The beloved friend of Allah, Hatim al-Asam (Rah), was a prominent student of the revered Sufi saint, Shaqiq al-Balkhi (Rah). Great spiritual masters like Junaid al-Baghdadi (Rah) and Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (Rah) frequently visited him to enrich and grow their divine love.
His birth name was simply Hatim. However, due to his exemplary character, he earned the title ‘Al-Asam’, which translates to ‘The Deaf.’
The Incident Behind His Title
One day, while Hatim al-Asam (Rah) was sitting in his home, a woman came to see him to discuss a certain matter. During their conversation, she unexpectedly and audibly passed gas. Overwhelmed with embarrassment, the woman froze, shrinking with deep shame.
Noticing her immense discomfort, Hatim al-Asam (Rah) immediately acted as if he had not heard a single word of their conversation. He looked at her and said:
“Please speak up and talk a bit louder! My hearing is quite poor, and I cannot hear you well.”
Hearing this, the woman felt an instant wave of relief. She thought to herself, “Praise be to God, it seems Hatim al-Asam did not hear that embarrassing sound at all.” Comforted by this thought, she finished her business and left peacefully.
A Lifelong Sacrifice for Someone’s Dignity
The woman lived for fifteen years after this incident. Throughout those fifteen years, Hatim al-Asam (Rah) meticulously maintained the pretense of being deaf around everyone he met. He was incredibly careful that she should never discover the truth and feel humiliated.
It was only after her passing that the people finally learned he was not deaf at all. Because of this extraordinary act of compassion, people began calling him Hatim al-Asam (Hatim the Deaf).
The Moral Lesson
How remarkably beautiful was the conduct of these pious souls who lived solely to please Allah! The profound respect they showed toward others is a powerful lesson for all of us.
- Then: They went to extraordinary lengths to ensure that a person would not feel awkward or embarrassed, even by an involuntary accident.
- Now: We often commit glaring mistakes and say hurtful things without giving a second thought to how much we wound the feelings of others.
This incident holds a deep, reflective lesson for anyone willing to contemplate.
