This story took place here about hundred years ago and it was also broadcast on the radio stations. It is about a man call Ibn Jadaan. He (Ibn Jadaan) narrated how during spring times he used to go out. He would see good and healthy fat camels and their udders filled to the extent of almost exploding.
Whenever the little offspring (i.e. the calf) came close to the mother camel, her milk would pour forth because of the great abundance of blessings and abundance of goodness. "So I (Ibn Jadaan) looked a one of my she-camels with her calf and I remembered my poor neighbour who had seven young daughters. So said to myself; "By Allaah I will give this camel and her calf as sadaqah (charity) to my neighbor, and he recited the verse where Allaah says: "By no means shall you Attain piety righteousness unless you spend in Allahs cause of which that you love."(Q3[AIimraan]:92). And the most beloved from amongst my cattle, to me, is this she camel.
So I took her along with her calf and knocked on the door of my neighbour. I told him to accept it as a gift from me. I saw his face glooming with happiness and he was unable to utter anything in response. So he benefitted from its milk and used to load wood on its back, awaiting for its offspring to grow up In order to sell.them Subsequently, he gained great good from this camel.
Dry Summer & Drought
After the spring had passed, the dry summer came with its drought, and so the Bedouins began looking for water and grass. We gathered our belongings and left our places looking for water and the duhool (plural of duhul) or holesin the earth, situated underground leading to water traps underneath the ground. Their openings are on top of the ground, as the Bedouins know of verv well.. He (i.e. Ibn Jadaan) entered into one of these holes so as to bring some water to drink, ..and his (lbn jadaans) three sons were waiting for him outside the hole. However he did not return. His three sons waited for him for one, two and three days and finally became hopeless. They said maybe he was stung by a snake and died or he was lost under the earth and destroyed.
They [his sons] (and we seek refuge in Allaah from this) waited for his destruction. Why? Due to greed in order to distribute his inheritance. So they returned home and divided what he had left, amongst themselves. Then they remembered that their father (Ibn Jadaan) gave a she-camel to their poor neighbour. They went to their neighbour and told him that it is better that he give them back the she-camel and take another camel in place of it, otherwise they will take it by force and he will be left with nothing.
A Search For A Friend
The neighbour complained that he would report them to their father. So they informed him that he had died. He inquired as to how and where Ibn Jadaan had died, and why they hadnt told him. They then explained how he entered into one of these holes underground in the desert and did not come out. The neighbour said: "By Allaah; take me to this place and take your she-camel and do whatever you wished with it and I dont want your camel in return!" They took him and when he saw the place, he went and brought a rope, lit a candle, tied it outside the duhul (the hole) and then stepped into it crawling on his back until he reached the places whereby he could crawl and roll. Eventually the smell of moisture became closer and then all of a sudden he heard the sound of a man by the water groaning and moaning. He went closer and closer towards this sound in the darkness putting his hand out all over until his hand fell onto the man (Ibn Jadaan).
He checked his breath and he was still breathing after one week! He pulled him out covering his eyes so as to protect him from the sunlight. He took with him some dates, moistened them in water and gave it to him to drink. One Week & You Didnt Die? He then carried him on his back and took him to his house and life gradually returned to this man whilst his sons didnt know. He then asked him: Tell me, by Allaah, one week while you were underground and you didnt die?!" "I will tell you something strange..." Ibn Jidaan explained: "...when I went down there I got lost and waves took me from all directions and I said to myself Id better stay close to this water that I have reached.
So I started to drink from it, but hunger had no mercy and water does not suffice. Then after three days hunger intensified on me and took me from all parts. While I was lying on my back I surrendered myself to Allaah and put all my affairs in his hands and all of a sudden I felt the warmth of milk pouring onto my mouth. So I sat in the midst of the darkness and I saw a pot coming closer to my mouth.
I drank from it until I took from it what was sufficient and then it would go! This occurred three times in the day but the last two days it stopped and I didnt know what happened." In The Shade Of His Sadaqah His neighbour then informed him: "If you knew the reason you will be amazed! Your sons thought you had died and they came to me and took away the shecamel from which Allaah (Subhaanahu Wa TaAala) was giving you from its milk!" The Muslim is in the shade of his Sadaqah (Charity).
Allaah states in: "and whoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to him, he will make a way for him to get out (from every difficult)" and "... and he will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And who ever puts his trust in Allah, then he will suffice him". (Q65[at-Talaq]:2-3)
Indeed, the true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit! [This real life story that happened in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia about a hundred years ago was told by Dr. Saleh as-Saleh (RAH). The audio can still be accessed on his website room www.understandingislam.com]
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited