746. Imam Mahdi (AS) was performing wazu (ablutions). Bibi Fatima (RZ) was pouring water. An owl was sitting somewhere and making noises. The Bibi (RZ) said, "People say that owls were human beings earlier." The owl said, "O Mahdi Mauood (AS), it is not as the Bibi (RZ) says. We were not human beings earlier." Imam Mahdi (AS) smiled and told the Bibi (RZ) that the owl was saying like that.

747. Bandagi Miyan Syed Khundmir (RZ) was delivering his sermon on the explanation of Quran between the 'Asr and Maghrib prayers. A big snake came. The brothers intended to kill it. Bandagi Miyan (RZ) prevented them. He allowed the snake to come and sit near him. When the sermon was over, the snake went away. Bandagi Miyan (RZ) then told his companions, "This snake is from among the descendants of the snake that had come to meet Prophet Muhammad (SLM). It was a jinni, had affirmed (tasdiq) Imam Mahdi (AS) and had come to listen to the explanation of Quran.

748. Shaikh Sadruddin had come to meet Imam Mahdi (AS). The Imam (AS), clad in good clothes and with a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other was standing in a cultivable field and was eating leaves of the trees. The Shaikh saw all this and said, "There is no Allah here." He turned around and started walking briskly. An unknown voice told him, "O Sadruddin, go back." He recited La haul…and continued walking. Then a voice came from a tree, "O Sadruddin, go back. Why are you spoiling your faith (iman)? Go and meet him at least once." Again he recited La haul…and continued to walk. A third voice came from water. After this third incident, Sadruddin returned and met the Imam (AS), listened to the explanation of Quran, performed the initiation (tarbiat) ritual. Then he told the Imam (AS), "I do not know you as Mahdi." The Imam (AS) told him, "Engage yourself in zikr for three days." He did as told. Then he came to the Imam (AS) lamenting, fell on his feet and said, "Today I repose faith in you that you are Mahdi-e-Mauood (AS), as I have come to know of it from Allah Most High.

749. Imam Mahdi (AS) is narrated to have strictly prohibited the uttering of the word talaq. He said, "Allah will disgrace the person who utters the word. It is making one's own wife sleep in front of another man. If the woman is irreligious, the man is not blameworthy."

750. It is narrated that the practice of the migrant-companions in respect of tarbiat was like this: A person asked Bandagi Miyan Shah Nizam (RZ) to perform the initiation (tarbiat) ritual of his son. The Shah (RZ) delayed it. Then he insisted on the performing of the ritual. The Shah (RZ) looked at the lauh-e-mahfuz (the guarded tablet on which, according to the Muslim belief, is written the doings of humankind from sempiternity) to ascertain the beginning and the end of the person being initiated. When he found that everything was good, he performed the ritual of tarbiat. He said, "This is the name of Allah. It should be given (shown) to a person who is a man of faith (iman). The person who is given should be benefited. The person who takes it should benefit from it.

751. It is narrated that after coming out of the rank of humanness (nasut), when the existence of the kitchen of the morsels with all the paraphernalia of tastes and relishing is burnt down and the connection of the fire of the zikr-fana is established, the luminosity of lust (nafs) is manifested. Its veil is of a very pleasant blue colour. After this the luminosity of the heart dawns. Its veil has the colour of a red cornelian. Looking at it creates a great eagerness and zeal in the heart of the salik (the seeker of Allah). After this the luminosity of the head spreads. The colour of its veil is white. Ilm-e-ladunni (knowledge of divine inspiration) begins to be revealed at this stage. The luminosity of the soul is secretly revealed and the colour of its veil is very pleasant yellow. By looking at it, the nafs becomes weak and the heart gains strength. Then the concealed luminosity manifests. The sign of the Holy Ghost (ruh-ul-quds) is directed towards this. Its veil is black. It is very clear, magnanimous and frightful. By looking at this black veil the salik perishes and his existence begins to shiver. The objective of the elixir of life (aab-e-hayat) is in this darkness.

