Download PDF: [S] Helping fellow Creation (Islamic story)

We must bear in mind that religion does not only mean reading Salaah, keeping fast or reading Tasbeeh. It also signifies the concern that one should have for creation in the general sense. The Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has also stated that the name of religion is goodness. Goodness in behaviour, goodness in welfare of people, goodness in giving advice and goodness in many other aspects as well.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Yunus bin Ubaid – may Allah be pleased with him – used to sell shawls and other types of material which people used as a covering. However, such was his honesty and truth that he never used to sell these items when it was cloudy and raining. Once someone asked him the reason for this and he replied, “The reason is that during rainy or cloudy days, people cannot clearly see any imperfection in the item and in this way also, the buyer can be deceived. And to deceive any buyer or purchaser is not part of our religion.”

 

In other words, they were prepared to suffer loss in their own items and business but were not prepared to create loss for another person.

 

It is reported that once two Derwishes came to the court of Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Khafeef – may Allah be pleased with him. However, they came to know that he was in the court of the King. They then began to think very low of this eminent Saint and wondered what type of Saint was someone who was attending the court of a King.

 

They then decided to go to the market place. Their purpose was to re-stitch their pockets at a local tailor. However, while they were there, the scissor of this tailor went missing and he blamed them for stealing it. He then reported this matter to the police who immediately arrested them and presented them to the King.

 

When they arrived in the court of the King, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Khafeef – may Allah be pleased with him – was already waiting to plead on their behalf. Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Khafeef – may Allah be pleased with him –  mentioned to the king that both of these people were actually his guests and not thieves. With his intercession, both of them were released. He then turned to these two people and informed them, “This is the only reason that I had went to the court of the King.”

 

When they heard this statement which was also in the form of a warning, they felt extremely embarrassed and apologised for their earlier misgivings about him. This also proves that at times, having evil thoughts about a true Saint can lead to major difficulty and trouble. (Tadkiratul Awliyah).

 

As a matter of fact, to help the common people, to sympathise with them, to be aware of the difficulties of the common people, to make their burden easier to manage, is one of the secrets of Tasawwaf which was clearly displayed by the Awliya. If we look at the life of Hadrat Sayyiduna Khawaja Ghareeb Nawaaz – may Allah be pleased with him – we will see many examples of this nature.

 

It is reported that once, officials of the government took away the field of a certain farmer. This person then approached Hadrat Sayyiduna Khawaja Ghareeb Nawaaz – may Allah be pleased with him – and informed him about what had happened. also informed him that without the official approval of Sultan Iltutmish, he would never be able to get his land back. He also mentioned to Hadrat Sayyiduna Khawaja Ghareeb Nawaaz – may Allah be pleased with him – that if he could intercede on his behalf to the Sultan, there was a great chance he would get his field back. Such was his greatness that the eminent Saint said to this farmer that he would personally come with him to Dehli to speak to the Sultan.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Khawaja Ghareeb Nawaaz – may Allah be pleased with him – then went to Dehli with this poor farmer. However, when the Sultan heard that the great Saint had arrived in Dehli, he went personally to meet him. He then kissed the feet of Khawaja Gareb Nawaaz – may Allah be pleased with him – and asked him the reason for his blessed arrival in Dehli. Hadrat Sayyiduna Khawaja Ghareeb Nawaaz – may Allah be pleased with him –  then presented the entire complaint of this farmer to the Sultan. When the Sultan heard this, he replied, “There was no need for you to undertake such a long journey merely for this reason. Even if you had sent one of your servants, I would have obeyed his command.”

 

However, Hadrat Sayyiduna Khawaja Ghareeb Nawaaz – may Allah be pleased with him – replied, “To help the oppressed people is also a form of Ibadah and this is the reason that I came personally myself to sort the problem.”

 

It is also mentioned Sultan Ghiyaasudeen was also someone who greatly admired the eminent Saint, Hadrat Sayyiduna Baba Fareed – may Allah be pleased with him. He had this firm belief that he was only a Sultan through the Du’a of the great Saint. He felt a great sense of achievement if in any way he could be of help to the great Saint.

 

It is mentioned that once, Hadrat Sayyiduna Baba Fareed – may Allah be pleased with him sent a letter of intercession to the Sultan and the message on this letter was very strange. The great Saint mentioned, “I am presenting this person in front of you; after presenting this issue in front of Almighty Allah I am presenting it to you. If you are able to give him something, then in reality the One Who bestows upon people is the Almighty Allah. You will also be thanked and if you do not give him anything, then the Being Who restricted this would have been Almighty Allah and you would also be excused.” (Akhbaarul Akhbaar)