Another person’s lips

‘I am sorry, I completely forgot about it because I have to be somewhere before 12.30. come in quickly so I can drop you home and head my way.’ She urged impatiently.‘So you would have gone and left me behind if I hadnt seen you? Haba Maryam, the one day in my life that I […]

‘I am sorry, I completely forgot about it because I have to be somewhere before 12.30. come in quickly so I can drop you home and head my way.’ She urged impatiently.
‘So you would have gone and left me behind if I hadnt seen you? Haba Maryam, the one day in my life that I asked you for a lift and you had to show me I was too unimportant for you to remember?’ I complained, buckling the seat belt as soon as I sat on the passenger seat.
‘No Bint, it’s not what you think. I only forgot because you always came to islamiyyah school with your car and I never had to give you a lift before. Today that your driver had taken the car for service, is well, the first time time you made this request. That’s why I forgot.’ Maryam explained, driving out of the school compound.
‘Are you sure it’s not because you have to rush to your all-important before 12.30 appointment?’ I chided.
‘Well that too, if you must know. But taking you home wouldn’t take me far out of my way. I can still make it in time inshaAllah.’ She assured.
‘So where do you have to go at such an odd hour of the day instead of going home to your beloved Ibrahim? I mean it is a weekend afternoon, he will expect you to come straight home after the school closes at noon.’  I observed.
‘Beloved Ibrahim indeed. To tell you the truth, he is the reason I’m rushing to make this appointment. The last time I sought help over him it worked, things actually improved between us. Now suddenly he is back to his old ways and I need to do something about it.’ Maryam declared enigmatically.
‘You sought help over him? He’s back to his old ways? What are yo talking about?’ I queried.
‘Well three months ago Ibrahim almost literally became a monster. He wasn’t the man I married at all. It became too much I had to confide my desperate situation to my neighbour Dijah. She told me about a Malam who works wonders at times of such marital difficulties. She assured me that she had gone through all the hard times I experienced with my husband and that all is well now because she was lucky to have found this devoted servant of God. So she took me to him and after a long interview, he diagnosed my problems and prescribed some remedies. Like magic all my problems with Ibrahim disappeared. Well, until the last few days, that is. Suddenly he is back to his haughty, insensitive, demanding and unsympathetic ways. I tried to look the other way and continued with all of the Malam’s presciptions but to no avail. Right now I’m totally confused. So I called yesterday and asked for an appointment. He said he will be somewhere until noon but that he will only be home for half an hour because he has to go in for his spiritual retreat at 1pm. I could either see him within that half hour or wait till tomorrow to consult him. But being this desperate, I told him I could rush there straight after Islamiyyah session. I had no idea I will end up being your chauffeur.’ She joked.
‘I can’t believe this is you speaking Maryam. Since when did you begin to subscribe to spiritualists?’ I demanded.
‘I just told you. Since Ibrahim made my marriage hell and my neighbour kindly showed me a way out.’ She replied stubbornly.
‘But we have always believed in praying for ourselves. Right from our days on campus, we had derided those friends who visited Malams whenever they had problems with their suitors. We all believed they were wasting their money and were being pshychologically swindled by those spritualists. How can you now turn around, over two decades later, to say that these people are trustworthy and that you need their services?’ I protested.
‘Since I discovered the saying of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) which said that Almighty Allah prefers to be begged from the mouth that hasn’t sinned in anyway. Now the only mouth that hasn’t sinned is someone else’s mouth. In other words if someone prayed for you it will be granted because you have not used his/her mouth to slander, lie or backbite anyone.  So you should seek Almighty Allah’s special favours through another person’s lips then they will be granted.’ She concluded.
‘Frankly Maryam, I doubt if this your new-ly discovered hadith is authentic. In fact I have more than one reason to believe that it is fabricated. I mean it goes against all reason and logic to say that Allah prefers to be prayed for through another person’s lips when He SWT had said in the Holy Qur’an ‘When My servants ask about me, tell them that I am near. I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he prays to Me.’ Again numerous other Qur’anic verses and sayings of Rasulillah SAW encourage people to pray unto Allah directly and seek His blessings and His help. And all of them are verified ahadith.’ I argued.
‘Look Bint, right now my problem is not the authenticity of the hadith. It is the fact that when Malam gave me some spiritual remedies they helped me improve the situation of my marriage. And that’s why I have to go back and seek more help.’ Maryam countered.
‘I honestly don’t know what this man did to make you believe he had saved your marriage that first time but what is obvious is that he is trying to get you addicted to consulting him whenever you have the slightest problem…’
‘So what do you expect me to do since I can’t help myself?’ She interrupted me with the question. ‘Do you have any idea at all how miserable I get whenever Ibrahim gets into his mean and haughty moods? How can I cope with that?’ Maryam demanded.
‘First of all you must accept that it is a trial unto you from Almighty Allah and He tries His servants in any way He wishes. I’m sure you’ve seen your friends battling with sick children, unemployed husbands and even loss of near and dear ones. All those are divine trials. Now those of you who have been spared all that may be tried in some other ways like having a grouchy and unappreciative husband. The key to surviving such trials is to turn back to God yourself and immerse youself in prayer and worship. Not through some 419 spiritualist. Again Allah said in the holy Quran ‘Seek help in patience and in prayers…’  With all these exhortations how can you so easily rush to a spritualist over some little domestic trial?’ I asked.
‘Well it’s too late, I have already made this appointment so I have to go and see him. Maybe next time I can resort to praying on my own. And here we are at your home. Just go in so I wont have to take you through the gate, that way we will save time.’ She urged.
‘Maryam didn’t you hear anything I said? I have been trying to dissuade you from going to that man can’t you understand?’ I cried.
‘What I understand is that I need to consult him now.’ She replied.
‘How much did you give him the last time you visited?’ I asked. ‘Twenty thousand naira, why did you ask?’
‘Because I want to tell you something better you can do with that money. The Prophet (peace be upon him) has said that among the prayers that are always accepted is the prayer of a parent for his/her child. Since your mother is alive, use that N20,000 you plan to give him today by going to the market and doing her some grocery shopping. Just surprise her with some fresh chicken, house provisions and anything to make her happy. Then as you rise to leave ask her for some prayers without having to be specific about the problem. Or if you wish you can even be specific if you are sure it wont disturb her to know Ibrahim is mistreating you. If you do this you will have multiple rewards, that of good treatment of parents, maintainenece of kinship and generosity. And of course the benefit of anwered prayers.  But if you go back to Malam you run the risk of losing your rewards because if he is into soothsaying, he will cost you forty days of worship. Yes any Muslim who consults a soothsayer will not have his forty days of worship accepted. You already know this Maryam, we attend the same islamiyyah school with you and read the same books. I don’t know why you are allowing yourself to be misled.’ I chided.
‘Yes you are right Bint. It’s just that I got really desperate. But this thing about losing 40 days of worship is very scary. I will drive straight to the market and do that grocery shopping for Mama. Thanks for reminding me Bint. Jazakillah khairan.’ With that she smiled at me and drove off.