Ubaid And The Temptress
Ubaid ibn Umair Rahimahullah was a pious man who was highly regarded by his contemporaries. At that time, there was a very beautiful woman who lived in Makkah with her husband. One day she was looking at herself in the mirror, and she asked her husband, “Is there any man who will see this face of mine, but will not be tempted by it?”
He replied, “Yes.”
She asked, “Who?”
He answered, “Ubaid ibn Umair.”
She asked, “Do you allow me to tempt and entice him?”
He agreed. She approached Ubaid ibn Umair, pretending to ask him a question of importance. When they were in a corner of Masjidul Haraam she unveiled her face, and it shone like the full moon.
Ubaid asked her, “O slave of Allah, what would you like to ask?”
She replied, “I am infatuated by you. Please consider my request.”
Ubaid replied, “I would like to ask you a few questions. If you reply truthfully, I will consider your request.”
She remarked, “I will most certainly reply truthfully to any questions you pose to me.”
Ubaid asked, “If the angel of death comes to take your soul, would you be pleased that I fulfill your request at that time?”
She replied, “By Allah, never!”
Ubaid then said, “You have been truthful. If you are lowered into your grave and about to be questioned by the angels, would you be pleased that I fulfill your request at that time?”
She replied, “By Allah, never!”
Ubaid then said, “You have been truthful. When people are given their book of deeds, and you do not know whether you will receive yours in your right or left hand, would you be pleased that I fulfill your request at that time?”
She replied, “By Allah, never!”
Ubaid then said, “You have been truthful. If you are about to cross the bridge of Siraat and you do not know whether you will make it across, would you be pleased that I fulfill your request at that time?”
She replied, “By Allah, never!”
Ubaid then said, “You have been truthful. When the scales of deeds are brought, and you do not know whether yours is heavy or light, would you be pleased that I fulfill your request at that time?”
She replied, “By Allah, never!”
Ubaid then said, “You have been truthful. When you are standing before Allah to answer for your deeds, would you be pleased that I fulfill your request at that time?”
She replied, “By Allah, never!”
Ubaid then said to her, “You have been truthful. Fear Allah, O slave of Allah! Allah has bestowed you with bounties and has been kind to you.”
The woman then returned to her husband, who asked, “What happened?”
She replied, “We have been wasting away our lives until now.” She then dedicated her time to Salah, fasting, and other forms of worship. Thereafter, her husband would often remark, “What has Ubaid done to me? Every night she was like a bride, and now she has no inclination to the world.” (Ath Tiqaat, Ajali)
Lesson: A believer who contemplates over these questions at the time of committing a sin will realize his weakness and abstain from the sin.