Yâ Hâbib Yâ Sâhib al-Qadam

Below is Allama Iqbals: Rumuz i Bekhudi translated from Farsi the Farsi version has been included for Farsi readers.   

Whoever maketh compact with the One
That is, hath been delivered from the yoke
Of every idol Unto love belongs.

The true believer, and Love unto him
Love maketh all things possible to us
Reason is ruthless; Love is even more,
Purer, and nimbler, and more unafraid.

Lost in the maze of cause and of effect
Is Reason; Love strikes boldly in the field
Of Action. Crafty Reason sets a snare;

Love overthrows the prey with strong right arm.
Reason is rich in fear and doubt; but Love
Has firm resolve, faith indissoluble.

Reason constructs, to make a wilderness;
Love lays wide waste, to build all up anew.
Reason is cheap, and plentiful as air;

Love is most scarce to find, and of great price.
Reason stands firm upon phenomena,
But Love is naked of material robes.

Reason says, Thrust thyself into the fore”
Love answers Try thy heart, and prove thyself
Reason by acquisition is informed
Of other; Love is born of inward grace
And makes account with Self. Reason declares.

Be happy and be prosperous; Love replies
Become a servant, that thou mayest be free
Freedom brings full contentment to Love’s soul
Freedom, the driver of Love’s riding-beast.

Hast thou not heard what things in time to war
Love wrought with lustful Reason? I would speak
Of that great leader of all men who love.

Tuly the Lord, that upright cypress-tree
Of the Apostle’s garden, Ali’s son,
Whose father led the sacrificial feast

That he might prove a mighty offering;
And for that prince of the best race of men
The Last of the Apostles gave his back.

To ride upon, a camel passing fair,
Crimsoned his blood the cheek of jealous Love
(Which theme adorns my verse in beauty bold)

Who is sublime in our Community
As Say, the Lord is God exalts the Book.

Moses and Pharaoh, Shabbir and Yazid-
From Life spring these conflicting potencies
Truth lives in Shabbir’s strength; Untruth is that
Fierce, final anguish of regretful death.

And when the Caliphate first snapped its thread
Fron the Koran, in Freedom’s throat was poured
A fatal poison, like a rain-charged cloud.

The effulgence of the best of peoples rose
Out of the West, to spill on Kerbela,
And in that soil, that desert was before,
Sowed, as he died, a field of tulip-blood.

There, till the Resurrection, tyranny
Was evermore cut off; a garden fair
Immortalizes where his lifeblood surged.

For Truth alone his blood dripped to the dust,
Wherefore he has become the edifice
Of faith in God’s pure Unity.

Indeed Had his ambition been for earthly rule,
Not so provisioned would he have set forth
On his last journey, having enemies
Innumerable as the desert sands,
Equal his friends in number to God’s Name.

The mystery that was epitomized
In Abraham and Ishmael through his life
And death stood forth at last in full revealed.

Firm as a mountain-chain was his resolve,
Impetuous, unwavering to its goal
The Sword is for the glory of the Faith
And is unsheathed but to defend the Law.

The Muslim, servant unto God alone
Before no Pharaoh casteth down his head.
His blood interpreted these mysteries,
And waked our slumbering community.

He drew the sword There is none other God
And shed the blood of them that served the lie;
Inscribing in the wilderness save God
He wrote for all to read the exordium
Of our salvation.

From Hussain we learned The riddle of the Book,and at his flame
Kindled our torches. Vanished now from ken
Damascus Might, the splendour of Baghdad,
Granada’s majesty, all lost to mind;

Yet still the srings he smote within our soul
Vibrate, still ever new our faith abides
In his Allahu Akbar, Gentle breeze,
Thou messenger of them that are afar,
Bear these my tears to lave his holy dust.

