Dark-skinned slave

There was a caravan travelling in the Arabian Desert. The travellers ran out of water on the way. Exhausted by raging thirst, they were on the verge of death but were fortunately blessed. All of a sudden, the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم came to help them and all the travellers took a sigh of relief. The Ghayb-knowing Rasūl, the Embodiment of Nūr صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم said, “Behind that mound, a dark-skinned slave on a she-camel is just going past; he has a water skin, bring him to me with the camel.”

Thus, some of them reached across the mound where they saw that a dark-skinned slave was really riding on a she-camel. They brought him before the Holy Prophet صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم. He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم took the water skin from him, passed his blessed hand over it and said whilst opening it, “Come O thirsty people! Quench your thirst.” Thus all of them drank water, quenching their thirst and also filled their pots. Seeing this miracle, the dark-skinned slave kissed the blessed hand of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم. The Holy Prophet صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم passed his blessed hand over the face of the slave.

The dark face of the dark-skinned slave turned as white as a full moon which shines in the dark night like daylight. Impressed, the dark-skinned slave recited Kalimaĥ Shaĥādaĥ and embraced Islam. In this way, his heart was also brightened. When he reached his master after becoming a Muslim, his master was unable to recognize him. The slave said, “I am your slave.” The master said, “He was a dark-skinned slave.” The slave said, “You are right, but I have become a Muslim and have accepted the slavery of Prophet Muhammad صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم who has brightened my face like a full moon. In his blessed company, all ill colors fade and the darkness of unbelief and sins is also removed. It is no wonder that the dark colour of my face is replaced with bright white.”

(Derived from Mašnawī translated, pp. 262)

Jo gadā daykĥo liye jātā ĥay tawřā nūr kā Nūr kī Sarkār ĥay kyā is mayn tawřā nūr kā

Dear Islamic brothers! May my life be sacrificed for the glory of the Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم! اَللّٰه! اَللّٰه! He صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم prophetically pointed out in a precise and graceful manner that the man going past behind the mound was black and was riding on a camel with a water skin. Then, by the bestowment of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم did such a favour that the water sufficed for all travellers without any reduction, and the water skin remained full. Moreover, he صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم passed his luminous hand over the face of the dark-skinned slave, brightening not only his black face but also his heart and inspiring him to embrace Islam.

Nūr wālā āyā ĥay Nūr lay ker āyā ĥay Sāray ‘ālam mayn yeĥ daykĥo kaysā Nūr cĥāyā ĥay