"THAT'S DUCKS' FOOD!"

"THAT'S DUCK'S FOOD!"

THIS incident took place almost 10 years ago but I believed still relevant even to this day, and also, for the future. There are many lessons to be learnt from it. That year, I brought nearly 600 pilgrims, 200 men and 400 women, to Mecca. Obviously with such a big group, I would have to contend with various problems that were sure to arise. I witnessed all kinds of manners.

     At 11.30 pm, on the night of 8th Dhu al-Hijjah, members of the group left their respective rooms and boarded buses headed for Arafat. However, as the road was rather congested, we only arrived at around 4.00 am. Upon arrival, the pilgrims went into their respective tents and then prayed, rested and recited their zikr as well as other rituals. The next day, breakfast was served by the workers from the muassasah. Our energy was replenished after sipping hot teas and eating breads and kuih (Malay desserts).

     When it was time for wuquf, we prayed, recited Talbiah and Zikr, du'a and carried out various other religious rituals. An hour later, the workers from the muassasah returned, bearing trays of food. I noticed how the pilgrims ate with relish.

     However, just as I was about to enjoy my food, suddenly there was a commotion coming from a tent next to mine. It sounded like there was a fight. I put down my own food and peered outside.

     Barely a few metres away, I saw a middle-aged man standing in front of a muassasah worker who was there bearing food. The man's face looked red and angry.

     "Hey! Do you think I came all this way just to eat food like this? Hah?" the pilgrim yelled at the worker. The worker, who looked to be in his early 20s, remained silent, uttering nothing. He was probably scared. The other pilgrims too, went very quiet, as if waiting to see what else would happen.

     "Just look at this? What is this? The rice doesn't look like rice... hard. Is this grass or vegetable? And the meat is tough. What is this? I paid thousands of ringgit to come here and this is what you give me to eat?"

     The worker remained as still as a rock. He didn't have the courage to look at the man straight in the eyes.

     "The food is more suited for ducks in my kampong. Even their feed is nicer than this. Understand??!!" yelled the man, hurling the tray and all its content next to the tent.

     The food scattered on the ground while the tray went flying. The dishes smeared the previously clean tent. The other pilgrims, and especially the worker, were shocked. So was I. However, his anger had not in any way abated.

     "Hey! Listen here. I'd rather not eat at all if this is the sort of food you're giving me. Go back. Tell those people, I don't want to eat duck food!" he yelled again. His eyes were bulging red, glaring at the man like he wanted to swallow him whole.

     After the verbal abuse, the worker walked slowly away from the man. His face was pale. He was really embarrassed at having been yelled at in that manner. Several other pilgrims approached the man.

     "Be patient. What can we do? If that's all they have for us, then we just have to accept it," said one of them while holding his shoulder.

     "How can we be patient? Didn't we pay? So they have to give us good food! Not like that! That's duck food!" he repeated. The babbled on about many other things. For him, the food was not fit for him to eat.

     After they managed to calm him down, I saw him sat on his own looking deep in thought. Not as single pilgrim dared to address him. In the afternoon, he didn't take a single bite. I, who had been taking groups for many years and experienced many things, just observed the man's bad temper. As far as I was concerned, he obviously did not understand that when in Mecca, there tend be ordeals, which we will have to face. We have to accept and pass the tests because there is a reason why Allah has given them to us.

     If the tests are met positively, Allah would certainly rewarded us well. But, if they are met negatively, then we would have to wait for his 'reward'. That was always the case and I've seen it all and have had pilgrims tell me about them. Based on his behavior, I said to myself: "... I would not be surprised if something befell him."

     Alhamdulillah, nothing happened to him until the end of the Hajj month. However, three months after his return from Mecca, I found out that he was suffering from an unusual illness. The doctors, who examined him, could not say what was wrong.

     It seemed that his throat could not accept any rice or food. The only things he could swallow were water and milk. Whenever he tried to eat, his throat would hurt, causing him so much pain and nausea. His family tried to feed him many times but whenever food entered his throat, he would squirm in pain.

     Bedridden, he suddenly realised his mitakes in Arafat. He discovered that no matter how unappetising, we we should not insult any food as it is a gift from Allah. Food is also Allah's creature. It is created for us and not to be insulted. Although today we may be given something unappetising, we still need food for other days. We need to continue eating in order to survive.

     But it was too late. Nothing could be done any more. As the rice prepared for the man could not be eaten, it had to be thrown to the chickens and ducks.

     As the result of his mysterious illness, the man's body, which was previously healthy and sturdy, became thin and lifeless. He could only lie motionless on the mattress. To survive, he could only drink water and milk. After suffering for several months, I was told that he returned to his Maker.

     From Abu Hurairah r.a.: "... Rasulullah never criticised or rebuked any food at all, not even once. Whenever he liked something, he would eat it, and when he didn't, he would just leave it."

N / F : FROM "THE BEST COLLECTION OF STORIES FROM MECCA", BY MASTIKA.