Blessings

Snap! My sandals finally break.


"Inna lillahi was inna ilaihi rajioon* (Verily we belong to Allah and to him we shall return)". I recite the ayah to myself.


I remember the hadith that Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) used to ask from Allah when the sole of his sandal broke. I decide to do the same. Raising my hands in supplication, I say "O Allah! Lord of the worlds. Please bless me better than what I have lost from your never ending treasures and guide me to the straight path".


I cover the rest of the distance barefoot. Carrying food for Shehzada I crawl my way into the tunnel. Considering the number of times I have taken this path I should be used to it by now. But I still hate every bit of it except for the scent of dust. I take in deep breaths and savour the smell of damp mud. Crazy? Maybe I am!


As usual I try to make myself presentable before entering. I am dirtier than usual having walked barefoot. And as usual embarrassed to present myself so shabbily in front of Shehzada but I have no choice. A sudden thought strikes me. When I am so bothered about presenting my muddy self in front of Shehzada, then how can I be ready to present my filthy soul in front of Allah, the King of Kings? Allahu Akbar! May Allah save me from having to face that situation. I realize my soul needs dusting just as my clothes do.


I reach out for the latch that opens the false back. I am about to knock to make my presence felt when I stop. A melodious voice hits me!


Someone is reciting Surah Rahman* in a very beautiful voice. With perfect tajweed* and enchanting melody, there are few who master this art so well. I stop and let the sound fill my soul. My hair stand on their end and tears flow from my eyes as I hear ayah after ayah.


حُوۡرٌ مَّقۡصُوۡرٰتٌ فِى الۡخِيَامِ


(55:72) There shall be maidens sheltered in tents


فَبِاَىِّ اٰلَاۤءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبٰنِۚ‏


(55:73) Which of the favours of your Lord will  – you men and jinn – then deny?


لَمۡ يَطۡمِثۡهُنَّ اِنۡسٌ قَبۡلَهُمۡ وَلَا جَآن


(55:74) No man or jinn ever touched them before.


فَبِاَىِّ اٰلَاۤءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبٰنِۚ‏


(55:75) Which of the favours of your Lord will – you men and jinn – then deny?


مُتَّكِــِٕيۡنَ عَلٰى رَفۡرَفٍ خُضۡرٍ وَّعَبۡقَرِىٍّ حِسَانٍ‏


(55:76) They shall be reclining on green cushions and splendid carpets.


فَبِاَىِّ اٰلَاۤءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبٰن‏


(55:77) Which of the favours of your Lord will – you men and jinn – then deny?


تَبٰـرَكَ اسۡمُ رَبِّكَ ذِى الۡجَـلٰلِ وَالۡاِكۡرَامِ


(55:78) Blessed be the name of your Lord, the Lord of Majesty and Glory.


"We certainly cannot deny any of Allah's blessings!", I say out loud as the recitation comes to an end.


Not bothering to knock I enter quietly. Sitting on a musalla* with the Holy Quran resting on a rihal* in front of him is the Shehzada lost in his own world. He is dressed in white and numerous candles are lit near him. The sight looked peaceful and magical.


He was the person behind this melodious recitation? SubhanAllah! What else could this man do? I must admit I am impressed. I place the food on the floor and walk quietly to sit by him. He closes the Quran and slowly turns to look at me. I look at him. With the many candles illuminating his face, he looked celestial. It was a beautiful moment. Realizing my mistake I immediately break our contact and look away.


"Assalamualaikum Saeed"


"Walaikumassalam. That was a beautiful recitation. Masha Allah", I whisper, afraid to speak in normal tones should my voice disturb the peace in the room.


He smiles. "Alhamdulillah. Just a blessing from Allah. This is the third time you are complimenting me Saeed".


Who counts the number of times they are complimented? "Really? And what were the first two?"


"First when you said my face was enough good looking and I didn't need the extra additions. Second when you said I deserved to eat custard apples because I was working hard".


I don't have a reply to that so I get up and start preparing the table for his dinner while he places away the Quran.


He eats whatever I place before him now. Though with distaste. At least the tantrums have reduced. Living a simple life and frequent doses of advice from Hazrathji was doing the trick. He was slowly changing...


"I have something for you", Shehzada says once he is done eating. I look up surprised.


"For me?" I ask with wide eyes.


He hands over a bag to me. I open it and pull out a pretty pair of sandals. For a few minutes I just don't react. After a long time I was receiving something pretty as a present. It reminded me of Abbuji. It was he who used to surprise me with unexpected things. After his death Hammad Chachu tried giving me stuff but I always refused. He understood that it hurt my ego and did not force me after that. Even when I bought things for myself out of necessity I went for the simplest things never bothering to buy something pretty or nice. The sandals in my hand awakened unwanted feelings within me. The thought that someone had cared for me like Abbuji did was enough to bring tears to my eyes. I held them back with difficulty. Now I understand exactly why Shehzada's eyes had glistened yesterday when I had got custard apples for him. He had felt the same as I was doing.


"How did you know I needed new sandals?", I finally ask.


