Islamic Exemplary Stories
Just Hope for God's Ridho & about Heaven and Hell.
JUST EXPECTING RIDHO ALLAH
Abul Qasim Junaid bin Muhammad, a Sufi cleric who lived in Baghdad, was therefore better known by the name Junaid al Baghdadi, when he experienced severe eye pain. One night an ophthalmologist was called in, and after a check-up and treatment, the doctor said, “If you want your eyes to be safe, don't get water!!”
One of the Istiqomah practices that Junaid never abandoned was the prayer of two rakaats before going to bed. For him, the threat of eye damage when exposed to water, is not how heavy compared to losing the two shelves. As soon as the doctor left, he immediately took water for ablution and the two rakaat prayers. Junaid no longer cared about the pain and risks that occurred with his eyes, most importantly he did not abandon his practice in order to gain the pleasure of Allah. After that he slept.
By dawn, Junaid woke up from his sleep, and he was astonished that the pain in his eyes had gone. Even his eyesight was much better than before he was sick. In his astonishment, he suddenly heard a voice without form (hative), “Junaid had dared to sacrifice his eyes for My Ridho. Had the experts of hell (i.e., those who like to worship God) asked Me (forgiveness) with the spirit that Junaid has, I would have fulfilled their request!!”
The next day, the ophthalmologist came again to check on Junaid, and he was astonished that his eyes had completely healed. The doctor said, “What have you done with your eyes?”
“I ablution and pray two rakaat!!” Junaid.
The doctor was amazed by Junaid's answer, berwudhu means exposed to water, but it turns out his eyes were healed. Soon he said, “It is a medicine from God the Creator, not a medicine from creatures. Verily I am the one who has had (heart) eye pain, and you, O Junaid as his doctor!!”
Then the eye doctor who was a Christian who pronounced the shahadah, declared himself to embrace Islam in front of Junaid.
When Allah has finished creating heaven and hell, Allah says to the Angel Gabriel, “Go to heaven, and see what I have prepared for its inhabitants there!!”
The angel Gabriel fulfilled the command, and some time later he came to God and said, “Yes Allah, by all Your majesty, no one has ever heard of heaven, unless he really wants to enter it!!”
Then God ordered another angel to decorate (cover) the heaven with things that are not liked, and various worship orders that must be done to enter it. After all that was done, God commanded the Angel Gabriel to once again see the state of heaven. When he returned before God, he said, “For all your majesty, O God, I fear that no one will be able to enter it!!”
After that God said again to the Angel Gabriel, “Go to hell, and see what I have prepared for its inhabitants there!!”
The angel Gabriel fulfilled the command, and he saw the fire of hell pouncing on one another. Some time later he came to God and said, “Yes Allah, for all Your glory, no one has ever heard of him, unless he is eager to flee from that hell!!”
Then God ordered another angel to decorate (cover) the hell with things that are favored by lust, and various other kinds of pleasure that are forbidden syara’. After all that was done, God commanded the Angel Gabriel to once again visit hell. When he returned before God, he said, “For all your majesty, O God, I fear that no one will escape from him, and they will enter him!!”
