Chapter X: Living and Character of the Prophet
Regarding his one day, I may let you know that when the Prophet expried, some desert Arabs raised the standard of rebellion. Some of them said : We shall observe prayer but we shall not pay Zakat. I came to Abu Bakr and advised him to be kind to the rebels. He said to me : You were powerful during the days of ignorance but you have become fearful in Islam. Why should I show kindness to them ? When the Prophet expired and revelation stopped they stopped payment of Zakat they used to pay it to the Prophet but before this he fought against them for this . So we shall fight against them in this matter. By God, it is he who has shown us the true path. This is Abu Bakr's one day. Then Hazrat Omar sent a letter to his governor rebuking him for not praying for Abu Bakr in his khutba (4) The sage Ata-b-Rebah once went to Caliph Abdul Malek-b-Merwan at Mecca. When the Caliph saw the sage Ata, he stood in his honour and asked him :
Have you got any necessity ? The sage said : O Commander of the faithful, fear this sacred place of God and His Prophet, keep its purity, fear God in the matters of the descendants of Muhajirs and Ansars, as by their help you are sitting in this throne. Fear God regarding the soldiers guarding the frontiers as they are the forts of the Muslims and take care of the affairs of the Muslims.
You will be asked about these maters. Don't be different to those who are under your control and don't shut up your doors against them. The Caliph said : I will try to follow your advice.
(5) Once the sage was brought before the Caliph Walid-b- Abdul Malek. He said to the Caliph : I heard that there is a well named Habhab in Hell. The well has been reserved by God for every tyrant ruler. On hearing this. Walid raised a cry and fell senseless.
(6) The sage Ibn Ali Shamelah was famous for his wisdom and good treatment. Once he went to Caliph Abdul Malek-b-Merwan who requested him to tell him some words of advice. He said : O Commander of the Faithful , on the Resurrection day, mankind will not be saved from its grevious punishment and serious condition . Only he who please God
198 Enjoining good and forbidding evil VoI-II
displeasing himself will be safe. The Caliph wept at this and said : I will keep the advice as the object of my life till I live.