Story of Repentance

At the time of Musa (AS), a terrible famine occurred. People came to Musa (AS) asked him to pray for rain. Musa (AS) took thousand and thousands of people with him and asked Allah. He sought the Help of Allah for the sake of infants, old pious men, and four footed animals. However, no rain came! It was hot all around.

Then Musa (AS) again started praying. He now sought the Support of Allah by saying: “If for any reason my level had been alleviated, for the sake of the Final Messenger – Muhammad (SAW), you may provide shower on us!”

Allah informed Musa (AS): “O Musa! It is not that your levels had gone down! The reason for no rain is that amongst your people there is one person who is disobeying my commands for forty consecutive years. Tell him to get out from your gathering; it is for him I have terminated rainfall.”

It was a very large gathering. Musa (AS) asked Allah: “I have a very low voice. How is it possible that in this large gathering my voice would reach him?” Allah contended him that He would reach His Prophet’s voice to all people.

Musa (AS) announced: “O the sinner, who had been committing sin for 40 consecutive years! Get out from our gathering! It is for you the rain is not coming!”

Listening to this announcement, the sinner looked around and saw that none got out of the gathering! He thought, it is to me whom this is being said. He further thought that when I would get out of this gathering people will see me. Alas! What a humiliation would that be! On the other hand, if I do not get out from here, for me the rain wouldn’t come! Suddenly while pondering on these thoughts, he covered his face with a cloth and started weeping.

With great repentance he prayed: “O Rahman Raheem! I had been disobeying you since 40 years! You gave me the opportunity for come back, but I hadn’t utilised the chances. Now I (sincerely) turn to You! Do accept me!” Even his prayer had not completed, rain started pouring heavily!

Musa (AS) was quite astonished! Being astound he said to Allah: “O Lord! Not a single person had gone out of this gathering. What is the reason for rainfall then?”
Allah reply was: “O Musa! It is for that person now I descended the rain, for whom I stopped it.”

Musa (AS) asked Allah: “O Allah! Do expose that person to me!”  Reply from Allah came: “I did not humiliate him at the time he disobeyed me; why would I now humiliate him – when he had come under My Shelter?”