Module 8E-06 Story time

Story time

This is a story that has been quoted by late Mulla Ahmad al-Naraqi (d.1829) in his book Khaza’in:

During my youth, one year on Nawruz I went with my father and other relatives to visit people and greet them. We went to a friend’s house situated near a graveyard in Isfahan. We were told that he was not home, so we decided to take some rest at that graveyard and visit the graves of the mu‛minin.

One of our companions, pointing his finger towards a nearby grave, said jokingly: ‘O resident of the grave! These are holidays. Will you not host us?’

To our surprise, we heard a voice from that grave: ‘Next Tuesday you will be my guests here.’

We were all shocked and frightened, thinking that we may be dead by next Tuesday. So we tried to perform as many good deeds as possible and also began to write our wills. The following Tuesday arrived and all of us were safe and alive. We gathered at a place, and after a discussion we decided to go to that grave and see what would happen.

When we approached that grave, one of us said: ‘O occupier of this grave! Fulfil your promise.’ Suddenly we heard a voice from that grave which said: ‘Welcome!’ At once, we saw that we were in a very big green garden. Streams of pure water were flowing in it. There were trees in it full of various kinds of fruits.

Colourful birds of innumerable kinds were busy singing melodious sweet songs. In the midst of that garden there stood a spacious and grand mansion, which was fully decorated. All of its windows opened towards the garden. When we entered that building we saw a very handsome man sitting there. When he saw us, he stood up in respect. Then he offered us various kinds of foods, drinks, and sweets that we had never seen before, nor even imagined. We fully enjoyed this feast.

We had never seen so many tasteful things before. The more we ate, our desire to eat increased! Then, many other kinds of food were brought and we went on enjoying them. When we finished and got up, the gentleman accompanied us until we left that garden.

Before leaving, my father asked that gentleman: ‘Who are you? And for what did Allah grant you so much honour and position that you are able to host even the whole world if you so desire? What is this place of residence?’

The gentleman replied: ‘I belong to your native place and was a meat seller in such and such street.’ People then asked: ‘How did you get this high position and lofty rank?’ He said: ‘It is all due to only two things. During my entire lifetime, I never gave less to buyers and I also never failed to offer salah at the earliest time. If I heard the adhan while weighing meat, I used to leave my shop at once and rush to the masjid. So, the Lord of the worlds granted me this place after my death. Last week you had asked me to host you. At that time I did not have permission to grant to your wish. I have obtained it this week.’

All of us bade him farewell and he saw us off. As we turned around we found ourselves sitting by his grave as before.