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The original Farsi is below:

در معنی حریت اسلامیہ و سر حادثۂ کربلا

ہر کہ پیمان با ہوالموجود بست
گردنش از بند ہر معبود رست
مؤمن از عشق است و عشق از مؤمنست
عشق را ناممکن ما ممکن است
عقل سفاک است و او سفاک تر
پاک تر چالاک تر بیباک تر
عقل در پیچاک اسباب و علل
عشق چوگان باز میدان عمل
عشق صید از زور بازو افکند
عقل مکار است و دامی میزند
عقل را سرمایہ از بیم و شک است
عشق را عزم و یقین لاینفک است
آن کند تعمیر تا ویران کند
این کند ویران کہ آبادان کند
عقل چون باد است ارزان در جہان
عشق کمیاب و بہای او گران
عقل محکم از اساس چون و چند
عشق عریان از لباس چون و چند
عقل می گوید کہ خود را پیش کن
عشق گوید امتحان خویش کن
عقل با غیر آشنا از اکتساب
عشق از فضل است و با خود در حساب
عقل گوید شاد شو آباد شو
عشق گوید بندہ شو آزاد شو
عشق را آرام جان حریت است
ناقہ اش را ساربان حریت است
آن شنیدستی کہ ہنگام نبرد
عشق با عقل ہوس پرور چہ کرد
آن امام عاشقان پور بتول
سرو آزادی ز بستان رسول
اللہ اللہ بای بسم اللہ پدر
معنی ذبح عظیم آمد پسر
بہر آن شہزادہ ی خیر الملل
دوش ختم المرسلین نعم الجمل
سرخ رو عشق غیور از خون او
شوخی این مصرع از مضمون او
در میان امت ان کیوان جناب
ہمچو حرف قل ہو اللہ در کتاب
موسی و فرعون و شبیر و یزید
این دو قوت از حیات آید پدید
زندہ حق از قوت شبیری است
باطل آخر داغ حسرت میری است
چون خلافت رشتہ از قرآن گسیخت
حریت را زہر اندر کام ریخت
خاست آن سر جلوہ ی خیرالامم
چون سحاب قبلہ باران در قدم
بر زمین کربلا بارید و رفت
لالہ در ویرانہ ہا کارید و رفت
تا قیامت قطع استبداد کرد
موج خون او چمن ایجاد کرد
بہر حق در خاک و خون غلتیدہ است
پس بنای لاالہ گردیدہ است
مدعایش سلطنت بودی اگر
خود نکردی با چنین سامان سفر
دشمنان چون ریگ صحرا لاتعد
دوستان او بہ یزدان ہم عدد
سر ابراہیم و اسمعیل بود
یعنی آن اجمال را تفصیل بود
عزم او چون کوہساران استوار
پایدار و تند سیر و کامگار
تیغ بہر عزت دین است و بس
مقصد او حفظ آئین است و بس
ماسوی اللہ را مسلمان بندہ نیست
پیش فرعونی سرش افکندہ نیست
خون او تفسیر این اسرار کرد
ملت خوابیدہ را بیدار کرد
تیغ لا چون از میان بیرون کشید
از رگ ارباب باطل خون کشید
نقش الا اللہ بر صحرا نوشت
سطر عنوان نجات ما نوشت
رمز قرآن از حسین آموختیم
ز آتش او شعلہ ہا اندوختیم
شوکت شام و فر بغداد رفت
سطوت غرناطہ ہم از یاد رفت
تار ما از زخمہ اش لرزان ہنوز
تازہ از تکبیر او ایمان ہنوز
ای صبا ای پیک دور افتادگان
اشک ما بر خاک پاک او رسان

He who has found love supreme,

He sings and dances out of tune!

He who has worn the garb of love,

He is blessed from the top above.

The moment he drinks from the cup of love,

He asks no questions, recieves no rebuff.

He who has the lover in his heart,

He sets for him his life apart.

He cares not for music or measure,     

He plays with them just for pleasure.

I have arrived in the town of my beloved,

All the false notes are drowned.

He talks of truth, to those who are truthful,

He who has attained the bliss of the beautiful.

He who has found love supreme,

He sings and dances out of tune!

Allama Mohammed Iqbal, the Poet of Tomorrow, sang ‘jawaanon ko ustadon ka peer kar de’ meaning make youth instructor to old age.

Today everyone says very enthusiastically that today’s generation has fallen into decay. But with the same spirit, we also proclaim that human civilization is progressing day by day. Generation Gap is the difference between both.

Globalization: Our Culture

One topic that is widely discussed is Globalization. There are two extreme positions on this- One to blindly support it and secondly in the same spirit, blindly oppose it without any particular reasons. But seen broadly, I personally believe it is the unification of humanity. It is certainly true that certain countries are using it for their own vested interests. But even so, it is not wise to run away from it. As for my generation, our dress styles, food habits, music tastes are very much related to Globalization. We can only see it as ‘our’ culture. For us, it gives us a global nature to our preferences.

