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It is mentioned that Hadrat Sheikh Shah Kirmani Radi Allahu ‘Anhu was an eminent Saint who was also related to the royal family. However, he adopted the path of Zuhd and spiritualism and stayed away from all wordily activities.

 

Hadrat Sheikh Shah Kirmani Radi Allahu ‘Anhu also had one daughter who was extremely beautiful and extremely pious. One day, he sent out a royal message that he was looking for a husband for his daughter. He did not want his daughter to be like a royal princess and live a life of pomp and splendour. He sent out a royal decree that he was giving the entire kingdom only three days to come up with someone suitable.

 

However, during these three days, Hadrat Sheikh Shah Kirmani Radi Allahu ‘Anhu also went about visiting various Masaajids to look for himself. During his visit to one Masjid, he noticed a very pious young man and approached him.  Hadrat Sheikh Shah Kirmani Radi Allahu ‘Anhu asked the young man whether he was married and he replied in the negative. He then asked the young man, “Would you like to marry a young lady who always recites the Qur’an and is also very steadfast in her Salaah and Ibadah. She is not only very beautiful, but she is also extremely pious.”

 

The young man replied, “I am a poor person. Who will ever give me a bride of this quality?”

 

Hadrat Sheikh Shah Kirmani Radi Allahu ‘Anhu replied, “I will give you a bride of this nature.”

 

He then gave the young man three Dirhams and ordered him to order some food for one Dirham, some bread with one Dirham and also some fragrance with one Dirham. When the young man returned with these items, Hadrat Sheikh Shah Kirmani Radi Allahu ‘Anhu then married his daughter to this young man.

 

When the young bride arrived in the house of her new husband, she noticed that there was nothing inside the house except for a small container which was used to bring water. However, on top of this container, there was also a piece of bread.

 

She then asked him about this piece of bread in the house. The young man replied that this was an old piece of bread which he had kept for Iftaar the next day.

 

When the young royal princess heard this, she asked to be taken back to the house of her father. When he saw her reaction, the young man declared, “I also knew that the daughter of the eminent Sheikh Shah Kirmani would never agree to live with a poor person like me”.

 

However, the young lady shocked him with her answer, she replied, “I am not returning because you are poor but I am returning because you seem to have very less reliance and trust on Allah Almighty. That is why I am so shocked. My eminent father had described you as someone who was pious, possessed sincerity and good habits and yet, you seem to have no trust in Allah Almighty by saving this one piece of bread for tomorrow.”

 

When the young man heard these words, he was obviously extremely shocked and also embarrassed.

 

The young lady then explained that, “I cannot live in a house which saves food for another occasion. Either I will live in this house or this piece of bread which you have saved for tomorrow!”

 

When he heard this, the young man immediately took this piece of bread and gave it away as charity. (Roudur Riyaaheen, 330)

 

Lesson

 

Certainly, the Holy Qur’an has on many occasion explained the trust and reliance that we should have on Allah Almighty. In Surah Ma’idah, verse 23, the Qur’an declares:

 

وَعَلَی اللہِ فَتَوَکَّلُوۡۤا اِنۡ کُنۡتُمۡ مُّؤْمِنِیۡنَ ﴿۲۳﴾

and put your trust in Allah only, if you believe.

 

In Surah Ale Imran, verse 159, the Qur’an declares:

فَبِمَا رَحْمَۃٍ مِّنَ اللہِ لِنۡتَ لَہُمْ ۚ وَلَوْ کُنۡتَ فَظًّا غَلِیۡظَ الْقَلْبِ لَانۡفَضُّوۡا مِنْ حَوْلِکَ ۪ فَاعْفُ عَنْہُمْ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَہُمْ وَشَاوِرْہُمْ فِی الۡاَمْرِ ۚ فَاِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَکَّلْ عَلَی اللہِ ؕ اِنَّ اللہَ یُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَکِّلِیۡنَ ﴿۱۵۹﴾

Then, it is of the mercy of Allah that O beloved! You became gentle for them and if you had been hot headed, hard hearted, then they certainly would have dispersed from your circle; so pardon them and intercede for them and consult them in the affairs; and when you have made up your mind for any thing, then put your trust in Allah. Undoubtedly the trustful are dear to Allah.

 

In the same Surah, verse 160, the Qur’an declares:

اِنۡ یَّنۡصُرْکُمُ اللہُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَکُمْ ۚ وَ اِنۡ یَّخْذُلْکُمْ فَمَنۡ ذَا الَّذِیۡ یَنۡصُرُکُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعْدِہٖ ؕ وَعَلَی اللہِ فَلْیَتَوَکَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۱۶۰﴾

If Allah helps you, then none can overcome you; and He forsakes you, then who is such that can help you again. And the Muslim should trust unto Allah alone.

