KHIDHR’S TRIALS
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- Category: Hadhrat Khidr (alayhis salaam)
- Created: Friday, 12 September 2014 14:59
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Once when Hadhrat Khidhr (alayhis salaam) was sitting on the shore of the sea, a beggar approached him and said: “For the Sake of Allah, give me something.” Hadhrat Khidhr fell unconscious. When he revived, he said: “I have nothing but myself. You have asked me for something for Allah’s Sake. I give to you myself. You may sell me and use the money for your needs.”
The beggar took Hadhrat Khidhr to the market place and sold him to a man called Saahim Bin Arqam who took Hadhrat Khidhr to his home. Saahim gave Khidhr a pickaxe and ordered him to dig sand on the mountain and transport it to his orchard. Hadhrat Khidhr diligently occupied himself with the task imposed on him by his master.
In the evening when Saahim returned, he asked his family if they had fed the slave. They said that they had no knowledge of the slave. Saahim taking food went to Khidhr whom he found absorbed in Salaat. The task he had imposed was fully executed. He looked with astonishment on Khidhr, then said: “Tell me who are you?” Khidhr said: “I am Allah’s slave and your slave.”
Saahim said: “I am asking you for Allah’s Sake to inform me who you are?” When Hadhrat Khidhr heard Allah Ta’ala being mentioned, he fell down unconscious. He revived after a few minutes and said: “I am Khidhr.” Now Saahim fell down unconscious. When he regained consciousness, he repented, asking Allah Ta’ala to forgive him. He set Khidhr free. Then Saahim supplicated: “O Allah do not punish me for this. I did not know who he was.”
Hadhrat Khidhr (alayhis salaam) went into Sajdah and supplicated: “O Allah! For Your Sake I became a slave and for Your Sake I was emancipated.” Then he asked Saahim for permission to leave. Saahim happily granted permission.
When Hadhrat Khidhr reached his place on the sea shore, he saw a man standing on the surface of the water, saying: “O my Rabb! Khidhr has been freed from slavery. Forgive him.” Hadhrat Khidhr said: “Who are you.” The man said: “I am Shaadoon, and who are you?” Khidhr said: “I am Khidhr.” Shaadoon said: “O Khidhr! You desired the dunya and you made it an abode of rest for your nafs.”
Shaadoon was referring to a hut which Hadhrat Khidhr had made for himself on the shore of the sea. A tree had grown there and Hadhrat Khidhr would worship in the shade of the tree. One day He heard a Voice saying: “O Khidhr! When you make Sajdah in the shade of the tree, you give preference to the dunya over the Aakhirah. By My Splendour and My Power! I am not pleased with (your) love for it.”
Hadhrat Khidhr (alayhis salaam) said: “O Shaadoon! Call unto Allah Ta’ala to accept my repentance.” Shaadoon supplicated , and Allah Ta’ala accepted Khidhr’s repentance by virtue of Shaadoon’s Dua.
The relationship which Allah Ta’ala has with his Auliya is extremely variegated. Mortals like us, anchored to the dunya and drowned in nafsaaniyat can neither fathom the lofty ranks of the Auliya and their peculiar ranks of divine proximity, each status having its own set of rules and requisites. What we have to procure from these episodes of the Auliya, is to ensure strict observance of the Shariah and adoption of the Sunnah. We have to understand that life on earth is extremely brief. It is not the goal of the Mu’min. The dunya should not be allowed to divert our focus from Allah Ta’ala and the Aakhirah.