"Exactly like how you knew I liked custard apples. Through observation. I saw your sandals yesterday and knew it will not be long before they break. And I was right!"


"Alhamdulillah. We can never thank Allah for all the countless blessings he has showered on us. I prayed for a new pair just an hour ago and he has already provided them to me"


We start our lesson and it goes exactly like how it has gone the previous days. Finally I finish and Shehzada asks me a lot of questions. His questions are wiser and more thoughtful. Where was the fellow who acted without thinking?


"Just one more lesson and then I will be free from teaching. How are your classes going with Ustad Nazeer?", I ask.


"I am covering quite a lot. I should have told Mir Jafar I'll be ready in 10 days rather than 15. I'll use rest of the time to get on Mir Jafar's nerves", he says happily contemplating all the things he could do irritate him.


"Is he giving you a hard time?", I ask.


"He hasn't been giving me any time at all let alone give me a hard time. I have a good mind to go and meet him myself tomorrow"


"What did you do today?", I ask.


"Plenty. I was busy with Ustad Nazeer in the morning. During lunch I caught a servant girl red handed mixing poison in my food"


That catches me by surprise. "How did you do that?"


He narrates to me the whole incident and I am amazed.


"How did you not punish her?" I ask shocked.


"Hazrathji taught me an ayah in anger management.


الَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِي السَّرَّاء وَالضَّرَّاء وَالْكَاظِمِينَ الْغَيْظَ وَالْعَافِينَ عَنِ النَّاسِ وَاللّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ  (3:134)


“Who spend [in the cause of Allah] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people - and Allah loves the doers of good”


People who have the authority of punishing but still choose to forgo the punishment for the sake of Allah will be counted as Muhsineen (the good doers). And I want to be among the Muhsineen Saeed. That is why I chose to forgive her"


It would be a lie if I said I wasn't starting to like him. Maa's words come echoing back to me and all my warning bells start ringing. I can't let myself fall for him this way. It was just so wrong. This was my mission and I was supposed to come out of this clean. Liking someone is natural but egging on those feelings would be a sin. It's still not too late. I have to be more careful from now.


"That's a very noble thing to do Shehzada. Hazrathji's words leave a lot of effect. How are you going to the Jamia Masjid everyday to attend his class?"


"Exactly like you come here"


"You go through the tunnel?"


"Yes"


"With Ali?"


"No. People easily recognize him and associate him with me. That is why I prefer to leave him behind. If I go through the palace gates people will know it's the Shehzada. So I go through the tunnel, dust my clothes, wash myself in the Masjid's wudu khana*, attend the class and come back through the tunnel".


"I see. It's time I left Shehzada" I say getting up.


I put on my new sandals. They fit easily and beautify my delicate feet. However they look out of place paired along with my muddy dress. I open the cupboard and step in ready to leave. Instead of the silk and brocade suits that used to hang inside are simple cotton garments.


"What did you do with your previous clothes?", I ask.


"Sold them"


"All of them?"


"Yes. I am coming to realize its better to invest wealth in the hereafter than collect it in this world"


I just smile, my heart doing somersaults within. May Allah keep increasing his faith this way I pray for him as I leave.


After I reach home I smack myself. Oh no! I did not inform him that I won't be able to make it tomorrow! I'll just have to go in the afternoon and explain the situation to him while handing over the food I decide as I fall asleep.


**********************************************************************************************


FOOTNOTE


*Tajweed- pronunciation


*Surah Rahman- chapter from the Holy Quran


*Musalla- prayer mat


*Rihal- book rest especially designed for the Holy Quran


*Wudu Khana- the place where ablution is done


A/N


And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirin (the patient). [2:155]


Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: Inna lillahi was inna ilaihi rajioon. "Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.'' [2:156]


The above ayahs are a proof that when a Muslim is afflicted with a calamity big or small he should recite the ayah. The general perception of the ummah at large is this that the ayah should be recited only over someone's death. However this is not true. It should be recited over every calamity.


There is one Hadith where the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is quoted to have said "Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi Raji un" when the lamp went off at night.


Ayesha (May Allah be pleased with her) asked him, "O Messenger of Allah. Is this also a calamity?"


Allah's Messenger replied, "Yes. Whatever hurts or causes difficulty to a Muslim is a calamity and on bearing it patiently, it carries Allah's promise of reward."


The above Hadith makes it clearer. So, my dear friends let's develop the habit of reciting this ayah over simple things like pricking yourself with a hijab pin, panicking at not finding your keys in one pocket only to find it in the other etc.


Just on a simple act of reciting this ayah Allah rewards us abundantly, so much so that when we remember the calamity at a later stage in life and recite the ayah once more thinking of the pain we had suffered back then, Allah again rewards as with just as much as he had rewarded the first time! SubhanAllah!


The treasures are open, ransack before you loose your chance!


For people who would like a reminder on their blessings I would like to recommend a beautiful nasheed by Zain Bikha





Please do let me know if you come across any errors in spellings or in grammar that I might have overlooked.


Lots of love
Dr Mystic

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