VERSE NO. 27 - 28

A BEAUTIFUL PENITENCE

      Owing to the fact that the majority of our dear readers are most probably non- Muslims; and the incident of repentance, is one of the most beautiful sceneries of repentance; which occurred among the primal Muslims, I thought to describe the event with more detail than it is in the commentary; and of course through the traditions related by successive witnesses like that in the famous SEEREH IBN- HESHط:

      As per order of the prophet a siege was laid on the parish of the Jews ofBANIGHORAIZEH for their dangerous betrayal in the Battle of Moat. The siege took 21 nights when the Jews asked for a peace treaty on condition that they would decamp from Medina and emigrate to Syria, taking all their properties with them. The prophet did not agree with that, and wanted them to yield unconditionally. They then asked the prophet to let them have consultation with ABULABBطBEH, who was respectable companion of the prophet and lived in the same parish with the Jews, and there he had a house, estate, and farm.

      Their request was accepted, and the consultant went among them. WhenABULABBطBEH entered the fortress, the women and children gathered round him weeping and crying so much that ABULABBطBEH deeply sympathized with them in their affliction and misery. When their men came for consultation, they asked him: ``What will the prophet do with us if we surrender unconditionally?''

      In answer to their question, ABULABBطBEH, moved his finger across his neck, as a hint that he would kill them all. When he gave that hint to the Jews, he felt to be very guilty, and to have committed a major sin. He thought to have betrayed Allah and His Messenger, and his religious conscience began to trouble him. When he returned from among the Jews, he did not go to the prophet for reporting! He went directly to the mosque, and tied himself with a rope to the pillar there! He announced that he would not free himself unless God forgave him, and his repentance was accepted. He also vowed that he would never go to that parish of BANIGHORAIZEH in which he had sinned, in spite of having his house, estate, and farm lands, there!

      When the prophet was informed of that guilt and repentance of ABULABBطBEH, he said: ``Had he come directly to me, I would have prayed to God to forgive him. But now that he has referred directly to Allah, we have to wait for Allah to decide upon him, that Allah is Merciful and forgiving.

      For six days ABULABBطBEH was bound on that pillar of the prophet's mosque. Only during the prayers time his wife would have him untied to perform his prayers, and again she tied him up.

      OMMESALAMEH, the prophet's wife has said: ``It was about mid night when I saw the prophet preparing himself for his night prayer. He seemed to be very happy and smiling! I asked him what was the reason for his happiness? The apostle said that the repentance of ABULABBطBEH has been accepted and Allah Has forgiven him all his sins. I asked the prophet if I could give him the good news that very night and he agreed. I then opened the curtain which partitioned my room in the mosque and exclaimed; `ABULABBطBEH! Good News! Your repentance has been accepted and Allah has forgiven all your sins that you have committed so far!' `Some of the believers' continued she, `rushed to untie the rope and release him but he refused to let them doing it; saying he would wait for the prophet to come and free him.''

      Commentator's believe that the above two verses, and also the verse No. 102 of the chapter of REPENTANCE have been sent down to this effect. The latter verse is as follows:

      ``And others have acknowledged their sins. They have mixed good acts with another that was bad. May Allah turn unto them with Mercy for Allah is Oft- forgiving, Most Merciful.''   TRANSLATOR'S NOTE