Harun Al-Rashid (Fifth Abbasid Caliphate), in a fit of rage, declared to his wife Zubaydah, “You are divorced if I am not among the people of Paradise.” He immediately regretted his words due to his profound love for her, and Zubaydah was deeply distressed by the declaration. The scholars of Baghdad convened to issue a fatwa on the matter, collectively asking, “Who among us would presume to declare you among the people of Paradise?” In a challenging predicament, Caliph Al- Rashid declared his immediate need for a divine jurist from outside Baghdad.

A member of his entourage suggested Al-Layth ibn Sa’ad, describing him as the preeminent jurist of Egypt, whose knowledge surpassed even Imam Malik. Imam al-Shafi’i himself acknowledged Al-Layth’s superior knowledge compared to Malik, attributing the loss of Al- Layth’s extensive wisdom to his companions’ failure to document it. “Bring him in,” ordered Harun Al-Rashid. Upon his entry, the scholars rose respectfully as the matter was presented. Al-Layth, observing Harun Al-Rashid and then the assembled scholars, declared, “O Commander of the Faithful, I wish to be alone with you, with the Qur’an in your hand.” The crowd then left the gathering, waiting outside to know the resolution of this perplexing issue.

Al-Layth asked the Commander of the Faithful to swear on the Book of Allah that he would speak truthfully. Harun Al-Rashid took the oath. Al-Layth then clarified that his request was not out of suspicion, as he knew the Commander of the Faithful was truthful, but to prevent self-deception. He then asked Harun Al-Rashid, “By Allah, have you ever privately remembered Allah, causing your eyes to well up? “Have you ever wept out of fear of Allah? Do you truly dread facing your Lord on the Day when He asks, ‘To whom belongs the kingdom today?’ and no one answers?” Harun Al-Rashid replied, “By the One who revealed this Book, this has happened repeatedly, time and again.” Al-Layth said, “Open the Book of Allah, Surah Ar-Rahman (chapter 55).” So Harun opened it. He said, “Recite Surah Ar-Rahman with contemplation.”

Harun read until he reached the verse, “Those who fear their Lord will have two gardens.” Al-Layth said, “Enough... enough. By Allah, the answer is complete, O Commander of the Faithful. Two gardens, not one. And your wife Zubaydah is not divorced, for Allah says, ‘Those who fear their Lord will have two gardens,’ not one.” Then he said, “Let the scholars enter now.” So they entered, and he said to them, “By Allah, I did not send you away out of contempt for you, but I wanted to be alone with the Commander of the Faithful so that his soul would not be distracted.” All the scholars agreed with the words of Al-Layth ibn Sa’ad in his fatwa. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “A man who weeps out of fear of Allah will not enter Hellfire.” He also said, “Two eyes will never be touched by Hellfire: an eye that wept out of fear of Allah and an eye that spent the night guarding the way of Allah.”