Family Structure & Values

The family’s size and nature is undergoing a drastic change. From large households it is shifting to smaller nuclear homes. Sometimes, a single individual makes a family. There may be many reasons, like growth in the wealth of the individuals, expatriate life, educational changes or other family problems. In the case of smaller families, of course the children miss the love of the grand children, the absence of strong bonds between members of same family, if both the parents are working the children miss the love and are they deserve… but it is not possible to stop the formation of nuclear families using force. It is a gradual change. In the beginning, Humans were one family. And then they formed communities and nations. This too is such an evolution.

Choice of Partner

Today’s society is full of unwanted customs invented for our convenience. Each occasion is made to be a festive event. Naturally the funds for such lavish functions has to come from within one’s own family itself. So in order to fulfill such demand, it requires that both parents go for work. I don’t intend to blame it. But it leads to change of values. When one browses through most of the matrimonial websites, it is found that the career of the prospect plays the major role. The financial aspect is very vital. In times gone by, it was the family or other factors that determined a match. But not any more. This is very evident in the Generation Gap.

So instead of blaming the present for every silly issue, the elders should give the right to the young ones to act what they think is right, but at same time give a chance to correct when they go wrong. Since the present is acting on the ways taught to it by the past. Just because they are young, it doesn’t mean that they be not given serious responsibilities. When we look back into history, for example the Holy Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa ashabihi wa sallam appointed a companion of barely 21 years to lead the combat against the mighty Roman empire, although there were other companions more older and capable than him. Therefore one does not have to hesitate to hand over the reins to the youth, in a manner consciously and affectionately. 

Gone are the olden times. The new generation understands the present better. As Allama Iqbal says,

The fashions of the world have turned round
The tone is new, the orchestra has changed

RUKSHANA Begum is, without question, one of a kind. This week, the 23-year-old will become the first police officer ever to wear the Muslim hijab, or headscarf, on duty in Cambridgeshire. And she can’t wait.

"I’ve struggled to get where I am," she admits. "But I feel that my generation is the one which is going to break barriers. I hope that people will look at me and think, ‘If she can do it, so can I’."

When they discovered she was planning to join the police force, Rukshana’s parents went mad. Such a thing was, she explains, unheard of for a young Muslim woman. But, aged just 19, Rukshana herself had no doubts about what she wanted to do.

"I’d always been interested in the police," she explains. "And while I was at Cambridge Regional College I studied public services. The more I learned, the more I thought ‘This is really good, I wouldn’t mind doing it myself ‘.

"When I left college and was applying to university, I decided I may as well apply for a job with the police too - keep my options open. But when the letter arrived, saying I’d passed the application stage, my sister opened it by mistake - we have the same initials.

"She showed my parents, and they were really shocked, mostly because I hadn’t mentioned it to them. They were disappointed, because they’ve always been very pro education and wanted me to continue my studies.

"But I didn’t want to give up on policing, so we came to a compromise:

I’d go to university and do a degree, like they wanted, but I’d also join the specials, so I could be a part of the police force in my spare time."

One of eight children, Rukshana stuck to her word. And, during her training, her parents seemed to come round to the idea. But when she started going out on duty, for four hours each and every week, her mum and dad quickly voiced their disapproval.

"I think their reservations had a lot to do with me being the first, it just wasn’t expected," she adds. "And it happened to coincide with a regular officer’s arm being slashed. That made them take a step back.

"My dad said ‘Are you sure you want to do this? There’s so much risk

* you could end up getting killed’. But the way I see it, there’s risk in every job - my dad’s a taxi driver, and any weirdo could get into his cab. At least in the police you’re trained to deal with it."

Along with their fears for her safety, Rukshana thinks her parents had a negative perception of the British police. Hailing from Bangladesh, Rukshana’s family once had to call officers to their Cambridge home after a group of youths threw stones at their window.

"The police came but said they couldn’t do anything, and my dad took it quite personally," she explains.

"Whatever the police force might have been like in the past, I’ve found it to be very inclusive."

Despite her family’s reservations, Rukshana was determined to carry on policing - and even resorted to keeping some of her shifts a secret.

"One of the reasons I didn’t want to stop, despite the pressure from family, was how welcoming the force had been," she explains.

