Shaikh Sadooq relates, that one day Ma’az bin Jabal came weeping to the presence of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.). The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) asked him the reason for weeping. Ma’az replied, “O Prophet! A youth is standing at your door and weeping as a mother weeps at the dead body of her young son. His state is pitiable, and he desires to meet you.” The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) called him in. The youth came in and saluted the Prophet. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) answered his salutation and asked him the reason for weeping so bitterly. The youth replied, “O Prophet of Allah! Why should I not cry, for I have committed a grave sin. I fear that if Allah takes into account that sin of mine, and no doubt He shall do so, He shall throw me head long into the fire of hell.”
The Prophet replied, “Have you committed ‘shirk’ (associated anyone with Allah)?” He said, “I seek refuge in Allah from being a polytheist (mushrik).” The Prophet asked,“Then have you killed anyone without any reason”? He replied in the negative. The Prophet then said,“Even if your sin is bigger than the mountains, Allah shall forgive you.” He replied, “Verily my sin is bigger than that.” The Prophet said, “Then if your sin is bigger than the seven worlds, the seas, the trees, and whatever is in them, then too Allah is Merciful, He shall forgive you.” He replied that his sin was even greater than that. The Prophet again said, “Even if your sin is greater than the stars, the heavens, the Throne (Arsh), and the Chair (Kursi), then too the Beneficent Allah will forgive you.”
The man still persisted. Then the Prophet turned towards him in anger and said,“O young man! Is your sin bigger than the Almighty.” The youth replied, “Verily my Lord is free from all shortcomings, nothing is greater or bigger than Him, and He is above all things.” The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) then said, “Who else besides the Almighty has got the power to forgive big sins.” The young man replied, “Truly O Master, no one except Him has the power.” The Prophet said, “Now then young man, tell me as to what sin have you committed for whose forgiveness you have lost all hope of mercy.”
The young man replied, “O Apostle of Allah! Since the past seven years I have been digging the graves of people and robbing their shrouds. One day a young girl from among the Ansars (the Helpers, the people of Madina who had given refuge to the Prophet) died and was buried. As usual I went to the graveyard
with the intention of robbing the shroud. I saw a newly formed grave and dug it, then I removed the shroud from her dead body, and leaving her naked started going away. When suddenly I looked at her, Shaitaan tempted me and the girl seemed beautiful in my eyes. By now Shaitaan had overpowered me and I turned towards the girl and had intercourse with her. Then I left her in that state and started leaving, when I heard a voice from behind me saying: “O young man! May Allah curse you! On the day of Qiyamat when our case will be brought before Almighty Allah, and it will become apparent that you removed me from my grave, robbed me of my shroud, left me in a state of pollution among the dead, and I will rise in this impure state on that day. May your youth burn in the fire hell.” The youth continued, “After having committing this sin, I am sure that I will not be able to even smell the fragrance of Paradise.” The Prophet replied, “O fornicator! Go away from me, I fear lest the fire of hell would burn me alongwith you, for you have gone quite near to it.” (It should be noted here that this attitude of the Holy Prophet towards the young man was so as to put fear (of Allah and the hereafter) in his heart, so that he may feel ashamed and repent sincerely for this indecent act, as will be seen later)
When the young man heard these words from the Prophet (s.a.w.s.), he left his presence. He went to the market place and bought food for some days and wentto one of the mountains of Madina to repent. He wore a dress of sackcloth and started worshipping Almighty. He put his hands behind his neck and said, “O lord! This slave Bahlool of Yours is standing in front of You with his hands tied. O Allah! You know me well and also my sin. Verily I regret over it and even went to Your Prophet to confess my guilt. He turned me away from Him thereby increasing my fear (of Your wrath). I now ask You in the name of Thy Magnificence, Thy Glory, and Thy Best Names, do not forsake me and leave me in despair. O Allah! Do not reject my Prayers, and do not turn away Your blessings from me.”
Forty days passed in this state of repentance. He wept so bitterly that even the animals and beasts lamented over his pitiable condition. When forty days passed away, he lifted his hands towards the sky and said, “O my Lord! Have you heard my words? And if You have forgiven me, reveal to Your Prophet to give me the glad tidings. And O Lord! If You have still not forgiven me, send Your wrath on me, a fire which would burn me in this very world. But save me from Your chastisement on the day of Qiyamat.” Almighty Allah forgave him and accepted his (sincere) repentance. It was revealed to the Holy Prophet (saws)
“And those who when they commit an indecency or do injustice to their souls, remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their faults, and who forgives the faults but Allah, and (who) do not knowingly persist in what they have done. (As for) these, their reward is forgiveness from their Lord, and gardens beneath which rivers flow, to abide in them, and excellent is the reward of the labourers. (Surah-al-Aale Imraan: 134,135)
When this verse was revealed, the Prophet came out reciting it and inquired about Bahlool. Ma’az replied, “O Prophet of Allah! We have heard that he is at so and so mountain repenting.” The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) accompanied by some of his close companions left for the place. He saw Bahlool standing between two stones with his hands tied on his neck. His face had turned dark because of the heat of the blazing sun, and his eyelashes drooping because of intense weeping.
He was saying, “O Lord! You have created us humans the best creatures (Ashraful Makhlooqat), and given me a good disposition and face. I wish I knew what would happen to me (in Qiyamat). Whether You will forgive me and permit me to enter Your Paradise, or forsake me and throw me into the blazing fire. O Allah! Surely You have favoured me, and Your rights are more than me. My sin is greater than the earth, the heavens, the Throne (Arsh), and the Chair (Kursee). I wish I knew whether you will forgive me or disgrace me on the day of Qiyamat.” The young man was uttering these words and weeping and throwing dust on his head. Animals and beasts had surrounded him, and the birds had formed a circle around his head, and were weeping at his pathetic state.
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) went towards him and untied his hands. He cleaned the dust from his hair and said,“Bahlool! I give you glad news that Allah has forgiven you and promises to save you from the fire of hell.” Then he (s.a.w.s.) turned towards his companions and said, “O my companions! You too seek forgiveness from Allah just like Bahlool.”Then He recited the above verse and gave the good news to Bahlool.