Download PDF: [S] A Noble Travelling Companion (Islamic Story)

Hadrat Sayyiduna Mohammed bin Husain – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that once Hadrat Sayyiduna Makhul – may Allah be pleased with him – mentioned to him that Hadrat Sayyiduna  Baheem came to him and said, “I have the intention of travelling for Hajj. If there is anyone you know of who is travelling for Hajj, please inform me so that we could travel together. In this manner, we will jointly receive the reward for travelling for Hajj.”

 

I then said to him, “There is a neighbour of mine who is very pious and religious. He also intends to go for Hajj. Let me introduce you to him.”

 

I then took him to my friend and informed him about the request. He immediately agreed to join Hadrat Sayyiduna Baheem – may Allah be pleased with him – on this journey.

 

We then left my neighbours house and Hadrat Sayyiduna Baheem – may Allah be pleased with him – went towards his residence. However, a few days later, the same friend came to see me said to me, “It is my sincere request that the person whom you want me to be the companion of, I would appreciate that you do not make me his companion on this journey. I would request that you find another companion for him and I am unable to travel with such a person.”

 

I then asked him the reason for this sudden change of heart and also said that this person was extremely respected in Kufah and was considered as one of the most pious people in the city. I also stated that I had also travelled with this person on many journeys and I had always found him to be a good person and someone who took care of others. I was surprised that he wanted to rob himself of such a blessed companion.

 

I then asked him the actual reason for this change of heart. He then mentioned his actual reason. He said, “The person who you want to make my companion, I have heard from others that he always weeps. In fact, he never seems to stop weeping. This continues all the time. How can I travel with someone who weeps all the time? What type of journey will this be? In fact, I will be highly stressed.”

 

I then said to my friend, “There are times when people listen to some words or lectures and they weep as well. What is wrong with this? This is because their hearts have been affected spiritually. Do you also not listen to lectures?”

 

He replied, “There is no doubt that what you are saying is correct. However, as far as this person is concerned, I have heard that he weeps all the time and his crying is also very prolonged”.

 

I agin said to him that he should accept the company of this pious person and through this person, Allah Almighty will bring Barakah in his life. I also mentioned that he should join this person without any reservations or fear. Finally, my friend said to me, “Fine, I will agree to travel with him and I make Du’a that te Allah Almighty blesses this journey.”

 

Finally, the day arrived when they were about to depart and the both of us went to the residence of Hadrat Sayyiduna Baheen – may Allah be pleased with him. When we saw him, we noticed that he was sitting against a wall and under the shadow of that wall. He was also weeping a lot and his beard was also wet with tears. In fact, some of his tears were also falling on the ground. When my friend saw this, he said to me, “Look at him! He has already started to weep. What will be his state for the rest of the journey? There is no doubt that you have placed me in a very great test. How can I travel with someone like this?”

 

When he heard our words, he said, “O Makhul! I am not weeping because I am leaving my family but I am weeping when I think about the difficult road which one has to travel in the Hereafter.” After saying these words, he again started to weep.

 

My friend then said to me, “People that should accompany someone like this should be people like Hadrat Sayyiduna Dawud Ta’i – may Allah be pleased with him – because they were also people that used to weep like this. In fact, when blessed people like this congregate, they will certainly join each other in weeping for fear of Allah Almighty and will also give their lives for Him. Therefore, I am not qualified to be in the company of such people.”

 

I then continued to explain to my friend and said to him, ‘Please have Sabr and bear with him. Who knows perhaps this journey will be a source of salvation for you.”

 

He said to me, “When most people leave their homes for Hajj, they leave in great joy and excitement and they take a lot of items with them. None of them display such sadness and grief. I have always travelled with such happy-go-lucky people. This is the first person I have to travel with who displays such immense humility and piousness. However, I will choose to travel with him with the hope that perhaps he becomes a source of barakah for me on my journey.”

 

Finally, my friend decided to travel with this pious person.

 

In fact, it is good that Hadrat Sayyiduna Baheen – may Allah be pleased with him – was unaware of our conversation otherwise I am sure that he would have never travelled with my friend. I then joined the others in bidding them farewell.

 

When they finally returned after visiting the blessed cities of Mecca and Madina Shareef, I decided to go and visit my friend and ask him about his journey. I greeted him and asked him about the person whom I had chosen as his companion. He was shocked and made a special Du’a for me.

 

He then explained, “May Allah Almighty give you a great reward. I swear by Allah Almighty that the person whom you had nominated as my companion for Hajj, was someone who I could see the manifestation of the blessed attributes of Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him. He had certainly fulfilled his rights as a travelling companion. In spite of the fact that he was poor, he continued to spend for my every need. Even though I had taken many items and goods with me for the road, but he continued to spend his goods on me. Even though I am young and he is elderly, he served me on the journey. He used to prepare food for me and used to at times, even feed me but he spent the entire day fasting. May Allah Almighty give him great reward.”

 

I then asked my friend, “You were also afraid that he would weep in abundance during this journey. In that regard, what happened? Where you troubled by his weeping?”

 

He replied, “I swear by Allah Almighty that I began to have great affection for this person. In fact, through his weeping, I also developed internal peace. I also joined him in weeping. At first, the others in the caravan were disturbed by the two of us weeping, but when they realised the reason why we were crying, they also joined us. They realised that all of them will also have to face the journey of the Hereafter, hence they also became affected by this behaviour of ours. Therefore, I will once again thank you for giving me the opportunity of joining such a noble person in this journey.”

 

I then went to visit Hadrat Sayyiduna Baheen – may Allah be pleased with him – to ask him his opinion of his travelling companion. He replied, “All Praise is due to Allah Almighty, he was indeed a very good companion. He used to make the Dhikr of Allah Almighty in abundance and recite the Qur’an in abundance as well. He used to weep a lot and also pardoned our mistakes on this journey.” (Uyunul Hikaayah).

 

In other words, instead of praising himself and his noble character, this Saint is praising all those who travelled with him although, in reality, he was the most noble among them.