Barsisa Story: How a Monk Fell to Shaytan’s Deception

This timeless Barsisa story, originating from the era of the Children of Israel, serves as a powerful lesson. It tells of its protagonist, Barsisa, a man of immense piety and devotion, often regarded as a saintly monk by his community. He was a firm believer in the Oneness of God and revered Jesus (Isa) as a Messenger of God. Because of his impeccable character, he was deeply respected by everyone in his village.

The Barsisa Story: A Test of Piety and Shaytan’s First Whisper

In that same village lived three brothers and their only sister. When the brothers were called to go forth for jihad (a righteous struggle), they faced a dilemma: who would care for their sister in their absence? The villagers unanimously suggested Barsisa, as they knew of no one more trustworthy.

The brothers approached Barsisa with their request, asking him to look after their sister until they returned. However, Barsisa immediately refused. “I seek refuge in God from the accursed Shaytan,” he declared, fearing that such a responsibility could expose him to sin.

It was at this moment of refusal that Shaytan began his subtle whispers (waswasa). The devil, knowing Barsisa had a soft heart, planted a seed of doubt in his mind: “If you turn them away,” Shaytan whispered, “what if her brothers find someone untrustworthy? If she comes to harm, won’t you bear some responsibility for that outcome?”

Barsisa failed to recognize this for what it was—a Shaytanic trap. Moved by compassion, he agreed to help, setting a fateful course for the rest of his life.

Shaytan’s Deceptive Plan in the Barsisa Story

Barsisa arranged for the woman to stay in a house opposite his monastery. To avoid all contact, he would leave her food in front of the monastery, and she would come out to retrieve it herself. The next phase of the Barsisa story reveals how Shaytan uses gradual, seemingly harmless steps to engineer a downfall.

• Step 1: Closing the Distance. “Why don’t you leave the food at her doorstep?” Shaytan suggested. “That way, no one will see her walking back and forth alone.” Barsisa agreed, thinking it was a more modest arrangement.
• Step 2: Breaching the Threshold. Shaytan returned again. “Why not take the food directly inside her home? Then she won’t have to be seen by any man at all.” Again, Barsisa complied, believing it was for the best.
• Step 3: Breaking the Silence. The devil came with another suggestion. “This poor woman must be terribly lonely… You should speak to her to ease her loneliness.” Concerned for her well-being, Barsisa began speaking to her from behind a curtain.

Inevitably, the conversations grew longer. Soon, they were speaking face-to-face in the same room. Shaytan had successfully executed the most difficult part of his plan.

From Adultery to Murder: The Point of No Return

The constant proximity eventually led to the sin of adultery. She became pregnant and gave birth to a child. Shaytan immediately reappeared. “What have you done?” he hissed. “You must get rid of the evidence of your sin, or her brothers will kill you when they return!”

Consumed by fear, Barsisa killed his own infant child and buried the body under the floor. This horrific act marked a dark and irreversible turn in the Barsisa story. Shaytan wasn’t finished. “Do you really think the child’s mother will keep this secret?” he whispered. Driven by this new fear, Barsisa then killed the woman and buried her beside the child.

The Truth Revealed Through a Dream

When the brothers returned and asked about their sister, Barsisa pointed to a fake grave. “Your sister fell ill and passed away,” he said. The brothers, trusting the holy man, believed him.

That very night, Shaytan came to each of the three brothers in a dream and revealed the entire horrifying truth. Their grim discovery of the bodies confirmed the dream and brought the tragic Barsisa story to its climax. They seized Barsisa, who was forced to confess everything.

Shaytan’s Final Betrayal and the Ultimate Fate

Barsisa was taken to the king and sentenced to death. As he was led away, Shaytan appeared in human form. “I am the one who orchestrated your downfall,” he said. “And I am the only one who can save you now, but only if you prostrate to me.”

Desperate to live, Barsisa prostrated to Shaytan, committing the ultimate act of disbelief. The moment his forehead touched the ground, Shaytan abandoned him, saying, “Indeed, I am free of you. I fear Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.” Barsisa was then executed.

The Lesson and Source from the Quran

< Source: This narrative, often cited as the definitive Barsisa story, is mentioned in the Tafsir of Ibn Kathir. It has been narrated by the majority of scholars of Sirah and authenticated as Sahih by Imam Tirmidhi. >

This entire event is mirrored in a powerful verse of the Holy Quran, where Allah (God) describes the nature of Shaytan’s deception:

كَمَثَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِذْ قَالَ لِلْإِنسَانِ اكْفُرْ فَلَمَّا كَفَرَ قَالَ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّنكَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللَّهَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ

“[Their Beguilement is] like that of Shaytan when he says to man, ‘Disbelieve.’ But when he disbelieves, Shaytan says, ‘Indeed, I am free of you. I fear Allah, the Lord of the worlds.'”

[Surah Al-Hashr, 59:16]

Conclusion

The Barsisa story is a stark illustration of Shaytan’s cunning strategy to destroy a person’s faith. It teaches us that a fall from grace rarely happens overnight; rather, it is a gradual descent paved with seemingly small compromises. Shaytan masterfully exploits human emotions like compassion, modesty, and fear to lead people away from the path of God.

Despite his piety, Barsisa fell into Shaytan’s trap because he underestimated the danger of the devil’s whispers. To cover one sin, he committed progressively worse ones. The final lesson is that disobedience to God leads to humiliation, and Shaytan is humanity’s greatest enemy, who deserts his followers at their moment of greatest need. Therefore, we must constantly seek refuge in God from Shaytan’s whispers and remain ever-vigilant.

May God protect us all from the deceptions of Shaytan. Amen.