Ain Al-Hayat, The Essence of Life.pdf - Higher Intellect | Content ...

Therefore Yahya (a.s.)’s mother got a dress and topee of hair made for him.
Wearing these he went to Bayt al Muqdis and busied himself in prayer with the
other hermits.
One day Yahya (a.s.) noticed that his body was bruised with the rubbing of the
dress made of the hard hair. He cried.
The voice of a herald came ,” O Yahya (a.s.)! Are you crying because your body
is bruised and has become emaciated? By My Glory! If you set eyes on the Hell
you might condescend to wear the dress of steel!”
Hearing this, Hazrat Yahya (a.s.) cried so much that his cheeks became gory, the
flesh fell and the teeth were exposed. When his mother heard about his
condition, she came running to him and asked,” My son! What condition you
have rendered yourself to?”
Then his father said, “ Why are you doing like this? I had offered special prayers
to Allah to get a son! But I find that you are trying to depart from me.”
Hazrat Yahya (a.s.) said, “ O father! Once, while delivering a sermon you had
said that between the Heaven and the Hell there is a ravine. Only those who cry
in remembrance of Allah will be able to successfully negotiate safely through
that ravine. "
Hazrat Zakaria (a.s.) said, “ No doubt, it is true! But you are still a tender child!
One certainly has to put in lot of effort in praying to Allah. You too are under
obligation in this matter as the others are!”
His mother said, “ If you wish I can make two cushions for your cheeks that the
pain to the wounds is subdued and your teeth remain covered. The tears too will
be absorbed by these cushions.”
Yahya (a.s.) replied,” O mother! You are at liberty to do what you wish to do!”
Therefore his mother prepared two soft cushions and tied them on the cheeks of
Yahya (a.s.). Then she noticed both the sleeves of the dress were drenched in
tears. When she squeezed the sleeves, water fell through her clenched fingers.
Noticing this, Hazrat Zakaria (a.s.) raised his arms towards the Heaven and said,
“ O Allah! This son I had prayed to you for giving me! You are the Most
Beneficent Lord! Be kind on him!” Afterwards, whenever Hazrat Zakaria (a.s.)
gave a sermon, he used to ensure that Yahya (a.s.) was not around. In his
presence he refrained from talking about the Heaven and the Hell!
One day Hazrat Zakaria (a.s.) was busy delivering a sermon when Yahya (a.s.),
wearing a shawl came and sat with the congregation. Hazrat Zakaria (a.s.) was
not aware of his presence. He said that Jibrael had informed him that there is a