Power of Prayer:Story of the wife of Abraham(A.S) & the king

A Story of Power of Prayer: How Sarah’s Prayers Saved her from the lust of a Despotic King

Assalamu Alaikum,

Doubt in Power of Prayer ?

There are many People who believe that Only the Prayers of Prophet’s and Anbiyas are materialised Instantly.But the Islamic History has a Story of the Miraculous Power of Prayer of an average Muslim .It is the Story of a Woman who was caught in the lust of a Powerful king.It is the story from the life of Prophet Abraham and the woman we are going to talk about is the wife of Prophet Abraham: Sarah.

Prayer are a Mercy to Human Kind from his Lord.Whenever We are in trouble we turn to Allah for help.Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam) said:“Indeed, when one of you prays, he speaks privately with his Lord.”[Reported by Al-Bukhaaree]

Sarah and the despotic King

A Famine forced Prophet Abraham (AS) and Sarah to migrate to Egypt. The dynasty of Pharaoh in Egypt is a very well-known one in history. It was famous for tyranny and arrogance. In Egypt was a despotic Pharaoh who had the passionate desire to take possession of married women. The king called Pharaoh used to arrest any beautiful woman who came to his country, and murder her husband (in case she was married), and then ask her brother (in case she had one) to release her to him.

When the Prophet Abraham (A.S)with his wife Sarah left the city of Urfa for Egypt, upon crossing the border the Pharaoh’s men asked Abraham(A.S)about the woman accompanying him. Abraham –Aleyhisselâm– told them that she was his sister in religion, hoping to take them in by falling back upon a legal device for getting around the law. Upon his answer they let Abraham(AS) free, but they took Sarah away to the palace.

Let us read the narration directly from Sahih Bukhari-:

Story of Wife of Prophet Abraham and Sarah in Bukhari

It is narrated in Bukhari:

Volume 3, Book 34, Number 420 :Narrated by Abu Huraira (radiallaahu anhu)
The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said, “The Prophet Abraham (alayhissalaam) emigrated with Sarah and entered a village where there was a king or a tyrant. (The king) was told that Abraham (alayhissalaam) had entered (the village) accompanied by a woman who was one of the most charming women. So, the king sent for Abraham (alayhissalaam) and asked, ‘O Abraham! Who is this lady accompanying you?’ Abraham replied, ‘She is my sister (i.e. in religion).”Then Abraham (alayhissalaam) returned to her and said, ‘Do not contradict my statement, for I have informed them that you are my sister.

By Allah, there are no true believers on this land except you and I.’ Then Abraham (alayhissalaam) sent her to the king. When the king got to her, she got up and performed ablution, prayed and said, ‘O Allah! If I have believed in You and Your Apostle, and have saved my private parts from everybody except my husband, then please do not let this pagan overpower me.’ On that the king fell in a mood of agitation and started moving his legs. Seeing the condition of the king, Sarah said, ‘O Allah! If he should die, the people will say that I have killed him.’

The king regained his power, and proceeded towards her but she got up again and performed ablution, prayed and said, ‘O Allah! If I have believed in You and Your Apostle and have kept my private parts safe from all except my husband, then please do not let this pagan overpower me.’ The king again fell in a mood of agitation and started moving his legs.

On seeing that state of the king, Sarah said, ‘O Allah! If he should die, the people will say that I have killed him.’ The king got either two or three attacks, and after recovering from the last attack he said, ‘By Allah! You have sent a satan to me. Take her to Abraham and give her Ajar.’ So she came back to Abraham (alayhissalaam) and said, ‘Allah humiliated the pagan and gave us a slave-girl for service.”

Allah listens to the Prayer of Caller.And Allah Answers.We should never despair of the Mercy of Allah and Keep faith.Allah is Oft Merciful and forgiving.