I met Uwais Al-Qarni: I ignored Him in The Beginning of Our Meeting, But Carried His Shoes at The End

Our beloved brother Shaykh ibn ‘Abd Al-Ghani narrates the following story in the Arabic forum.
He [May Allah Preserve him] writes:

“The story of Uwais Al-Qarni was mentioned in Sahih Muslim as well as in other books. Now even though he was from the Tabi’een and did not see the Messenger [Salah Allahu Alaihi wa salam], the Messenger [Salah Allahu Alaihi wa salam] had advised ‘Umar ibn Al-Khatab [Radiya Allahu ‘Anhu] that if he meets [Uwais] then he, ‘Umar, should ask [Uwais] to ask Allah to forgive him and to make supplication for him.

Thus ‘Umar [May Allah be pleased with him], during his Caliphate, used to ask all the delegates coming from Yemen: ‘Is Uwais among you?’, until finally during one of the years he met him. He found him a man not among the nobles of his people; nobody cares much for him, even those accompanying him, sidelined. So ‘Umar told him about the advice Prophet Muhammad gave him and asked Uwais to ask Allah the Exalted to forgive him. When ‘Umar discovered that Uwais was headed to Al-Kuffa he offered to write a letter to his assistant over there, so that he treats him with hospitality. However, Uwais refused and requested that ‘Umar doesn’t do that. He explained his request that he would love to live as an unknown among the people (the story is summarized and mentioned from memory).

Now, I do not claim that I met that Noble Tabi’ee himself; rather I met a man from his school. A man following in the same footsteps of Uwais, and here is my story with him.

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During one of the Fridays of Ramadan, I left my house to give the Friday Khutbah in one of the Masjids of Al-Jam’iyah Al-Shar’eyah in Cairo. While riding my car my clear whiteThawb (dress worn by men in Arab countries) got stained with a black spot. That really upset me. I asked myself, ‘How could I stand in front of the people giving the Khutbahwhen this spot had stained my elegant dress?’ I left the car and headed towards the Masjid. During my walk I passed by a store that had a big mirror at its entrance. I stood in front of it fixing my clothes and making sure my head covering is placed properly. I then continued to the Masjid.

I reached the Masjid, but the issue of the stain was still bothering me. The entrance of the Masjid had a few beggars standing there. They usually stand there during this blessed month, each of them with a story that he uses to gain the sympathy of the people going to pray. I didn’t give them much attention and entered the Masjid. I climbed the Minbar quickly, hoping that no one would get a chance to see the black spot that stained my dress in the car.

I delivered the Khutbah, and then we prayed. After prayers, I leaned my back at a pillar that was next to the Qiblah, and I stretched my legs to relax.

Now Egyptians usually go and shake the hands of the Imam after the prayers making supplications for him. I started shaking their hands while being seated in the same manner, and replied to their supplications by nodding my head up and down. I was really exhausted at this time because of the hot weather and the fasting.

At that point, I noticed a blind man crossing the lines with extreme difficulty, asking to reach the Shaykh (referring to me). Nobody was paying attention to his request, rather some of them were waving their hands in an annoyed manner since the blind man used to [unintentionally] come in contact with them while crossing the lines. The caretaker of the Masjid took his hand and brought him to me. I looked at him, and saw that his clothe were worn-out. He had the appearance of a person that if he greets others they would not reply back to him, and if he speaks no one would care about what he said. My first impression was that he was one of the beggars I saw at the entrance of theMasjid.

The man reached where I was seated; he greeted me and I replied back to him while still being seated in the same manner I described earlier, relaxing and stretching my legs.

I waited for him to start by telling me how miserable his life is, like beggars usually do, but he didn’t.

Rather he started by praising the topic of my Khutbah!! I though to myself: ‘A new method of begging! Start by showing that you understood what was mentioned in theKhutbah so that my heart would soften?!’.

Then he said: “But I have some remarks about your Khutbah, so I hope you do not mind listening to them”.

I said in amazement, while still sitting in the same manner: “Remarks on my Khutbah!! and you are the one that will point them out?!”

He replied: “Yes”.

I said: “In what aspects of the Khutbah?”

He said: “In the Language, Hadith, and Tafseer”.

After that I honestly, stared at his face in astonishment, and said: “And to what extend is your knowledge in these sciences?”

He introduced himself to me, he was a graduate of Dar Al-‘Uloom and specialized in Islamic Sharee’ah. He had completed several papers/studies on Tafseer, and he studied along side several known scholars.

I looked at the people around me in the Masjid and they nodded their heads, affirming what the man was saying.

