On one occasion, Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah) was walking with Ja’far bin Sulaimaan (rahimahullah) in Basrah when they came across a palace being built. The person coordinating the project was a very handsome youngster.
Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah) turned to Ja’far (rahimahullah) and exclaimed “Do you not see this youngster, his beauty and his ambition for this construction?” (i.e. look at how his ambition is being wasted on the temporary things of this world.) He further exclaimed, “I really have to ask my Rabb to free him (from the clutches of this material world) and (by means of which) perhaps He (i.e. Allah Ta‘ala) will make him from among the youngsters of Jannah.” Thereafter, Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah) requested Ja’far (rahimahullah) to accompany him to meet this youngster.
They thus entered the site and made salaam to the youngster. The young man casually replied to the salaam without realizing that the man standing before him was the great scholar, Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah). When those around him informed him that the man before him was Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah), he stood up and asked Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah) how he could be of assistance to him. Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah) asked him “How much do you intend to spend on this palace?” He replied, “One hundred thousand dirhams (silver coins).”
Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah) then asked the youngster “Why don’t you hand this money over to me and I will put it in its rightful place (i.e. I will spend it in the path of Allah Ta‘ala), and (in exchange of that money) I will guarantee for you from the side of Allah Ta‘ala a palace better than this palace, along with its servants and caretakers, domes and pavilions, made from rubies and studded with precious gems. The sand (of the palace) will be saffron, and its cement will be musk. It will be far more spacious than this palace of yours and it will never dilapidate. No hands have touched it and no builder has built it. The Most High (i.e. Allah Ta‘ala) instructed it, ‘Come into existence!’ and it came into existence.” The youngster asked Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah) to give him till the next morning to decide.
Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah) spent the entire night concerned about this youngster. When the last portion of the night came, he engaged himself in excessive du‘aa. The next morning when Maalik bin Dinaar and Ja’far (rahimahumallah) set out, they saw the youngster sitting (and waiting for them). When he saw them, he rushed towards them and asked Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah) if the offer of the previous day was still available. Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah) asked him if he was willing to give him 100,000 dirhams as per their agreement. He replied in the affirmative and presented the entire amount to Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah).
Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah) then asked for an inkpot and paper to be brought and thereafter began writing, “In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful. This is the pledge of Maalik bin Dinaar to so and so person (the youngsters name); Indeed I (Maalik bin Dinaar) promise you from the side of Allah Ta‘ala a palace in exchange of your palace with the description I had given (yesterday) and more (than what was mentioned) is Allah’s prerogative. I have purchased for you in exchange of this wealth a palace in Jannah which is far more spacious than an extensive shade, close to (the ‘arsh of) The Highest, The Mighty.” Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah) then folded the letter and handed it over to the youngster. They then took the wealth and began distributing it. By the evening all the wealth was spent in the path of Allah Ta‘ala and only a night’s ration remained.
Barely forty days later, Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah) completed his salaah one morning when he saw a letter placed in the mihraab. When Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah) picked up the letter and opened it, he found the following written on it without any ink: “This is an absolvent from Allah Ta‘ala for Maalik bin Dinaar; indeed We have granted the youngster the palace which you had promised him and (We have given him) seventy folds more.”
Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah) was astonished by this. Taking the letter with him, he and his companions set out to the house of the youngster. When they reached the house, they saw that the atmosphere of the house was one of grief and sorrow. When they enquired about the youngster, they were informed that he had passed away the previous night.
They then called for the person who had made the ghusl and asked him. “Are you the one who performed the ghusl (of so and so youngster?) He replied in the affirmative. Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah) then requested him to inform them about what had happened. The person explained that before the youngster passed away, he gave him a letter and requested that when he passes away, this letter should be placed in between his body and his shroud. Therefore, he abided by his request and buried him with this letter.
Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah) took out the letter which he had found earlier that day and showed it to the person who had done the ghusl for the youngster. Upon seeing this letter, he exclaimed, “By the one who took his soul, this is the very same letter! I had placed it with my own hands between his shroud and his body.” Hearing this, everyone began weeping profusely.
Another youngster who was also present stood up and requested Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah), “Take from me two hundred thousand dirhams and promise me the same thing.” Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah) exclaimed, “It is not possible! Whatever happened, has happened and whatever has passed is over. Allah commands whatever He wishes.”
Whenever Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah) would remember the youngster he would weep and make du‘aa for him.
(Kitaabut Tawwaabeen – Ibnu Qudaamah pg. 173)
Lessons:
1. The luxuries of this material world are such that they very easily distract a person and make him forget his true purpose in life – worshipping Allah Ta‘ala and building his Aakhirah (Hereafter). Hence, it is extremely necessary for us, especially in our era of materialism and secularism, to keep the Aakhirah before us at all times. When the nature of this temporary world and the reality of the everlasting Aakhirah settles in our hearts, it will become easy for us to worship Allah Ta‘ala and pass our lives in His obedience.
2. Concern for the Deen of fellow Muslims is our duty and responsibility. We should thus endeavour to create an environment of reminding one another of Allah Ta‘ala, the shortness of this life and the eternity of the Aakhirah. We should also encourage one another to carry out good deeds and abstain from evil. Furthermore, we must dedicate time to make du‘aa for those Muslims who have lost the path and are involved in actions which are displeasing to Allah Ta‘ala. Hence, together with advising the person, Maalik bin Dinaar (rahimahullah) exerted himself in du‘aa on his behalf at the blessed time of tahajjud.
