On my visit to India, I was given a CD recording of a young Islamic scholar's speech on 'Islam and social service'. Now this Sheikh is a passout from Al Azhar University so the lecture was laced with quotes and references from the Holy Quran and hadith.
A story from that recording stayed with me about a saintly Muslim teacher who was asked by an old and poor non-Muslim woman to pray to God for her lost child.
The pious man prayed to God and and his prayer was answered. The old woman's lost son was found.
Now the old woman had thought to herself that she would make 'halwa' (traditional sweet) and feed it to the saintly man if her son was to be found. So, to share her happiness when her son was found, she visited the old man who was sitting with his disciples and taking the 'halwa' in her hand offered it to the teacher.
The teacher was in a dilemma and his students sensed it. That day, he was fasting. And Muslims don't eat or drink while fasting. The old woman who was not a Muslim apparently did not know about the teacher's fast and its conditions.
For a moment the teacher thought and then opened his mouth and let the poor woman share her joy with him by eating the halwa she had lovingly prepared for him.
After she was gone, the students were quick to quiz him on this. "Why, teacher, did you break your fast like this?"
The teacher replied: "I know I can mend a broken fast with another one, but I do not know how to mend a broken heart."
(I understand this was a voluntary fast (nafil) and this story made an impact on me. Did you like it?)
30 comments:
It was amazing!
That is extremely thought-provoking, and worth the read. Thanks!
The essence of such stories are what you should take with you after reading it... Some people read and simply are too literal and miss the whole point of the story...
A sensetivity to people's feelings is something that should be adapted more by people in this age of "I don't care as long as I am ok about it".
thats a nice story. thanks
LOVELY story, Farrukh.
Plz see my blog, writing a story everyday now.
Cheerz!
Wow, that was a great story! The world needs more stories like this, seriously. It brightened my day, thank you so much!
Wow! mere simple words yet so deep. I our daily lives we all should learn to put others feeling and emotions above the rules and traditions...Really! Great, we understand the power of emotions and let flow, we all would live in a far more better world..Great!
Smiles!
Saher
A lovely, heart-warming piece indeed. Sometimes we vie for glamour and status, yearning for our deeds to be covered by the media and to be interviewed by fascinated journalists...
'but'
who will remember our 60 seconds of fame except our loved ones? Who will remember us except those whom we've extended a loving, compassionate, selfless heart to that touches their lives in a very personal, intimate way?
Sometimes I wonder in this age of masquerades.
it is a beautiful story. Much similar to a story in the Christian book.
I found your words smooth to the soul and energizing to the mind.
Thank you for sharing your born talent.
My penship is simple but is a friend to my screaming thoughts!
Blessings to you...
Beautiful story, wise man!
beautiful story :)
One can break a heart or cure it with just an expression of his face and his thoughts. Thanks Farrukh for reminded us about it. Touching story.
Best wishes,
Anna.
Thanks for the reminder, Farrukh, that in order to worship God, we must honor His Best creation, the Human Heart and the love contained within it, for that love is the reflection of the Divine Love which compels into worshiping in the first place.
Be Different, Be Yourself.
Rasheed Hooda
aka Mister Weirdo
3lo g: You were the first one to comment on this post. Thanks for your encouraging feedback.
Shaykha: Right on the dot about those pesky literalists. They make life difficult for evryone including themselves. And, welcome back.
gmj, thanks for the feedback. Glad you liked the post.
Max bhai: A story a day? Prolific! Is Chennai doing that to you?
Moviemania: Yup, we need more stories that build bridges. Thanks for your comment.
Saher: Your comments are as poetic as your name - thanks.
Amorelicious: So good to see you here - I have been following your photo blog for a long time now.
Candy: I look forward to your penship and "screaming thoughts". Send me the Christian stpry and I could put that up in a post too :-)
MeeA: Thanks. Wise is the guy who did that. I was only telling his tale ;-)
Sapphire: Thanks and welcome to the blog.
