THE VOICE WITHIN

Imam Ghazzali has this story of for true believers in his book Ihyaa-ul Uloom Ud Deen:

There was once a pious man among the Banu Israel who always remained busy in the worship of Allah. A group of people came and told him about a tribe living nearby who worshipped a tree. Resolving to bring the unbelievers to the path of faith, the man set out with an axe to cut the tree down.

On the way, Satan met him in the form of an old man and asked him where he was going. When he divulged his purpose, Satan said, “You have nothing to be concerned with this tree. Better mind your worship. Do not give it up for the sake of something that does not concern you.”

“This too is worship,” retorted the man. The Satan tried to block his path, there followed a struggle between the two in which the man overpowered Satan.

Finding himself helpless, Satan begged to be let off. When the man released him, Satan tried a different tack, “Allah has not made the cutting of this tree obligatory on you. You do not lose anything if you don’t do it. If it was so necessary, Allah could have gotten it done through one of his many Prophets.” But the man was not to be deterred. There was another fight between the two and again the man prevailed over Satan.

“Well listen,” said Satan, changing tactics yet again, “I propose a settlement that will be to your advantage.” Intrigued, the man waited to hear it, and Satan said, “You are a poor man, a mere burden on Earth. If you stay away from this act, I will pay you three gold coins every day. You will find these daily lying under your pillow. With this money you can fulfill your needs, oblige your relatives, help the needy and do many other virtuous things. Cutting the tree down will be only one virtue, which will ultimately be of no use because the unbelievers there will grow another tree.”

Finding the proposal appealing, the man accepted it. And as Satan had promised, he found the money beneath his pillow the next day, and again the day after. But on the third day, there was nothing. Enraged, he picked up his axe and set out to cut the tree. Satan as the old man again met him on the way and asked him where he was going.

“To cut down the tree,” shouted the man. “I will not let you do it,” said Satan. In the fight that ensued, Satan this time had the upper hand.

Surprised and dismayed at his defeat, the man asked to know what had changed for him. Satan replied, “At first, your anger was righteous, it was purely for earning the pleasure of Allah. So the Almighty helped you overpower me twice. But now your anger is partly for the sake of gold and therefore you have lost.”

— the harbinger