752. Mashayakh-e-Tariqat (RA) has said, "An apostate of Shariat recites the Islamic testification of faith, La ilaha illa Llah, Muhammadur Rasulullah (SLM) (There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger (SLM)) and his work begins. But an apostate of Tariqat does all the good deeds of both the worlds, yet he cannot start his work. Na'uzu billahi minha (May Allah protect us from it), presently he remains besieged in seven veils. The first unknown veil is of Satan. It is of a dirty colour and there are ten thousand other veils in it. After all these veils are lifted, there is the unknown veil of the nafs (lust). It is blue in colour. There are ten thousand other veils in it. When all these veils are lifted, there is the unknown veil of the heart. It is red and there are ten thousand other veils in it. After lifting all these veils, there is the unknown veil of the head. Its colour is white. It is very thin and there are ten thousand other veils in it. All these veils have to be lifted. After this, there is the unknown veil of the soul. It is deep yellow. There are ten thousand other veils here. They have to be rolled up. After this there is the concealed veil (parda-e-Khafi). Its colour is a terrific black. There are ten thousand other veils in it. All these have to be lifted. Then comes the veil of ghaib-ul-ghuyoob (most unknown of the unknown). Its colour is green and there are ten thousand other veils in it. All these have to be rolled up. There is a hijab over all these seventy thousand veils, which are related to the salik. This hijab is from Allah. All the veils are hidden in this hijab. It is not that Allah is hidden in anything. Nothing can hide Him. After all this removing of the seventy thousand veils is in itself a hijab, which reaches a very big hijab. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) has said, 'There is a veil of luminosity. If you remove it, the luminosities of the zath (of Allah) will burn the power of your vision (basarat) to its farthest limit.'"

753. It is narrated that as the time of the demise of Prophet Muhammad (SLM) was nearing, Jibrail (AS) and the angel of death (Malak-al-Maut -- Izrail (AS)) came. Jibrail (AS) stood near the feet of the Prophet Muhammad (SLM) and Izrail (AS) near his head. A voice was heard from the Lord of the Worlds. Izrail (AS) ran away towards the East and Jibrail (AS) towards the West. Allah Most High came and kissed the forehead of the Prophet (SLM). The zath joined the zath. Syed Muhammad Gesudaraz (RA) has narrated this fable.

754. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) had high fever at the time of his demise. Bibi Aisha (RZ) (his wife) said, "It is time for namaz." The Prophet (SLM) said, "Bring water." She said, "I have brought water." The temperature was rising. She again said, "It is time for the namaz." Thrice he asked her to bring water. Bibi (RZ) says that fever was very high. Later, the Prophet (SLM) breathed his last.

755. It is narrated that as the time of the death of Bibi Khadija (RZ) (first wife of Prophet Muhammad (SLM)) arrived, she told her husband, "Shroud me in your chadar (a large piece of cloth wrapped around the body). Do not forget your bondmaid on the Day of Resurrection. Get me the glory of being the mother of Bibi Fatima (RZ). I am poor. Muhammad (SLM) has come in my nasib (destiny). I did not keep any thing. I have given a thousand tinke (coins) and forty zarain in charity in the way of Allah." After this oral will (wasiyat), she passed away.

756. As the time of the death of Bibi Fatima (RZ) (daughter of Prophet Muhammad (SLM)) arrived, it is narrated, she washed her shroud with her own hands. She made her children sit near her and, giving them her secret, told them, "You will be without mother." Her husband Ali (RZ) was in the mosque. She sent word asking him to come home. Ali (RZ) asked her, "What are you washing?" "My shroud!" she said. Ali (RZ) was astonished. The Bibi (RZ) passed away. All the companions of the Prophet (SLM) came for her funeral and supplicated for her deliverance. Ali (RZ) saw in his dream that the Bibi (RZ) had become highly distressed by the questioning of Munkir-o-Nakir (the angels who check the lifelong deeds of the deceased). She was telling them, "Do not be hard on this frail person. I have just been saved from the travails of death at the hands of the Angel of Death. Ali (RZ) asked the Bibi (RZ), "What is the reason for this?" The Bibi (RZ) said, "Somebody's needle was with me. I did not return it. I had kept it in the crevice of the wall. Return it to its owner soon." He returned it. It was then that the Bibi (RZ) was able to give convincing answers to the angels. May Allah be praised! What would happen to people like us when an eminent person like the daughter of the Prophet (SLM) had to face such a situation?

757. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) is narrated to have asked the soul of Prophet Musa (AS), "How was your soul removed from flowers?" Prophet Musa (AS) said, "When I smelt the first flower, I felt like a live sheep being skinned. When I smelt the second flower, I felt like a live fish being mercilessly rubbed on a stone to clean it and then bake it on a frying pan. When I smelt the third flower, I felt like muslin being spread and dragged on a tree of thorns and the muslin is torn to pieces. Death came to me with such hardship."

