‘If Divine Care escorts you, fear nothing and safely sleep.’[95]
The Almighty says, “What would Al’lah gain by your punishment if you are grateful and you believe? Al’lah is Thankful and Omniscient.”[96]
This universe and all the creatures it contains are wholly in the Hands of Al’lah the Compassionate, Who directs them with kindness and sublime wisdom as He pleases. No creature can move without His Permission and by His Might (Glory to Him), and no man can oppress another except by the Almighty’s Omniscience, Will and His mighty and powerful Support according to what is suitable and what is deserved. His guiding Hand (Glory to Him) is extended over the whole of creation, so the charitable human being will receive charity and the evildoer will be punished.
Mohammad al-Taghlibi was a pure, modest and good- hearted man who had known the eminent M. A. Sheikho for many years. He found him to be a man of the highest ideals and brightest light so Officer al-Taghlibi created a firm, heartfelt bond with Mohammad Amin because of their shared love of Al’lah. In fact they had first known each other long ago during their school years, then Al’lah pleased them by arranging that they work together under special circumstances during their term of duty in the security service.
Once, when they were together in the same room, Officer Mohammad Amin was asleep, but his friend, Mohammad al-Taghlibi, was still awake looking at him as he slept, and saw him as a body of great light that radiated in all directions. He had never seen such a light before and he felt a sense of serene happiness and bliss flowing into him from this luminous scene and his heart was overwhelmed. Hence, he inwardly wondered, ‘What is the secret of this man? He is so close to Al’lah his Provider! What a great link he has formed with his Lord, Glory to Him!’ This vision occurred repeatedly… and that is why he remained close to him and his heart became attached to him.
One day, when Mohammad Amin was still an officer in the police force, he had to travel to Istanbul [97]in a hurry to attend to certain matters and conduct some business. When his friend heard of this he came at once, obviously very cheerful, ‘Oh, Sir… I’ve already been told that you will travel to Istanbul this week, so I’d like to go with you and have the honour of your company for I, too, have some business there. I had decided to travel next week, but when I heard that you will go this week I advanced my trip to travel with you… if you agree.’
Officer Mohammad Amin replied, ‘Of course, you’re welcome Mohammad.’ Mohammad al-Taghlibi knew the date and time they were to set off, so on the appointed day, the esteemed officer, Mohammad Amin met his friend and they went together to the railway station in Damascus to board the train which would take them to Aleppo where they would connect to the Eastern Express train to complete their journey to Istanbul. As Mohammad Amin and his friend waited at Aleppo railway station for the departure of the Eastern Express train to Istanbul, they were spotted by the station manager. He recognised them as two august officers, so he greeted them and invited them to his office where he received them most graciously.
They gladly accepted his considerate invitation, then Mohammad Amin asked him about the time of departure of the train to Istanbul, and he replied that it would be in half an hour.
They thanked him for his kind hospitality and took their leave of him to go to the train. They boarded the specific train and sat in the last carriage in order to have some privacy and to be away from other passengers and their noise, and they started to discuss various matters relating to religious doctrine. A half an hour passed and finally the train whistled to signal its departure, then set off, its wheels turning slowly and gradually picking up speed, pulling its line of carriages behind, one after another… but, what a surprise! The train departed the station with all its coaches except the last one, which stayed right where it was… motionless! They paused in their conversation and after a moment or two of confusion realised that their coach had not moved while the rest of the train had departed with all of its coaches but one. They got down from the carriage and stood watching the rear of the train as it disappeared from sight… rather puzzled as to what had happened!
The estimable officer looked at the coach, and soon found that it had been disconnected from the other coaches intentionally; he turned and looked around and saw only one other man there, the cleaner who worked at the station. Officer Mohammad Amin headed towards him and asked,
‘Excuse me, do you know who separated this coach from the others?’ Knowing nothing about what had happened and its result, the man replied, ‘Me… I did it, Sir!’ Mohammad Amin asked him, ‘Who told you to do it?’ The worker answered, ‘Nobody sir.’
‘So, why did you do that? I mean, why did you disconnect the last carriage from the train?’ Our officer was now a little perplexed.
At this point the worker seemed distracted and soon became very uneasy; he remained silent for a while then he said, ‘I don’t know sir… I swear by God that I don’t know why I did it!’ Suddenly annoyed by the worker and with anger clearly showing on his face Officer Mohammad al- Taghlibi shouted at him, ‘Who told you to uncouple the carriage? Why did you do it? Why?’
But displaying his usual patience, Mohammad Amin promptly intervened calming his friend’s anger and saying,
‘Take it easy… Mohammad… please… be kind to the man, don’t be cruel to him.’
The worker began to say to them, ‘It’s my fault… oh! I’ve made a mistake. By God no one told me to do that… believe me. I truly don’t know why I did it. Oh! There is no might, no power but by Al’lah! It is Al’lah who directs everything!’
