Compiled by: Hafiz Muhammad Anwar Zahid (May Allah protect him)
In the nation of Bani Israel, there lived a devout worshipper who had dedicated sixty years to the worship of Allah. Despite Satan's repeated attempts to mislead him, the monk remained steadfast. However, Satan devised a plan to influence a woman, making it appear as though she was possessed by jinn. He then whispered to her brothers that only this monk could treat her. Convinced, they brought their sister to him for spiritual healing.
The monk began treating her through supplication (ruqyah) and decided that she should stay with him for the duration of her treatment. One day, while he was alone with her, Satan began corrupting his thoughts, eventually leading him to commit adultery with her. As a result, she became pregnant. Fearful of the impending disgrace, Satan suggested a way out: to kill the woman to hide his sin. The monk, terrified of being exposed, followed the advice and murdered her.
Meanwhile, Satan sowed seeds of suspicion in the minds of her brothers. When they came to inquire, Satan approached the monk and warned him: "They are coming for you. Your honor and your life are at stake. However, if you obey me, I can save both your reputation and your life." The monk, now desperate, agreed to follow Satan's instructions. Satan then demanded that the monk prostrate before him, and he complied. After the monk had prostrated, Satan sneered, "Wretched one, I have nothing to do with you. I fear Allah, the Lord of all worlds."
In another version of the story, it is narrated that a woman used to herd goats and would spend her nights near the monk’s monastery. She had four brothers. One day, Satan enticed the monk, leading him into committing adultery with her, resulting in her becoming pregnant. Fearing disgrace, Satan whispered to the monk to kill her and bury her in a secluded place, assuring him that no one would suspect a devout worshipper like him. The monk found this reasoning convincing. One night, he murdered the woman and buried her body in a remote area.
Satan then went to the woman’s four brothers, revealing the entire incident in their dreams, even disclosing the location of her grave. The next morning, one brother shared his strange dream but hesitated to reveal it. The others encouraged him to speak up. As he described his dream in detail — how the monk had committed adultery, then killed their sister, and buried her at a specific location — each brother revealed they had the same dream. Now convinced of the dream's truth, they reported it to the authorities. By the king's order, the monk was apprehended from his monastery, and the body was exhumed, confirming the truth.
As they were about to take him to the royal court, Satan appeared before the monk once more. "All of this is my doing," he admitted, "but if you obey me now, I can still save your life." The monk, desperate, agreed to whatever Satan would suggest. Satan demanded another prostration, which the monk fulfilled. However, Satan then mockingly abandoned him, declaring, "I am free from you, for I fear Allah, the Lord of all worlds." The king subsequently ordered the execution of the monk. It is said that the monk’s name was Barsisa.
This story has been narrated with slight variations by notable figures such as Hazrat Ali (رضي الله عنه), Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه), Tawoos (رحمه الله), and Muqatil ibn Hayyan (رحمه الله).
References:
In the nation of Bani Israel, there lived a devout worshipper who had dedicated sixty years to the worship of Allah. Despite Satan's repeated attempts to mislead him, the monk remained steadfast. However, Satan devised a plan to influence a woman, making it appear as though she was possessed by jinn. He then whispered to her brothers that only this monk could treat her. Convinced, they brought their sister to him for spiritual healing.
The monk began treating her through supplication (ruqyah) and decided that she should stay with him for the duration of her treatment. One day, while he was alone with her, Satan began corrupting his thoughts, eventually leading him to commit adultery with her. As a result, she became pregnant. Fearful of the impending disgrace, Satan suggested a way out: to kill the woman to hide his sin. The monk, terrified of being exposed, followed the advice and murdered her.
Meanwhile, Satan sowed seeds of suspicion in the minds of her brothers. When they came to inquire, Satan approached the monk and warned him: "They are coming for you. Your honor and your life are at stake. However, if you obey me, I can save both your reputation and your life." The monk, now desperate, agreed to follow Satan's instructions. Satan then demanded that the monk prostrate before him, and he complied. After the monk had prostrated, Satan sneered, "Wretched one, I have nothing to do with you. I fear Allah, the Lord of all worlds."
In another version of the story, it is narrated that a woman used to herd goats and would spend her nights near the monk’s monastery. She had four brothers. One day, Satan enticed the monk, leading him into committing adultery with her, resulting in her becoming pregnant. Fearing disgrace, Satan whispered to the monk to kill her and bury her in a secluded place, assuring him that no one would suspect a devout worshipper like him. The monk found this reasoning convincing. One night, he murdered the woman and buried her body in a remote area.
Satan then went to the woman’s four brothers, revealing the entire incident in their dreams, even disclosing the location of her grave. The next morning, one brother shared his strange dream but hesitated to reveal it. The others encouraged him to speak up. As he described his dream in detail — how the monk had committed adultery, then killed their sister, and buried her at a specific location — each brother revealed they had the same dream. Now convinced of the dream's truth, they reported it to the authorities. By the king's order, the monk was apprehended from his monastery, and the body was exhumed, confirming the truth.
As they were about to take him to the royal court, Satan appeared before the monk once more. "All of this is my doing," he admitted, "but if you obey me now, I can still save your life." The monk, desperate, agreed to whatever Satan would suggest. Satan demanded another prostration, which the monk fulfilled. However, Satan then mockingly abandoned him, declaring, "I am free from you, for I fear Allah, the Lord of all worlds." The king subsequently ordered the execution of the monk. It is said that the monk’s name was Barsisa.
This story has been narrated with slight variations by notable figures such as Hazrat Ali (رضي الله عنه), Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه), Tawoos (رحمه الله), and Muqatil ibn Hayyan (رحمه الله).
References:
- Mustadrak al-Hakim, 2/484, Hadith No. 3801
- Kanz al-Ummal, 2/694
- Tafsir al-Tabari, 12/47