dream while he was sleeping near the Holy Kaaba in Makkah.
Abdullah bin Mubarak saw two angels' descend from the sky, and start
talking to each other.
One of the angels asked the other: "Do you know how many people have
come for Hajj this year?"
The other angel replied:"Six hundred thousand have come for Hajj."
Abdullah bin Mubarak had also gone for Hajj that year.
The first angel asked:"How many people's Hajj has been accepted?"
The second angel replied:"I wonder if anyone's Hajj has been accepted atall."
Abdullah bin Mubarak was grieved to hear that. He thought, "So many
people have come from all over the world, crossing so many obstacles
like rivers, jungles, desert and mountains, suffered so many
hardships, and meeting so many expenses. Would their effort be wasted?
Allah (SWT) does not let anyone's effort go to waste."
Abdullah bin Mubarak had thought only so far when he heard the other
angel speak: "There is a cobbler in Damascus. His name is Ali bin
al-Mufiq. He could not come for Hajj, but Allah (SWT) has accepted his
intention of Hajj. Not only will he get the reward for Hajj, but
because of him, all the Hajjis will be rewarded."
When Abdullah bin Mubarak woke up, he decided he would go to Damascus
and meet that cobbler whose Hajj intentions carried such a lot of
weight.
On reaching Damascus, Abdullah bin Mubarak inquired if anyone knew a
cobbler named Ali bin al-Mufiq. The town people directed him to a
house. When a man appeared from the houseAbdullah bin Mubarak greeted
him and asked his name. The man replied "Ali bin al-Mufiq."
Abdullah bin Mubarak asked: "What do you do for a living?"
Ali bin al-Mufiq replied: "Iam a cobbler." Then Ali bin al-Mufiq asked
the stranger's name that had come looking for him.
Abdullah bin Mubarak was a very well-known scholar of Islam, when
Abdullah bin Mubarak introduced him self, the cobbler was anxious to
find out why such a well known scholar was seeking him out.
When Abdullah bin Mubarak asked Ali bin al-Mufiq to tell him if he had
made any plans to go for Hajj. Ali bin al-Mufiq replied, "For thirty
years I have lived in the hope of performing the Hajj. This year I had
saved enough to go for Hajj, but Allah (SWT) did not will it, so I
couldn't make my intention translate into action."
Abdullah bin Mubarak was eager to find out how could this man's Hajjbe
accepted and blessed for all the people who went for Hajj that year
when he didn't go for Hajj in the first place. While talking to the
cobbler he could feel certain purity in his heart. Islam regards
greatness not in wealth or in power, but in civility, in good manners
and the goodness of heart.
Abdullah bin Mubarak further asked: "why could you not go on Hajj?" In
order not to disclose the reason, Ali bin al-Mufiq again replied "it
was Allah's (SWT) will."
When Abdullah bin Mubarak persisted, Ali bin al-Mufiq revealed:"Once I
went to see my neighbour's house. His family was just sitting down for
dinner. Although I was not hungry I thought my neighbour would invite
me to sit down for dinnerout of courtesy but I could see that my
neighbour was grieved about something and wanted to avoid inviting me
for dinner."
After some hesitation the neighbour told me: "I am sorry I cannot
invite you for food. We were without food for three days and I could
not bearto see the pain of hungerof my children. I went out looking
for food today and found a dead donkey. In my desperation I cut out
some meat from the deadanimal, and brought it home so that my wife
could cook this meat. It isHalal (lawful or permitted) for us
becauseof our extreme condition of hunger, but I cannot offer it to
you."
Ali bin al-Mufiq continued: "On hearing this, my heart bled with
tears. I got up and went home, collected the threethousand dinars I
had saved for Hajj, and gave my neighbour the money. I too had to go
hungry but that was to save money for Hajj, but Ithought helping my
neighbour during his difficult times was more important. Although I
stilldesire to go for Hajj if Allah (SWT) wills."
