holy Prophet(pbuh) said: Do not stop him, let him question about what he feels so strongly now. Then the Holy Prophet asked him to narrate his story once again. When he narrated it again the Holy Prophet wept so bitterly that his beard became wet with tears. Then he said to the man: "Allah has forgiven that you did in the days of ignorance: now turn to Him in repentance.'

[According to a Hadith related in the first chapter of Sunan Darimi]

Source: Tafheem Al Qur'an 


Whenever im reading this hadeeth i feel overwhelmed from my emotions. Firstly, as i am from nature very soft hearted, surely, i'm also droping a tear about the destiny of that daughter who was feeling so attached to her father, than about the cruelty of the father........ This are the emotions of many human beings so far, regardless if they are muslims or not, i think. But than, and thats the greater emotion which overcomes the heart of the believer. This one is thankfulness about the greatness from Allah. Nobody but Allah alone can turn the hearts, even the heart of such a cruel individum who was able to throw his own loving daughter without any reason in a well....... and even such a man could experience the mercy from Allah, SoubhanAllah. 

"And whoever does evil, or wrongs his own soul, but afterwards seeks Allah’s forgiveness, will find Allah is Forgiving, Compassionate."

(Qur’an 4:110)