At that point I sat straight, and crossed my legs, and said to the man: “And what are these remarks you had, my dear respected sir”.

He said: “As for the language, you have used some words of the ‘Amiyah (slang) and that ruins the nobility and sublimity of the Khutbah” (he kept speaking to me about the importance of the Khatib using the proper language, with words that increased my love to our beautiful language).

“As for the Hadith, you quoted some traditions and mentioned the source of some, but didn’t do that for the rest. Also how can you quote a tradition and refer it to Abu Dawud, while it is in Bukhari don’t you know that this is something that relegates the status of the speaker”. (Then he kept speaking to me about the methods and manners of the scholars of hadith, which increased my love for the Science of Hadith).

“As for the Tafseer, you mentioned some statements of those who interpret the Quran by their opinion, so beware when speaking about the Book of Allah and do not be like a night-time woodcutter (lumberjack)”. (Then he kept speaking to me about the different methodologies used by the people of Tafseer, which increased my love to the science of Tafseer).

By that time, people had dispersed from around us.

As he was about to stand, I stood [quickly] and took his hand. I then rushed and got him his shoes, and assisted him in putting it on. He kept asking me not to. I took by his hand to take him to his home, but he swore to me not to.

At that point, I saw that we were behind a wall where no one can see us, so I took out a sum of money from my pocket, and I politely requested that he accepts it from me. Here, he got mad and raised his voice a little scolding me roughly. I apologized to him, and he accepted my apology, and said: “You might have felt sorry for me, when you saw the way I am dressed”. I said: “Yes, and I hope you can forgive me for not thinking highly of you the first time I saw you”, so he forgave me.

I told him: “Please, comfort me, how do you live and with whom?” He said: “I will answer you briefly. I have a small income, but Allah has blessed it with His Grace, and it suffices me from the disgrace of asking [others]”. I asked: “With whom do you live?” He replied: “By myself, my children and wife have already beaten me to the Hereafter” and then he said: “I want nothing from this Dunia, and my relationship with it is not that good. All I need is a dress to cover my body and a meal that would silence my hunger, and apart from that I do not need anything”.

So I fell on his hand to kiss it, and I shook his hand and walked away for a few steps. Then I looked back at where he was heading. I saw that the people are giving him no notice as he held his stick, which he used to feel the road in front of him.

As for me, I walked thinking about myself, and how upset I was when my clean white dress got stained. As I walked, cars would slow down so that I can cross [the street], and people passing would come by to shake my hands and ask me for supplications.

They were all deceived by my looks and appearance.

I remembered the statement of Prophet Muhammad [Salah Allah ‘Alaihi wa Salam], when he was between his companions and a man passed by who had the appearance of a wealthy man. So he [Salah Allah ‘Alaihi wa Salam] asked: “What do you say about that [man]?” They said: “O Prophet of Allah, he is the kind of person that when he speaks we would listen, and if he asks for our daughter’s hand in marriage we won’t oppose, and if he intercedes for someone we would accept his intercession”.

Then a man who appeared poor and needy passed by, so he [Salah Allah ‘Alaihi wa Salam] asked: “And what do you say about that man?” They said: “He is the sort of person, that if he speaks we won’t listen to what he has to say, and if he requests our daughter’s hand in marriage we would oppose his request, and if he intercedes for someone we would not accept his intercession”.

Then he [Salah Allah ‘Alaihi wa Salam] said: “That [poor] man is better (worth more) than all the earth filled with that other man”, Aw Kama Qaal Salah Allah ‘Alaihi wa Salam".

Terasing

Baginda Rasulullah sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam bersabda:

"Bahkan sesungguhnya serulah manusia kepada kebaikan dan cegahlah dari kemungkaran. Kamu nanti akan melihat satu keadaan di mana kebatilan akan dituruti, hawa nafsu akan jadi ikutan dan dunia ini akan lebih diutamakan. Setiap orang akan tenggelam dalam pandangan masing-masing. Peliharalah diri kamu dan janganlah dituruti orang ramai.

Sesungguhnya selepas zaman kamu ini, akan datang hari-hari yang menuntut kesabaran, dan kesabaran itu akan menjadi seperti perbuatan menggenggam bara api di dalam tangan.