"They really look after you. And whenever anything big’s going on, like a festival, they give me a ring and ask if I want to do it. That makes you feel really involved and appreciated."

Rukshana has just completed a degree in criminology at Anglia Ruskin. And she admits it’s not always been easy to fit in her shifts as a special.

"Once or twice I had to cancel a duty when family came over," she confesses. "They’d say ‘Is your daughter a police?’, like it was something shameful. It did wind me up. It’s such a respectable thing to do, it’s not like I was dossing in my spare time."

Since those early days, Rukshana’s family and friends have got used to her being a special. A handful of relations, thinking of signing up themselves have even asked for application forms.

Raised a devout Muslim, who learned how to pray and read the Qur’an at Cambridge’s Abu Bakar Siddiq Mosque on Mawson Road, Rukshana recently came to another big decision: from now on, she’s going to wear hijab - even when she’s on police duty.

"Our parents never forced us to wear it," explains Rukshana. "But I’m a practising Muslim: I pray, I read the Qur’an, I fast during Ramadan . . . I thought ‘If I can do all that, I want to take the next step forward to show my devotion to my faith’.

"And so I decided to wear a headscarf. You can’t cherry pick when and where to wear it. That would be hypocritical, wouldn’t it?"

Rukshana contacted Cambridgeshire Specials Co-ordinator Shahina Ahmed, herself a Muslim. At the time, last autumn, hijab was not issued as part of standard uniform. So the constabulary set about getting a scarf designed and made specially for Rukshana.

Sourcing various examples, from the few UK forces which provide hijab, they came up with the finished design earlier this year - with safety in mind. While most headscarves are held in place with pins, Rukshana’s is fastened with a strip of poppers.

Should an assailant grab her hijab, while on duty, it will simply pull apart. Made to order by a tailor in Yorkshire, from a special stretchy material, the scarves cost £15 each to buy.

"I think it’s a very positive thing," says Shahina. "The Chief Constable, Julie Spence, has been supportive from day one. But we did have some resistance from members of the force, asking ‘Do you want to put your officer at risk?’ I don’t see it that way

* people have to accept you for who you are."

After four years as a special (the only Muslim in her station), Rukshana has done everything from directing traffic to dealing with public disorder offences. And she’s never encountered any violence or racism.

"People have always looked at me and known I was from an ethnic minority," she explains.

"Wearing a headscarf will narrow down my identity - people will know I’m a Muslim.

"And I see that as a really positive thing; it feels right for me, and I’m not expecting any negative impact.

"Since 9/11, the whole terrorism thing, people think all Muslims must be members of al Qaeda. But my family is from Bangladesh, which is nowhere near the Middle East.

"Hopefully, when people see me out on the street in my police uniform, it will make them think again."

Supporting her choice

RUKSHANA’S move to wear hijab has received the backing of Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s top brass.

"Our staff represent the many communities we serve, and we respect and always try to accommodate any adaptation staff with particular beliefs may want to make to their uniform," says Deputy Chief Constable John Feavyour.

"Uniform is obviously there to serve a purpose in terms of identity and safety, and all changes to uniform are made in line with guidelines that ensure the officer or staff member is able to conduct their normal policing or other duties safely and effectively."

Her efforts have also been welcomed by the wider Muslim community in Cambridge. Abdul Arain is coordinator of Cambridge Muslims Online and a leading member of the Abu Bakar Siddiq Mosque on Mawson Road in the city. He says: "Muslims in the UK are active supporters of and instigators in the positive progress of British society.

They should be able to fully integrate with every section of that society, including the armed forces, the police force and all the other institutions which exist. So this is definitely a step in the right direction."

Father is proud of policing career choice

RUKSHANA’S father, Asgor Ali, has told the Newshow much he admires his daughter’s determination.

"I am a very proud father," he says. "I wasn’t sure to start with, I’ll admit that. You only have to look at a newspaper or turn on the TV to hear about incidents involving police officers, so that was on my mind.

"But an officer from the force came to visit me in my home to explain more about the job, and now I’m pretty happy with what Rukshana is doing.

"She’s the only police officer in Cambridgeshire wearing a hijab, and I’m very happy she’s chosen to wear it. It’s very much in our religion. I think it’s a very positive thing.

"Rukshana is a very strong character and very determined - she said ‘Yes, this is what I want to do’ and she stuck to it. I’m very happy she wants to do something with her life.

