“I have
mentioned a story regarding this poem in my autobiography, [Aap Biti]
which I heard from my elders. The translation of the poem is:
Drench
the prayer mat in wine when the perfect (kamil) murshid orders such,
For
indeed the salik (traveler) is ignorant of the stations of the Path.
The story that I heard is that one of the
students of Shah ‘Abd al-’Aziz Dehlawi [The Son of Shah Waliullah R.A – The Famous
Scholar of India] asked him the meaning of this poem, so the shaykh said:
“Remain occupied in studying and imparting knowledge. What concern do you have
with such things?” However, when the student insisted, Shah ‘Abd al-’Aziz
handed him ten rupees and told him to go to such and such an inn and ask the
keeper if there are any women available? The student first of all became
absorbed in thought. However, as he had asked himself regarding the poem and had
insisted on understanding its meaning, he went to the place.
On
reaching there and asking, the keeper said: “A beautiful girl has just arrived
and she is in that room. I will go and speak to her and return to you.” The
keeper went and spoke to the woman. He then told the student to return at
night. When he arrived there at night, the woman was seated head lowered and
crying. The student became extremely surprised and told her that he had not
forced her or pressured her. The woman, however, began to sob more and the
student was left in a conundrum. After one hour, she said: “I am oppressed and
repressed. I have been without food for so many days. I have been wandering for
so many days. My husband left me and there is no news of where he is. I have
been looking for him for two to three months.” The student then asked the woman
her husband’s name and where he is from. When she informed him, it became clear
that the lost husband was the student himself. He then asked her to reveal her
face and look up.
On doing
so, they both recognized each other — the husband had left home in want of
knowledge. He then remained with the woman that night in that place. In the
morning he came to the service of Shah ‘Abd al-’Aziz and said that the poem was
completely true.
[An
Excerpt from “Shari’ah wa Tariqah ka Talazum" by Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhelwi (R.A.) - Original Article published on www.deoband.org]
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