Abdullah bin Mubarak was greatly inspired by the cobbler's story and
told the cobbler of his dream.
Allah (SWT) is merciful and shows mercy to those who do likewise to
his creatures. This act of compassion on the part of the cobbler was
so pleasing to Allah (SWT) that it not only earned him the reward of
Hajj but was extended to all the people who came for Hajj.
Hajj is a journey that can ignite the soul to be reminded of the time
it was created and takes it beyond the dimensions of this life to the
time it will meet the creator.
The sincere performance of Hajj can transcend a person's day to day
life into a spiritual awakening of the highest magnitude. A successful
Hajj experience connects us to our creator and the greater compassion
of humanity.
The Pilgrimage to Makkah, is one of the essential elements of the
Islamic faith. It is obligatory on all believers provided they have
the financial capability and physical ability to endure the challenges
of the pilgrimage.
According to Islamic tradition the Holy Kaaba, a simple square cube
structure in Makkah , wasthe first house of worship established to
remind humanity of the One Supreme God. The structure was
reconstructed by ProphetIbrahim / Abraham (as) and his son Prophet
Ismail / Ishmael (as) morethan 3000 years ago.
And when We made the House (at Makkah) a destination for humankind and
a sanctuary, (saying): Take as your place of worship the place where
Abrahamstood (to pray). And We imposed a duty upon Abraham and
Ishmael, (saying): Purify My house for those who go around and those
who meditate therein and those who bow down and prostrate themselves
(in worship). Holy Quran (2:125)
The gathering of millions of faithful in Makkah during the days of
annual pilgrimage, Hajj isa fulfillment of Prophet Abraham's prayer.
And remember Abraham said: "My Lord, make this a City of Peace, and
feed its people with fruits, such of them as believe in Allah and the
Last Day."Holy Quran (2:126)
The Pilgrimage to Makkah is a sign of supreme significance. It was
Prophet Ibraham's unconditional commitment to Allah (SWT) that led him
to leave his wife Hagar and his infant son Ismael in this desolated
desert. Prophet Ibrahim / Abraham (as) was rewardfor his unwavering
submission to Allah (SWT), by a promise from Him to make this
uninviting land into a place of promise and plenty.
Muslims who visit Makkah for Hajj become part of Allah's (SWT) promise
to Prophet Ibrahim / Abraham (as). Like any other article of faith,
the pilgrimage can become meaningless if it is regarded as an end in
itself rather than a meansfor the attainment of a meaningful life.
Heart Touching Real Inspirational Hajj Story: Lost Pouch!
I was in Makkah during the season of Hajj and I saw a man from
Khurasan calling out to the people, "Pilgrims, people of Makkah, I
have lost a pouch that containsa thousand dinars. So whoever returns
the pouch will be rewarded by Allah (SWT) with good and saved from the
Hellfire and Allah's (SWT) bounty and favors will beacquired on the
Day of Judgement."
An old man from the people of Makkah approached him and said,
"Khurasani, our city is in very tough condition, and the days of Hajj
are few, and its season is appointed, and the doors of profit making
are closed. This money might fall into thehands of a believer who is
poor and old in age. Maybe he plans to give it back if you promise
that you will give him a little bit of money that is Halal (lawful or
permitted) for him to use."
The Khurasani asked,"How much does he want?"
Old man replied, "He wants one tenth of the money."
The Khurasani replied,"No, I will not grant him the money. Instead I
will take my case to Allah (SWT) and complain to Him on the day we
meet Him, and Allah (SWT) is sufficient for us and the best one to
trust in."
I realized that it was the old man who was poor, and he was the one
who had taken the pouch of dinars and wished to have a little portion
of it. So I followed him until hereturned to his home. My assumptions
were confirmed. I heard him calling onto his wife,"Lubabah!"
She said, "I am at your service, Abu Ghayth."
The old man said, "I found the owner of the dinars calling for it, and
he does not intend to give any reward to the person who finds it. I
said to him, 'Give us one tenth of the money,' and he refused and said
he would take his case to Allah (SWT). What should I do, Lubabah? I
must return it, for I fear my Lord and I fear that my sin is
multiplied."
