Sulaimaan bin Yasaar (rahimahullah) was an illustrious taabi‘ee, an outstanding jurist and a famous scholar of Madeenah Munawwarah. He had also been blessed with stunning beauty.
Once while on the journey to Hajj he camped at a place called Abwaa. A Bedouin woman caught sight of his beauty and was infatuated with him. Hence she came to his tent, uncovered her face which shone like a piece of the moon and tried to seduce him. He blankly refused but she advanced towards him. He immediately fled from the tent.
He says: “When I reached Makkah Mukarramah and completed my tawaaf and sa‘ee, slumber overcame me while I was sitting in the hateem. In this condition I saw an extremely handsome and well-dressed person in my dream, from whom a lovely scent was emanating. I asked: ‘May Allah Ta‘ala have mercy on you. Who are you?’ He answered: ‘I am Yusuf the son of Ya’qoob (‘alaihimas salaam).’ I said to him: ‘The incident of you protecting yourself from the seduction of Zulaikhaa is really amazing.’ He replied: ‘The story of the woman in Abwaa is even more amazing. I had some natural inclination towards Zulaikhaa (due to the dictates of being human, although I did not do anything wrong) but you did not have the slightest inclination towards that woman.’” (Hilyatul Awliyaa vol. 2, pg. 218 and Siyarus Salaf lil Isfahaani – Aa’yaanul Hujjaaj pg. 134)
Lesson: At times one may be facing a similar situation where a person of the opposite gender is trying to seduce one either verbally or through an ‘invite’ on some social network. One must be extremely firm and follow in the footsteps of Yusuf (‘alaihis salaam). Allah Ta‘ala will really appreciate this ‘sacrifice’ and reward one in this very life together with the great rewards and pleasures that will be in store for him in the Hereafter.