Basic HTML Version
-10-
anyone’s effort go to waste.”
Abdullah bin Mubarak had thought only so far when he heard the other angel
speak: “There is a cobbler in Damascus. His name is Ali bin al-Mufiq. He
could not come for Hajj, but Allah (SWT) has accepted his intention of Hajj.
Not only will he get the reward for Hajj, but because of him, all the Hajjis will
be rewarded.”
When Abdullah bin Mubarak woke up, he decided he would go to Damascus
and meet that cobbler whose Hajj intentions carried such a lot of weight.
On reaching Damascus, Abdullah bin Mubarak inquired if anyone knew a
cobbler named Ali bin al-Mufiq. The town people directed him to a house.
When a man appeared from the house Abdullah bin Mubarak greeted him
and asked his name. The man replied “Ali bin al-Mufiq.”
Abdullah bin Mubarak asked: “What do you do for a living?”
Ali bin al-Mufiq replied: “I am a cobbler.” Then Ali bin al-Mufiq asked the
stranger’s name that had come looking for him.
Abdullah bin Mubarak was a very well-known scholar of Islam, whenAbdullah
bin Mubarak introduced him self, the cobbler was anxious to find out why
such a well known scholar was seeking him out.
When Abdullah bin Mubarak asked Ali bin al-Mufiq to tell him if he had made
any plans to go for Hajj. Ali bin al-Mufiq replied, “For thirty years I have lived
in the hope of performing the Hajj. This year I had saved enough to go for
Hajj, but Allah (SWT) did not will it, so I couldn’t make my intention translate
into action.”
Abdullah bin Mubarak was eager to find out how could this man’s Hajj be
accepted and blessed for all the people who went for Hajj that year when he
didn’t go for Hajj in the first place. While talking to the cobbler he could feel
certain purity in his heart. Islam regards greatness not in wealth or in power,
but in civility, in good manners and the goodness of heart.
Abdullah bin Mubarak further asked: “why could you not go on Hajj?” In order
not to disclose the reason, Ali bin al-Mufiq again replied “it was Allah’s (SWT)
will.”
When Abdullah bin Mubarak persisted, Ali bin al-Mufiq revealed: “Once
I went to see my neighbour’s house. His family was just sitting down for
dinner. Although I was not hungry I thought my neighbour would invite me