A well-known public speaker has narrated this story with great pain and emotion. He says: Hazrat Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, says that once I went for Hajj. On the way, I met an old woman who had become separated from her caravan. Seeing her distress and despair, I wanted to talk to her, so first I said to her:
«السلام عليك ورحمة الله»
The woman replied:
«سَلَامٌ قَوْلًا مِّن رَّبٍّ رَّحِيمٍ»
“Indeed, peace is from the Most Merciful Lord.”
The meaning is that the response to peace is from Allah Himself.
* Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, asked: What are you doing here?
She said:
«مَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ ۚ»
“Whomever Allah leaves astray, there is no guide for him.”
Meaning, I have lost my way.
* Hazrat Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, then asked: Where are you coming from?
She said:
«سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى»
“Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa.”
Meaning, I am coming from Masjid al-Aqsa.
* Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, said: How long have you been lying here?
The woman replied:
«ثَلَاثَ لَيَالٍ سَوِيًّا»
“About three nights.”
* Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, asked: What arrangements do you have for food?
The woman said:
«وَالَّذِي هُوَ يُطْعِمُنِي وَيَسْقِينِ»
“He feeds me and gives me drink.”
Meaning, sustenance is provided from somewhere.
* Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, asked: Is there water for ablution?
She said:
«فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا»
“If you do not find water, then perform tayammum with clean earth.”
Meaning, if water is not available, I perform tayammum.
* Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, asked: Food is ready, please eat.
She said:
«أَتِمُّوا الصِّيَامَ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ ۚ»
“Complete the fast until the night.”
The indication was that I am fasting.
* Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, said: It is not the month of Ramadan.
She said:
«وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ»
“And whoever does good voluntarily, then indeed Allah is Appreciative and Knowing.”
Meaning, I am observing a voluntary fast.
* Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, said: But during travel, it is permissible to break the fast?
The woman said:
«وَأَن تَصُومُوا خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ»
“And if you fast, it is better for you if you only knew.”
* Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, asked: Please speak to me in my manner.
The woman said:
«مَّا يَلْفِظُ مِن قَوْلٍ إِلَّا لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ»
“Man does not utter any word except that with him is an observer prepared.”
Meaning, since every word of a person is recorded by an angel, I speak using the words of the Qur’an out of caution.
* Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, asked: Do you belong to any tribe?
The woman said:
«وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ ۚ إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ وَالْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُولَٰئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْئُولًا»
“And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart – about all those [one] will be questioned.”
Meaning, do not waste your energy asking about matters you have no prior knowledge of and no connection with.
* Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Forgive me, I have indeed made a mistake.
The woman said:
«لَا تَثْرِيبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْيَوْمَ ۖ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۖ»
“No blame will there be upon you today. Allah will forgive you.”
* Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Would you like to ride on my she-camel and join the caravan?
The woman said:
«وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ يَعْلَمْهُ اللَّهُ ۗ»
“And whatever good you do – indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.”
Meaning, if you treat me kindly, Allah will reward you.
* Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Okay then, mount. Saying this, Hazrat Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, helped her onto his she-camel. The woman said:
«قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ»
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze.”
* Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, understood the point and turned his face away, standing aside. But when the woman mounted, the she-camel stumbled and the woman’s garment got caught in the saddle strap and tore.
She cried out:
«وَمَا أَصَابَكُم مِّن مُّصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ»
“And whatever strikes you of disaster – it is for what your hands have put forth.”
Meaning, the woman was alerting Hazrat Abdullah to some difficulty that had arisen. Hazrat Abdullah understood and tied the she-camel’s leg and fixed the saddle strap. The woman praised Hazrat Abdullah’s skill and capability by referring to this verse.
The woman said:
«فَفَهَّمْنَاهَا سُلَيْمَانَ ۚ»
“And We gave Solomon understanding of the matter.”
Then, when the riding phase was settled, the woman recited the verse to begin the ride:
The woman said:
«سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ»
“Exalted is He who made this [ride] possible for us, though we were unable.”
