Written by: Hafiz Abu Yahya Noor Puri
Dear children! You also embark on journeys, but today I want to tell you a strange and unique travel story. I hope this incident will not only increase your knowledge but also be highly instructive.
Centuries ago, during a scorching summer, three students set off to cross the sea to acquire knowledge of the Quran and Hadith. They were elated because they were carrying three months' worth of provisions and hoped to quench their thirst for knowledge over several months. But:
Happens only what God wills.
In those days, there were no steam-powered ships; typically, there were small boats that relied on the mercy of the wind. If the wind naturally blew toward the destination, the travelers would be in luck, but if the wind took a contrary direction, travelers often wandered the sea for months. Due to the depletion of food supplies or losing their way, they eventually lost hope of survival and fell victim to the ocean waves.
These students faced similar circumstances. Their boat was caught in the opposing wind. Despite numerous efforts, destiny had something else in store. For three months, the stormy winds kept tossing their boat around the sea. Apart from a few bites, all their food and drink supplies were exhausted. They had no option but to pray and plead before Allah. Being travelers and seekers of knowledge, they were particularly favored by Allah, the “Most Merciful of the merciful.” Their prayers were answered, and their boat reached the shore. But:
Look ahead to see what happens next!
The real ordeal began now. Allah’s will was to test them, and they were so determined that giving up the pursuit of knowledge due to hardships was not just difficult but impossible. Despite their destitution, they pressed on, unaware of their fate. When hunger struck, they swallowed the few remaining bites they had.
Now there was nothing to eat or drink. The scorching sun and the burning desert sands created a hellish scene. The entire day passed while they kept walking. There was no sign of any creature, only the specter of death loomed. Despite the lack of food and the intensity of thirst, their resolve remained unshaken. Night fell, and they slept at one place. The next day, they continued their journey. Now their tongues were dry, and their steps were faltering. Another day passed in the same manner. Night came, and they collapsed at one place.
Several days of continuous hunger and thirst had left them utterly exhausted. The third day was like a doomsday for them. Their condition deteriorated so much that after walking a short distance, one student fainted and fell. Imagine if hunger and thirst had spared anything for the remaining two, they would have supported him. But they were themselves struggling for survival. After this shock, they saw their own deaths approaching nearer. Leaving him there, they set out in search of water. They had gone a short distance when the second student also collapsed, unable to bear the heat and thirst.
Now imagine the plight of the lone student who could only watch his two friends writhing and falling due to heat and thirst but couldn’t do anything. Seeing all this, his own senses began to fail, but he still mustered the courage to run around in search of water.
Then what always happens according to the divine law occurred. Allah's principle is to test His seekers and servants, but He never leaves them unsupported. He certainly shakes them, but never lets them face complete failure and disappointment. His promise is:
“Indeed, Allah will help those who support Him”
[Al-Hajj: 40]
“And it is incumbent upon Us to help the believers.”
[Al-Rum: 47]
Who could doubt the faith of these devoted students of religion? Moreover, Allah had planned great work for them in the coming days, so Allah’s help arrived. The lone student who set out to save his two companions suddenly saw a caravan. He felt a glimmer of hope and started waving his cloth to get their attention. The caravan members saw him and stopped. The heat and thirst had taken their toll on him too, and he was about to collapse. They gave him water. When he regained some strength, he rushed towards his companions with the caravan. They first reached one of the students and sprinkled water on him; after some revival, they gave him a little water to drink. Then they rushed to the second student and did the same, reviving him too. The caravan showed compassion and provided them with some food and drink supplies.
During this journey, they had to save their lives by drinking the eggs of a dead animal due to hunger.
But did these students abandon their mission after facing so many hardships of hunger, thirst, and heat? Absolutely not! The difficulties and trials on the path of knowledge did not deter them from their pursuit even by a single step; rather, they became even more passionate about seeking knowledge. Thus, they once again set off for the pursuit of knowledge with renewed zeal.
[Taqrima al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil: 364, 365, 366, with authentic chain]
This incident took place in 214 AH, approximately twelve hundred years ago, but even today, the accomplishments of these devoted students are present in written form before the scholars, and they will continue to serve as a guiding light for them till the Day of Judgment, Insha'Allah.
One of these students is remembered by the name “Imam Abu Hatim al-Razi,” who became a great Hadith scholar of his time and made such significant contributions to the field of Hadith that later scholars cannot advance even a step in this field without acknowledging him. He was a contemporary of Imam Bukhari and Imam Abu Zur’ah al-Razi, a student of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and a teacher of Imam Abu Dawood, Imam Nasa’i, Imam Ibn Majah, and other great Hadith scholars. All the Imams unanimously praised and authenticated him.
An unforgettable incident of his life is that during his travels, when provisions ran out, he even sold his clothes to continue his pursuit of religious knowledge.
[Taqrima al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil: 363, with authentic chain]
Is there any student today who, in pursuit of the blessings of this world and the Hereafter, revives the traditions of his predecessors by cheerfully enduring the hardships of seeking knowledge so that Allah fulfills His promise:
“And those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways.”
