EPISODES FROM THE LIVES OF THE AULIYAA-2
11. ASSOCIATION WITH THE FUQARAA
According to Hasan Basri (rahmatullahi alayhi), Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: “Have a greater awareness of the fuqaraa and be kind to them because there is a great treasure for them.”
When the Sahaabah asked about their treasure, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
“On the Day of Qiyaamah it will be said to them; search for those who had given you a piece of bread or who had given you a garment or who had given you water to drink, and take them into Jannat.”
Hasan Basri (rahmatullahi alayhi) narrated that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
“On the Day of Qiyaamah, the faqeer will be ushered into Allah’s presence. He will plead with Allah as a person pleads with another person. Allah Ta`ala will say:
‘By My Splendor and Grandeur! I did not keep the world away from you because you were contemptible to Me. I did so because I had treasured wonderful bounties for you. These rows (of people) who are in front of you – go into them and take hold of anyone’s hand who had given you something to eat or drink or wear. Then do with them as you wish.’
At that time the condition of the people will be such that they will be immersed in perspiration until their mouths. The faqeer, on hearing this command will enter into the rows and search for the people (who had fed him). He will hold them by the hand and take them into Jannat.”
12. THOSE WHOSE SHARE IS THE AAKHIRAH
It is narrated that Allah Ta`ala revealed to Hadhrat Moosa (alayhi salaam): “O Moosa! There are some of My servants, if they ask of Me the entire Jannat, I will give it to them, and if they ask Me for anything from this world, I will not give it to them, not because they are contemptible to Me, but because I desire to store up the treasures of My bounties for them in the Aakhirah. I save them from the world like a shepherd protects his flock from a wolf.” [The world, Rasulullah -sallallahu alayhi wasallam – said, is carrion]
Ibn Umar (radhiallahu anhu) narrated that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said that everything has a key. The key of Jannat is to love the true and patient Fuqaraa and Masaakeen. On the Day of Qiyaamah, they will be the companions of Allah Ta`ala.
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) supplicated: “O Allah! Keep me alive as a Miskeen; let me die a Miskeen and raise me up (in Qiyaamah) in the assembly of the Masaakeen.”
This supplication of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is more than ample confirmation for the lofty rank and importance of the Fuqaraa and the Masaakeen. In his dua, Nabi-e-Kareem (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) did not ask for the Masaakeen to be raised up in his assembly. Rather, he supplicated to be resurrected in their group. This form of his du`aa significantly highlights the rank of the Fuqaraa.
13. NOOR OF THE HEART
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said that when noor enters the heart, the (spiritual) breast of man expands. When the Sahaabah asked for a sign of this noor, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: “Such a person flees from this abode of deception. He turns his attention to the abode of the Aakhirah and he makes preparations for it before the arrival of maut.”
Thus, a man who has lost interest and desire in this world, has acquired this noor.
14. THE POOR AND THE WEALTHY
Hadhrat Abu Darda (radhiallahu anhu) said: “The wealthy eat and we (the Fuqaraa) also eat. They wear garments and so do we. Neither do they derive benefit from the excess wealth (which they hoard) nor do we gain any benefit (from their excess wealth). On the Day of Qiyaamah, an account will be demanded from them of this wealth, but not from us. Our wealthy brethren have not acted justly. While they love us (or claim so) for Allah’s Sake, they do not include us in their wealth. Such a day will dawn when they will wish that on earth they had been Fuqaraa, while we will not wish that we should have been wealthy.”
15. DU`AA IN DISTRESS
A man came to a Sheikh and said: “Hadhrat, make dua for me. My wife and children have distressed me considerably.”
The Sheikh said: “When your family pesters you and complain, make du`aa. At that time your du`aa is closer to acceptance than my du`aa.”
16. THE WEALTHY ARE IN NEED
A wealthy man presented a gift of 500 dirhams (silver coins) to Hadhrat Junaid Baghdaadi (rahmatullahi alayh) requesting him to distribute it to the Fuqaraa. Hadhrat Junaid asked: “Do you have more wealth?”
When the man said, “Yes”, Hadhrat Junaid said: “Do you desire more wealth than what you have?” The man said: “Yes”, Hadhrat Junaid said: “Then take these dirhams. You are in greater need than us (Fuqaraa).” Hadhrat Junaid thus returned the money to him and did not accept it.
17. IBRAHEEM BIN AD`HAM REFUSES A GIFT
When a man presented 10 000 dirhams to Hadhrat Ibraheem Bin Ad`ham (rahmatullahi alayh), he refused acceptance and commented: “You desire that my name be struck from the roll of Fuqaraa by giving me these dirhams?”
18. TRUE PEACE
Hadhrat Ibraheem Bin Ad`ham (rahmatullahi alayh) said: “The people of the world searched for peace in the world, but failed to find it. If they became aware of the kingdom we own, they will kill one another with swords (to gain it).”
19. THE ZAAHID IS KING
Hadhrat Zunnun Misri (rahmatullahi alayh) said that the Zaahid is the king of the Aakhirah. A Zaahid is a Faqeer who has renounced the world.
Sheikh Kabeer Abu Madyan Shaheer (radhiallahu anhu) said that there are two kinds of kingdoms – the kingdom of geographical territory and the kingdom of the hearts of mankind. The Zaahid is the king of the hearts of men.
20. FAQR (POVERTY / HUNGER)
Sheikh Kabeer Aarif Abu Abdullah Qarshi (rahmatullahi alayh) describing true Faqr (i.e. poverty and hunger for Allah’s Sake), said that this hunger is accompanied by pain and pleasure. In this pain and pleasure is the yearning (for Allah Ta`ala).
