Journey of the Unseen World
(Siyahat-e Sharq)

Ayatullah Sayyed Mohammad Hassan Najafi Quchani
Translated by: Ghulam Hussain

Chapter 2
Journey to the First Station

I realised that it was time to leave. I picked up my Bag of Deeds and started on the road which Haadi had pointed out. The road was clear, and a pleasant and cool breeze was blowing. I was fresh and eager to meet Haadi again at the fourth station. I was walking briskly and managed to cover quite some distance. Before noon, however, I was feeling a bit tired. It had become warmer, and I was thirsty. The pathway had narrowed and there were thorns here and there. Trying to keep tree of these, I kept on until I reached the foot of a mountain and started climbing uphill.

The loneliness was getting on my nerves when suddenly I looked back and to my great relief, saw a person walking towards me on the same path. I was happy that I had at last found a companion to lessen the loneliness of the journey. When he came close, I saw that he was quite ugly to look at and had a distressed took. He had huge teeth, an over hanging upper lip and wide, fearful and stinking nostrils. He greeted me with "Saam Alaik" that is the 'I' in the salaam was missing. This was enough to put me on my guard, because this was not the. Islamic way; in fact, was a sign of enmity. Furthermore it appeared to be intended that way, and did not seem to be a mistake, so I was on my guard and merely replied "Same to you."

Then I asked "Where are you going?" He replied "Wherever you intend to go." I did not feel easy on having him as a companion. However I asked "May I know who you are?" He replied I am your alter ego. They call me Ignorance. My title is way wardness my family name Abu Lahaw (meaning father of playfulness i.e. to waste time in non-serious things). My aim is to create mischief, to ferment discord and dissension and to mislead people and cause them to go astray."

All this conversation further troubled and worried me. I thought that I should have been better of alone, without such a person as companion.

(Traditions show that when Satan lost favour at Allah he was granted the wish that a child of his would be born whenever a human being was born, and he would remain the tatters constant companion, even in Barzakh. His job would be to mislead people. lithe human being had overcome the Satanic commands and his own desires in the earthly life then this twin would remain overpowered in Barzakh and cause no harm. However, here he will cause problems and troubles to the extent that Man had sinned in his earthly lie. As the Prophet had said "I too had this Satan but he embraced Islam on my hands.

The gist of this is that human being has his carnal and material desires from birth and no man is an exception. If he gives in to these and errs, he will subsequently regret, feel remorseful and consequently suffer. The successful one is he who is so firm of mind that he always overpowers his desires. The ideal being was Holy Prophet (S.A.) who had completely vanquished and triumphed over desires.)

I asked him,"It we come to a diversion will you know which route to take? He replied in the negative. I then asked, "I am thirsty. Is there any water nearby?" He replied "I don't know. I asked, "Is our destination near?" He again said, "I don't knows I said "Intelligence and wisdom go hand in hand with existence. How is it that you do not know any thing?"

He said "I only know that I have been at your side ever since you were born. I have never separated tram you except when Allah has especially favoured you and you yourself have separated from me."

I soliloquised "Then this must be the Satan who used to mislead me in the world and on whose beckoning I used to sin. And even now he is not leaving me alone. This is indeed the height of enmity. Allah, Oh Allah, have mercy

He kept following me, couple of paces behind. The road was uphill and steep and it was difficult going. At last I reached the top. I was tired, and so sat down to rest for awhile. Ignorance sat down beside me and said "You seem to be tired. Do you want to know a short cut which will shorten your travel to only a fifth?"

I replied "'Inspite of your ignorance it seems that' can pull miracles." He said "It's not that. Come here, I'll show you. See this road on which you are travelling, though it's bright is bent like a bow and is not less than 5 Km. The chord joining the two points of the arc is no more than one kilometre.

"Geometrically, an arc whether small or big is always bigger than its chord. So we leave this popular road and instead take to the lesser known path it'll be a short cut and no longer than 1 kilometre instead of five. Surely it's wiser to take the short cut."

I replied, "Don't be stupid. Don't you know that these highways are a result of the route being popular and constantly traversed. The people who chose ft weren't senseless. And there's a famous saying that always travel on routes which are popular and favoured by travellers."

