A man condemned to death threw himself with a prayer at the feet of the hakem, the supreme judge. He assured him of his innocence, but found neither faith in his words nor confirmation of his innocence. Hakem was unshakable, like justice itself. When all assurances turned out to be useless, the unfortunate man asked that his last wish be fulfilled. The judge thought that it would not be difficult to show one last mercy to someone who is staring death in the face. After all, mercy eases the soul of the servants of justice, who, like everything human, can follow the wrong path.
-What is your last wish? - asked the judge.
- Sir, I just want to say a two-part prayer (dorekaat).
Hakem generously allowed this modest request to be fulfilled. The convict timidly looked at the judge and did not utter a word. The judge lost patience and asked angrily:
- Why don’t you read your prayer?
“Sir,” said the condemned man, “I was overcome by doubt: who can guarantee that the merciless executioner will not cut off my head before I finish my prayer?”
“Okay,” said the chief judge and addressed everyone present. “I swear by Allah and the prophets that no one will lay a finger on you until you say your prayer to the end.”
The condemned man turned his face to the east, fell to his knees and, bowing his head, began to pray. After the first part of the prayer, he suddenly jumped to his feet and fell silent.
- What else does this mean? - the judge was indignant. “Don’t you want to feel the sword of justice on your neck already?”
“Sir, you swore to me in the name of Allah that I have the right to say a two-part prayer before execution.” I have already said the first part, and now I have decided to postpone the second part for twenty-five years.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru