The Chishti Nizami Habibi Soofie
Sufi Order
Pietermaritzburg
KwaZulu-Natal
South Africa
A
wise and saintly rich man, sensing his approaching death, called his son to his
side and gave him these instructions: "My son, I shall be leaving you very
shortly. On the day when I die, and they have washed my body and come to wrap it
in the shroud, I want you to put one of my socks on my foot. This is my final
request of you."
Soon
after this, the old man did indeed die, leaving behind his goods and property,
his children and his dependents. Family, friends, acquaintances and neighbors
attended his funeral. The body had been washed and was almost completely wrapped
in the shroud, when the son remembered his father's wish. Finding one of his old
socks, he handed it to the washer of the dead, saying, "In accordance with
my father's last request, please put this sock on his foot."
"That
is quite impossible:' Said the man. "Such a thing is utterly impermissible
in Islam. I cannot act against the Sacred Law." Despite this valid
objection, the son insisted, " That was my father's final request; it must
certainly be carried out."
.
The washer of the dead was unmoved. "If you won't take my word for
it," he said, "go and ask the mufti. He will confirm what I tell you,
that it is not permissible." Holding up the funeral, they consulted the
mufti, preachers and scholars, all of whom declared that this was not
permissible in Islam. Just then, an aged friend of the deceased interrupted the
debate with these words to the son: "My boy, your late father entrusted me
with a letter which I was to hand over to you after his departure. Here, this
letter belongs to you." So saying, he gave him an envelope. Taken by
surprise, the boy opened the envelope and read out the contents of his father's
"My
son, all this wealth and property I have left to you. Now you see: at the last
moment, they won't even let you give me an Old sock to wear. When You yourself
come one day to be in my condition they will also refuse to let you keep
anything but your shroud. Eight yards of shroud are all you will be able to
carry over from this fleeting world into the Hereafter. So pull yourself
together and be prepared. Spend the fortune I have left you, not for the
satisfaction of vain desires, but in ways pleasing to Allah, that you may
achieve honor in both worlds."
What
beautiful advice and guidance for those who can understand! May the mercy of
Allah be upon him.