FOR the first few days, the voyage was smooth and enjoyable. Then suddenly a violent storm overtook us. The mountain high waves tossed the ship around like a tiny toy. A mighty wave crushed the ship and wrecked it completely. I saw some floating boards and a few survivors swimming around trying to save their lives. When I recovered from the shock, I found myself clinging to a plank and moving with it at the mercy of the waves. After drifting for two days, in a semi-conscious state, the waves tossed me upon the shore. I thanked Allah for saving me from the jaws of death. I was so weak that I couldn't move. I lost track of time and was in a state between dizziness and deep slumber. After some time, I slightly opened my eyes and saw a few strange faces staring at me. They carried me to a nearby town. When we approached near it, the first man-made thing which caught my eye was a towering minaret of a Masjid. I thanked Allah for being among my own brethren of faith. They took me to a house belonging to one of them and laid me on a comfortable bed. With proper care, feeding, and treatment, I soon regained my lost energy. I told my kind host all about myself and the mishap of the shipwreck. My host, whose name was Faleh Hasan, informed me that I was in Hodeida, a coastal town of Yemen. I began to attend Masjid to offer my regular prayers and there I came to know many persons of nobility and of high-ranking positions. They all knew my unhappy episode through my host and treated me with understanding and respect. One of them was the aged and pious Sheikh Ahmad Bin Suhail who usually led the prayers. He always greeted me with fatherly affection. One day, he was a little late to arrive in the Masjid, so the people requested me to lead the prayers. That day I performed the duties of Imam. I did my best to recite clearly the verses of the Qur'an during the prayer and afterwards delivered a brief sermon on Islamic Law. Everyone seemed to be highly impressed. Sheikh Ahmad came forward and congratulated me on my excellent performance. But later, I had sometimes thought that I had overstayed my welcome. So after the evening prayers, I stated my intention of leaving, but my host would not agree. At night, when I was going to bed, Sheikh Ahmad came with a few respectable people of the town. Sheikh Ahmad said, “Dear son, we all earnestly desire you to stay here with us forever. The regular Imam of our Masjid died last year. We still mourn his death. His memory is deeply rooted in our hearts. He had enlightened our lives with the torch of knowledge. We wish you to take his place and consent to be our Imam. We may not be able to offer you a better paid position than that of the Qazi in Qurtuba, but we will surely give you our love, affection, and respect.” My protest went in vain and I was left with no other alternative but to agree to their request. They left me thinking how fate changed the course of life. I had cherished the hope of being a Qazi of Qurtuba, but preordained events made me an Imam of the Masjid in Hodeida. So a new phase in my life began. I took charge of the duties thrust on me and shifted to the assigned house of the Imam. I restarted the primary school and also commenced evening classes to impart lessons to explain the meaning of the Qur'an. One day, Sheikh Ahmad came to me and after enquiring about my welfare, said, “Dear son, a man is not perfect without his partner of life. I want you to marry and take full advantage of life. Marriage is also a sacred Sunnah of our Noble Prophet.” I replied, “Sir, you have always advised me in my best interest. I will follow your counsel.” The Sheikh said, “The late Imam of this Masjid was a very close friend of mine. He had a daughter, and when he saw his death approaching, he entrusted her to my protection and care. She is a lovely and adorable girl of good manners. Allah has endowed her with physical and mental beauty. She is virtuous and is a suitable match for you. I wish to give her in marriage to you and I feel sure that it will be a marriage of true minds.” I had no objection to the proposal whatsoever. A few days later, the bonds of marriage united us. After the festive ceremonies were over, Sheikh Ahmad escorted her to my house that was in fact her old abode where she had lived with her late father. I looked at her and I forgot to even say welcome to her. I was not only looking at her beautiful face and at her downcast eyes; but my glance was riveted upon her pretty neck, which was ornamented by precious pearls. I at once recognized that necklace. It was the same necklace that I once found on a deserted road of Makkah. I looked at her in silent and extreme wonder. Sheikh Ahmad noticed my confused condition and thought that her beauty and the luster of the pearls had enchanted me. He politely said, “Dear Abu Bakr, that necklace and its wearer, both are yours now. It may, perhaps, interest you to know that five years ago my friend went to Makkah for pilgrimage and took that necklace with him to get it re-polished. There, he lost it. But due to the goodness of an honest young man, he recovered it intact. That commendable young man declined the offer of a handsome reward. He left a lasting impression upon my friend who always remembered and talked about him. He once confided to me that he had a mind to go to Makkah again and ask that virtuous young man to accept the hand of his daughter. Anyhow, it was destined differently. His daughter was to become your wife instead of his. The decreed decisions of fate are strange and beyond the understanding of man.” An emotional storm erupted within me. The strange happenings of the fateful events agitated me and drops of tears rolled down my cheeks. I looked towards Sheikh Ahmad through misty eyes and said, “Dear sir, you are very right to say that insight into the unknown mysteries of fate is not possible. It would perhaps be a pleasant surprise to know that I am the same person who found the necklace and restored it to your friend. He had offered me 500 dinars. Although I was suffering from the agonies of hunger in those days, my conscience did not allow me to accept anything that was not my due. I pinned all my hopes and expectations on Allah for any reward. And here I am with His gracious and greatest reward of all.” Sheikh Ahmad was amazed and without saying a word, he held my hand and shook it with passion. My newly wedded wife lifted her eyes and looked me full in the face. Her eyes were filled with enthusiastic love that any husband ever could desire for. Allah had bestowed upon me His favors by giving me a considerate and loving wife and nothing in life surpasses that bliss.
