Aslam

It was narrated that for forty days an idol was worshipped in the house of the Prophet Solaiman for which he was punished. In another narration, a woman sought justice from Solaiman in respect of a matter of her father. He promised to do justice but afterwards he did not do it. In another narration, the woman thought that Hazrat Solaiman would deliver judgement in favour of her father as she had some rank before Solaiman. For this sin, the reign of Solaiman was robbed of for forty days for which he became afraid. He fell into such disaster that he did not even get food when he was hungry. When he sought for food saying: Give me food, I am Solaiman, son of David, the people used to rebuke and beat him and drive him out. It was narrated that during this time when he wanted food from his wife, she spate on his face and drove him out. There is another narration that an old woman poured urine over his head from a pot. Then God took out his ring from the stomach of a fish and he put it on for forty days after his punishement. Thereafter birds came and sat upon his head and jinn, birds and beasts began to gather around him. Solaiman said: I will not rebuke you for harsh treatment with me before and will not praise you for your excuse become me at present. These affairs came from God and there wasnootheralterative.

There is a story of Banu Israil that a man married a foreign woman in her country. He sent his slave to bring her home. On the way the slave felt sexual desire to cohabit with her but restrained himself with great difficulties. For his patience, God rewarded him with the office of prophet-hood over the children of Israil. It was narrated that Moses once asked Khizr. Why have God given you knowledge of the unseen? He said: For giving up sins in order to incur the pleasure of God.

It is said that even wind traveled with Solaiman. He was once pleased with his dress and looked at it. Suddenly the wind threw him down and he said: I obeyed you till you obeyed God. It is narrated that God sent down revelation to Hazrat Eakub: Do you know why I have separated your son Eusuf from you? He said: I don't know. God said: The reason is that you said to your sons: When you remain indifferent, I fear lest tiger may devour him. Why did you fear for him an attack of tiger and did not

52 TAUBA Vol-IV

depend on Me? Why did you look at their heedlessness and did not hope My protection? Do you know why I returned him to you? Hazrat Eakub said: I don't know. He said: You relied on Me and said: Perchance God may return all of them to me. You said also: Go and search for Eusuf and his brother and be not dispaired. When Hazrat Yousuf said to his prisoner: Remind me to your master, God said: The devil made him forgetful of his Lord. For that he stayed prison for some years.