Patience is virtue – The story of Fayoud the beggar
The men of Allah (swt) must strive in their utmost to proclaim the message of Allah (swt). It is not for man to command the people to adhere to Allah’s (swt) messages. He must wait patiently, with the knowledge that Allah (swt) has not forgotten him, and he must not give up on spreading the messages of Allah (swt), even if he is oppressed by some of the people. He must know that he is constantly under the supervision, and protection of Allah’s (swt) loving care. He must always glorify Allah’s (swt) name, as he is a standard bearer of Allah’s (swt) truth. Sura 29 verse 45 of the Holy Qur’an states:
Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee, and establish regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And Allah knows the (deeds) that ye do.029:045
Fayoud was a very pious man. He used to constantly perform Allah’s (swt) Zikr. He lived in the forest, because he was very fond of Allah’s (swt) creations such as: the trees, and animals. The animals and the trees usually sing Allah’s (swt) praises in adoration (His Zikr) with Fayoud, and by themselves. Fayoud used to go out to the city to invite the people to come and see the miracle of how the animals do join with him in singing Allah’s (swt) praises. One day a man named Akbar said to Fayoud “You are doing the Zikr of Allah (swt) all the time, and you are so poor, you have not achieved any thing in your life, I have just finished performing my five daily prayers and I have a family of three, a big house, a car and I am my own boss. I do not have to beg like you, so if the Zikr of Allah (swt) is so great then how come you are so poor?”
Fayoud replied “If I should become rich one day what would you do?”
Akbar said “I would encourage all the people in this city to not only pray, but to do the Zikr of Allah (swt).”
Akbar then left to go home, and Fayoud left to go see the king, which was his usual practice. Fayoud would see the king to beg for food. The king whose name was Sajideen was very mean to Fayoud, but he used to take pity on him and give him a loaf of bread, but took pleasure in chasing him back into the forest. On another one of Fayoud’s visits to the king, the king said to him “Fayoud with all the prayers and the Zikr that you are doing what kind of blessings you have achieved so far?”
“How many times have you kicked me out of your courtyard?” replied Fayoud
“Several times, and you keep coming back, but I do not know why, why do you keep coming back?” asked the king.
“Because it is going to be through you that I will be able to succeed in my mission of spreading the Zikr of Allah (swt) in your country,”
The king laughed and said “You are dreaming, that is all in your great imagination.”
“If I should save one or both of your two precious boys from a tragedy, what would you do?” asked Fayoud.
“I would give you half of my kingdom, and I would believe in the Zikr of Allah (swt), and I would also join with you in encouraging the people of my country to do the Zikr of Allah (swt), but do not let your imagination go wild, for my son’s would never be in your way or in any danger for you to save them, because they are always protected by my guards, so go away and do not ever show your face here again!” said king Sajideen.
The king then ordered the servants to put some poison in a few loafs of bread and then gave the bread to Fayoud. Fayoud accepted the few loaves of bread with gratitude and then proceeded back to his home. Three days later the king’s two sons escaped the protection of their bodyguards, and they went into the forest to go hunting. After a long day of hunting the two boys got lost in the forest and as night was approaching they decided to rest under a tree, and resume their search for the way out in the morning. Just as they were settling down a wild tiger approached and started chasing them. They ran breathless for a few miles and after a few moments to their surprise the tiger just disappeared. The boys then heard lots of birds singing and other animals chattering along with a man’s voice.
They decided to go and see where the voices were coming from. As they almost arrived at the little house where the voices were coming from, one of the boys was bitten by a poisonous spider, and the other boy started yelling for help. It was then that Fayoud rushed out from his house to see what was going on, and to his big surprise he saw the king’s sons. The boys were cold, frightened and very hungry, and the one that was bitten by the spider was on the verge of dying. Fayoud sucked out the poison, and treated the boy with some prayers and other bush medicine. He then gave the boy’s the tainted bread that he received from the king (their father). The boys ate the bread, and thanked Fayoud. Fayoud then asked the boys to stay the night and in the morning he promised he would take them home, the boys agreed.
In the morning the boys once again heard the birds singing, and the chattering of the other animals along with Fayoud’s voice so they got up to see what was going on. As they looked outside, they saw Fayoud along with the birds and other animals singing Allah’s (swt) praises very beautifully. The boys soon realized that everyone was doing the Zikr of Allah (swt). The boys stated that all the beauty in their father’s kingdom and his country was nothing compared to the beauty and the joyful feelings brought by the Zikr of Allah (swt). The glorious sun was shining on the trees and on the birds creating a rainbow of colors. The trees were now bowing in adoration to their Lord, the birds and the other animals along with Fayoud were singing Allah’s (swt) praises.
Both of the boys felt exhilarated, as if they were on a high mountain which reached far into the heavens. This was a feeling they both agreed they would not trade for any amounts of wealth. The boys told Fayoud that they wanted to stay with him, Fayoud told them that they have to go home and let their parents know what happened, and then they can come back by the permission of their parents. As the boys were about to leave, they noticed a few guards from the palace who were out searching for them, so the guards escorted them home.
