everyday life · relationships · self growth

Missed calls

This concept ‘Missed calls’ has been coined by Ashfaq ahmed sahab in his book Zawiya.

It basically revolves around the concept of this shair by Habib Jalib.
مخلوقِ خدا جب کسی مشکل میں پھنسی ہو
سجدے میں پڑے رہنا عبادت نہیں ہوتی

AA recollects the time, he got CLI (caller identification) installed at his home and told her granddaughter proudly that now he can choose whose call to pick.

His granddaughter Maya asked him, ‘what if Allah calls you, what if you miss His call?’

AA mentioned in the book that although he didn’t  tell this to his granddaughter but he would have probably told Allah:

[“اللہ میاں ۔۔میری ابھی چار سنتیں رہتی ہیں۔ وہ پڑھ لوں تو پھر آپ سے بات کروں گا۔” حالانکہ وہ سنتیں بھی اللہ کی عطا کردہ ہیں۔]

Maya emphasized that he should keep himself alert for any missed call that might come.

AA then recalls an incident when his neighbor’s guard reached out to him for some help. The neighbor’s family was out of station at that time and only their son was home. He fell unconscious after a fit. The guard asked for help as he didn’t have any means of transportation. AA told the guard that he will see what he can do after finishing the Nimaz. When he reached there after the Nimaz, he was told that a corn seller took the boy to hospital on his donkey cart. Maya reminded AA that he missed the call.

How frequently do we miss the call from Allah? Rejecting requests for help, denying small doable favors, delaying response so someone else would help instead.

Are you missing the calls?

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