| It was for some time that Zakariyya, son of
Ibrahim, felt attracted towards Islam although his father,
mother and all the family members were Christians and he too was
the believer of Christianity. Both his conscience and heart were
inviting him towards Islam. At last, against the liking of his
father, mother and family-members, he accepted Islam and
surrendered himself to the commandments of Islam. The Hajj
season commenced. Young Zakariyya left Kufah with the objective
of performing Hajj and had the honour of meeting Al-Imam As-Sadiq
(AS) in Madinah. He narrated to Imam (AS) the incident of his
acceptance of Islam. Imam (AS) enquired:
"What virtue of Islam attracted your attention?" He replied:
"I can only say that it was Allah's words in Qur'an which
impressed me and holds true in my case. Allah says to his
Prophet (SAW) in Qur'an: "O Prophet! Earlier you didn't know
what the Book is and didn't know what the faith is, but We
revealed to you this Qur'an and made it a light by which We
guide whomsoever We wish."
Imam (AS) said: "I confirm Allah has guided you."
Then Imam (AS) said thrice:
"O Allah! You Yourself be a guide to him."
Afterwards Imam (AS) said:
"My son, now whatever questions you have, asks me".
The Youngman said: "My father, mother and family-members, are
all Christians. My mother is blind. I am associated to them and
I am compelled to eat with them. What am I supposed to do in
such circumstances?"
Imam (AS): "Do they eat pork?"
Zakariyya: "No, O son of Prophet (SAW)! They don't even touch
pork."
Imam (AS): "Then, there is nothing wrong in your association
with them."
Then Imam (AS) said: "Be careful about your mother's health.
Be kind to her till she is alive. When she dies, don't give her
body to anyone else. You personally take charge of her corpse."
Here, don't tell anyone that you have met me. I will also come
to Makkah. Insha Allah (Allah willing), we will meet in Mina.
In Mina, the Youngman went in search of Imam (AS). There was
a huge crowd around Imam (AS).
The people, like the children surrounding their teacher and
asking questions one after the other without giving any time,
were asking questions one after the other from Imam (AS) and
were listening to his replies.
The Hajj season came to an end and the Youngman returned to
Kufah/Koofa. He had kept in mind Imam's (AS) advice. With firm
determination, he started serving his mother and never failed to
be kind and loving to his blind mother. He served food to her
with his own hands. He even used to check her clothes and head
to see that no lice might be present. This change in the
behavior of the son, mainly after his return from Makkah, was
surprising for his mother. One day she asked her son:
"Dear Son! Earlier, when you followed our religion, you were
not so kind to me. Now what has happened to you that though I
and you are not the same in respect of religion, you are more
kind to me than before?"
Zakariyya: "Dear mother! A person from the descendants of our
Prophet (SAW) has told me to do so."
Mother: "Is he himself a Prophet?"
Son: "No, he is not a Prophet. He is the son of the Prophet
(SAW)."
Mother: "My son! I think he himself is a Prophet as this type
of advices and preaching's not given by anyone except the
Prophets."
Zakariyya: "No mother! Be sure that he is not a Prophet. He
is the son of the Prophet (SAW). Basically, no Prophet is
supposed to come to earth after our Prophet Muhammad (SAW)."
Mother: "My son! Your religion is very good. It is better
than all the other religions. Teach me your religion."
The Youngman told his mother the 'Shahadatayn' (meaning:
"There is no god but Allah and Muhammad (SAW) is his
Messenger").
Thus, the mother became a Muslim. Then the Youngman taught
his blind mother the process of reciting salat (prayer). The
mother grasped it and recited the Zuhr (noon) and the Asr
(afternoon) salats. It became night. She succeeded in reciting
both the Maghrib (evening) and the Isha (night) salats.
Suddenly, late in the night, the mother's condition (of health)
changed; she fell sick and got bed-laid. She called her son and
said:
"My son, once more teach all the things you had taught me."
Once again, the son taught his mother the Shahddatayn and all
the principles of Islam, that is, belief in Allah, Prophet
(SAW), angels, the Divine Books and the Ma'ad (Day of
Resurrection). The mother repeated all these as a symbol of her
belief and acceptance and offered her life to the Creator.
In the morning, the Muslims gathered for giving her
Ghuslul-Mayyit (obligatory bath to the dead) and her burial. The
person, who recited Sulatul-Mayyit (prayer for the dead) and
buried her, was none but her young son, Zakariyya. |
