A FASCINATING STORY OF A JEWISH GIRL
It is mentioned in Lam'aate Soofiyyah that a pious man was once lecturing on the virtues of "Bismillahir Rahman nir Raheem". A Jewish girl was also listening to his lecture. She was so moved by the lecture that she accepted Islam. Now, whenever she did anything she always said "Bismillahir Rahman nir Raheem" first. When her father, who was the king's minister, discovered that she had embraced Islam, he became very upset. He feared that the people would look down upon him. So, he began threatening her in the hope that she would forsake Islam. But she would not. Finally, he decided, the only solution was to kill her.
Thus, he thought of a plan: he gave her the ring which was used for sealing letters and documents in the king's court. He said to her: "Keep it until I ask for it."
Saying "Bismillahir Rahman nir Raheem" she took it and put it in her pocket.'
That night the father tip-toed into her room and stole the ring and flung it into the river. That would give the king all the reason to hang her.
The following day a fisherman came along to the minister and gave him a fish as a gift. The minister took it and gave it to his daughter to prepare it. As soon as she opened the stomach to clean the fish she found the ring. She was shocked! For it looked exactly like the ring her father had given her! She searched for the ring in her pocket but couldn't find it. She read "Bismillahir Rahman nir Raheem" and put the ring back into her pocket.
She then prepared the fish and presented it to her father. After he had his meal. He then asked for the ring. She said "Bismillahir Rahman nir Raheem" and produced it from her pocket. The father was shocked for he had thrown it into the river! How could she take it out from her pocket!
He then told her what he had done and enquired where the ring came from. She told him she found it from the fish's stomach.
Witnessing the barakah(blessing) of Bismillah he accepted Islam straightaway.
