FAZA’ IL -E- A’MAAL VOL. I


By Shaikhul Hadith
Maulana Muhammad Zaakariyya Kaandhlawi

translated by Shafiq Ahmad

Pg.120

Virtues of Zikr

In this connection a story told about Hadhrat Ataa (Rahmatullah Alaih) is well known. He once happened to go to the market were a woman lunatic slave was on sale. He purchased her. At midnight she got up, performed her ablution, and began offering Salaat. During her prayers she wept so profusely that her breath was getting choked. Then she said: “O my Lord! In the name of the love that You have for me, bestow Your Mercy on me.” Hearing this, Ataa said “O slave woman, say: ‘O Allah, in the name of the love that I have for You.’” Upon hearing this she got upset and said, “By Allah! If he had not loved me, He would not have let you sleep and made me to stand in prayer as you see!” Then she recited the following couplets:

My restlessness is increasing, and my heart is burning; patience has forsaken me, and my tears are flowing. How can one have peace of mind, when one is all upset by the pangs of love and restlessness. Oh Allah! If there is anything which can help me to get rid of my grief, please bestow it upon me as a favour! Then she said, ‘Oh Allah! So far the deal between You and me was known to none, since it has ceased to be secret now, take me away from here. Saying this, she uttered a shriek and breathed her last. There have been many other incidents like this. It is a fact that only Almighty Allah grants the power to do good.