ALMISKEENAH

 

THEN…

Hadhrat Ibraheem Khawwaas Rahmatullahi alaihi narrates: “Once when I went for Hajj, the heat was intense. It was hotter than usual. Scorching winds were blowing. One day when we reached in the middle of the desert in Hijaz, I became separated from the caravan. Overcome with fatigue, I fell asleep. When my eyes opened, I saw a person at a distance. I quickly went towards him. When I reached him I saw that he was a small boy. His face glittered like the moon of the fourteenth night. I could discern the rays of spiritual jubilation on his face. I said: ‘Assalaamu Aalaikum, Son!’ He responded: ‘ Wa Alaikumus Salaam, O Ibraheem!’
I was amazed and I began having misgivings about him. I exclaimed: ‘Subhaanallah! How have you recognized me? We have never met before.”“

The Boy: “O Ibraheem! Since I gained recognition of Allah Ta`ala, I did not remain ignorant, and since I was united with Allah, I did not become separated.”
Ibraheem: “Why have you come into this wilderness in this intense heat?”
The Boy: “O Ibraheem! Besides Him, I have not befriended anyone. I perpetually remain aloof from all people, and I am going to Him. I have proclaimed that only He is The Ma`bood.”
Ibraheem: “From whence do you obtain your food and water?”
The Boy: “It is my Friend’s responsibility.”
Ibraheem: “By Allah! I fear for your life in this intense heat.”
The Boy (Tears like pearls flowing down his cheeks): “O man! You try to terrify me with the hardships of the journey when in fact, I am proceeding to my Friend. Love has thrown me into restlessness and eagerness drives me along. Does a friend of Allah also fear? Thikr-e-Ilaahi suffices for hunger and shukr quenches the thirst. What if I am small and weak? His Love has taken me from Hijaz to Khurasaan. (Today part of Khurasaan is in Afghanistan and part in Iran). You despise me because of my childhood. Whatever has to happen, will happen.”

Ibraheem: “By Allah! Tell me honestly what your age is?”
The Boy: “Twelve years. Why do you enquire my age?”
Ibraheem: “I am bewildered by you statements.”
The Boy: “Alhamdulillah! I have been given excellences over many special people of Iman.”

Hadhrat Ibraheem Khawwaas Rahmatullahi alaihi continues: “I was truly astonished by his handsomeness and his sweet words of wisdom.
After some time the boy said: ‘O Ibraheem! The one whom the Friend abandons is in separation. The one who has acquired a share of obedience to Allah, he has reached the destination. O Ibraheem! You are separated from both roads, the Road of Divine Love and the road to Baitullah.”

Ibraheem: “Why am I so deprived? For Allah’s Sake, make Du’a that I link up with my companions of the caravan.

“The boy looked towards the heaven and moved his lips. I became drowsy and lapsed into a deep sleep. When my eyes opened I discovered myself in the caravan. I do not know what happened to the boy.
Ultimately our caravan reached Makkah Muazzamah. As I entered the Haram Shareef, my eyes suddenly fell on a boy who was holding the cloth of the Ka’aba and shedding tears in profusion. It was the boy I had met in the wilderness. After a while he went into Sajdah. I stood watching him. After some time had passed I went near and discovered that he had surrendered his life to Allah Ta’ala. May Allah Ta’ala be pleased with him. A state of intense grief and sorrow settled over me. I went to my place of residence to procure whatever was required for the boy’s burial. On my return, his body was no longer there. On making enquiries, I realized that no one had any information about the boy. No one besides me, had seen the boy. He was invisible to the eyes of others.
I returned to my residence and went to sleep. I dreamt about the boy. He was the chief of a large assembly of people. He was clad in the best of garments which were glittering on him. Its beauty is beyond description. I asked: ‘Are you not my friend?’ He answered: ‘Yes.’
I said: ‘By Allah! I had searched much to bury you. I had desired to perform your Janazah Salaat.’ He said: ‘O Ibraheem! Know that The One Who had brought me out of my city; Who had instilled His Love in me and Who had separated me from my family - He attended to my burial and to all my needs.’
I said: ‘How did Allah, The Gracious treat you?’ He said: ‘I was ushered into His Presence and He said: ‘What is your desire?’ I replied: ‘O Allah! Only You are my desire.’ Allah said: ‘You are My true servant. I shall not conceal anything from you.’ I said ‘I wish that my intercession be accepted on behalf of the people of my time.’ Allah Ta`ala said: ‘Your intercession is accepted.’
In my dream the boy shook hands with me. My eyes then opened. In the morning I fulfilled the rites of Hajj, but I was extremely restless. The memory of that boy, grief and sorrow had settled over me. Then together with the other Hujjaj we commenced the return journey. Along the journey everyone was saying: ‘O Ibraheem! Everyone is wonder-struck by the fragrance of your hands.’”