"I know she’ll be dealing with all sorts of people, sometimes good and sometimes not. But life is about challenges, isn’t it?"

Forces gear up for hijab wearers

AT THE moment, Rukshana is very much in the minority - among both regular and special police officers. A spokesman for the national Police Federation says it is almost impossible to quantify the number of Muslims nationwide who elect to wear hijab on duty, because it is very much a personal choice and, as yet, the headscarf isn’t issued as uniform across many forces.

Ibrar Hamed, of the Association of Muslim Police in London, says the Met are currently in the process of introducing hijab as a standard uniform option.

While Rukshana will wear a protective bowler hat on top of her hijab when necessary, to protect her head from potential blows, the Met’s aim is to provide a special skull cap instead, which can slot under the scarf.

"In brief, the policy states there is a need to risk assess the officer’s tasking," adds Ibrar. "If the risk assessment indicates a bowler hat would normally be required, then the officer can obtain a protective insert for her hijab from clothing stores.

She should not normally be forced to wear a bowler hat over her hijab but has the choice to do so."

Q. When I graduated, my parents arranged my engagement but we told the family of my fiancée that this will be a long engagement, taking up to four years until I have finished my higher studies. I met the girl a few times, and we talk on the phone regularly. However, I was in doubt about the permissibility of our action. Recently, my fiancée was told that this is not allowed in Islam, but we continued to talk, in order to know each other better. Please comment.

A. Yaqoob

A. People often restrict themselves unnecessarily, thinking that Islam wants such restrictions, when Islam does not require them. What we need to realize is that Islam wants people to manage their affairs in a clean and decent manner that observes its values of propriety. It is not out to impose restrictions that stifle life affairs. There is a verse in the Qur’an that mentions engagement, but it occurs within the context of speaking to a widow about prospective marriage, when she is still in her waiting period. It allows giving her a hint, even though at the time no discussion of marriage is allowed because of her waiting period. It says:

“You will incur no sin if you give a hint of a marriage offer to (widowed) women or keep such an intention to yourselves. God knows that you will entertain such intentions concerning them. Do not, however, plight your troth in secret; but speak only in a decent manner. Furthermore, do not resolve on actually making the marriage tie before the prescribed term (of waiting) has run its course. Know well that God knows what is in your minds, so have fear of Him; and know that God is much-forgiving, forbearing.” (2: 235)

You note here that speaking in a decent manner to a woman is perfectly permissible. What is not allowed is to make secret promises. Everything should be clear in the open, so that the parties’ families and the local community are aware of it. In this way, values of propriety can be observed and no suspicion is aroused. What you are doing is merely to talk on the phone or correspond in letters. As long as your conversation and letters are kept decent, there is no problem with that.

Having said that, I should add a word of advice. Engagement that is carried over such a long time often runs into problems. It is better not to commit oneself so much in advance. As time goes on, people modify their thoughts and change their outlook. What seems to be a good prospective marriage at one time may be viewed differently after two or three years. It is not good for either party to break such engagement after the passage of several years. Therefore, it is always better to start an engagement when one is sure that the marriage could be completed within a reasonable period of time.

O my heart! Why are you sighing like a bubble in midst of a merciless cyclone? What is that you are after?

You wish to mould the reality as per your sweet wishes. Why are you carrying this burdensome loads of self-shaking thoughts?

Give this lunatic some time to settle in a sensible rest. Why should I take your side in the battle against intellect? Part me to reside on a delicate branch of being. I, with my tiny being, cannot withstand the desolating forces…

You lack the flavor of Remembrance. To your Creator have you become ungrateful. To your mentors, insincere…

The companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) were always keen that he should pray for them. They realized that his prayers were always answered in the best way they could hope for. They were happy with every good word he said to them or about them. The Prophet was always ready with a good word to say about his companions. He loved them all and he was most happy when a person declared himself a Muslim. It was his love for people that made him so keen that they should realize the truth of Islam and follow divine guidance, because he was certain that it would bring them happiness in this present life and in their life to come.

