Notes

“There was a man in times of Musa aleyhi sallam who was very disobedient and an oppressor to his own self (by committing sins). He was so bad that the people of the city banished him, kicked him out of the city saying that “you are so sinful that because of you Allah might punish us as well!”
He was disgraced and kicked out of the city. He was all alone now. And in that loneliness he had no food, no water, no friend, no family to take care of him. Nothing.
It was winter at that time and because of cold he soon got sick but there was no one to give him any medicine either. Then he realized the reality of his loneliness and in that moment he turned his attention to Allah. But because he was sick, without any provisions to get better, he died outside the city.
Then Allah azza wa jall sent revelation upon Musa “One of My close friends have died, so go and wash him.. Prepare his Janaza and go and announce in the village that anyone whoever prays in his janaza, I will forgive his sins as well’’.
When Musa alehi sallam announced this to the people Bani Israel, they left their homes immediately to attend the Janaza prayer. And then Allah said ‘’Then bury him so I may give him a glorious adobe’’

A large gathering ensued, everyone left their houses and gathered after the announcement made by Musa aleyhi sallam. But then the people gathered there recognized the person and who he was. Shocked, they asked the Prophet ‘O prophet of Allah! Is this not the same sinner who we banished and expelled from the city because of his sins?’ Even Musa was surprised saying ‘Yes, indeed it’s the same sinful person! And this is the man for whom Allah sent this revelation unto me?!’
Allah then sends another revelation “These people are speaking the truth and are the witnesses of this. When death came to this man, he was all alone in a painful state. He looked on his right. And he looked on his left. But he couldn’t find any friend, or anyone close to him. He was all alone! He found his Nafs *(nafs means self, psyche) poor and alone. He felt disgraced. Humiliated. Heart broken. And in this moment of utter weakness and desolation, he turned to Allah. Then he said these words looking towards the heaven ‘O Allah! I’m a person from amongst your people, I have been banished from the city. No one lets me enter the city. Oh Allah, if I knew that by punishing me Your greatness will increase and by forgiving me You greatness will decrease then I would never ask for Your forgiveness. But O Allah! I have no one else to turn to, no other hope but You, no other shelter for me but You, no other direction for me to turn to but You! No one is my savior except You O Allah! And You said YOU are the MOST FORGIVING AND MOST MERCIFUL! So don’t break my hope! O Musa! Is it fitting for Me to reject his prayers when he is asking forgiveness with such humbleness? he prayed to Me using My attributes, he wept in front of Me! I swear by MY honor, if he had asked forgiveness for the sins of the ENTIRE WORLD, I would have forgiven ALL OF THEIR SINS because of his humbleness! O Musa! I am the helper of the stranger and I am his friend and indeed I am the ONE who showers mercy upon him”