A HUMOROUS ANECDOTE OF A JESTER WHITENING HIS BEARD

A humorous anecdote of a jester whitening his beard

by Hadhrat Maseehul Ummat رحمه الله

I recall an episode related by Hadhratwálá:

There was a jester. Wherever he sat down with others, he used to make them laugh, entertain them with his jokes. He had a
jocular and witty temperament.
When the time came for him to die, he became aware that his
end was near. He told his close ones: “Brothers! Note this: when
I die, make a thin paste with white flour. I do have a beard, but
it is black. It is my wish that you make it white with the paste.”
The people said: “In your lifetime you were a jester. Now, at the
time of death, you are still jesting!” But he insisted: “Brothers,
make my beard white applying the paste of flour.” According to
his bequest, when he died, his beard was made white by applying
the paste of flour.

After death, we are placed on trial in front of Alláh تَعَال . As you
know ‒ Alláh تَعَال forbid ‒ if somebody has a court case against
him, there is a pre-trial before the actual trial. For the deceased,
the real trial will take place on the Day of Qiyámat. Before that,
there is a pre-trial in front of Alláh .تَعَال
After this jester died, a Muslim brother saw him in a dream. He
saw him strolling in Jannat, happy and cheerful. This brother
asked him: “You were a big jester. How did you manage to enter
into Jannat?” He replied: “Brother, when my pre-trial took place,
I was asked: ‘What have you done by coming here and having
your beard smeared with flour? What have you done?’ I replied:
‘O Alláh! I was a big sinner, and I was scared of You. I thought
to myself that I have a beard, but it was not white. I had heard
from the molvís that Rasúlulláh صلى الله عليه وسلم had said:
اِنَّ اللهَ لَيَسْتَحْيِيْ مِنْ ذِي الشَّيْبِ الْمُسْلِمِ

That Alláh تَعَال feels bashful for those Muslims with white beards.
So I thought: ‘But my beard is not white, and I am full of sins.’ I
was anxious and fearful. ‘I will go with an imitation white beard.
It will not be remarkable that Alláh تَعَال will have mercy on this
white imitation.’ O Alláh! That is why, having hope in Your mercy,
I had my beard whitened. It was this message of your Rasúlulláh
صلى الله عليه وسلم that I had heard. It was not in my power to make it
naturally white, that is why I did what I did.’ Alláh تَعَال said: ‘Seeing
that you came out of fear for Me and with hope (of mercy from
Me), I have forgiven you.’”

His grace is for all, O Spectator, and universal;
If you were of any worth, you would not be incompatible
I have quoted the above on the subject of ímán. He had ímán
within him. He had made an error. He washed away this error
with remorse, having his beard whitened. This is termed having
hope. Alláh تَعَال has mercy on such persons.