Prophet (SAW) took three sticks and set one of them in front of him, another one next to it, and the third far away from the two. He then asked, ‘Do you know what this is?’ to which they replied, ‘Allah and His Messenger know better.’ He said, ‘This one is man, and this is death [next to it], while that one is expectation, which man entertains [about his long life], but death falls upon him prior to his expectation.’
When a man asked the Prophet ( S.A.W) to explain nobility of character to him, he replied, “It means that you should forgive him who has wronged you, reestablish ties with him who has broken them off, give to him who has denied you something, and tell the truth even if it is against your own interests.” ~ Book Prophetic Traditions in Islam
It is said that Bohlool mostly spent his time sitting in a graveyard. One day, as usual, he went there. Abbasid Caliph Haroon Al-Rashid passed by, desiring to hunt. When he arrived near Bohlool he asked, “Bohlool, what are you doing?”
“I have come to visit such people who don’t backbite, don’t expect anything from me and don’t cause me pain in any way.”
“Will you tell me something about Qiyamah (The day of Resurrection), Sirat (Bridge), and the questions and answers about this world?”
“Tell your slaves to kindle a fire and place a flat iron pan over it till it becomes red-hot.”
Abbasid Caliph Haroon Al-Rashid ordered it and it was done.
“O Abbasid Caliph Haroon Al-Rashid !! I will stand barefoot on this pan and introduce myself. I will describe whatever I have eaten and worn. After that, you also stand barefoot like I did, introduce yourself, and describe whatever you have eaten and worn.”
Abbasid Caliph Haroon Al-Rashid agreed.
Then Bohlool stood on the hot pan and quickly said, “Bohlool, a bundle (of tattered clothes), barley bread and vinegar.” He said this and immediately came off; his feet were not burned at all. When Abbasid Caliph Haroon Al-Rashid‘s turn came, he couldn’t introduce himself the way he wanted to, his feet got burned, and he fell off.
“O Abbasid Caliph Harun Al-Rashid !! Qiyamat’s questions and answers are like this. Those who worship Allah (SWT), are content, and stay away from greediness of the world’s rank and dignity will easily pass Sirat (Bridge), but those who are attached to worldly majesty and splendor will be arrested with troubles.”
