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| The Story Of an Idolator / Illustration Only. |
Abdul Wahid b. Zaid (mercy be upon him) who belonged to a lineage of saints of Chishtia, said: ‘‘We were once sailing in a boat. A whirlwind sailed away our boat to an island where we saw a man busy adoring an idol. We asked him to whom he was worshipping. He made a sign towards that idol. We told him that his god was carved by his own hands but, on the contrary,
God whom we worship creates all such things Himself. As such, he who is made by our own hands is not worthy to be adored.” He asked us to whom we worship. We told him: ‘We worship that Exalted God who liveth in the Empyrean (the highest heaven). He is the Absolute Authority to control the earth. All other beings are overshadowed by His Magnificence and Greatness.”” He asked us as to how we comprehend that Glorious God. We told him: ‘He sent His Messenger (the Holy Prophet) who was very merciful and kind.
That Messenger of God (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) revealed to us all these things.”’ He then asked us to let him know the dwelling of that prophet of God. We told him that, when he had conveyed to us the message of God (completed his mission) and thus rendered Him His due, his Lord called him back to bless him with His infinite reward in heaven.
He then asked us: ‘“‘Had that Messenger of God left behind a thing for our guidance?””
We told him that he left behind him a Holy Book of God (Qur’an) for our guidance. He asked us to show him that Book. We offered him the Holy Qur’an. He said that he was illiterate and, as such, a bit of it be read out to him. He kept on weeping during its recital till it was completely read out to him.
He said: “It is only the Revealer of this Holy Book Whom we must obey.” After this, he became a Muslim. We then acquainted him with the fundamentals of Islam and the Commandments _ of the Almighty God. The meanings of some surahs of the Holy Qur’an were also explained to him. When, after the performance of the prayer of the first watch of the night, we went to bed, he said: ‘‘Does Allah slumber at night.”
We told him that our Exalted God is Everliving and Everlasting. Neither does He slumber nor does he nod.
He said: ‘How disobedient slaves you are! Your Lord keeps on waking, whereas you sleep?” On hearing this, we were struck with astonishment. When we were about to return from that island, he begged us to take him along with us so as to enable him to learn the teachings of Islam. We took him with us. On reaching the city of ‘Aabadan, says Abdul Wahid, I said to my companions:
‘This man is a new Muslim, hence we should provide him with some livelihood also.” Some dirhams were, therefore, subscribed by us but, when we were handing over these dirhams to him, he said: “What is this?” We told him: “These are some dirhams for your expenditure.”
He said: ‘“‘There is no god but Allah. You have shown me the path which, I see, is not being followed by you. I was on an island where I worshipped an idol. I did not even worship the Majestic Lord. Even in that condition, He neither destroyed me nor killed me even though I had no awareness of Him and so I did not worship Him.”
After three days, we were told that he was about to breathe his last. We went to him and asked if there was any need for him to be satisfied. He apprised us that Exalted God Who had caused them to visit the island for his guidance, had satisfied all his requirements. Abdul Wahid (mercy be upon him) says: “IT was, all of a sudden, overcome by sleep and hence slept there. While sleeping, I saw a very fertile garden wherein was a very fine vault; a throne spread out and occupied by a very handsome girl—such a beautiful girl the like of whom I had never seen before.
She was saying: ‘By God! Despatch him soon.’ By seeing such an anxiety of her, my agitation of mind increased manifold.” He further says: ‘‘“When I woke up, the new Muslim had breathed his last. We managed for burial and buried him.” Again at night, says Abdul Wahid (mercy be upon him), I witnessed the same garden, the same vault, and the same girl sitting beside the new Muslim (who had now died) who was reciting a Qur’anic verse, the translation of which is:
“And the angels visit them from each door and send them their compliments—glad tidings for peace and safety against cach kind of misfortune. All this is the fruit of your contentment (and steadfastness for the religion of Islam). There is, therefore, a good reward for you in the Hereafter.”
These are the signs of God’s Endowment, Beneficence, and Forgiveness that all his life, he remained an idolator but, near death, he got God’s blessing that He caused these people to sail to the island by making their boat in which they were sailing uncontrollable and thus blessed him with the glory of the Hereafter: “O !! Master of the worlds! Whom Thou giveth something, nobody can withhold it from him and Whom Thou giveth not, no one can confer upon him”’
READ ALSO;
[CONCERNING THE DEATH OF GOD-FEARING MAN]
[THE STORY OF TWO SLAVE GIRLS.]
[THE STORY OF MUSA BIN MUHAMMAD AL HASHIMY]
[THE STORY OFRASHID BIN SULAIMAN]
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