Download PDF: [S] To Please the Hearts of People

It is reported that once a person had invited many people to a special function. His son decided to invite the great Saint, Hadrat Sayyiduna Junaid Al Baghdadi – may Allah be pleased with him – without the permission of his father. Obviously, to accept the invite of someone is also a Sunnah.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Junaid Al Baghdadi – may Allah be pleased with him – accepted the invite, however, when he arrived at the front door, the father of the young man refused him entry. Without saying a word, he left.

 

The son called out to him and Hadrat Sayyiduna Junaid Al Baghdadi – may Allah be pleased with him – returned but the father again refused him entry.  Hadrat Sayyiduna Junaid Al Baghdadi – may Allah be pleased with him – turned back. This happened on four occasions. His purpose was to make the son happy by coming forward and to make the father happy by going back. In fact, what the great Saint was doing was the basis of Tasawwaf which was to please the heart of people.

 

One day, a person appeared in front of Hadrat Sayyiduna Junaid Al Baghdadi – may Allah be pleased with him – and asked him, “Hadrat, do your words have effect on a person who is only in the city or outside the city as well?”

 

The Saint then asked him what he meant by this question. He replied, “There are a few people out in the wilds who are drinking, singing and enjoying themselves. I wonder whether you can help them.”

 

The great Saint then went to this area to meet these people. When they saw the great Saint, they began to run in all directions. However, Hadrat Sayyiduna Junaid Al Baghdadi – may Allah be pleased with him – said, “Do not run. I am also like you people who enjoys a drink. I am unable to drink in the city and that is why I have come to this place.”

 

The people apologised that they did not have any more drink with them but could acquire some from the city.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Junaid Al Baghdadi – may Allah be pleased with him – asked them, “Do you people not have something where drink is able to appear just like that without having to go anywhere?”

 

They replied that they did not have such powers. He then informed them that he will teach them something which would create this power in them. He then asked them to have a bath and change their clothes and come in front of him. When all of them came, he asked them to perform two rak’ah of Nafil Salaah. While these people were in Salaah, Hadrat Sayyiduna Junaid Al Baghdadi – may Allah be pleased with him – raised his blessed hands and made Du’a to Allah. He said, “O Allah! My duty was only to make them reach your Divine Court. The choice of whether they are to be guided or not, this is Your Divine Wish.”

 

When the great Saint had completed his Du’a, all of them had become blessed with guidance. (Makhzan Ikhlaaq)