On one occasion, the great saint, ‘Abdul Waahid bin Zaid (rahimahullah), was sailing in the ocean along with other people when a severe wind blew their boat to an island. On this island, they found a person who was worshipping an idol. They thus asked him, “Who are you worshipping?” He responded by indicating to his idol. They said to him, “We have with us on board someone who can create something just like this (idol). (Therefore,) this cannot be a deity who is (worthy of being) worshipped.”
(This statement caused him to become curious and thus) he asked, “So who do you worship?” They explained to him that they worship Allah Ta‘ala. When he enquired about Allah Ta‘ala, they replied, “The Being Whose ‘arsh (throne) is in the heavens, Who controls the entire world and Who decides the affairs of the living and the dead.” He further asked as to how did they come to know of Him. They replied, “This King (i.e. Allah Ta‘ala) sent a kind Messenger (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to us who informed us regarding Him.”
He next asked, “What happened to this Messenger?” They informed him that when he (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had fulfilled his duty by conveying the message, Allah Ta‘ala had taken him away. He asked, “Did he not leave behind any sign (of prophethood) by you?” They replied, “Most definitely. He has left with us the book of This King (i.e. Allah Ta‘ala).” The person then asked them to show him the Quraan Majeed and remarked, “The books of kings ought to be excellent.”
The people thus brought him a copy of the Quraan Majeed but he was unable to recite it. Therefore, they recited a surah of the Quraan Majeed for him. As they were reciting, he continued to cry until the surah was complete. When they had completed the recitation, he exclaimed, “It is befitting the Being Whose word this is that he should not be disobeyed.” Saying this, he accepted Islam and they took him along with them aboard the boat where they taught him the fundamentals of Islam and a few surahs of the Quraan Majeed.
That night, when they had completed performing ‘Esha Salaah and were preparing to sleep, he asked them a very interesting question, “O people! This Deity towards Whom you have guided me, does He sleep at night?” They replied that He is The Ever Living and The Maintainer of everything, hence he does not sleep. Hearing this, the man retorted, “What pathetic slaves are you! You sleep whilst your Master is not sleeping!” He then spent the entire night standing (before Allah Ta‘ala) whilst crying.
When they finally reached a coastal town called ‘Abbaadaan, ‘Abdul Waahid bin Zaid (rahimahullah) suggested to his companions that this person is a foreigner who has recently accepted Islam. Hence, they should put some wealth together in order to assist him. When they presented this wealth to him, he asked, “What is this?” They replied, “It is some wealth which you may spend on yourself (for your needs).” He exclaimed, “Subhaanallah! You have guided me to a path which you have not treaded yourself! I was on an island worshipping an idol instead of Him (i.e. Allah Ta‘ala) and yet He did not allow me to perish. So how will He allow me to perish when I (now) worship Him and He is The Creator and The Sustainer.” He then left them and departed.
After some days, ‘Abdul Waahid bin Zaid (rahimahullah) was informed that this man was in a certain area and he was in the throes of death. Abdul Waahid (rahimahullah) thus went to visit him. On reaching there, ‘Abdul Waahid (rahimahullah) greeted him with salaam and asked him if he has any need. He replied, “The Being Who brought you to the island whilst I had not (even) known Him has fulfilled all my needs.” Abdul Waahid (rahimahullah) then lay down beside him in order to comfort him for a while. However, in doing so, he fell asleep.
While asleep, ‘Abdul Waahid (rahimahullah) saw in a dream that the graveyard of this town, ‘Abbaadaan, was a garden in which there was a dome. Beneath this dome was a bed upon which an extremely beautiful girl lay, the likeness of whom he had never seen. This girl was saying, “By Allah! Hasten in preparing him (i.e. burial etc.) because I have been yearning for him for far too long.” ‘Abdul Waahid (rahimahullah) immediately got up and found that he had passed on. He thus gave him a ghusl, enshrouded him and finally buried him.
When Abdul Waahid (rahimahullah) went to sleep that night, he again saw a dream in which he saw this man in a splendid condition, sitting on the bed beside the girl under the dome, reciting the verse,
وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن كُلِّ بَابٍ ﴿٢٣﴾ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُم بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ ۚ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ
“The angels will enter upon them from every gate, (saying,) ‘Peace be on you for the patience you observed. So how excellent is the ultimate abode.’” (Surah Ra’d v23&24)
(Sifatus Safwah vol. 2, pg. 485 and Al-Mawaa‘iz wal Majaalis pg. 40)
Lessons:
1. When Allah Ta‘ala wishes to guide someone, no person or force can stop guidance from reaching him. Hence, when Allah Ta‘ala wished to guide this idol-worshipper, He caused the winds to blow the boat in the direction of the island. We should therefore always beg Allah Ta‘ala to guide us and to guide others as well. We should also never write off any person and lose hope in him being guided to the straight path.
2. When reciting or listening to the Quraan Majeed, we should do so with complete devotion and utmost respect, keeping in mind that these are the words of the King of all kings. The dynamic nature of the Quraan Majeed, coupled with the sincerity and respect of the listener is such, that listening to just one surah brought about a total revolution in a person who spent his entire life bowing before an idol. What profound effect can the Quraan Majeed then have on those who believe in it and recite it!
3. Many a time, a person who is new in Islam surpasses the born-Muslims in his conviction on Allah Ta‘ala and commitment to Deen. One of the possible reasons for this is that after spending a portion of his life in the darkness and filth of kufr and disbelief, this person truly appreciates the great bounties of imaan and Deen that he has now been blessed with. On the other hand, due to complacency and taking Deen for granted, the born-Muslims generally lose the true appreciation of Deen and merely carry out actions as a ritual and custom.
