Khidr e Raah --- Episode 1

KHIDR E RAAH

The Inn keeper had a name in telling stories, whole day he served the passengers with delicious food and at night he used to tell them interesting stories. He was a man of virtue, Nobel and a thorough gentleman, who knew how to make the situations lighter and people, happy. He was a simple man with no academic education but he had this art of fabricating stories, just to amuse people. Mostly the stories were mere exaggerations, stories of outer space, stories of jungle, castles and emperors. Because of his nice behavior he acquired contacts with people coming from multiple professions, some were tradesmen, some were king's officials, some were soldiers. They often on their visits preferred to stay at his inn.

One night, when everyone gathered in the Inn and the Inn keeper finished his chores, a man asked for a story. The Inn keeper was already looking for a chance to be the show man. He settled down among the people and adjusted his turban.

"Starting with the name of Allah, the Glorious, most merciful, more beneficent.

My dear Fellas! I'm not going to tell a story like I always do, today I'll not exaggerate. The incident I'm going to report today is true word by word."

The audience got restless, "come on start it then", "we can't wait, come on".

The Inn keeper smiled,

"So, my dear friends, it was one strange night, thunderstorm was creating fear everywhere around, due to heavy raining whole day, nobody visited the Inn. At the night it was me, some of the workers and two or three more passengers. We ended our tasks, closed all the doors and windows and settled into our beds. When I heard knock at the door, horrible night, thunderstorm and someone was knocking at the door so calmly. From the knock I guessed there's someone very strange outside.

Well, I ran to open the door and saw a young man with dark black beard standing there. His clothes were drenched head to toe. But he was standing as nothing has happened or happening. As if he was not in his senses, his gaze had serenity, his aura felt peaceful. He didn't said a word only standing there, I let him in. Offered him soup and some dry clothes of mine.

Next morning I woke up, doing my business I forgot about the boy. Whole day passed and in the night I remembered about the boy I rushed to his room to check if he's still there or if he's ok. Whole day he did not came to ask for any meal or water. In his room, he was sitting with wall, his eyes rested on an invisible point, staring in air. Even when I was in front of him, he didn't noticed me.

Me: Assalamu alaikum sahb!

He did not moved, staring as before at something that wasn't there. It felt creepy, I looked here and there as if I missed something but literally there wasn't anything or anyone other than us.

I sat beside him, held his shoulder,

Me: dear son, what happened? Are you alright?

As I spoke and touched him as if he broke from some spell, he startled. Wiping his forehead, he was drenched in sweat. I was worried, as it was raining that day and the weather was quite pleasant but he was sweating as if the sun is upon his head. I helped him lye down on the bed, rushed to get some water for him. He drank as if he was thirsty for Allah knows how many days. I asked him for food, but he refused. In a while he closed his eyes and slept. I was sitting there watching his face, there was this strange kind of Noor on his face, as if his face was shining. He was very handsome, having good looks a very well built. But Allah knows best what was the matter with him. I left him there and went back to my work.

He stayed with us for some days, with his strange ways. Drowned in thoughts all the time, staring at invisible spots, sometimes he forgot to blink his eyes, sometimes I wondered if he's breathing or not.

One day I sat beside him, asked about him. That day he was better, he smiled on my questions and lightly replied. According to his introduction he belonged to very good family, he owned a fortune, he had everything but he looked and felt empty. I asked you are blessed, you've received everything from heavens why you are straying here and there. What is it, that keeps you wandering like a cloud and wind everywhere. His reply shocked me.

Him: I am looking for Khidr.

Khidr is the Prophet who is said to present in all times, his life is endless with the command of Allah. He is present in every era of mankind, he performs multiple tasks, ordered by Allah. Khidr is said to show right path to those who get lost in their ways.

Me: Khidr? Are you looking for The Khidr? But why? And don't you know no one can find him untill he wishes.

He smiled and walked back to his room. I kept sitting there scratching my head thinking, what a riddle this young guy left for me to solve.

The Inn-keeper paused as if he was still thinking about the riddle. Everyone demanded him to continue with the story he was telling.

...............................................

Once in a desert of an Arabian tribe, lived a self proclaimed saint. His tent was at a little distance from the tribe, he had an eagle. He was not allowed to enter the tribe, people of tribe banned him from any contact or meeting with any tribal people. His eagle was his only family member, who flew over desert and came back to him.

One hot summer noon, when sun was sending its heat down on the sand to get hotter and hotter. His eagle came to the tent, which was not usual. It only returned at afternoons. He came out of the tent to check what's the matter. The eagle took a little flight, he followed and the eagle kept on guiding him further. Until he found a person, unconscious, lying upside down on the burning desert sand. He shook him, patted his face but he didn't respond. Then the man lifted him to his tent. Put water on his face to help him get conscious. The boy stayed like that for an hour or two and the man waited for him to regain his senses.

When the guy woke up, the man offered him water and food. Surprisingly the boy didn't hesitated, he woke up and sat as if he was already living there. It took some moments and they were talking to each other as friends.

Man: What's your name? Who are you and what you were doing in the desert in such conditions when even birds don't come out of their nests?

The boy smiled and stayed silent for a while. The man was still looking at him.

Man: you look like a gentleman of a noble family.

Boy: you can call me with any names, I don't keep any single. I'm after losing my identity to find the divine. I think I find him already.

Man: O masha Allah you talk intellect, I so fortunately found someone who can talk in a way I want.

Boy: see, I told you, I find him already. You are the one.

Man: astaghfirullah, I'm no divine, I'm no one, nothing, a produce of nothingness in this so meaningful universe.

The boy smiled and looked at him as if he was the most attractive man on the entire planet. He was a little afraid who was his guest and maybe he lost his mind due to heat stroke, that he was babbling strange gibberish.

Man: ok then I'll call you Abdullah.

Boy: Sure, that's who I am, that's who you are. So I'll call you Abdullah.

Man: what will be the difference than? Abdullah and Abdullah?

Boy: my brother Abdullah, it is not about looking for the differences but seeking what's common.

He indicated his finger toward sky.

"Up there, the master, the benefactor, to him we are only Abdullah. You are you, I'm me and for both of us He is our "common". For Him we love, for Him we strive and to Him we shall return."

Man: Allahu Akbar, Subhan Allah, Allah Allah Allahu Akbar.

The man started crying, he started chanting the names of Allah and ran outside of the tent. He was running in the desert to one side and then to other side. As if he was ecstatic, he was not in his senses.

Boy stayed calm, he smiled and smiled and repeated "Subhan Allah" "subhan Allah".

Man: Subhan Allah, Ya Rabb, you came to see me, you visited my poor house, you visited and checked on me. I can't reach the Kaaba but you made my tent Kaaba by checking on me. Hoo Allah, haq Allah, hoo Allah, Haq..............

And his words echoed in the desert.