One day, early in the morning, Haji Ibrahim came to meet Sheikh Mabruk and gave him a job to open the gate of his family graves. This time was for his fifth son. Every year, Haji Ibrahim mourned because every time he was blessed with a son, his son lived not long enough. Shaikh Mabruk was so touched by this tragic life of Haji Ibrahim. He could feel the sorrow in the heart of the poor father who had such a trial. "This is my fifth son. My only daughter who is still alive suffers from paralysis since few months ago. Only with the help of wheel chair can she move. The doctor who is taking care of her told me that there is no more hope for my little girl. There is no medicine found yet to cure her disease. Maybe you will dig another grave for my only daughter, Shaikh Mabruk. O God, my only daughter will return to You soon. Your Mercy, O Lord!"
That poor father put his head on Sheikh Mabruk's chest. He cried like a litttle child who lost her parents in the same time. The heart of Sheikh Mabruk was ripped. Depressed. With tears flowing from his eyes, Haji Ibrahim said:
"I beg you, Shaikh Mabruk, please pray for my daughter, for her health. I hope with the help of your prayer, God will heal her. Please!"
Sheikh Mabruk answered Haji Ibrahim: "Actually you are the best person to pray for her. You have performed pilgrimage to the Holy Land. You have visited the Prophet's grave. What about me? I only visited one jail to another jail. My obedience to God? Every one knows what kind of person I am. How can I lift my face up and pray to Him for another person?"
But Haji Ibrahim repeated his request with tears and sob. "My voice is almost gone in prayer. I pray and fast many times but heaven does not accept my prayer still. I beg you O Sheikh Mabruk, please pray for my only daughter. God knows what is in everyone's heart. By God, please pray for my daughter. Please don't reject this poor father's request!" Haji Ibrahim sobbed. Sheikh Mabruk's heart was shattered.
All of a sudden, Sheikh Mabruk raised both of his hands to the sky, although his face showed the face of a man who was ashamed and afraid to look up to heaven. With humbleness and tears flowing from his eyes, Sheikh Mabruk prayed:
"O God, please heal her, because there is none can heal except You. O Lord, please give her health because there is none who can give health except You."
After Mabruk finished his prayer, both men cried and hugged each other. That was an experience they had never felt before. Then they said farewell to each other.
* * *
The next day, Haji Ibrahim came to the cemetary to find Sheikh Mabruk. He looked for him in every side of the cemetary, but he couldn't find him. Haji Ibrahim tried to ask everyone he met, "Where is Sheikh Mabruk? Show me where he is! My daughter has been cured from her disease! She now can stand up and walk without her wheel chair. The doctor said that it was a miracle. I am looking for Sheikh Mabruk, where is he? Please tell me where he is!"
Haji Ibrahim and everyone else didn't know. Early that morning, Sheikh Mabruk had returned to his God. He passed away just after he said his prayer for forgiveness which he always did before he went to sleep. Mabruk always prayed:
"O my God, please forgive me. There is no one can forgive my sins except You. O my God, no matter how many and how big my sins and mistakes are, none can bring harm to you. No matter how many and how big my good deeds are, none can bring benefit for you. You are the Greatest in all worlds. O my God, no matter how big my sins are, Your forgiveness is greater. No matter how many my mistakes are, Your mercy are abundant, more than everything else.
Glory be to You O my God. Your mercy and knowledge are vast. Please have mercy on my soul because of my weakness for man was created weak. O my God, please accept me and place me together with those who are humble and afraid of You. You are my Lord and I am Your servant. Glory be to you, I have nothing and cannot help myself even a little bit.
O my Lord, I surrender my self to You. I surrender my weaknesses. I surrender my life to You. There is no power and ability but from You. Because of You, I am alive, and because of You, I die. Because of You, I will be raised from death, and because of You, I will receive forgiveness. And because of You, I will enter Your Paradise..."
Sheikh Mabruk's breath one by one soared to the sky to welcome the dawn and call of dawn prayer. He gave his life back to his Creator.
That is the end of the life of a man who always committed sin and did mistakes, but always tried hard to repent and tried hard to be close to God. He is better than those who always feel obedience but too arrogant and full of pride with their obedience.
Someone is forgiven by God because he knows to place himself in front of Him. Eventhough he was despised and neglected by the society. Eventhough he had to try hard to be able to get out from narrow doors and narrow alleys in his life...
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Free translation of Nuqthah Al-Ghalayaan (Saturation Point in Meanders of Life)
written by: Dr.Mustafa Mahmud
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