758. Ibrahim (RZ), son of Prophet Muhammad (SLM), passed away. The Prophet (SLM) himself gave the boy the funeral bath and supplicated for his salvation. Munkir-o-Nakir came and asked the boy, "Who is your Lord?" The boy said, "Allah is my Lord." Who is your nabi (Prophet)?" The boy said, "My father." The angels raised their hand. The boy let out a shriek. The Prophet (SLM) heard it. He returned and said, "Your father is Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah." The companions of the Prophet (SLM) cried very much at this and told him, "O Messenger of Allah, what would be our fate if this is the fate of your seven- year old boy?" It was at that time that the following verse of Quran was revealed, Allah confirmeth those who believe by a firm saying in the life of the world and in the Hereafter, and Allah sendeth wrong-doers astray. And Allah doeth what He will.

759. Abdullah Bin Salam narrates that when the Angel of Death seizes the souls of all and everybody was dead, Allah will ask him to seize his own soul and die. "Remove your own soul from your body and hand it over to the Truth (God)." Izrail (AS) will come on a hard rock. He will extend his right hand under the Empyrean. He will pierce his strong fingernails in his body and make efforts to extract his soul from within his body. He will let out a shriek because of the pain accompanying death. If the entire population (makhluq) were to be alive, it will die out of fear on hearing the frightful shriek. Then Izrail (AS) would say, "Had this slave (I) known that the pain of death would be so severe, this slave would never have accepted the job of making people die." Then the Voice will come, "O Izrail, Give your life." Then Izrail (AS) will die in great pain out of the fright of the Voice.

760. It is narrated that when the time of the death of Aba Bakr (RZ) (first Caliph of Prophet Muhammad (SLM)) came, he saw in a dream that the Prophet (SLM) has come to the sky of the earth among the angels and called Bibi Aisha (RZ) (daughter of Aba Bakr (RZ) and wife of Prophet (SLM)) and told her, "The time of Doomsday journey has come for your father." Hence, Aba Bakr (RZ) started pronouncing his will (wasiyat). It said, "Use this blanket for my shroud because the Prophet (SLM) has seen it. I was wearing this blanket when I repented (tauba) and lamented. These two chital (coins) were fixed as our taiyun (fixed periodical income). We have kept the sum as on trust. Give these two chital to Umar (RZ) when he succeeds me, and tell him to assign these two chitals in the account of the faqirs." When his temperature rose, there was honey in his house. He said, "How do I face Prophet Muhammad (SLM)? There was no honey in the house of the Prophet (SLM) when he died. There is honey in my house now." Aba Bakr (RZ) passed away after this. His body was taken to the mausoleum of Prophet Muhammad (SLM). The door of the mausoleum opened on its own. Aba Bakr's grave was dug next to the grave of the Prophet (SLM). Ali (RZ) got down into the grave. He saw that the hand of the Prophet (SLM) was on the face of Aba Bakr (RZ). The Prophet (SLM) was supplicating, "O Allah, forgive and deliver my ummah as a charity of this gray beard." The divine command arrived, "O Muhammad, had you asked for forgiving the sinners, I would have accepted it. We hold Aba Bakr in such high esteem." Then a Voice said, "Go back. The friend has perished in the Friend." At that time, Ali (RZ) said, "We had not recognized Aba Bakr (RZ)."

761. A slave is narrated to have injured (second Caliph) Hazrat Umar (RZ). When the time of his death arrived, Umar (RZ) started to pronounce his will, "Take us (my body) near the mausoleum of Prophet Muhammad (SLM). Bury me inside the mausoleum if the door opens on its own. Otherwise, bury me outside." The door opened on its own. They dug the grave inside the mausoleum and interred him. Ali (RZ) entered the grave. There he saw that the earth ran from the four sides to attack the body of Umar (RZ). His body was laid to rest avoiding the earth from all the four sides. Umar's twelve-year-old son Abdullah was concentrating on seeing his father's body for 12 years. He did not see his father for twelve years. Then he saw that Umar (RZ) was briskly going. Abdullah called, "O father." Umar (RZ) did not reply. Again he called, "Umar Khattab (RZ), stop there. I have something to ask." Then he asked, "How did you fare with Allah?" Umar (RZ) said, "They kept me for twelve years at the position of anger. They are taking me to the position where I have to account (for my deeds). I go along with Prophet Muhammad (SLM). I may be forgiven as a charity of the Prophet (SLM)." Umar (RZ) had killed his father and son because of his friendship with Allah. When he became the Caliph, he divorced his wife whom he loved. (He did this because) he had done something violating the Shariat one night for the sake of that woman. He would take care of the people after the day dawned and at nights he would go the graveyard and spend his time in the remembrance of Allah. If such a pious man had to face such retribution, what would be the fate of other people?