He said "You are indeed stupid. You are taking poets and story tellers to be wise men and you are content to 10110w in their foot steps. The path that I am pointing out is obviously shorter. And it is also possible that the people who chose the longer route had enough provision with them or had some means of conveyance. It is possible that they wanted to avoid that tunnel at the mouth of the chord, or maybe their mount could not pass through it. So tell me, why shouldn't the two of us take the short-cut?"

Here I committed the mistake of falling or what he said, mistaking him to be a well wisher. We left the main road and took to the short-cut. But it was not at all easy going here were deep ditches full of rubbish. The path was strewn with needle like thorns and we often came across snakes and scorpions As soon as we would cross one ravine, we would reach another.

It was so hot that my tongue was literally hanging out with thirst, My feet were also injured and bleeding. I was feeling afraid right down to the core of my heart.

My companion seemed to be enjoying my plight. He was joking and laughing at me. We travelled for what seemed to be ages and when at last we reached the highway again we had covered at least 10 Km, Each step had been an ordeal and I was dead tired, I had developed complete hatred for my twin and I told him so WI wish we had never met. I would be happier if we were as tar apart as the two poles".

But he kept waiting for me whilst I sat down to rest. A bit rested, I got up to resume my journey and he again started following me. Suddenly I spotted some greenery about one fourth kilometre away from the highway. Seeing. his chance, ignorance again assaulted me. He came running to me and said, "Hey do you see the greenery over there? There's sure to be water there too. And you really are so thirsty. Let's go and have a look. Maybe we'll find a fresh water spring and you can get a cool drink. When we come back we'll resume our journey."

I can sincerely say that I did not want to obey him; but I was tired and thirsty and I knew that greenery was not possible without water

(When man has to confront the consequences of his actions, he wishes he had never committed them. But this repentance is often not serious enough to stop him from again falling in for temptations and desires.)

So I again felt in his trap. We went towards ft and the route proved to be an extremely difficult and painful one. When we reached, I saw that there was no sign of water anywhere. The ground was rocky and plain. There were huge black snakes visible everywhere. The greenery itself consisted of self-sustaining wild shrubs which do not require additional water. Dejected. I turned back and after again crossing the troublesome path, reached the highway.

We were now in an open ground and all around us were fields full of water-melon plants, laden with fruits. Ignorance at once picked up one and busied himself eating it. He said 'Why don't you take one also. It'll kill your thirst"

I said "It's somebody's personal property and it's not right to take without permission'. ignorance was so engrossed in eating that he was unmindful of the juice trickling down his beard and onto his chest. Shaking his head, he replied "Oh:

Don't be so pious. Listen, firstly there's a good chance that the fields are self-growing and don't belong to anybody, Secondly, even if somebody owns them, Islamic Law allows travellers to consume the necessary minimum from the lands adjacent to the highways. And then, you look like you are about to die of thirst. In such conditions one is even allowed to consume dead bodies. In Soora-e-Baqra (Cow) Verse No.173. God says:

"Whoever is driven to necessity, not desiring, nor exceeding the limit, then he is not guilty of sin, verily Allah is forgiving, merciful."

"And finally, you are no longer in Earth where you are required to live according to the Islamic laws. You are now in Barzakh and those laws are applicable there. not here. You religious people go to extremes. At times you give rulings which even God has not decreed,"

Fool that I was, I again fell for him. I thought "Satan he maybe, but he certainly argues logically." I plucked a watermelon and tried to eat but it was so poisonously bitter, that it injured my mouth and throat. I threw it way and said, "These must be Satanic watermelons. in fact of Ignorance."

He said "No, no, you are mistaken. its just a coincidence that particular melon was so bitter. Try another," So I tried a second and then a third but they were all the same. He was continuously eating and kept exclaiming, "Delicious melons, how extremely sweet.'" I snatched a slice from his hands and tasted it. It tasted similar to the ones I had eaten before, as bitter as one could imagine. I threw it away in disgust and exclaimed "God damn you. why are you eating these and claiming them to be tasty ? I think snake venom must be less bitter." Now be said. "According to my taste, they are sweet and tasty melons. I am Ignorance and these melons are related to me. Whatever is good or beneficial for me is harmful for you, because lam Satan and you are a human. These are according to my taste and nature not to yours.

