The king’s companion returned to the king. They knew he was cured–previously, people had to help him find his way in, but now, he waltzed right in.
The king said: “Who gave you back your sight?”
His companion said: “My Lord.”
The king said: “Do you have a Lord other then me?”
His companion said: “My Lord and your Lord is Allah.”
So the king tortured him until he pointed out the boy.
With kings and tyrannical rulers, loyalty isn’t even a word in their dictionary. They use people so long as it benefits them, and discard them.
Think about it. This was the king’s man, his close companion from who-knows-when. And as soon as the guy ceased to be useful, the king tortured him. Subhanallah. This is why scholars say kings give you nothing for the dunya except that they take away something from your deen.
It happens all around us–like in France. You want a government subsidy? Then take off your hijab.
Here, we see an extreme example: you keep your life in the dunya, or die with your deen. It’s always the same with oppressive rulers–they take something from the deen when they give you something.
May Allah protect us from oppressive rulers.
Ibrahim Hindy. “People of the Ditch.” UTM MSA. University of Toronto At Mississauga, Mississauga.