 

In Surah Ankabut, verse 58,59 the Qur’an declares:

 

وَالَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ لَنُبَوِّئَنَّہُمۡ مِّنَ الْجَنَّۃِ غُرَفًا تَجْرِیۡ مِنۡ تَحْتِہَا الْاَنْہٰرُ خٰلِدِیۡنَ فِیۡہَا ؕ نِعْمَ اَجْرُ الْعٰمِلِیۡنَ ﴿٭ۖ۵۸﴾

And undoubtedly, those who have believed and did good deeds, certainly We shall lodge them in the lofty apartments of the Heaven beneath which streams flow, they shall abide therein forever. What an excellent reward of good doers.
الَّذِیۡنَ صَبَرُوۡا وَعَلٰی رَبِّہِمْ یَتَوَکَّلُوۡنَ ﴿۵۹﴾

Those who have preserved and rely only upon their Lord.

 

We can see from this incident that the pious Muslims of the past had complete trust and reliance on the Allah Almighty and it is because of this that they were able to achieve such greatness and prominence.

 

From this one incident a mere sign is seen. Bear in mind that it was not Haraam to keep this piece of bread in the house and neither was it Fard to give this in charity. However, this was not an ordinary female from an ordinary family. In the veins of this royal princess ran the blessed blood of the Holy Prophet May Allah send peace and blessings upon him. This was certainly another class of Muslims. As near as a person is to Allah Almighty, so much so they have complete reliance on His Divine Power and Mercy. Since she was someone who was among the special of the special slaves of Allah Almighty and was on the position of complete Tawakkul, she felt it unbecoming to keep a single piece of bread for tomorrow. Hence, she was adamant that this piece of bread be given away in charity.

 

When we inspect the life of this blessed female, we will have to ask as to how she had gained such piety. There is no doubt that was achieved through her blessed father and the manner in which he had taught her true Islamic zeal. At the same time, she had happily accepted these noble habits. This also proves that when a person is sincere, then the advice of the parents also have a tremendous effect on the children. And when this happens, true success for both the parents and the children are achieved in both worlds.

 

Looking at this story, we should also take time off and inspect our lives as well. Do we have such trust in Allah Almighty although not to the level displayed by these pious people, but at least a little trust? If we realise that we also possess such powers of reliance on Allah Almighty even a little, we should give thanks to Allah Almighty for this blessing and also make Du’a that this Divine Favour increases within us. If we find that this great quality is not found within us, then too, we should continue to strive to achieve this blessed quality. As we strive to attain many other fruitless objectives in the world, we should also make the effort to attain fruitful objectives as well.

 

At the same time, when we learn certain valuable lessons from family and friends, then we should sincerely accept these advices so that life would become nobler and we would also be able to protect ourselves against the attacks of the Satan.

 

When we look at the noble behaviour of Shah Kirmaani Radi Allahu ‘Anhu, we will notice that the minute he realised that the young man was pious and noble, he immediately agreed to his daughter being married to this young man.  He did not look for any rich and famous son-in-law or someone who had money and property. He understood that if his son-in-law was pious and noble, this was certainly a Divine Gift from Allah Almighty. He understood the message of the Qur’an which is mentioned in Surah Al Hujuraat, verse 13 which is:

یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّاسُ اِنَّا خَلَقْنٰکُمۡ مِّنۡ ذَکَرٍ وَّ اُنۡثٰی وَ جَعَلْنٰکُمْ شُعُوۡبًا وَّ قَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوۡا ؕ اِنَّ اَکْرَمَکُمْ عِنۡدَ اللہِ اَتْقٰىکُمْ ؕ اِنَّ اللہَ عَلِیۡمٌ خَبِیۡرٌ ﴿۱۳﴾

‘O people! We created you from one man and one woman and made you branches and tribes that you may recognize one another. Undoubtedly, the most respected among you in the sight of Allah is he who is more pious, verily, Allah is knowing, Aware.

 

There is also no doubt that if one gives one’s daughter to someone who is not pious or careful, then he would not even bother about earning Halaal sustenance and even doing anything good. He will not prepare for the Hereafter and not refrain from openly sinning. To protect one’s family such a person is indeed very difficult.

 

It is sad to see that in the present day, when a potential husband is presented to any female, the only reason that they sometimes turn away this proposal is because the young man may have a beard and look extremely pious and noble. Yet, they happily seem to accept those husbands who are trying every day to earn the Divine Wrath of Allah Almighty. Being in the company of someone like this will also make these young females similar in character and this will achieve nothing for both parties except damnation in the Hereafter.

 

Allah Almighty grace us with true reliance on Allah Almighty and also grace us with the gift of being able to listen to good advice. Aameen.