A Historical Example
Sultan Abdur Rehman An-Nasir (d. 961), once ruled Andalusia (Spain). He built a very grand palace at Cordova, which took twenty five years to complete. This palace was four miles long and three miles wide. It was named ‘Az-Zahra’. But because of its being extraordinarily large, it came to be called Madinatuz-Zahra (the city of Az-Zahra), instead of the palace of Az-Zahra.
Sultan Abdur Rehman An-Nasir was greatly interested in building monuments. He established this royal colony in the name of Az-Zahra and built grand palaces in it. During their construction, the Sultan was so preoccupied that for three Fridays in succession he was not able to reach the mosque for the Friday prayer. On the fourth Friday, when the Sultan reached the Jama Masjid, Qazi Munzir (d. 966) preached the sermon in his presence and, without naming him, he strongly criticized the King.
Qazi Munzir recited those verses of the Quran in which there were warnings about worldly constructions and about being oblivious of the Hereafter. For example, “Do you build monuments on every high place in vanity, and erect castles hoping that you will live forever? When you lay hands upon anyone, you do so as tyrants. So fear God, and obey me.” (26:128-131) “Who is better, he who founds his building on the fear of God and His good pleasure, or he who builds on the brink of a crumbling precipice, so that his house is ready to fall with him in to the Fire of Hell? God does not guide the wrongdoers: the buildings which they have built will never cease to be a source of deep disquiet in their hearts, until their hearts are cut to pieces. God is All- knowing and Wise.” (9:109-110)
Moreover, Qazi Munzir recited a number of traditions to the same effect and explained them. In his sermon, although he did not name the King, everyone who was saying his prayers in the mosque knew who was targeted by such strong criticism.
Everyone finds it difficult to take criticism but when criticism is voiced in a public gathering, it becomes intolerable. Furthermore, this criticism was done by an underling and the target was the ruler. When a ruler listens to criticism by his servant, his ego is affected. The religious people as well as others may fail to control themselves, but the Sultan, the ruler controlled himself although he had greatly disliked this criticism. But he did not utter a word in the mosque and left the mosque quietly.
When he reached home, the Sultan said to his elder son, Al-Hakam, “Today Qazi Munzir has hurt me greatly. Now I have decided never to say my prayers behind him.” Al-Hakam said: “Whether Qazi Munzir is the Imam or not, since you have appointed him, it is in your power to depose him and replace him with another Imam, who does not dare to make such insolent remarks.” On hearing this, the Sultan became angry. He scolded his son and said: “Woe to you, is it possible for one who is in error (referring to himself) to dispose a virtuous man like Qazi Munzir who has so many qualities, just for his own happiness? This can never happen.”
“Since I was hurt by his harsh words, I have decided not to say my prayers behind him. Now it is my desire that I should atone for this oath that I have taken never to say my prayers behind him. Indeed, Qazi Munzir in our lifetime, and in his lifetime will keep leading the prayer.” Therefore, Qazi Munzir continued to lead the Friday prayer even after the death of Abdur Rehman An-Nasir, his son did not depose him either. (Tarikh Quzaat al-Andalus, p.70)
The above-mentioned incident has a great lesson in it. It shows what qualities are desirable for a person if he has to pray to God so that He accepts his prayer.
If the prayer is accepted by God its role is only fifty per cent, while the spiritual capability of the person who prays has a fifty per cent role in it. This spiritual capability existed in both Qazi Munzir as well as in Sultan Abdur Rahman. That is why one great dua by Sultan Abdur Rehman was accepted by God.
