The Fire in the Desert

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

It is related that Jesus (a.s.) once came upon a fire which was kindled over a man in the desert.  Jesus (a.s.) then took water to put it out, and the fire changed into a youth, and the man changed into fire.  So, Jesus (a.s.) wept and said, “O Lord, Restore them to their former state that I may see what their sin was.”  Then that fire was removed from them, and they were a man and a youth. 

The man said, “O Jesus, I have been afflicted in the world by love of this youth, and desire urged me on until I sinned with him one night, after which I sinned with him another day.  Then a man came upon us and said to us, ‘Woe to you!  Fear God!’ 

I replied to him, ‘I am not afraid, and I do not fear.’  Then, when I died, and the youth died, God Turned us into what you see.  Sometimes he becomes fire and burns me, and sometimes I become fire and burn him.  And this is our punishment until the Day of Resurrection.”