A LESSON FOR HADHRAT ABU SULAIMAAN DAARAANI

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Created: Tuesday, 21 October 2014 15:22

Hadhrat Abu Sulaimaan Daaraani (rahmatullah alayh) was among the famous Auliya of Allah Ta’ala. Hadhrat Ahmad Bin Hawaari (rahmatullah alayh) narrates:

     “Once I accompanied Hadhrat Abu Sulaimaan Daaraani on a journey to Makkah Mukarramah. Along the route I lost my water-bag. I became concerned of the prospect of being without water along the journey (which was through the desert). When I mentioned this to Hadhrat Daaraani, he made dua: “O Thou Restorer of Lost Things! Return our lost water-bag.”

     Very soon thereafter in that desolate stretch of desert appeared a man with the water-bag in his hand. He was proclaiming: “Whose lost water-bag is this?” I identified the water-bag and took it from the stranger. We continued with our journey.

     Not long thereafter we encountered intense cold. It was extremely cold. We donned our warm garments. Then we saw a man clad with only two old, thin shawls and he was perspiring despite the severity of the cold. Hadhrat Abu Sulaimaan said to him: “If you wish, we shall give you warm garments.” The man responded:

     Heat and cold and everything else are the creations of Allah Ta’ala. If He commands, then both heat and cold will overwhelm me, and if He commands, both will bypass me. I have inhabited this wilderness for 30 years in this very same condition. I have never shivered in winter on account of the intensity of the cold nor perspired in summer because of the extreme heat.

     During winter, the fire of my Love (for Allah Ta’ala) is my garment, and in summer He bestows to me the coolness of the Honey of His Love. O Daaraani! You are engrossed with garments while you have abandoned Zuhd (renunciation of the world). Therefore the cold distresses you. O Daaraani! You cry and scream. You derive solace from the cool breeze (in summer).”

     Hadhrat Abu Sulaimaan (rahmatullah alayh) then commented: “Besides this man, no one has recognized me.” (In other words, ‘He has understood my spiritual malady.’)

THE LESSON

     In this episode was a lesson for Hadhrat Abu Sulaimaan Daaraani (rahmatullah alayh). When he had observed the quick Divine Response to his supplication for the water-bag, a trace of ujub (vanity/self-esteem) had developed. Ujub is a subtle and extremely dangerous malady which can ruin the greatest Wali. Allah Ta’ala provides lessons, admonition and protection for His Auliya in many different ways. To protect him from the malady of ujub Allah Ta’ala linked him up with the Wali who had lived for 30 years in the wilderness without any physical ways and means for his rizq, clothes and shelter. Allah Ta’ala had cared for him in wonderful and miraculous ways. When Hadhrat Abu Sulaimaan saw his own spiritual condition in the mirror of this Wali’s rank of Divine Proximity, his own state appeared insignificant and contemptible. In this way Allah Ta’ala eliminated vanity from His Wali.