(This is in accordance with the philosophical argument, the gist of which is that people judge things in accordance with their own nature. A sinner does not see wrong or bad in sins and disobedience, in tact finds pleasure and contentment in these. Whereas a righteous person would be horrified at these and lust the thought of committing evil would sicken him. Henceforth the author has used the word "Darky" instead of Satanic Twin, in order to make obvious the darkness of Satanic incitements.

Suddenly a vicious dog attacked us. Behind it was a guard armed with a stick. He was cursing us and it was clear that he too intended to attack. Darky quickly took the cue and was out onto the road in one bound. I too, tried to escape but could not manage it. The dog caught hold of my clothes and I fell down out of sheer fear at this sudden attack. The guard too reached the scene and joined in with his stick, My pleas went unheard. I kept repeating that I had not eaten a single melon, but his answer was that as far as damage was concerned it was the same whether I had eaten them or thrown them away. At last, after he had given me a thorough beating, I managed to get away. I reached the road, but I was in a bad state, deeply injured and thirsty. I cried for Haadi, that he had left me alone to face such times.

Darky, however, was gleeful at his success. His laughter knew no limits. He watched me from afar and taunted me, "Go on, call Haadi. Do you really expect him to be helpful to you here, in this place ? On the earth you had sown seeds for these sorrows in my garden: now is the time for tasting them. 'The World is the field where the Hereafter is cultivated and the Hereafter is the day of harvest.' You think yourself to be a scholar.

Don't you know the Quran has said that "Whoever has sinned as much as a grain, shall see it (in the hereafter)?" How can you expect Haadi to help you inspite of these laws of God. I Admitted that we will soon reach those places where Haadi will be present but don't forget I too will be there. You will have to lace calamities at places where .Haadi will be useless for you. Did not Haadi himself tell you that whenever you sinned he went away, leaving you alone, though he returned to you when you repented7 Don't you even remember your own Prophet's tradition. "A faithful does not commit adultery as long as he is a true faithful. Hence Haadi was never present with you at these occasions when you sinned. so how can he help you now, when you have to pay for those deeds of yours." I thought that there was no solution for this accursed being. He was too well informed for my comfort. I stopped calling for Haadi, opened my bag and took out tan apple. It was a juicy one and refreshed me and quenched my thirst. Even my bruises became well. got up and resumed my journey.

(From the traditions of the Infallible we gather that faith is not a permanent resident of the faithful's heart. If he sins, faith leaves him to return only when he repents. As faith is a divine and godly gift it does not remain with the faithful if he indulges in sins. (e.g. lying, adultery. fraud. rivelry, etc.) and as faith departs he is engulfed in Darkness and Ignorance. May God grant us all the desire and chance to Repent truly.)

After sometime I reached a bisection with one road leading to an open, airy and bright city and the other towards a desolate place. A Sentry was standing guard at the bisection. I approached him and said. "Comrade. it possible can you prevent Darky from following me? He has already caused me a great deal of trouble today."

 

The guard replied. 'Just as the human's shadow is inseperatable from the body, so is Darky. Tonight, however, he will not be able to approach you, because they are not allowed inside the City of Light. They will stay the night in that desolate and dark place on your left. When you resume your journey he will again be at your side. However, it is possible that he will not trouble you so much then".

I entered the bright and developed city. This was the first station. There were beautiful buildings; flowing lakes, greenery, and trees laden with fruits; beautiful servants with eloquent speech,' delicate and tasty food, and delicious drinks. I felt so happy and contented, especially as this came after the horrible and burdensome journey and the troubles that I had borne because of my Darky. These were now compensated by the Edenic place, and had it not been for the urge to meet Haadi at the fourth station, I would have been contented to stay here only.

Here I also met a few of my students who had died a few years before me. We spent the night here. In the morning1 the breeze was scented with the smell of fresh fruits, We strolled in the city, chatting and inquiring about each other's welfare because in the hereafter one can only inquire about another's welfare at such stops as one is too busy to even think of another when he is travelling. As the Qur'an says, "On the Day of Judgement each man will be engrossed in his own self, oblivious of others". We were also thankful to be rid of the Darkies.

In short, we were completely happy here, with the best of people, service and food. The best thing was that the ugly Darkies were not near us. We were thankful to God, that for our small deeds on the earth he had so richly rewarded us, As Quran says in Soora-e-Safat verse 61, "For the like of this all strivers should strive".

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