The wife replied, "Oh man! We have been struggling and suffering from
poverty with you for the last 50 years, and you have four
daughters,two sisters, my mother and me, and you are the ninth. Keep
all the moneyand feed us, for we are hungry, and clothe us, foryou
know better our situation. Perhaps Allah (SWT) the Almighty will make
you rich afterwardsand you might be able to give the money back after
you have fed your children, or Allah (SWT) will pay the amount you owe
on the day when thekingdom will belong to the King (Allah)."
The old man exclaimed,"Will I consume Haraam (unlawful) after 86 years
of my life, and burn my organs with Hellfire after I have been patient
with my poverty, and become worthy of Allah's (SWT) anger, even though
I am close to my grave? No, by Allah (SWT), I will not do so!"
I left amazed at his condition and that of his wife.
Later I heard the owner of the pouch, man from Khurasan, calling out
again, and the old man repeated his advice. This time he asked for ten
dinars instead of hundred dinars. The Khurasani refused. The people
dispersed and left.
Later, once again, the Khurasani made the samecall. The old man came
again and said,"Khurasani, I said to you the day before yesterday to
reward the finder a hundred dinars and you refused. Then I advised you
to give him ten dinars and you refused. So will you give only one
dinar so that he can buy with half of it things he needs and with the
otherhalf sheep's milk so that he can give to the peopleand feed his
children?"
The Khurasani again refused. The old man saidangrily, "Come and take
your money so that I can sleep at night, for I have not been in a good
moodever since I found this money pouch."
So the owner of the pouch went with the old man and I followed them
until the old man enteredhis house, dug a hole, and pulled out the
money and said, "Take your money and ask Allah(SWT) to forgive me and
bless me from His bounty."
The Khurasani then said,"Old man, my father died - may Allah have
mercy on him - and left behind three thousand dinars and said to me,
'Take out a third of this money andgive it to a person from the people
who is most deserving of it.' By Allah (SWT), I have not seen a person
since I left Khurasan until now, who is more worthy of it than you. So
take it, may Allah's (SWT) blessing be upon you, and may He reward you
for the trust you kept and your patience during poverty."
The Khurasani man left without the money. The old man wept and prayed,
"May Allah bless the owner of the money in his grave, and may Allah
bless his son."
I left after the Khurasani but Abu Ghayth, the old man, brought me
back. He said, "I have seen you following me since the first day; you
have come to know of our situation yesterday and today. So this is a
gift from Allah (SWT) to all those attending."
The old man called his daughters, his sisters, and his wife and her
mother, and sat down and made me sit down. We were ten people. The old
man gave out the dinars one by one in order until he reached me and
said, "Here is a dinar." The process continued until the bag was empty
and I receiveda hundred dinars. So joy filled my heart because of the
provision they received, more than the joy I had because I received a
hundred dinars.
When I was leaving the old man said, "Young man, you are blessed. Keep
this money with you, for it is Halal (lawful or permitted). And know
that I used to wake up for Fajr (Early Morning) Prayer with this wet
shirt. After I was done I would take it off and give it to my
daughters so that they could pray, one by one. Then I wouldgo to work
between ZuhrPrayer and Asr Prayer and then I would come back at the
end of the day with what Allah (SWT) has given me of dates and dry
pieces of bread. Then I would take off my clothes for my daughters and
they would pray Zuhr and Asr, and the same would happen for the
Maghrib and Isha Prayers. And we did not ever expect to see this kind
of money. So may Allah (SWT) make us make good use of them, and may
Allah (SWT) bless the person in his grave and multiply the reward for
him."
So I told him goodbye and took the hundred dinars and used them to
write knowledge for twoyears. I used it to buy paper and pay rent.
"...And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make
a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide
him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his
trust in Allah, then He will suffice him ..." Holy Quran(65:2-3)
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