Perhaps the best example of the Prophet’s companions’ keenness that he should pray for them is provided by Saad ibn Ubadah, the chief of the Khazraj tribe of the Ansar. He was keen that the Prophet would repeat his greetings to him and his family, because the Islamic greeting, ‘assalamu alaikum,’ is a form of prayer requesting God to grant peace to the people being greeted. Once the Prophet went to visit Saad ibn Ubadah and he stood outside his home waiting for permission to enter. He said the full greeting, assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah, which means ‘peace be to you together with God’s mercy.’ Saad replied to the greeting with the same, but he lowered his voice so that the Prophet would not hear him. The Prophet repeated his greeting three times, and Saad replied every time lowering his voice. The Prophet turned back to go away, but Saad followed him and said to him: “Messenger of God! Every time you said your greeting, I replied but in a low voice, hoping that you would repeat it. I wanted to have more of your greetings and the blessings associated with it.” The Prophet went back with him into his home. Saad brought some raisins and the Prophet ate of that. When he finished, he said this prayer: “May good people always eat at your place, and may angels pray for you, and may fasting people break their fast at your place.” (Related by Ahmad, and also by Abu Dawood in a shorter version).

If Saad’s action was done to any of us we may take it as an offense. Imagine yourself standing at the door of a friend and offering a greeting, but your friend leaves you outside, waiting for you to repeat your greeting. He then owns to his deed and tells you that he left you there because he wanted you to say your greeting again. Most likely you will feel offended and you will make your feelings clear asking your friend not to repeat his misdeed again. The Prophet, however, realized that Saad only wanted the blessing of the Prophet’s greeting to include all members of his household and to have more of it.

He realized that the Prophet’s good nature will prevent any ill feelings being entertained by the Prophet. He then caught up with him and offered his hospitality.

The prayer the Prophet said to Saad at the end granted Saad’s wish in the best possible way. The Prophet’s prayer began with, “may good people always eat at your place.” This means that Saad and his family would always be in plenty and their home would be a place of hospitality for good people. Then the Prophet added, “may angels pray for you.” When angels pray for people, these must be good, deserving that angels mention them in their praises of God. Finally the Prophet said, “may fasting people break their fast at your place.” This is a prayer ensuring great blessings, because when you give a meal to a fasting person, you will get a reward similar to his own.

Anas ibn Malik was young when his stepfather, Abu Talhah, brought him to the Prophet and said: “This young lad is a good one, and he will serve you, Messenger of God.” Anas stayed in the Prophet’s service throughout his 10-year stay in Madinah and reported numerous Hadiths. His mother, Umm Sulaym, was a frequent visitor to the Prophet and he always visited her. Anas reports on one such visit that had a great effect on his life: “The Prophet went to Umm Sulaym and she put forward some dates and butter. He said: ‘Put your butter back in its container and put your dates in its plate, for I am fasting today.’ He then stood up in one corner and prayed, but this was not an obligatory prayer. He then prayed for Umm Sulaym and the people in her home. Umm Sulaym said to him: ‘Messenger of God! I have a small but special request.’ When he asked her what was that, she said: ‘Your servant, Anas.’ He prayed for me, leaving nothing of the good things of this world and the life to come without including it in his prayer. He then said: ‘My Lord! Grant him wealth and children and bless him.’ I have grown to be one of the wealthiest among the Ansar. My daughter Umaynah told me at the time when Al-Hajjaj arrived in Basrah that those who had already died from my offspring were more than a hundred and twenty.” (Related by Al-Bukhari)

It should be mentioned that Anas lived long. At the time he mentions, he was over 80 years of age. He must have had several wives giving him many children and these in turn had many children of their own, so as to give him a very large number of grandchildren and great grandchildren. Because the Prophet prayed that he would be rich, he was one of the richest among his people, the Ansar.

The Prophet prayed for all people he visited. Anas reports: “The Prophet visited a family of the Ansar and ate at their place. When he wanted to leave, he requested that a corner of the house should be cleaned. He stood on a rug and offered a voluntary prayer before praying for his hosts.” (Related by Al-Bukahri.)

Abdullah ibn Busr reports: “The Prophet visited my father. We brought him food and dates that have just started to ripen. He ate of that. He was then served ripened dates. He ate of these, holding the stones between his two fingers and putting them in front of him. He was then brought a drink and he drank and gave it to the person on his right. As he was about to leave, my father held the rein of his mount and asked him to pray for us. He said: ‘My Lord! Bless whatever provisions You grant them; forgive them and have mercy on them.’” (Related by Muslim.)