FRIENDS
& FRIENDSHIP – An interesting tale
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There was a youngster – like one of today’s youngsters –
who had become friendly with another youth. The youngster’s
elderly father noticed his coming home late at nights and
enquired, “One night, two nights, three nights, and now
every night you are coming home very late. What is your
story?” The youngster replied, “I go to visit a friend of
mine. Sitting and talking with him, it tends to get a bit
late.” The father said, “Really? Oho! There are still such
friends today?” The father continued, “When you are about
to visit your friend tomorrow, let me know. I also wish
to meet this dear friend of yours.”
The
following evening the youngster got ready and informed his
father that he was about to leave to visit his friend. His
father said, “Very well. I will be with you in a minute.”
The father kept himself busy with first one task and then
another, causing some delay. The youngster became restless.
“Don’t fret. I am coming now,” the father said. Deliberately
he busied himself some more until it became quite late.
“At last I am free. Let us go,” he said.
The streets were empty. It was close to midnight and most
of the people had retired for the night. On reaching the
friend’s house the youngster knocked on the door and called
out to his friend. His friend enquired from inside. “Who
is it?” (Mind you, the friend still wants to know who it
is!) The youngster gave his name. “Oh! It is rather late...
Never mind. Hang on.” The friend came to the door and opened
it. “Why have you come so late?” he asked. The father had
coached his son along the way as to what to say. Accordingly
the son replied, “Some problem has cropped up causing my
delay. I have landed myself in some problem.” The word “problem”
had a noticeable affect on the friend. He yawned and said,
“I was fast asleep. I am still feeling heavy headed, and
my mind is not quite clear. What you do is come back in
the morning. Then we will see what is what.” Saying this,
the friend closed the door, fastened the door chain and
went back to bed.
After a few moments of deathly silence the father spoke,
“I have seen your friend of these times. And so have you.
Now you come with me. I also have a friend from the old
days. He has gone quite old, and so have I. I have not seen
him for ages, but never mind, let me show you what type
of friend he is.” Late as it was, father and son proceeded
to the house of the father’s friend. When they reached there
the father knocked on the door and called out to his friend.
The knocking woke up the friend and he called back from
inside, “I’ll be with you in a minute.” (You will note that
he did not ask “Who is it?” Even after an absence of several
years he had recognised the voice immediately, in contrast
to the youngster’s friend.)
He did not come to the door “in a minute”. There was some
delay. And when he did open the door he presented a strange
spectacle as he stood in the doorway: in his one arm he
was clutching a bag; in his other arm he had a stick; and
on his head was balanced a pot! After Salaams were exchanged,
the father asked his friend, “What is all this?” The friend
replied, “Nothing really. When I recognised your voice the
thought struck me that, coming at this time of the night
after an absence of several years, you must have some special
problem. I have hurriedly made these few preparations, and
this caused the delay in my coming to the door.” The friend
went on to explain: “This pot on my head has some food:
if you have nothing to eat, this is to take home for your
family. This bag in my hand contains money: if some creditor
is making life difficult for you, this is to settle your
debts. Thirdly, it may be that some enemy is after your
blood: I may be old but I can still wield a stick quite
deftly, and I’ll contribute at least two or three shots
with this stick.”
The father reassured his friend, “No. There are no problems
with food or money. There is also no fight. It is just that
this son of mine used to come home late at night because
of some friend of his. We went and saw this friend. I, in
turn, offered to show him my old friend, which I have done.
Shukria – thank you very much. Really, I am not in need
of anything. Please forgive us for inconveniencing you at
this late hour.” “You are welcome. It is your right,” his
friend said. Making Salaam, father and son took their leave.
The lesson on the true friendship that existed in those
years had been forcefully driven home to the youngster.
This is not an age in which you will find such friendships.
So called friends have earned some fancy titles for themselves:
-”Chamchí yár” “Friend
of the tablespoon”.
-”Dastarkhán ke yár” “Friend of the table spread”.
-”Muhazzab dákú” “Cultured/sophisticated thief”.
Etc., etc
[Taken from the discourses
of Maulana Muhammad Masíhulláh Khán Sáhib RA]