This wonderful fragrance remained on Hadhrat Ibraheem Khawwaas Rahmatullahi alaihi for as long as he lived. May Allah’s Rahmat be on him.

*

Hadhrat Shafeeq Balkhi Rahmatullahi alaihi narrates: “In the year 149 Hijri I set out for Hajj. I halted in Qadisiyyah. While I was viewing the large crowds and their pomp, my eyes fell on a young man clad in fine garments. He had wrapped a woollen shawl around him (in the style of the Sufis). He was sitting alone. I thought he was a pretender. I went near to him with the intention of reprimanding him. He looked at me and said: ‘O Shafeeq! Abstain from suspicion because some suspicion is sinful.’ So saying, he went away. I said to myself: ‘Indeed I had committed evil.’ He had said what was in my heart. He even mentioned my name. He appears to be a pious man. I resolved to locate him and apologize. Although I hastily pursued him, he was nowhere in sight. Then I saw him at Waaqisah, I was trembling and tears were flowing. I delightfully said to myself: ‘This is that same friend of mine.’ I was determined to seek forgiveness from him for my error of suspicion. I waited a long time. After he completed his Salat, I turned towards him. When he saw me approaching, he said: ‘O Shafeeq! (He recited the Aayat)-‘Verily, I am Most Forgiving for him who repents…..’ He then departed and disappeared from my sight. I said to myself: ‘This young man is certainly one of the Abdaal. He twice revealed what I was thinking.’ When we reached Mina, I saw the same young man standing at the well with a mug in his hand. The mug slipped from his hand and fell into the well. He lifted his gaze to the heaven and supplicated. By Allah! I saw the water rising to the top of the well with the mug. The young man filled it with water and engaged in Salat. After Salat he went to a sand dune and filled his mug with sand. He drank the contents. He repeated this act several times. I went up to him and made Salam to which he responded. I asked him to give me some of the contents of his mug. He acceded to my request. I never drank anything sweeter and more delicious than the juice in his mug. Nothing was more fragrant than it. I stayed a few days at this place without feeling hungry or thirsty.
The youth said: ‘O Shafeeq! Allah`s zaahiri and baatini bounties are always with me. Cherish a lofty opinion of your Rabb.’

I then did not see the young man along the road to Makkah. Once at midnight in Makkah I saw him performing Salat with profound humility. I heard the sound of crying. He spent the entire night in this state. In the morning after Fajr Salat he made Tawaaf of the Kaabah. Thereafter he came out of the Haram. I followed him. Suddenly I observed many servants and assistants around him. People gathered around him to pay their respects. I was surprised at this transformation from a lonely young man to an important personality. When I enquired from someone, I was told that the young man, was Hadhrat Ja`far Saadiq Rahmatullahi alaihi. I was truly astonished. Undoubtedly, the miracles which I had witnessed were the effects of such a noble Sayyid.’”

NOW….

 
After Asr from the ninth floor hotel window where a friend is staying. This is one of the many new buildings being occupied for the first time by the Hujjaj. In the rush to have pilgrims stay in some of these buildings many features are not complete. This is looking towards the south through a tinted window, and a layer of the Mubarak Madinah dust. Masjid Bilal is on the left. The main Madinah water tower appears as a blob on the horizon. Move along the horizon to the left of this to a brownish building block, where the four minarets of Masjid Quba are to the left of this. If you could turn a complete 180 degrees you would be exactly opposite Bab Salam of Masjid Nabawi. It is agreed that when Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi and the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum walked to Masjid Quba they would almost be walking up the middle of this photo.

To the left of the above. Masjid Quba minarets on the far left horizon. The small white building squashed between the two new ones under construction is Masjid Uthman. The low flat Jabal Eyr, the Bab of Jahannam is in the distance. Jabal Eyr demarcates the sacred boundary of Madinah. Our humble home is almost in the centre of this photo, a little beyond the clump pf green trees. This hotel is equidistance from our home and Masjid Nabawi.

 

Just before Maghrib in the western ladies courtyard, which was quite full…and the marble freezing after a glorious sunny, and warm day. 

 

After Maghrib looking towards Bab Salam. 

 

One of the street stalls on the way home, selling the traditional ceramic water coolers, only SR20!!! Not exactly the ideal gift to take back after Hajj! Two of the minarets of Haram visible…one to the right, the other a mere tip appearing above the central building.

* 

The latest news on the conditions in Mina 

Plus today, Al Watan, one of the Arabic daily papers was a report that marble slabs had fallen from one of the main hotels on the northern side of Haram. Alhumdulillah that nobody was hurt.

I saw this today. An excellent program from an excellent contemporary scholar. Do try to take advantage of this opportunity, Insha’Allah: 

http://www.sunnipath.com/LiveEvent/LivingHajj/

And more fascinating accounts of Hajj from so many perspectives:

http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/search/search.aspx?tbSearchCriteria=hajj&SearchForm.x=16&SearchForm.y=27

 
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Ameen.