Sesiapa yang terus bertahan dengan keadaan itu akan mendapat ganjaran seperti 50 orang yang berbuat perkara yang sama” Sahabat bertanya, “Ya Rasulullah, ganjaran 50 orang seperti mereka?” Baginda menjawab, “Ganjaran 50 orang seperti kamu”

[Hadith riwayat al-Tirmidhi dan Abu Daud dengan sanad yang lemah tetapi diperkukuhkan oleh riwayat yang lain]

When The Wind Blows The Other Way

(Do'a Nabi Ketika Bersedih)

Ya Allah… Kepadamu aku mengadukan kelemahan kekuatanku

Dan sedikitnya kemampuanku

Dan kehinaanku dihadapan manusia

Wahai Yang Maha Penyayang

Engkaulah Tuhan orang-orang yang lemah dan Engkau adalah

Tuhanku

Kepada siapa engkau serahkan aku

Kepada orang yang jauh yang menggangguku

Atau kepada musuh yang akan menguasai urusanku

Asal Kau tak marah padaku maka semua itu bukanlah masalah

bagiku

Selain dari Keafiatan-Mu yang lebih luas dari yang ada padaku

Aku berlindung dengan Cahaya Wajahmu yang akan menerangi

seluruh kegelapan

Dan akan memberikan kebaikan pada seluruh urusan dunia dan

akhirat

Untuk melepaskan aku dari Marah-Mu

Atau menghilangkan Murka-Mu dariku

Hanya pada-Mu aku merintih berharap mendapatkan Keridhoan-Mu

Dan tidak ada daya dan kekuatan kecuali dengan-Mu

Ameen.

;-(

Perihal Kematian: Perjalanan Abadi

Bismillahirahmanirahim. Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wa barakatuh. Segala puji bagi Allah yang memimpin sesiapa sahaja dari kalangan hamba-Nya pada perjalanan yang Dia sendiri aturkan. Selawat dan salam buat Rasulullah saw, Habiballah, yang dipilih buat membimbing umat manusia kepada Yang Haq.

Hari ini warga sekolah digemparkan dengan kematian seorang bekas pelajar yang baru berusia 16 tahun. Beliau menghembuskan nafas terakhir di pangkuan pelajar saya dalam perjalanan ke hospital. Namun menurut yang lain, pelajar terbabit, Asyraff, mati ditempat kejadian, setelah motorsikal yang dinaikinya ditendang oleh seorang lagi penunggang (pesaing) dalam satu misi ‘balas dendam’ setelah kalah dalam pertandingan rempit haram antara kampung. Wang pertaruhan hanyalah RM15, tetapi harganya adalah sebuah kehidupan yang sejujurnya sudah tamat pusingan rezeki dan waktu yang diberi Tuhan untuk terus menginap di dunia ini.

Ketika ditendang, motorsikal ditunggang dengan sangat laju. Pelajar-pelajar saya juga memberitahu bahawa badan Asyraff ‘terbang’ dan merempuh tiang elektrik dengan kuat sehingga menyebabkan organ bahagian dalamnya terutamanya di bahagian dada hancur remuk, termasuk tulang-tulang. Terkedu, saya lihat mata mereka redup dan kemerah-merahan menceritakan kejadian itu. Hoesni pula, saksi utama yang memangku Asyraff, yang diberikan Allah nikmat melihat sakaratul maut tidak jemu-jemu memandang ke luar tingkap. Matanya tembus entah ke mana. Ada senyuman kelat yang cuba diukir apabila ditanya mengenai kertas soalan Bahasa Inggerisnya namun, yang terlihat cuma percubaan menarik dan memaksa otot-otot pipi dan mulut melawan kehendak hati.

Tragis dan menyayat hati, sepanjang hari saya tidak jemu-jemu membayangkan satu gambaran yang saya sendiri tidak pernah tontoni. Gambaran kedasyatan sakaratul maut.

Di dalam kehidupan kita sehari-harian, berapa kali agaknya, perihal kematian menjengah ke dasar hati dan ke minda kita? Berapa kali agaknya kita membayangkan saat-saat disoal Mungkar dan Nangkir? Mungkin sahaja kita menjawab banyak kali dan kita kadangkala berasa kurang senang apabila terlalu kerap kematian diulang-ulang cerita, pemati mood dan menurut sesetengah orang, ‘tak cool asyik fikir mati sahaja, dunia kena juga’. Ya semua orang tahu kita akan mati tetapi persoalannya berapa ramai daripada kita yang benar-benar mengambil pengajaran akan kematian itu sendiri.

