The old Shaykh and the prostitute…(A moving tale of repentance.)

The old Shaykh and the prostitute…
(A moving tale of repentance)

“I have a lot of stories to tell about those scholars who left a lasting impact on people simply via their sincerity. I’ll mention one such story that was narrated to me by Professor Aḥmad Ḥasan al-Zayyat (chief editor of Risālah magazine).

It was about a Shaykh whose name he mentioned, but I can’t quite remember. He said,

‘This old shaykh used to be a teacher. His whole life revolved around Al-Azhar mosque, where he would teach. It meant the world to him, and he didn’t know really about anything else except for this place.

This was, of course, prior to the place turning into a university and having its soul sucked out. He used to live in a house not far from it.

As time passed and he began to age and his health started to deteriorate, he came to the realization that it was time for him to rest. The doctor instructed him to stay away from all work environments and to even avoid being near the workplace; he was to relax and frequent parks and beaches.

So, to start the new chapter in his life, he got out and stopped a wagon.
In those days they didn’t have cars. He said to the driver,

‘My son, take me somewhere nice, somewhere I can unwind and relax.’ It turned out the driver was a mischievous fool who took the old shaykh to the outskirts of Azbakeyah, where there were a lot of brothels.
The driver dropped him off and told him that he should be able to find a place here.

The shaykh innocently asked, ‘My son, it’s almost Maghrib. Where can I pray? Take me to the mosque first.’ ‘This is the mosque.’ said the driver.

The door was open, and a woman was standing at the door as per the habit of women of her profession (she was standing outside a brothel) . When he noticed her, he lowered his gaze. He saw a chair nearby and decided to sit there and wait for the Aḏān.

She continued to awkwardly stare at him, not knowing what it was that made someone like him come near her as he wasn’t from those who frequent this place. She couldn’t even gather the courage to ask him as she was held back by whatever shyness she still had left inside her – a shyness that is felt even by women of her profession when they are near people of true piety. He sat there doing Tasbīḥ whilst frequently checking his watch until he heard an Aḏān coming from another area.
So, he asked her,

‘Where is the Mu’aḏḏin? It’s Maghrib now. Why isn’t he giving the Aḏān? Are you his daughter?’ She didn’t say a word. He waited a little and then said, ‘My daughter, Maghrib, goes fast. We aren’t allowed to delay it.
I can’t see anyone here, so if you have Wuḍū’, pray behind me so it can be a Jamā’ah.’

He got up and gave the Aḏān, and just as he was about to give the Iqāmah, he realized that she hadn’t moved an inch.
‘What’s the matter? Don’t you have Wudū’?’ asked the Shaykh.

Suddenly, at that moment, Īmān gushed back into her, and it was rekindled. In an instant, she forgot her current state and was taken back into her past: a past where she used to be a pure and chaste girl… far, far away from this sin.

She began to cry and sob and threw herself at his feet. He was shocked and wasn’t sure how to comfort her as he didn’t want to look at her nor touch her. She then told him her story and how she ended up in a place like this.
The shaykh could feel the truthfulness of her repentance from the deep regret in her voice. So he said,

‘My daughter, listen to what Allāh says,

-Say, ˹O Prophet, that Allāh says,˺ “O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allāh’s mercy, for Allāh certainly forgives all sins. He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful. –

All sins, my daughter, all sins! Indeed, the door of repentance is vast, and it widens for anyone that passes through it regardless of how heavy the load of their sins may be. Even disbelief… if one disbelieves after having believed and then repents before breathing their last and is true in their repentance and renews their belief, Allāh will accept it from them!

Allāh, my daughter, is the Most Generous. Have you ever heard of a generous person shutting the door in the face of someone who came seeking refuge and relied solely on them? So, stand up and go wash yourself and cover up appropriately.

Wash your skin with water and your heart with repentance and regret, and then turn to Allāh.

I will be waiting for you here, so don’t take too long in case we miss Maghrib altogether.’

She did what he told her to do and came out with a new garment and a new heart.
She stood behind him and prayed. She was able to taste the sweetness of the prayer as it soothed her heart. After they finished praying, he said to her, ‘Now, come with me and cut off any and every connection you have with this place and its people.

Try to erase all the memories you have from being in this place. Increase your repentance, do frequent good deeds, and know well that zinā is not bigger than Kufr. Hind, who was a disbelieving woman and an enemy to the Messenger of Allāh (Salallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam), who tried to eat the liver of his uncle Ḥamzah, when she was truthful in her repentance, she became one of the pious believing women for whom we now say: Raḍiyallāhu ‘Anhā’ (Allah is pleased with her).
The old Shaykh then took her to a house where there were practicing women so she would be looked after. He eventually arranged for her to get married and advised the husband to take good care of her.”

— ‘Alī al-Ṭanṭāwī

[Ḏikrayāt, vol. 1, page. 252-54].
ذكرايات – للشيخ علي الطنطاوي رحمة الله عليه
(Translated by Shah Idris [@Shahidris9] on Twitter)