Some Marvels of Ghous-e-Aazam
There was a very wise and influential priest in Baghdad who had many followers. This man had vast knowledge not only of the Judaic and Christian traditions but also of Islam. He knew Islam and the Holy Qur'aan and had great love and appreciation for the Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu alaihi wasallam. The caliph of the area respected the priest and hoped that he and his followers would become Muslims one day. Indeed, he was ready to accept the religion, except for one thing. That one thing that prevented him from becoming Muslim, which he could neither accept nor understand, was the physical ascension of the Prophet Muhammad Sallalahu alaihi wasallam to the Heavens during his blessed lifetime.
The mind of the priest could not accept the ascension of the Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam and his coming back to tell about it. Indeed, when the Prophet Sallalahu alaihi wasallam himself declared it the day after it happened, many \"Muslims\" did not believe and left the religion. This then is a test of true faith, for the mind cannot conceive of such a thing.
The caliph introduced all the wise men and teachers of his time to the priest in order to eliminate his doubts, but none of them succeeded. Then one evening he sent word to Hadhrat 'Abdul-Qaadir Jilaani Rahmatullah Alaih, asking him if he could convince the priest of the truth of Ascension.
When Hadhrat 'Abdul-Qaadir Jilaani Rahmatullah Alaih came to the palace he found the priest and the caliph playing chess. As the priest lifted a chess piece to move it, his eyes met those of the Honourable Shaikh. He blinked his eyes... and as he opened them again he found himself drowning in a rapidly running river! He was shouting for help when a young shepherd jumped into the water to save him. As the shepherd held onto him, he realized that he was naked and had been transformed into a young girl!
The shepherd pulled her out of the water and asked her whose daughter she was and where she lived. When the priest (in the body of the young girl) mentioned \"Baghdad\", the shepherd said that they were then at a distance of a few months journey from that city. The shepherd honoured her and kept her and protected her, but eventually as she had nowhere to go, he married her. They had three children, who grew up.
One day as she was washing laundry in the same river where she has appeared many years before, she then slipped and fell in. As she opened her eyes... he found himself sitting across from the caliph, holding the chess piece and still looking up into the eyes of Hadhrat 'Abdul-Qaadir Jilaani Rahmatullah Alaih, who said to him : \"Now, venerable priest, do you still disbelieve?\"
The priest, unsure of what had happened to him and thinking that perhaps it was just a dream, had responded with the words : \"What do you mean?\"
\"Perhaps you would like to see your family?\" the saint inquired, and as he opened the door, there stood the shepherd and the three children.
Seeing this, the priest and his congregation of about five thousand Christians became Muslim at the hands of Hadhrat 'Abdul-Qaadir Jilaani Rahmatullah Alaih.
SubhaanAllah!
