HE STORY OF THE SNAKE AND THE CITY OF BAGHDAD 

“A snake catcher once went to the mountains, which were covered with snow. Due to the snow and cold many very big snakes lay motionless as if they were dead. The snake-catcher saw a dead snake in the extreme cold of winter. He picked it up and took it to Baghdad, with the purpose of using it for a show. The snake like a pillar was long, which the snake-catcher dragged along to earn his livelihood. The snake-catcher thought it was dead, while in fact it was alive. Through the cold it appeared to be lifeless, but they knew not.

The snake-catcher told the spectators of the show, “I have brought this snake to you, which I killed, and in hunting it I spent extreme diligence and had to sweat blood.”

Moulana Rumi says, “He dragged the snake along to Baghdad, advertising it as he went along bragging about his bravery. A large crowd gathered around as the news quickly spread that the snake-catcher had brought a very big snake. Numerous inexperienced and stupid ones gathered and all of them were caught in the net of the snake-catcher. In the morning when the sun rose in the sky and the sun's rays heated the snake, the coldness of its body disappeared. Gradually the signs of life came back into its body. Then the snake which was dead became alive and started making movements. The people, seeing the movements of the dead snake, were astonished and all of them fled in various directions. When the snake began to move about like a fierce lion, many people fled so wildly that they struck against each other and became injured. The snake-catcher was himself petrified with fear.”

From here, Moulana Rumi Rahimahullaah starts to instruct us saying,
"O You Seekers of the Sufi path, it may appear that the nafs, not being involved in sins, might appear to be dead. But one is never certain as to how it will react when left alone with a strange woman or a beardless handsome young boy. If the nafs (which is like Firaun) should find means of comfort and power, your nafs will, like Firauns, become rebellious and begin to commit sins and will begin to fight against callers towards truth.”

LESSON: In this story Moulana Rumi Rahimahullaah gives a very important lesson for the Seekers of the Sufi path.

He says, “Never be completely sure about the state of your 'nafs". In its natural state, it is inclined towards evil. Even if, through the company of a Sheikh and a long life of spiritual exercises and efforts the "nafs" appear to have changed towards good, still do not be at ease with it and do not become unmindful of it. Do not become negligent in taking precautions. Be not like some foolish Sufis, who had for a long time through the efforts of Zikr and other spiritual vigils seen their 'nafs' having become accustomed to subjugation, so they started to be at ease and unmindful of its dangers, they started becoming involved with mixing with strange women and beardless handsome, young men. They thought that the desire to commit sins would not overpower them.

Hence why should one not look upon those women and young men with clean looks. They did that and how tragic was their result? They became disgraced in a bad way. The 'nafs' which appeared controlled and dead, became alive. And the looks which were supposed to be "clean looks" turned out to be dirty and prohibited looks.” In the end the snake of the 'nafs' bit them and from the path of truth they were rejected and became disgraced.

For this reason, our elders have stated that no matter how old the pious person may be, one should up to his death not be negligent of precaution against the nafs.

To be Continued In Sha Allaah

مَوْلَاىَ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّمْ دَائِمًا أَبَداً  عَلىٰ حَبِيْبِكَ خَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