762. It is narrated that Usman (RZ) was the Caliph and used to sit on the pulpit and deliver his sermons. He had become very old and weak. People and gifts used to come in large numbers. He had appointed his friends on various posts. The other thing is that the system of the government had changed. Hence, an army had come. Usman (RZ) was sitting in solitude (i'tekaf). Ali (RZ) had sent his sons Hasan (RZ) and Husain (RZ) to convey his salutations to Usman (RZ). He had also sent a message that he was also sitting in solitude. Hence he could not come and had sent his sons. When this message was conveyed, Usman (RZ) said, "Prophet Muhammad (SLM) had come and asked me to come. Our time is over. Therefore, you may go and give Ali (RZ) my salutations. Ask him to send me water." The army came and besieged the mosque and did not allow the taking of water. Usman (RZ) was reciting the Quran. He reached the Verse, …And Allah will suffice thee against them… A Negro slave came and separated the head of Usman (RZ) from his body. The blood fell on the copy of the Quran. Then he breathed his last.

763. Hazrat Ali (RZ) came to the mosque in the morning and told the people, "Wake up. It is time for the namaz. He was in the mehrab (prayer niche in a mosque). Abdur Rahman came and injured Ali (RZ). Ali (RZ) was taken to the hujra (room). He called Umm Salama (RZ) and orally announced his will (wasiyat), "Do not place me in khak (dust)." He told Hasan (RZ) and Husain (RZ) (his sons), "I have made over to Allah." He lamented very much. Umm Salamah (RZ) told Ali (RZ), "You have so obediently served (Allah) and yet you repent (tauba)?" Ali (RZ) said, "The boat of life has fallen into the ocean of death. The sails (badban) of fortune (naseeb) are cut. The winds of freedom from want (be-nayazi) are blowing. The boat of life is cruising in the air. Eighteen thousand angels have come to see what Allah commands in favour of Ali (RZ), and where he will be taken (it is not known). The time has come to us. Our obedience and service is (so insignificant) as a hair. Death has become a garland around our neck. And the winds of freedom are flying our soul. It is not known where it will take us." After he said all this, he died.

764. Malak-al-Maut (AS) (Angel of Death) came and tortured Khwaja Hasan Basari (RA) so much that he rubbed his nose on the mud. Kiramun Katibeen (angels who record the deeds of the human beings) tendered evidence that "O Angel of Death, We have not recorded any wrong-doing of this person during the last thirty years. You are torturing him like this?" Allah's command arrived, "Two witnesses are giving the evidence (of his righteousness). Do not torment him." After this the Angel of Death released him. It was after this that Hasan (RA) died. He was taken into the presence of the Lord of the Worlds. Allah said, "O old man, you said two cycles (rak'at) of prayers on that night. I have accepted it. Had I not accepted it, do you know what I would have done? (In other words, I would have sent you to the Hell.) I have now given you salvation (najat). Go to Paradise."

765. When the time of the death of Khwaja Junaid (RA) arrived, he was crying profusely. His companions asked, "Your Honour has prayed and obeyed so meticulously. Why do you lament so much?" He said, "Our obedience and service has now become like a hanging hair. Strong winds are blowing. It is not known where the winds will take it." It was after this that he died. Munkir-o-Nakir arrived in the grave and asked him, "Who is your Lord?" Junaid (RA) said, "Ask Allah. My saying will be true if Allah accepts it. Otherwise, what is the credibility of my saying (anything)?" Allah said, "My slave tells the truth. Come away." Munkir-o-Nakir went away.

766. It is narrated that when an aulia-Allah died, Munkir-o-Nakir came and asked him. "Who is your Lord?" The aulia-Allah said, "I will talk to your Master. It is impossible to talk to you. Go away with your honour. Otherwise, you will be disgraced." Allah's command arrived, "Come away from him." Munkir-o-Nakir went away.