The king was very distressed, and he thought that his sons were in danger, but after he saw them coming home with the guards he was extremely happy, he exclaimed “Oh my sons! What happened? Why did you leave without telling any one where you were going?”
They replied, “Oh father we were out hunting and we got lost in the forest, then we were chased by a tiger, and after a while of running away from the tiger we realized it was not following us anymore. That’s when we heard voices and decided to see where it was coming from. As we were making our way towards a little house my brother was bitten by a poisonous spider and started yelling for help. That’s when the old beggar (Fayoud) came out of his house to help us. He sucked out the poison and treated the wound. We were also very cold and hungry, but thanks to you for giving the old beggar a couple loaves of bread, which he so kindly shared with us and offered us to stay over for the night.” The boys continued to relate to their father about the miracle they witnessed the following morning. “We heard the same voices as the day before and as we looked outside we saw Fayoud along with birds and animals including the tiger all engaged in the Zikr of Allah (swt), and the trees were bowing in adoration to their Lord. It was an amazing and glorious sight. We had such joyful feelings which no amount of wealth can provide, not even your entire kingdom can produce such glorious feelings and beauty Dad, and you should have been there to witness it.” It was such joyful feelings, beyond one’s imagination which no amount of wealth can buy.
After hearing all of the amazing stories that took place in just one day the king said “Allah (swt) and His Zikr are indeed the greatest, ask the guards to bring Fayoud to me.”
When Fayoud arrived at the palace the king said “I want you to sit with me today on my throne, since half of it belongs to you from now on, but I also have a few questions for you.”
“By Allah’s (swt) will I will try my best to answer whatever questions you have for me.” replied Fayoud.
The king proceeded to ask Fayoud these questions.
“Why is the Zikr of Allah (swt) so great and powerful? How did you know that my sons were going to be in danger? Did you know that the bread was poisoned?”
Fayoud replied “The Zikr of Allah (swt) works like a plane, and prayers are like the airstrip which the plane takes off from, so both things are very important, for example we often see how aid goes out to the people in their distress, in situations such as: earthquakes, hurricanes etc. It is the same way when someone is engaged in the Zikr of Allah (swt). If there is any danger ahead, Allah (swt) will send His Angels with the inspiration right away to us, therefore providing us with the wisdom to understand His inspiration which will help to protect us from all sorts of calamities. Through the Zikr of Allah (swt),, we are able to gain right guidance, a keen insight and even the possibility of becoming a spiritual doctor. Spiritual doctors recite prayers on the sick, or give them blessed water to drink in order to speed up their healing process.” In regards to the other questions you asked, yes I did know that you poisoned the bread, and I recited some prayers on them, so Allah (swt) removed the poison. I saw a dream where I saved your son’s from some danger, which are all by the mercies and blessings of Allah (swt); I do not want any material reward from you, but I do seek of you to fulfill your promise, which is to encourage and convince your people to start doing the Zikr of Allah (swt).”
King Sajideen said, “Indeed I will fulfill my promise.”
While they were talking the two boys went out and they told the people in the city about the amazing things that happened in the forest, and it was all due to the Zikr of Allah (swt), and everyone including a brother by the name of Akbar, who was the first to accept the Zikr of Allah (swt), came and hugged Fayoud, then he quoted the following passages from the Holy Qur’an:
To Allah (swt) belong all things in Heaven and earth; verily Allah (swt) is He (that is) free of all wants, worthy of all praise. 031:026
And if all the trees on earth were pens and the Oceans (were ink) with seven oceans behind it to add to its (supply) yet would not the words of Allah (swt) be exhausted (in the writing) for Allah (swt) is Exalted in Power, full of Wisdom. 031:027.
“I have no doubt in the power of the Zikr of Allah (swt), and its blessings.” stated Akbar.
“Oh my brothers and sisters please know that our Beloved Holy Prophet, (owbp) said the greater the suffering and difficulties of those who engage in the Zikr of Allah (swt), the higher will be his or her status in the hereafter. If you keep yourself involved in the Zikr of Allah (swt), all the time the Angels will shake hands with you on your death bed. The Zikr of Allah (swt) an put such a powerful light into the hearts of men that it causes a big fear in the devil, because the devil can be blinded with this powerful light. The devil will not give up, he will try anyway he can to destroy the people’s lives that are walking around with this powerful spiritual light. Now in response to your last question, we have to pray and we often see that the people who pray their Namaz, but are not really God-fearing, they are only blessed with this worldly wealth. They do not have any spiritual sense of wisdom, knowledge or understanding. Their brains and their hearts are empty; they do not have any mercy in their hearts. They are always selfish and arrogant, and their prayers are just a lip service to Allah (swt).”
The king told Fayoud “From now on the Zikr of Allah (swt) will occur in my kingdom until the last day of my life, and I will build you a mansion in the forest where my two sons will join you to continue the Zikr of Allah (swt), along with the birds, animals and the trees. Now this is one of the many virtues of the Zikr of Allah (swt), you can do it darkness, or in the light. You can perform it loud or quiet it is up to you.
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