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“Hari ini aku melihat wajah-wajah yang telah lama tidak kulihat mengunjungiku sambil menangis sedih, tetapi aku terlalu sakit,pedih untuk peduli. Aku meraung menjerit-jerit sekuat hati tetapi tiada siapa yang mendengar malah ada juga yang bertepuk-tampar gembira bertemu satu sama lain setelah lama berpisah. Kulit ku rasa bagai disiat-siat. Kemudian aku dimandikan, sekali lagi merasakan azab kepedihan apabila kulitku yang baru tadi disiat-siat, disirami air. Kakiku yang sudah mengeras dikepak kasar. Sakit, sakit teramat-amat sehingga tak tergambar dengan perkataan. Rambutku terlekat dijari-jari mereka akhirnya terenggut keluar. Apabila selesai aku lihat persalinan putih menantiku dan bukannya baju-bajuku yang mahal lagi pelbagai. Tidak ada kerudung singkat yang warnanya serirama dengan baju-bajuku juga. Aku dibaluti dengan 5 helai kain putih. Itu sahaja.

Hari ini akan aku mulakan perjalanan ke negeri abadi, berbekalkan kain putih, sehelai sepinggang ini. Tidak akan aku bawa keretaku yang mewah bersport-rim tercanggih, tidak akan aku bawa suamiku yang kacak bergaya serta anak-anak yang tidak sudah-sudah meminta-minta, hari ini aku akan bertemu dengan seorang Raja yang akan menuntut satu perjanjian yang telah aku persetujui di dalam Rahim ibuku, iaitu menjadi seorang Khalifah, mentauhidkan Allah serta mengikut ajaran Rasulullah.

Tiada lagi pangkat, anugerah, pekerjaan dan status. Hari ini yang berguna hanyalah bekalku yang telah kukumpul selama dibiarkan Allah melata dibuminya. Terlintas masa-masa yang aku buang begitu sahaja, menonton ceritera manusia dilensa kamera, terlintas pertandingan senyap antara rakan-rakan yang tak pernah terzahir di lidah bagi menunjukkan aku terhebat dari segi rupa, harta gaya dan segala-galanya yang pada hakikatnya menjerat orang lain yang kurang dariku yang lemah imannya meragui keadilan Allah dalam membahagikan nikmat; akulah yang mencorongkan mereka ke situ, terlintas bagaimana aku melambat-lambatkan solat di kala rancangan kegemaran terpacul di kaca televisyen, little did I know, itulah bekal yang aku lengahkan. Hari ini tiada lagi, perbualan kosong bersama rakan-rakan, umpatan-umpatan yang aku mulakan dengan kata-kata ‘bukannya nak mengumpat tapi…’, tiada lagi keluh kesah berpanjangan manusia tidak bersyukur yang gagal melihat nikmat Allah, dan tiada lagi gelak ketawa berlebih-lebihan yang padahal tidak berguna sedikitku kepadaku, mulut aku telah terkunci.

Hari ini, aku tersedar dari mimpi yang panjang, rumah yang selama ini aku hias dengan segala-gala kemewahan yang aku ada, yang aku banggakan kerana dipuji-puji semua akan aku tinggalkan, rumah aku rupanya hanyalah ruang kecil di dalam lahad yang mungkin sahaja menjadi lebih kecil daripada apa yang ada sehingga berselisih tulang-tulangku ketika disoal malaikat, tetapi mungkin juga boleh menjadi seluas-luasnya, lebih luas dari rumah yang aku banggakan itu, tetapi….

Hari, tidak ada apa pun yang dapat menolongku, aku memandang anak-anakku yang aku salut dengan kemewahan dan dunia segala bagai. Berapa lama dapat mereka tahan lidah itu dari melupakan kematian yang harus diambil pengajaran pada hari ini dan berapa lama dari sekarang mereka akan ketawa semula dan meneruskan kehidupan mencari sebanyak-banyak bekal dunia seperti biasa. Aku perlukan bantuan, lebih dari sekadar bacaan Yassin mingguan…

Manusia bisa menangis, tetapi itu tidak akan membawaku ke syurga. Apabila menaiki kenderaan terakhirku, aku sedar…aku telah tertipu..aku sangat amat mahu dikembalikan ke dunia…diberi peluang kedua melunaskan janji yang telah lama aku lupakan, atau aku sangka telah aku jalankan padahal jauh menyimpang dari yang diajar Nabi kita….tetapi sudah terlambat… Aku sungguh tertipu dengan kemilau dunia…”

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“Rebutlah lima perkara sebelum datang lima perkara lain, yaitu masa muda engkau sebelum datangnya hari tua, masa sehat engkau sebelum dilanda sakit, masa kaya engkau sebelum masa miskinmu, masa lapang engkau sebelum datangnya waktu sibuk, dan masa hidup engkau sebelum datangnya saat kematian.”

(Hadith Riwayat Muslim dan Tirmizi dari Amru bin Maimun r.a.)