Funeral Prayer and the Reality of Fanã and Baqã
As he approached, the lion stood up and went away to the jungle and, in accordance with his Will, Shams-ud-Deen bathed and dressed the sacred body and performed all other rites. Then he stood up waiting for the funeral prayer. He really thought that he alone would say the funeral prayer of such an exalted man. Also he felt very bad about the fact that there was no sign of a single person within the range of his sight. All was woods and wilder-ness. O God! What was all this? He gathered up courage and was going to stand on the prayer mat when from aside, a voice was heard, saying: “Wait! Do not hurry. This is not your job. Here I am.”
Hadrat Khawaja turned round and saw that a galloping horse rider had arrived; he wore a dress like Sabir’s and had a veiled
face. He got off the horse,
face. He got off the horse, stood on the prayer mat and led the funeral prayer. When at the end of the funeral prayer, the Hadrat Khawaja turned his face for the finishing salute to the North and then to the South he in fact observed that innumerable creatures, as far as the eye could see, had taken part in the funeral prayer.
It is said that during his period of service to the Master of the
Worlds فراسعن Shams-ud-Deen posed the question concerning
the issues of Fana (self-annihilation) and Baga (permanence) in answer to which he replied: “You will not understand it verbally.
At a suitable opportunity, you will see it with your own eyes and to your full understanding, in shaa Allah!”
A long time had elapsed and this discourse had slipped from
Hadrat Khawaja’s mind.
Everybody was busy in the burial of the dead body. It occurred to the heart of the Hadrat Khawaja that he should meet the Imam (the prayer leader) in order to find out about him, his name and his whereabouts. Otherwise, the one who led the funeral prayer would remain a mystery. Therefore, he directed his attention to the Imam who, holding the bridles of his horse, had already got on to its back. Seeing the Khawaja, the rider kicked the horse to go in the Westerly direction. The Khawaja ran after the horse and a short distance away he caught up with him and held the bridles of the horse and beseeched: “Please tell us your name and your whereabouts. People will ask me who conducted my Shaykh’s funeral prayer. What shall I reply to them?”
Hearing this the rider slightly removed his veil and said:
“Shams-ud-Deen, I have conducted my own funeral prayer. You often asked about Fana and Baqa. How could I make you under-stand? Look! That is Fanà there and Bagã here!”
He kicked the horse and vanished in the valley of jungle! Al-hamdu-lil-Allah (Allah the Almighty be praised!). As promised, he showed him everything in his presence, explained it to him and also renewed his meeting with the Khawaja. Seeing and hearing this, the Khawaja became unconscious.
