The Black Slave

The Black Slave.

Once, a descendant (sharif) of the Prophet (s.a.w) lived in the same town as a black slave. This slave was so pious that his master was overwhelmed by shame and freed him. After his freedom, this former slave became a great and famous Islamic scholar with many followers. Unlike him, the sharif was a drunkard and caused trouble everywhere he went. One day, in the center of town, when the scholar was walking with a large group of followers, they came face to face. The sharif made his way through the crowd of students until he reached the scholar.

Arrogantly, he said, "You are a black man. You father was an unbeliever! Look how people honor you while they shun and abuse me, a sharif of the Prophet! (s.a.w). Do you consider such a situation justifiable?"

The teacher answered, "Of course you have said the truth. My parents were both unbelievers and I am a black man, as black as black itself. But I have enlightened my heart with the faith of Allah, a strong faith that has brought light to my skin, body, and soul. People have become attracted to this light, and care little about my black complexion. While your skin is white, your heart has created black patches all over your face so that people can neither see you nor love you as a sharif. While I left my parents' path of error and took the path of your grandfather (s.a.w), you forsake his righteous and glorious path and follow the path of my parents. When the people saw me on your grandfather's path (s.a.w), they embraced, welcomed, and dignified me like the Prophet's (s.a.w) son, and when they saw you on my parent's path, they thought of you as the degraded son of the unbelievers, one who deserves abuse and disgrace. These are the reasons for the situation you see as unjustifiable. The abuse my followers have accorded you on your way to me is forgivable, but your own drunkenness is a punishable offense according to the Sacred Law. It is only on account of your grandfather (s.a.w), that I myself have forgiven you for the unruly manner in which you approached me."

Any person who follows this path, becomes a child of the Prophet (s.a.w), and any person who does not has nothing to do with him (s.a.w).

Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse (R.A.)
Peals of The Divine Flood.