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THE MIRACULOUS HANDKERCHIEF

Today when I was present in Hazrat's majlis, Malik Aala-ul-Mulk, the kotwal of Sultan Alaudin Khilji, arrived, greeted Hazrat by kissing the floor and took his seat among the row of people seated there. Hazrat addressed him saying, "May God reward Aala-ul-Mulk for saving the Sultan from committing a great error." The Sultan was toying with the idea of claiming Prophethood along with some other wrong ideas as well, and none of the courtiers daring to advise him. Only Malik Aala-ul-Mulk had the courage and, risking his life, he advised the Sultan against pursuing such sinful ideas.

Malik Aala-ul-Mulk stood up from his seat, kissed the floor twice before him, and, standing up respectfully said, "This was all due to Hazrat's attention and his own extraordinarily courage, and whatever Hazrat had counselled me, I had carried it out. May Allah keep Makhdum's continued protection over our city, our country, and its rulers." Saying this, Aala-ul-Mulk sat down. Hazrat kept staring at the floor as if in deep thought, and then said, "A ruler must be aware of the hidden things in his kingdom. Even though Malik Aala-ul-Mulk keeps him well informed and Malik Khatirudin, the minister, also does his work ably, even then the King should be knowledgeable about the things which even Malik Aala and Malik Khatirudin do not know."

Hazrat then picked up his handkerchief which he normally used for wiping his face after performing ablutions and, extending it towards Malik Aala-ul-Mulk, said, "Take this handkerchief and give it to the King and tell him to spread it over his face every night before going to bed." Malik Aala-ul-Mulk stood up, took the handkerchief, kissed it respectfully, and placing it on his head left the majlis, retracing his steps backwards. Hazrat continued to counsel those present in-his majlis.

I was again present in Hazrat's majlis the next day when Malik Aala-ul-Mulk arrived suddenly, looking very anxious. He kissed the floor and, standing up, said, "Last night, the Sultan spread Hazrat's handkerchief over his face and a little later called for me and informed me that he had just seen the whole of India before him and, looking into every house in Delhi, he had seen that there is a lot of crime and sinful activity going on in the city. He said he had called me to arrest such and such people on the grounds of theft, gambling, adultery, drinking and other wrongdoing and to punish them. I have been out all night catching such people, as there is not even a single house where this activity is not going on. The whole city is in a panic that the King is getting news of the hidden things. It is causing great anxiety all around the city. I have come to inform the Makhdum about the condition in the city, and then to ask for further guidance from the Makhdum.

Hazrat instead appeared angry and said, "Man is quick to embark on the wrong path. I gave him the handkerchief so that he might become aware of the oppressed and the needy people's problems and so he could protect them from oppression and injustice and give them help to overcome these. Instead of attending to this, he thought to look at the people's sins though Allah veils the faults of the people and has even created the darkness of the night to follow the light of the day so that the faults, shortcomings and sins of people may remain concealed from others in its darkness."