Salamah bin Kuhail (rahimahullah) was an eminent Taabi‘ee and Muhaddith who had met the likes of Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) and Sayyiduna Zaid bin Arqam (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). The following incident is regarding his granddaughter, Bakh-khah.

Her brother recounts:

I had an elder sister who suffered a mental breakdown due to which she became withdrawn and reclusive. She stayed in a room at the far end of the attic, and remained there for more than ten years.

Despite her mental condition, she tried to always remain in the state of tahaarah (purity), and was particular about her salaah. On certain occasions, she would succumb to her condition and lose her sanity for a few days. However, on recovering her sanity, she would make a note of the number of salaahs which she had missed so that she could perform the qadhaa afterwards.

One night, while I was asleep, I heard a knock on my door around midnight. I called out, “Who’s there?” to which I received the reply, “Bakh-khah.” (To ensure that it really was her,) I asked, “My sister?” to which she responded, “Yes, your sister.” I called out, “Welcome!” and stood, opening the door, allowing her to enter.

Seeing that she had not ventured (out of her room) into any portion of the house for more than ten years, I asked her, “O my sister, is everything fine?” She replied, “Yes, everything is fine.”

She then related the following, “I had a dream tonight, in which someone greeted me with salaam. I replied to the salaam, after which the person said, ‘Allah Ta‘ala has looked after your father on account of your grandfather, and Allah Ta‘ala will look after you on account of your father. Hence, if you wish, I will make du‘aa to Allah Ta‘ala on your behalf and He will remove your affliction. Alternatively, you can exercise patience if you wish, and you will be rewarded with Jannah. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) have both interceded to Allah Ta‘ala on your behalf, due to the love which your father and grandfather had for them.’

I replied, ‘If I am forced to choose between the two then I will choose to exercise patience over my condition in exchange of Jannah. However, Allah Ta‘ala is most vast (in His generosity) and nothing is difficult for Him. If He wants to bless me with a complete recovery and also bless me with Jannah, He can easily do so.’ The person replied, ‘Allah Ta‘ala has blessed you with both, and He is happy with your father and grandfather on account of their love for Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma). Stand and go!’” In this manner, Allah Ta‘ala removed her affliction.

(Sifatus Safwah vol. 2, pg. 116)

Lessons:

1. Pious parents and grandparents are an invaluable bounty. In many cases, although a person may not realize it, he is enjoying special barakah (blessings) and bounties of Allah Ta‘ala on account of these individuals. It is only when they are deceased that he realizes the extent to which he benefited through them.

2. Love for the Sahaabah(radhiyallahu ‘anhum) is a requirement of imaan and is a very virtuous action. Every Muslim must engender love in his heart for the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) through reading inspirational incidents of their lives.

3. Apart from the reward which a person will certainly receive in the Hereafter for his righteousness, he will often be rewarded in this world as well by being blessed with some special goodness, favour, etc. In some cases, one may not see this special favour in his lifetime, as Allah Ta‘ala may bless his progeny with this special favour. Whatever the case, the point to remember is that no good deed goes unrewarded.

4. We should never lose hope in the mercy of Allah Ta‘ala. Even if we have a problem or affliction that has persisted for years and years, we should continue turning to Allah Ta‘ala, as He can still change our condition.

5. Allah Ta‘ala is most generous, kind and loving. If we remain obedient and loyal to Him, He will open His treasures to us, and there is no limit to how much He can bless us with.

6. Although Bakh-khah suffered from a mental condition for more than ten years, she never neglected her salaah, always performing her outstanding salaah when she regained her sanity. In the same way, we must make a resolution to always remain punctual on our salaah, and if we have any qadhaa (outstanding) salaahs, we must commence performing them immediately.