767. Bibi Rabe'a (RA) is narrated to have asked Allah, "Has any of my deeds been accepted at Your door?" Allah's command arrived, "One of your deeds has been accepted at Our door. Our dog was thirsty. You gave it water to drink. I have accepted that deed of yours." The Bibi (RA) died. Munkir-o-Nakir came in the grave. They asked, "Who is your Lord?" The Bibi (RA) said, "Have I forgotten my God, now that I am buried under one-and-a-half yards of mud, that you ask me?" Munkir-o-Nakir went away.

768. It is narrated that an aulia-Allah died. He was taken into the presence of the Lord of the Worlds. Allah asked him, "What did you do in the world?" He said, "I worshipped You for four hundred years in the world." Allah commanded, "Set a place for him four hundred years away from the Hell." Seeing that place, he was astonished. He complained, "O Lord of the Worlds, I am in great torment." Allah's command arrived, "You worshipped for four hundred years. You trusted your worship (ibadat). Hence, We kept you at a distance of four hundred years away from the Hell." He then said, "Give me salvation by Your grace (fazal)." Allah said, "Now that you have recalled Our fazal, We give you salvation and are sending you into Paradise."

769. An aulia-Allah died. He was taken to the august presence of the Lord of the Worlds. Allah asked, "What did you do in the world?" He said, "I worshipped You for four hundred years." He felt very thirsty and was in distress. An angel with water passed in front of him. He asked the angel for water. The angel asked, "What will you give me for it?" He said, "Two hundred years of worship." The angel gave him one glass of water. The thirst increased. He asked the angel, "Give me one more glass of water." Again the angel asked, "What will you give me for that?" "The rest of the two hundred-year worship," he said. The angel gave him another glass of water. He drank it. Then the angels of the Hell came and dragged him towards the Hell. The he pleaded with Allah for his deliverance. Allah said, "You have sold your four hundred-year worship for two glasses of water. What do you want now?" "Give me salvation by Your Grace," he asked. Then Allah commanded the angels "Leave him. He has recalled Our fazal. I have saved him from the Hell and granted him the Paradise."

770. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) is narrated to have said that Jibrail (AS) came to him one day. There was some mud on his clothes. The Prophet (SLM) asked him, "What is this: mud on your clothes?" Jibrail (AS) said, "A worshipper (abid) died in a forest today. Allah commanded us four angels to bury him. We did. The mud has stuck to our clothes." The Prophet (SLM) said, "How did he fare with Allah?" It was not so good," said Jibrail (AS). "Why," asked the Prophet (SLM). Jibrail (AS) said, "He was taken to the presence of Allah. Allah asked him, 'What did you eat in the world?' 'I have not eaten anything in the world except a pomegranate a day and worshipped You.' Allah commanded, 'He has worshipped. Keep his worship on one side of the balance and place one seed of the pomegranate on the other side.' The angels did as told. The side of the balance with the worship went up and the side with one grain of the pomegranate went down with its weight. Allah commanded that this worshipper be taken to the Hell. The angels began dragging him to the Hell. He pleaded with Allah, 'Give me salvation by your fazal.' Allah now commanded, 'Leave him. He has remembered our fazal. We have saved him from the Hell and have bestowed the Paradise on him.'"

771. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) is narrated to have said the sides of the grave of Yahya Ibn Ma'az had closed to so narrow a pass that his bones had crashed into one another. His companions had asked him for the reason of this trouble. The Prophet (SLM) said that a little camel's urine had fallen into his bread without his knowledge. He had eaten that bread. Hence, the trouble. If that had happened to him, what would happen to others?

772. Prophet Muhammad (SLM) is narrated too have said that the Empyrean of Allah shook when Yahya Ibn Ma'az died. The Prophet (SLM) himself went on his toes to seek and supplicate for his salvation. Some other Prophets (AS) and angels too had come. He said that the sides of the grave of Yahya had closed so severely that his bones were crushed into one another. The companions asked the Prophet (SLM) for the reason. The Prophet (SLM) said, "A little urine of a camel had fallen on his clothes without his knowledge. He said his prayers with the unclean clothes. That was the reason."

773. Bayazid (RA) reached the presence of Allah. Allah Most High said, "I have placed you in Paradise." Bayazid (RA) said, "That is the place of obedient people." Again Allah commanded, "Shall I place you on the Empyrean?" That is the place for the nearest people (muqarriban)." Then Allah asked, "Do you love Me?" Bayazid (RA) kept quiet. Then Allah said, "I do not like you. What will you do?" Bayazid (RA) said, "I will shout (na'ra)."

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