Anna: You are so right - one look that hurts can do more damage than a sword can. Thanks for your insightful comment.
Rasheed: Love is the shortest route to God perhaps. You said it so well. Thanks.
nice one Farrukh!!!
have tagged u wth a 25 questions:D
I know. It was to the man in the story that I was referring. But the compliment can be (and is) extended to anyone who can recognise the beauty of the story and the wisdom of the old man.
I love it Farrukh. I don't know why I haven't stopped by your blog until now! You have such a wonderful way with words. I'll be back.
Smiles,
Chris
Farrukh, time to come back...
Poignant Story!
very nice story...thanks for sharing this with us. also, i read your post on the treatment you got on your way out of india and felt saddened. i have always prided myself on being 'indian', the word itself, in my opinion being synonymous with secularism one oneness in diversity. however, such anecdotes as you have posted show that there is still quite a distance to be covered till we can truly be comfortable with our diversity.
you wrote in a comment on another blog that you saw Rabbi, a Sikh, sing the kalaam of Baba Bulle Shah, a Muslim mystic. Isnt it amazing, that we call him a "Muslim mystic" or a "Sufi", while referring to him as the author of a song that goes, "Bulla, ki jaana main kaun?".. jab unhe nahi pata, to humein kaise pata.. ? How Do We Know?
this song is also a part of the Sikh tradition, by the way.
To "how do we know":
Let me quote Rabbi Shergill speaking about the song "Bulla Kee Jaana" in an interview by 'The Hindu':
"When I sing it today it's a Sardar singing a Muslim saint's composition that says `I don't know who I am... ' Yet it doesn't jar, it's inclusive. That, for me, is the idea of India. We are one culture where intellectual energies are channelled within to discover the inner spiritual self."
[Source: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2005/04/04/stories/2005040401740100.htm]
Sufi of mystic poetry is not to be taken literally, my friend. When he says he does not know, he means he does not consider it important, not that he does not know who he is.
Bulle Shah is considered to belong to the lineage of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). His real name was Abdullah and he recived his Islamic education from Maulvi Ghulam Murtaza. His spiritual teacher was Hazrat Inayat Shah of the Qadri order. While he was against orthodoxy and preached tolerance, he was undoubtedly a Muslim by faith.
It's a great thing that Bulle Shah is revered as one of the foremost poets in Punjabi, and is part of the Sikh tradition, as you say.
Mystics see people as humans first - and that's why we all like them so much.
farrukh
"Mystics see people as humans first - and that's why we all like them so much."
The problem actually comes when we all (people) see mystics as more then humans ;).
A
Hi A,
I can't speak for all people but what appeals most to me in mystics is their humanity.
Yes, the problem starts when mystics become magicians ;-)
farrukh
Great........was it ramadhaan time or just a normal fast..
A lovely story and enjoyable to read. I, however do know how to mend a broken heart!!?? I have done it quite a few times.
Hi Farrukh,
Nice story from an emotional perspective. I was raised in India and fasting has a special significance there..I enjoy fasting in Indian more than I do in Dubai. This is because its a struggle and test of my faith (because majority of the people are non-muslims and they don't follow Ramadan).
I realized, it was an opportunity for me to convey the beauty of Ramadan. The Result- Most of my close- friends started fasting and some of my christian friends started taking the 'Lent' period very seriously.
I must say..It was the case of not only fixing broken hearts but also nourishing them.
I miss Ramadan in India and I wish I am in India for most of this Ramadan..so I can fix and nourish more hearts. Not by opening my mouth to eat but by opening it to convey the beauty and essence of that month and Islam.
Peace be unto you..
Ashraf Sheikh
it was so complete!!!...Amazing!!!
The RendezvousWelcome to my blog, Reendezvous. It could have been a nafil fast.
Ashraf: Thanks for your insightful comment. Yes, that is another way to look at it. One could explain why they do what they are doing. Most great teachers taught by their actions though.
pnThanks for your visit. Glad you liked the story.
farrukh
this is call humanity. Great story I admire this action.
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