Wasn't It 'Abdullah Al-Mubarak During The Haj?

Turkish descendent 'Abdullah bin Al-Mubarak, born 118 years after hijrah, was entering Kufa in Iraq.

On his way to Makkatul Mukarramah to perform his haj, he saw an old woman sitting on a rubbish-heap plucking a duck.
It occurred to him that it was indeed a carrion, dead and rotting, not fit for her consumption.
He stopped his mule, and asked the woman if the duck is slaughtered or already dead.

When she answered the latter,
he asked, 'then why are you plucking it?'
'So that my family and I can eat it,' was her reply.

'Abdullah Al-Mubarak told her that ALLAH Subhaanahu Wa Ta'aala forbid carrion consumption in a country of abundance.
The woman kept chasing and shooing him away, for being a busybody .

After a long exchange of words, he asked the whereabout of her house.
He then left the spot, and rented a proper lodging for him to stay.

At the rented lodging, he then approached a man.
He offered the man some monetary reward if the man accompanied him to the address given by the woman that he had earlier met.

Once reaching the place, 'Abdullah Al-Mubarak requested the man to knock at the door with a stick that he had.
The woman asked who was at the door.
When 'Abdullah asked her to open the door, she partially opened it.
He insisted that she opened it wide, all the way.

He got off his mule and hit it with the stick that he had.
The mule went into the house.
Then he said to the woman that the mule with all the provision on it, money and clothes are all hers.
For this world and the Next.

'Abdullah Al-Mubarak stayed behind.
He did not proceed to Makkatul Mukarramah, until the haj season ended.
He returned home when all pilgrims had returned after performing their haj.

****** 

Some of his country folks went to greet him.
They congratulated him for accomplishing his haj.

He told them that he was down with illness and did not go on haj.
But one of them said,
"Subhaanallaah!
Did I not leave my goods with you, while we were at Mina on our way to 'Arafah?"

Another person said the same thing.
He turned to them saying, he did not know what they were saying.
Once again, for himself, he did not go on haj that year.

*** 'Abdullah Al-Mubarak dreamt that someone was telling him,
''Abdullah, rejoice! for ALLAH has accepted your sodaqah.
HE sent an Angel in your form, performing the haj for you.'"

The Other World - My Late Father's Presence

"Mak tak pernah tengok muka Bapak engkau cantik macam tadi." 

"Bapak kita memang cantik, Mak." My Elder Sister replied.

Our Late Father is indeed spiritually beautiful.
He is often present when My Mother recites Her 'wirid'.

My Eldest Sister, whom My Late Father stayed with, during His last days, used to call Me to inform of the glow on Our Late Father's face, especially on Fridays.
So, not only was My Late Younger Sister was present yesterday, there was My Late Father too.

******

I saw only straight row of trees that was planted in the middle of the big road along Bedok Reservoir.

Why was I seeing only trees?

Where are the cars?

After a while, a big bus passed through the deserted road...

It was a casket bus.

My Father's body was inside...

Immediately I called My Eldest Sister to inform Her what I had just seen in my dream.
Our Father will pass away during most people are out spending their long holiday.
I feared nobody will be around to send Him off.
I requested Her to pray hard that Our Father will be properly being sent off.

It was few months before His final days.
He passed away of old age, not of any sickness.
I received the news at 10am on Friday, the second day of 'Eidul Fitr, 2005.

Thank GOD, there is no better days for Him to meet YOU then the day that YOU had chosen for Him.

Thanking My Eldest Sister too, for Her endless day and night prayers.

While I preferred Qur'an reading to have direct communication with HIM, My Eldest Sister finds solace on Her praying carpet.
My Dhuha, if any, is only two raka'at compared to Her, twelve.
My closure prayer, Witir, is only one raka'at that invited scolding from Her.
I devise My own lazy and shortcut ways to get HIS attention.
But nevertheless, My Eldest Sister would turn to Me for things that doubted Her.

******

While I was performing my 'tawaf' around the Ka'abah, My Late Father came to Me.

"Assalaamu 'Alaikum,"

"Eh, Bapak. Bapak buat apa kat sini?" I did not reply His salam.

Too shock to see Him appeared from nowhere during My circumambulation round the Ka'abah.

"Bapak ada kerja sikit lagi ni. Ada tujuh..."

Then I was suddenly awake.

******

I had just finish the first ritual at the jamrahs.
It was My first night in Mina when He approached Me.
I was in the midst of answering the call of Prophet Ibrahim 'alaihis salam to perform Haj on GOD's instruction.

It worried Me as He did not finish His sentence.
It had been seventy days since He passed away, and 'things' are still at work.
But, by just voicing out my worry, usually things will straighten themselves, GOD willing.

"Seven, seventy, seven hundred, seven thousand, which number will justify the lingering doubt?" My Eldest Sister asked when I called to inform Her of my dream. 

"Seven hundred." I said as straight away I remembered,

"The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of ALLAH is like a seed (of grain) which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. 

And ALLAH multiplies (HIS reward) for whom HE wills. And ALLAH is all-Encompassing and Knowing." - Surah Al-Baqarah 261. 

Upon my return from the Haj, My Eldest Sister told me she had made a sadaqah of S$700 in My Late Father's name. 
My Elder Sister 'saw', although My Late Father had almost nil contribution of His possession, He was then sitting on a big chair among prominent men who shared their knowledge and wealth in Singapore during their living days. 

"And whatever you give for interest to increase within the wealth of people will not increase with ALLAH. 
But what you give in zakah, desiring the countenance of ALLAH - those are the multipliers." - Surah Ar-Rum 39.  

Charity does not in any way decrease the wealth and the servant who forgives, ALLAH s.w.t. adds to his respect. 

And the one who shows humility, ALLAH s.w.t. elevates him in the estimation of the people. - Hadith narrated by Muslim.