A fourteen years old boy contemplated: “Why am I here in this world? What is the purpose of my existence? Why is there so much pain in this world? Our kings build beautiful buildings for themselves but what about the poor?”
One can only imagine how aware, sensitive and ambitious this teenager was. This was none other than Abdul Sattar Edhi.
One day, he decided to watch a movie with his friends in the cinema. As the heroine lifted her arms to sing to the hero on the screen, the young Edhi thought disgustingly: “Ugh! The stink of perspiration.”
Long after his friends sang songs from the movie: “Tra la la, my heart is longing for …” teenaged Edhi would finish for them “… Pakoras!”
Next, he would march home, feeling hungry, while his friends romanticized some more, drawing in the beautiful weather. Clearly, Edhi Sahib was not a romantic at heart, though he was king of empathy and warmth.
Many years reeled on, and Abdul Sattar Edhi set up a dispensary for the poor and disabled with a maternity clinic and a nurse training camp above. One night after a grilling day, he was fast asleep. Jostled by a voice, he woke up. A young girl stood behind the grills at the main door: “Open up, a woman needs to go to the maternity ward. Here’s your key hanging by the door. Now, hurry up!”
She seemed like a dream to Edhi, with eyes like stars. He thought his mind was playing tricks on him. But soon this young girl called Bilqees joined the nursing course. Edhi saw her come and go. He observed that Bilqees was efficient and a cheerful person. Everybody, who worked for Edhi Sahib, was afraid of his temper, but she smiled calmly in his presence. Others began to notice that Edhi was smiling, talking and even laughing. He was turning a new leaf.
Finally, he realized what had happened. Abdul Sattar was love struck! He sent a proposal to Bilqees’s mother. After consulting her daughter, Bilquee’s mother accepted Edhi Sahib’s marriage proposal.
Bilqees’s friends tried hard to dissuade her. “You won’t be able to breathe without his permission. When we are enjoying picnic with our friends, he will take you on a tour to the graveyard. Or he will tell you: ‘Bilqees, can you look for lice in this beggar’s hair?’”
Despite all the caution, Bilqees married Edhi Sahib and came to live in a room just above the dispensary.
After their marriage, Bilqees Edhi took up the challenge of her husband’s philanthropic tasks entirely. She cared for the needy children, whether disabled or homeless, or thrown in the garbage heaps or drains by unwilling or destitute parents. Cradles were placed before all Edhi centres for unwanted babies, who should not be killed. And all along she had children of her own, too.
Unwanted kids, who could not find foster homes, were taught at the Edhi centre skills to earn a decent living, when they would grow up.
For a man to have a calm life and blissful marriage it is absolutely imperative that his spouse shares his dreams. You cannot be riding the same bus as travelers of two different destinations.
It is utterly foolish for a suitor to let someone else decide, whom he wants to marry. Just as it is utterly preposterous to marry women based on their looks, educational qualifications, Facebook profiles, career achievements or family wealth.
Marriages for superficial reasons will last as long as the wedding does. Once the real life begins and the true innate character of the partner surfaces, the relationship will be heading for the rocks.
Spouses that share the same vision and dreams can bear the storms of life through patience, gratitude and mercy towards each other.
Here is the story of a man who is long gone, but his dream lives on. What more proof does one need of his wife’s love for him? Even as a widow, she strives on to nurture her beloved husband’s mission. May Allah (swt) grant every Momin man and woman Taufiq to live a life like Abdul Sattar Edhi and Bilqees Edhi – truly in love with each other and serving the mankind in unison. Ameen.
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