group of bandits attacked our caravan, looted all the belongings, and presented them before their leader for inspection. As they checked through the goods, they found a pouch of sugar and almonds. All the bandits gathered and began eating the sugar and almonds, except for their leader.

Shaykh Abū Bakr al-Shiblī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه was surprised and asked their leader: "Everyone is eating sugar and almonds, why aren’t you?"

To his amazement, the leader responded: "I am fasting."

How strange! On one hand, he was violating people’s rights, looting travellers, and causing misery to others. On the other hand, he was observing fasting, an act of piety.

Shaykh Abū Bakr al-Shiblī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه questioned him, "You steal, yet you also fast?"

The bandit leader replied with deep wisdom, "I want to keep at least one door open for reconciliation with Allah Almighty."

Sometime after this incident, Shaykh Abū Bakr al-Shiblī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه visited the holy KaꜤbah in Makkah al-Mukarramah during Hajj. To his astonishment, he saw the same bandit leader there—his face illuminated with the light of worship, his body weakened from struggle in the path of Allah, engaged in ṭawāf of the holy KaꜤbah.

Shaykh Abū Bakr al-Shiblī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه approached him and asked: "Are you the same person I met during the robbery?"

With tears in his eyes, the man humbly replied: "Yes, I am the same person. And let me tell you— It was that very fast that led to my reconciliation with Allah Almighty!"^[1]