Indeed, we must return to our Lord.”
Now Hazrat Abdullah took the reins of the she-camel and, chanting the traditional Arab travel song (hadi), started moving quickly.
The woman said:
«وَاقْصِدْ فِي مَشْيِكَ وَاغْضُضْ مِن صَوْتِكَ ۚ»
“And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice.”
Hazrat Abdullah understood and slowed down and lowered his humming.
The woman said:
«فَاقْرَءُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ ۚ»
“Recite what is easy [for you] of the Qur’an.”
Meaning, she requested that instead of the travel song, he recite something from the Qur’an. Hazrat Abdullah began reciting the Qur’an.
The woman, pleased, said:
«وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ»
“And the wise receive admonition.”
* After reciting the Qur’an for a while, Hazrat Abdullah said: Aunt, do you have a husband? (Is he alive?)
The woman said:
«يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَسْأَلُوا عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ إِن تُبْدَ لَكُمْ تَسُؤْكُمْ»
“O you who have believed, do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, will distress you.”
The woman meant that this matter should not be questioned, and the context suggested that probably her husband had passed away. Eventually, both joined the caravan.
* Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Is there any son or relative of yours in this caravan related to you?
The woman said:
«الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ»
“Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life.”
Meaning, my sons are also part of the caravan and they have wealth and possessions with them.
* Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, said: What do your sons do in the caravan? Meaning, he wanted to recognize them easily. The woman said:
«وَعَلَامَاتٍ ۚ وَبِالنَّجْمِ هُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ»
“And landmarks and by the stars they are guided.”
Meaning, they perform the duty of guiding the caravan.
* Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, said: Can you tell me their names?
The woman said:
«وَاتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلًا»
“And Allah made Abraham a friend.”
«وَكَلَّمَ اللَّهُ مُوسَىٰ تَكْلِيمًا»
“And He spoke to Moses.”
«يَا يَحْيَىٰ خُذِ الْكِتَابَ بِقُوَّةٍ ۖ»
“Take hold of the Scripture with strength.”
Meaning, from these verses it was understood that their names are Ibrahim, Musa, and Yahya.
* Abdullah began calling these names in the caravan, and the three young men immediately responded.
The woman said (to her sons):
«فَابْعَثُوا أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَٰذِهِ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَا أَزْكَىٰ طَعَامًا فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ»
“Send one of your people with this coin to the city to buy food, and let him look for the purest food and bring some provision for you.”
Meaning, she instructed her sons to bring food, and when the food was brought, the woman said to Hazrat Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him:
«كُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا هَنِيئًا بِمَا أَسْلَفْتُمْ فِي الْأَيَّامِ الْخَالِيَةِ»
“Eat and drink happily for what you have sent forth in the past days.”
And she recited another verse indicating her gratitude for his kindness:
«هَلْ جَزَاءُ الْإِحْسَانِ إِلَّا الْإِحْسَانُ»
“Recompense for good is good.”
At this point, this blessed conversation ended. The sons of this weak old woman told Abdullah bin Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, that their mother has been communicating in this manner through the Qur’an for forty years.
Hadith Research:
إسناده موضوع۔
Its chain of narration is fabricated.
The honorable Sheikh Abdul Sattar Al-Hamad says this incident is mentioned under the title “A Speaker Narrating from the Quran” in Al-Mustatraf fi Kulli Fan Mustazraf, Volume 1, page 56. No authentic reference with a chain of narration has been provided. Incidents without chains of narration are often fabricated. Moreover, this book contains other types of incidents that are frivolous and baseless. It should not be relied upon. A similar incident has been narrated by Imam Ibn Hibban in Rawdat al-‘Uqala wa Nuzhat al-Fudala, page 72, Saudi Arabia edition. He has also provided its chain of narration. Among the narrators is Muhammad bin Zakariya Al-Allabi, about whom Imam Al-Daraqutni wrote that he used to fabricate two hadiths.