[Al-Ankabut: 69]
Dear children! You also embark on journeys, but today I want to tell you a strange and unique travel story. I hope this incident will not only increase your knowledge but also be highly instructive.
Centuries ago, during a scorching summer, three students set off to cross the sea to acquire knowledge of the Quran and Hadith. They were elated because they were carrying three months' worth of provisions and hoped to quench their thirst for knowledge over several months. But:
Happens only what God wills.
In those days, there were no steam-powered ships; typically, there were small boats that relied on the mercy of the wind. If the wind naturally blew toward the destination, the travelers would be in luck, but if the wind took a contrary direction, travelers often wandered the sea for months. Due to the depletion of food supplies or losing their way, they eventually lost hope of survival and fell victim to the ocean waves.
These students faced similar circumstances. Their boat was caught in the opposing wind. Despite numerous efforts, destiny had something else in store. For three months, the stormy winds kept tossing their boat around the sea. Apart from a few bites, all their food and drink supplies were exhausted. They had no option but to pray and plead before Allah. Being travelers and seekers of knowledge, they were particularly favored by Allah, the “Most Merciful of the merciful.” Their prayers were answered, and their boat reached the shore. But:
Look ahead to see what happens next!
The real ordeal began now. Allah’s will was to test them, and they were so determined that giving up the pursuit of knowledge due to hardships was not just difficult but impossible. Despite their destitution, they pressed on, unaware of their fate. When hunger struck, they swallowed the few remaining bites they had.
Now there was nothing to eat or drink. The scorching sun and the burning desert sands created a hellish scene. The entire day passed while they kept walking. There was no sign of any creature, only the specter of death loomed. Despite the lack of food and the intensity of thirst, their resolve remained unshaken. Night fell, and they slept at one place. The next day, they continued their journey. Now their tongues were dry, and their steps were faltering. Another day passed in the same manner. Night came, and they collapsed at one place.
Several days of continuous hunger and thirst had left them utterly exhausted. The third day was like a doomsday for them. Their condition deteriorated so much that after walking a short distance, one student fainted and fell. Imagine if hunger and thirst had spared anything for the remaining two, they would have supported him. But they were themselves struggling for survival. After this shock, they saw their own deaths approaching nearer. Leaving him there, they set out in search of water. They had gone a short distance when the second student also collapsed, unable to bear the heat and thirst.
Now imagine the plight of the lone student who could only watch his two friends writhing and falling due to heat and thirst but couldn’t do anything. Seeing all this, his own senses began to fail, but he still mustered the courage to run around in search of water.
Then what always happens according to the divine law occurred. Allah's principle is to test His seekers and servants, but He never leaves them unsupported. He certainly shakes them, but never lets them face complete failure and disappointment. His promise is:
“Indeed, Allah will help those who support Him”
[Al-Hajj: 40]
“And it is incumbent upon Us to help the believers.”
[Al-Rum: 47]
Who could doubt the faith of these devoted students of religion? Moreover, Allah had planned great work for them in the coming days, so Allah’s help arrived. The lone student who set out to save his two companions suddenly saw a caravan. He felt a glimmer of hope and started waving his cloth to get their attention. The caravan members saw him and stopped. The heat and thirst had taken their toll on him too, and he was about to collapse. They gave him water. When he regained some strength, he rushed towards his companions with the caravan. They first reached one of the students and sprinkled water on him; after some revival, they gave him a little water to drink. Then they rushed to the second student and did the same, reviving him too. The caravan showed compassion and provided them with some food and drink supplies.
During this journey, they had to save their lives by drinking the eggs of a dead animal due to hunger.
But did these students abandon their mission after facing so many hardships of hunger, thirst, and heat? Absolutely not! The difficulties and trials on the path of knowledge did not deter them from their pursuit even by a single step; rather, they became even more passionate about seeking knowledge. Thus, they once again set off for the pursuit of knowledge with renewed zeal.
[Taqrima al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil: 364, 365, 366, with authentic chain]
This incident took place in 214 AH, approximately twelve hundred years ago, but even today, the accomplishments of these devoted students are present in written form before the scholars, and they will continue to serve as a guiding light for them till the Day of Judgment, Insha'Allah.
One of these students is remembered by the name “Imam Abu Hatim al-Razi,” who became a great Hadith scholar of his time and made such significant contributions to the field of Hadith that later scholars cannot advance even a step in this field without acknowledging him. He was a contemporary of Imam Bukhari and Imam Abu Zur’ah al-Razi, a student of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and a teacher of Imam Abu Dawood, Imam Nasa’i, Imam Ibn Majah, and other great Hadith scholars. All the Imams unanimously praised and authenticated him.
An unforgettable incident of his life is that during his travels, when provisions ran out, he even sold his clothes to continue his pursuit of religious knowledge.
[Taqrima al-Jarh wa al-Ta'dil: 363, with authentic chain]
Is there any student today who, in pursuit of the blessings of this world and the Hereafter, revives the traditions of his predecessors by cheerfully enduring the hardships of seeking knowledge so that Allah fulfills His promise:
“And those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways.”
[Al-Ankabut: 69]
