The Lady Who Spoke Nothing Besides The Quran

The lady who spoke nothing besides the Quran An elderly Arab lady was sitting at the trunk of a tree, on the way to Haj. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) happened to pass that way. He was also heading for Baitullah, for Hajj, and to the Sacred tomb of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu -layhi Wasallam). Seeing this lady very disturbed and in a state of despair, (distressed) he spoke to her. The discussion is recorded as follows: Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Assalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullah The lady: "T he wor d from a mercif ul Lord is Peace " (Surah 36 Aayat 58). She meant that the reply of salaam is from Allah, Most High, Himself. She said further: " Th ose wh om A lla h sendet h as tr ay, there is no gui de for them ." (Surah 7 Aayat 186). She meant that she has lost her way. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Where are you coming from? The lady: "G lo rifie d be He w ho c ar rie d His serv an t by ni ght fro m the Mus jid -e Aqsa (in vi ob le pl ace of wo rshi p) to the Musj id -e -Ha raam " (Far distant place of worship) (Surah17 Aayat1). She meant that she had come from Musjide-Aqsa. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): How long are you in this place? The lady: "F or three nigh ts" (Surah 19 Aayat10). Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): What arrangements are made for your food? The lady: "And w ho ( All ah ) feede th me an d wat eret h me" (Surah 26 Aayat 79). She meant that somehow or the other, her food is provided to her by Allah. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Is there any water for Wudhu? The lady: "And y e fin d no t wat er, t hen go to high cle an so il an d (m ake tay amm um) rub your f aces an d h ands ." (therewith) (Surah 4 Aayat 43). She meant that she makes tayammum, due to not finding water. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Here is some food. Partake of it. The lady: "St ri ct ly ob serv e t he fas t ti ll ni ghtfal l" (Surah 2 Aayat 187). She indicated that she is fasting. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): This is not the month of Ramadaan. The lady: "And he wh o do es go od of his o wn acc ord (for him) l o! A lla h is resp onsi ve, a ware " . (Surah 2 Aayat158) Meaning that I have observed an optional (nafl) fast.

Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): It is permitted to break the fast when in a journey. The lady: "And t ha t y e fast is be tter for you, if you d id bu t kn ow ." (Surah 2 Aayat 184) Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Speak like how I speak. The lady: "He ( ma n) u ttereth n o wor d bu t there is wi th him a n ob serv er read y" (Surah 50 Aayat 18). She meant that since every word of a person is observed and recorded, she is taking precaution by speaking only in the words of the Holy Quran. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Which clan do you belong to? The lady: "F ol lo w no t t ha t where of th ou h ast no kno wle dge , lo ! The he arin g an d the sigh t an d hea rt of ea ch of t hese it w ill be ask ed" (Surah 17 Aayat36). She meant those things that you have no knowledge of, nor do they concern you, you are wasting your strength (senses) by enquiring about them. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Forgive me. I have certainly made a mistake. The lady: "H ave no f ear th is day . May A lla h for giv e you" (Surah 12 Aayat 92) Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Would you like to travel on my camel and meet your caravan? The lady: "And w ha ts oev er go od ye do All ah kno we th it " (Surah 2 Aayat 197). Meaning that if you will do this good deeds towards me, Allah will recompense you for it. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Well, then you may mount it. Saying this he made the camel to sit down. The lady: "Tel l the bel ieving men (when confro nte d by w omen ) to lo wer t heir gaze ". (Surah 24 Aayat 30). Hadhrat Abdullah understood and (turned) looked away. While she was mounting, the camel jerked and her clothes got strangled in the saddle (dorsers) and she proclaimed: "w ha te ver of misf ort une str ik et h you , i t is wha t your h and s hav e ea rned ." (Surah 42 Aayat 30). In other words she was drawing Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak's (RA) attention towards this mishap. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) understood and he tied the legs of the camel and he straightened the straps of the saddle (or dorser). She applauded him for his proficiency and capability by saying "An d we made Sul ai man to un derst an d" (Surah 21 Aayat 79). When the journey was about to begin, the lady recited the Aayats which are read when undertaking a journey "G lo rifie d be he who ha th sub due d these un to us , an d we were no t ca pab le (of sub duin g them ). And lo,

un to o ur Lor d we are retu rnin g. " (Surah 43 Aayat 13). Hadhrat Abdullh bin Mubarak (RA) held the bridle (or nose string) of the camel. He began to hum the (Huddi) famous Arabic song for travelling, and he started walking very fast. The lady: "B e mo dest in t hy be ar ing a nd su bdue t hy voice " (Surah 31 Aayat 19). Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) understood. He began walking slower and he lowered his voice. The lady: "Rec ite of the Qu ran tha t whic h is e asy for you ." She meant that instead of humming the Huddi, he should rather recite the Holy Quran. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) began reciting the Holy Quran. The lady became very pleased and said "bu t n one remembe r (a cce pt ad vice ) ex ce pt men o f unders ta nd ing " (Surah 2 Aayat 269). After reciting the Holy Quran for a while, Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) asked (the lady if she had a husband) (if he was alive) "O Aunt, have have you a husband? (meaning is he living) The lady: "O you who belie ve, a sk no t of t hings which if they were m ade kn own un to you , wo uld trou ble you" (Surah 5 Aayat 101). She meant that no questions should be asked regarding this matter which indicated that her husband has most probably passed away. Finally they (caught up) met the caravan. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Do you have any son or relative (friend) in this caravan who has connection (contact) with you? The lady: "W ea lt h an d chil dren are a n orn amen t o f lif e of t he wo rl d" (Surah 18 Aayat 46). She meant that her sons were with this caravan and he has provisions with him. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): What work are your sons doing for the caravan? (Hadhrat Abdullah's object for asking was to make it easy for him to recognise her son). The lady: "And l and ma rks , an d by the sta r the y find a way" (Surah 16 Aayat 16). She meant that he is a guide for the caravan. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Can you tell me their name? The lady: "All ah ch ose I br ah im as ( for) a friend " (Surah 4 Aayat 125). "And A lla h sp ok e d irect ly un to M oo sa " (Surah 19 Aayat 12). By reciting these Aayats the lady informed him that her sons names were Yahya, Ibrahim and Moosa. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) called out these names in the caravan and immediately three young people came forward. The lady: (addressing her children) "Now send o ne of you wi th t his your silv er co in un to t he ci ty. An d let him see wh at food is pures t there a nd b ring you a supp ly thereof " (Sura 18 Aayat 19) In other words she instructed them to feed Hadhrat Abdullah (RA).

When the food was brought, she told Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA):

"Ea t a nd d rink a t ease for th at whi ch ye sent on b ef ore you in the p as t days ." (Surah 69 Aayat 24), and with this Aayat she recited another Aayat, the object of which was to convey (show) her gratefulness to him for his good conduct and courtesy. The Aayat was: "Is the rewar d of g oo dness a ugh t s ave g oo dn ess? " (Surah 55 Aayat 60). Their conversation terminated on this Aayat. The lady's son informed Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) that his mother has been speaking in this manner, i.e. using only the Aayats of the Holy Quran in her speech, for the last forty years. ?What should I buy One tin of chickpeas Olive oil Black pepper Lemon juice Salt One clove of garlic )Tabasco sauce (optional ?What should I do Crush the garlic Put two tablespoons of olive oil into your blender Add one tablespoon of lemon juice Add salt and pepper to taste Add tabasco if you need it - one or two drops Add the garlic Blend until you have a dressing-consistency sauce Add the chickpeas Blend until smoothish