In the morning we started for the next station. The road was clear and easy. On both sides there were lush green trees in full blossom. Cool water flowing softly in the lakes, and a pleasant breeze, all these made it a perfect scene, beyond description. We reached the outskirts and it seemed as if its beauties accompanied us for a little while outside the city in order to see us out.

The path was now no longer clear and clean. in tact, it had become narrow and rocky. Then it passed through a twisting and snaking valley. Had we not been so many people in our group, we would surely have lost our way. We reached a spot where numerous forks led toward the left and it was not easy to decide which one to chose. As we went on, we suddenly saw the Darkies approaching us from one of the paths on the left,

The moment I saw my Darky, I felt overcome with mixed emotions or grief, sorrow and anger. In the brief moment that my eyes were or him, my foot struck a stone and was badly injured. I limped on but could only manage a slow pace and was soon left behind as my other companions went toward with quick steps. Darky stayed on my left until we reached a bisection. I could not choose which fork to take. Seeing my momentary hesitation, Darky approached and said, "What are you thinking?" Then pointing towards the left fork, he said, "This path is the correct one."' So saying, he took a few steps towards the left, expecting me to follow, However. instead of following him, I choose to go the other way, in the opposite direction.

Darky kept insisting that I follow him but I did not pay him the least heed, because I had already suffered enough and each time he had been the cause. I thought of Hazart Ali's words "To try him whom you have already tried (and he has failed) is stupidity".

In a short while we were out of the valley. The road again became clear and the visibility also increased further on the dark shapes of trees in a meadow could be seen. I at once understood that this was the Fourth Station where Haadi had promised to meet me. The thought of seeing Haadi again, spurred me on to the extent that I almost started running and left a dejected Darky well behind.

(It is an accepted tact that the way to happiness and success lies in opposing the satanically incitements and desires. As said below if satanic incitements and' desires are constantly opposed, they gradually lose the power to misguide and doing good continuously further increases one ‘s eagerness and appetite for good deeds.)

Soon I saw Haadi waiting for me at the city gate. When I saw him thus, waiting as he had promised he would, I ran to him, and greeted and embraced him. I felt as if I had been granted a fresh life. Hand in hand we entered the city. Haadi guided me to a palace, which had been especially built for me. It was most comfortable and peaceful here. I rested a while then had some refreshments. Seeing me fresh once more, Haadi asked,

"Well, how is it with you ? Tell me how was your journey through the last three stages?" I answered "All praise is for God, the Creator and sustainer of all Universe, He showers us with bounties inspite of our sins, Whatever it was that befell me was nought but punishment for my own deeds for which I alone was responsible. And if you had been with me, Darky would never have dared to mislead me. Anyhow, all that is now past. What matters is that I have finally reached here and met you again. The ordeal is over and the sorrows forgotten".

(Possibly (a) knowledge and (b) piety as they have served the purpose of a guiding stick and a shield in the world and so might take these forms in the hereafter.)

Haadi said, "Well I wasn't with you so you kept failing in Darky's traps; but even now when I am with you, do not imagine yourself to be completely safe from him, My position is merely that of God's decisive arguments My job is merely to warn and alert you against Darky's deceptions. But never forget that Darky is equipped with powerful tools. He will try his best to mislead you. And this lime if you fall in his trap and are misled away from the straight path it could spell your end, and I would be unable to help you as I have delivered to you the ultimate proof. In these stations you have only a stick and a shield for your protection.' But even these will prove insufficient. So, as today is Friday, go visit your family and see if they have done any good deed on your behalf which can help you here. (Spirits are some times able to visit their families. according to certain traditions).

I said, Haadi, you know well that I have given up all hopes from that quarters. Their only interest lies in their own selves. The living forget the dead very easily. When I visited them last time, I had not been dead even a week, but inspite of it, whatever they were doing was only for their own sake."

Haadi said, "No, you must go there today. I'm sure they must have remembered the Holy Prophet's tradition that 'Remember your dead with good (deeds or words'). 'And if you go there they might recall you, since it might cause Allah to remind them of you. And even fl you have lost hopes of their helping you, at least have hopes from Allah. If one keeps knocking, the door is bound to yield. And never lose hope. in Allah, 'Allah's mercy is close to the Good-doers'.

On Haadi's insistence, I went to my old home. I saw that the name, respect and position ft had held in the past were no more. The gate was closed to the public unlike the way it had been in the past. My family's earning and livelihood had dwindled almost to nil. My children lay listless and none came to inquire their welfare, ft saddened me beyond words. Compulsively, I turned towards Allah: 'O Most Merciful, have pity on my children and myself, because you are the lord of all'. It seemed as if my praying for them refreshed my remembrance in their hearts because they started recalling me and the good time they had in my lifetime. They wept and prayed for me.

(When a person's mind attentively concentrates on another it is possible that it causes the other to compulsively think of him.)