In the meantime, the station manager came out of his office and saw the two officers standing and talking to the station cleaner and he wondered why they had not left as they were supposed to do. How strange! He headed towards them to enquire about the matter, and when he understood what had happened he turned to the worker asking him, ‘Who told you to do that?’ The latter said,
‘No-one, sir! I did it spontaneously!’
The manager said, ‘But, why did you disconnect it, you stupid man?’
The worker replied, ‘Believe me sir, I have no idea why.’
Hence the manager flared up in anger and went to give the worker a severe beating, all the while heaping insults upon him. Fortunately the honourable Officer Mohammad Amin stood between them preventing the manager from hurting the poor worker and calming his nervousness, then he addressed the latter saying, ‘Have you ever disconnected a carriage before?’
‘No, Sir, it’s the first time I’ve done so.’
‘But, how did you know what you needed to do?’
‘I watched the station workers while they uncoupled the wagons, so I learnt it from them. I tried it today… and found I could do it!’
Officer Mohammad Amin said nothing for a moment concerning this odd incident, then he said, ‘There is no might or power except from Al’lah (Glory to Him), therefore this was done for a predetermined reason.’
Thereupon he turned to the station manager and addressed him, ‘I am asking you not to punish this worker. Would you please promise me that?’
The station manager agreed and responded to the dignified officer, then he invited him, along with his friend Officer Taghlibi, to his office as guests pending the arrival of the next train. Officer Sheikho asked him about the time of arrival of the next train and what time it was due to depart, and he was informed that it would be in five, or maximum, seven hours.
Once back in his office, he sent for lunch to be brought for them, and they were offered grilled mutton and several other appetizing dishes, and he entertained them hospitably. They all ate well and passed a pleasant few hours in general conversation.
Meanwhile, and about two hours after the Eastern Express train had departed, the up-standing officer and his friend were still being entertained by the station manager in his office, when the telegraph rang, so the manager answered and held a short conversation.
During the call, the manager’s countenance changed considerably. He turned very pale and looked both annoyed and horrified at the same time. He took leave of his guests for a little while and when he was outside his office, a strange commotion sprung up in the station… there was loud noise, the voices of the station officials increased as they shouted out orders, and they started to rush back and forth. Within minutes doctors and nurses had gathered and were packing a variety of medical equipment, including, instruments, bandages and cotton, and disinfectants. Then, he promptly ordered the standby train to be ready to leave. When he returned to his office the commendable officer asked him, ‘what’s wrong, Sir? What has happened?’
The manager replied, ‘There’s been a terrible accident… the train which left two hours ago…! It’s the same train that you and your friend should have been on! A huge rock fell down from a point high on the Taurus Mountains and landed on a railway bridge where the track passes through a high, mountainous area. This bridge crosses a deep valley and connects a steep slope on either side… it’s situated directly after a curve in the track so the driver was unable to see the rock and apply the brakes in time to stop the train… the engine collided with the rock and the entire train overturned and plunged into the valley…! There are many injured and a great loss of life…it’s too terrible for words!’
Shortly after the station manager had finished speaking the imposing officer stood up and dashed off followed by his fellow traveller Mohammad Taghlibi in search of the station cleaner. When he found him he stopped him suddenly, so that the man became terrified and assumed that after all he was to be punished for his actions.
‘Yes, Sir! What do you want?’ he asked.
Officer Mohammad Amin asked his friend, ‘Oh, Mohammad! Do you have enough money for a round-trip to Istanbul together?’
‘Of course, Sir… I have more than enough.’ Officer al- Taghlibi answered.
Mohammad Amin then put his hand in his pocket and emptied it of all the money and golden majeedis [99] it contained and gave them to the worker who stood there startled, his mouth wide open in amazement.
Officer Mohammad Amin addressed him saying, ‘Come, take this… it’s for you.’
‘No… no, Sir!’ the worker replied, ‘I don’t want any money.’
Yet he gave in before the determination of the honourable officer, so, he accepted all the money and gold coins that he was being offered… but still overwhelmed with surprise.
At that moment, Officer Mohammad Amin asked him,‘Tell me, who really did tell you to separate the last carriage from the others? Surely someone did!’
The worker insisted, ‘By Al’lah, no one did, Sir.’
Officer Mohammad Amin said, ‘No… no… there is One, and only One, who ordered you to do that… he is Al’lah Almighty, the Provider of all worlds!’
The noble officer greatly praised his Lord for saving and preserving both him and his friend by His Kindness and the Eye of His Care and Mercy… Glory to Him.
A few hours passed then the second train arrived at the station: the time of its departure to Istanbul was announced and soon it left Aleppo station carrying Mohammad Amin and his friend Mohammad.
When the train reached the site of the accident the driver stopped for a short while to look at the debris of the terrible accident. Officer Sheikho looked down to the bottom of the valley and saw the wreckage of the train and its coaches lying like boxes of matches in the depths of the valley. Really, it was a terrible accident!
Officer Mohammad Amin thanked God anew for their rescue from this painful accident and for His Care, Protection and Clemency towards them.