Tableegh (Noble Da'wah) - A Guide to Happiness and Peace

9. Safar of Vijayawada (|Andhra Pradesh)

Chapter 9: Safar of Vijayawada

The forty days jamath during Ramazan to Vijayawada was very interesting.

I have a very good friend in Arakkonam. Once we were discussing various topics and he was very sad that even after four years of marriage, no Issues. I asked him to join with us in our Chilla (40 days jamath) and seek the fazl of Allah and I assured him that he would be bestowed with children.

He agreed and joined our Jamath which was sent to Vijayawada during Ramazan. We were seven members. The elders at Markaz of Vijayawada asked us whether we would remain in the city or in the villages where no basic amenities will be available. We did the mashwara and opted for villages.

Our Ameer sahib was Masood Ahmed Sherieff of Railways, who leads the jamath in a jovial as well as serious manner wherever situation warranted. First we went to Koduru. The capacity of the Masjid was only two rows of five each and when we decided to sleep, only six of us could squeeze ourself and the only place left was the janaza sandook ( The transparent wooden box to carry the dead). One of our brothers thanked Allah (SWT) to have permitted him to taste the Janaza Sandook before death and slept in it!

There was no toilet in the Masjid. We had to go to the highway during Tahajjuth prayers and some of them complained that sudden Headlights from the lorries and cars plying in the Highway were making them nervous while squatting at the roadside. Our Ameer sb., said, "don't worry, cover your face and finish your work, don't worry about the rest." We all laughed inspite of our initial hardship.

From Koduru, we were asked to go to "CHOTA GHURMUT", a small village. If we cross the river, it will be 3 kilometres and if we go by the mud road, (no vehicles to carry us) it will be 6 kilometres. We decided to cross the river which was flowing upto neck level.

We were told that in CHOTA GHURMUT, we will not find any shop. So we were asked to carry rice, dhal etc., with us. We carried our bags and other things on our head and saying "Bismillah" got down in the river! I knew swimming and did not have hesitation. Alhamdulillah, some of them even by not knowing swimming, said "Tawakkaltu Alallah" and started crossing the river. By reaching the other end, we were fully drenched and took bath since it was Jumma. (Friday)

In Chota Ghurmut also no toilets. Low voltage and frequent power cuts. For Sahr, we had rice and Dhall and for Iftaar, the same rice and Dhall. When we stood for the Taraveeh Prayers, mosquitoes would attack us in groups which we could not resist. Snakes also sneaked inside the Masjid to hear the Taraveeh, adding feathers to our suffering.

Will you believe something which I am going to say? Yes, we enjoyed the suffering! We had no grudge and had peace of mind! The way Hazrat Bilal (Raz) and Khabbab (Raz) felt while getting the beatings!

While sleeping also we found frogs moving around us. We recited, 'Bismillahillazee Laa yazurru ma'a ismihee shai'un fil arzi walaa fissamaa wahuwassameeul aleem' and 'Aoozu bi kalimaatillahi taammaati kullihaa min sharri maa qalaq" thrice. No harm done.

After three days, we were to move to BADAA GHURMUT, another village. Even there also, the same atmosphere and no shops. On fifth day, we wanted to have something extra in our food. Just Rice and Dhall for Sahr and Iftaar made us tired. I always take a cup of hot tea after Sahr but could not get that there. So, one of our brothers prayed two rakaats Salaatul Hajat seeking Allah(SWT) blessing to get something else for eating. After wandering in the wild, he could get a small packet of dry tiny five dry fish in a packet which he purchased outside the village. (Only one packet was available).

Fourteen anxious eyes were looking at the dry fish when they were fried. Each of us had half of it. Alhamdulillah.

People in both the villages were very simple, we did gashth, taught them the basics and brought them to Masjid. To meet some of them who could not be met in the village, we had to go a long way to the fields where they were looking after their crops. We prayed Zuhr Salah in congregation and included them there.