Hammu a Raeen caste Muslim lived in the village of Bolina. He worked hard when he was young and looked after his family well. The family lived a happy and comfortable life. Hammu had been able to give all material comforts to his family. He commanded respect amongst his fellowmen.
With the passage of time, old age came. Hammu had four grown up sons who had taken over the entire work from him. The sons were married and had the responsibility to look after their own families. The energetic Hammu had become exhausted with old age and could now only remember the golden days when he had been young.
Hammu became dependant on his sons. Every son wanted the other brothers to look after the old man. Thus Hammu had become a burden for all. He was neglected and not provided food in time nor was given good clothes to wear. Hammu had spent all his savings for the welfare of his children and for their marriages.
The sons of Hammu were aware that he did not have anything left with him. This stage of a human being is described in the Gurbani in the following verse:
Wives, friends, children and relatives - all are attached to wealth. When they see a poor man, they all forsake his company and run away. ||1||
(Page 633)
Hammu remained distressed and gloomy. He sometimes prayed to his ALLAH for an early death.
He often thought, “I with my sole efforts had nourished all the four sons. I worked even harder to marry them and looked after their families. Now all of them together are unable to care for me. I have very few needs, but they do not feel their duty to fulfill any of my desires.”
Hammu used to come to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan to pay homage to Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. Though even now his devotion and love for Sant Baba ji had not reduced but due to his old age he could not go to the Kutiya. Hammu knew that Sant Baba ji was his ‘PIR (saint)’. He now desperately wanted to visit Nirmal Kutiya and request Sant Baba ji to grant him salvation from this birth.
One day Hammu had a feeling that he was being pulled like the force of a magnet towards Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. The feeling gave him some energy. Though in pain, he managed to reach Sant Baba ji. He did not come empty handed. He brought a basket full of watermelons. Raeen caste Muslims were known for growing vegetables and fruits in their agricultural fields.
Hammu bowed at the feet of Sant Baba ji and sat near him. Sant Baba ji asked him politely, “Hammu! How have you come?”
Hammu replied, “Pir ji! My heart yearned for your DARSHAN.”
Sant Baba ji asked him, “Are you all right? Does your family look after you well?”
Hammu kept quiet. His heart was crying. Tears rolled down his cheeks. He could not control himself and narrated the state of affairs in his house to Sant Baba ji.
Sant Baba ji quietly listened to the plight narrated by Hammu. After some time he called out for Sant Baba Gian Singh ji and asked him, “Santa! Get a new piece of clothing and give it to Hammu.”
Sant Baba Gian Singh ji went inside the hut of Sant Baba ji and brought a new piece of cloth. After the graceful eyes of Sant Baba ji had fell on the cloth, he handed it over to Hammu. Hammu was grateful to Sant Baba ji. He kept on seeing the beautiful printed cloth with his tearful eyes. The cloth seemed to be costly but Hammu was happy to receive the blessings of his ‘PIR’. He fell on the feet of Sant Baba ji and said in a tearful voice, “Pir ji! You have really honored me. Please make me worthy of your regards.”
Sant Baba ji smiled and said, “You should always consider ‘ALLAH’ to be by your side. ‘ALLAH’ is your protector.”
Hammu came back a happy and satisfied man. He converted the cloth into a LUNGI (wraparound cloth worn around the loins). He tied the LUNGI and lay down to rest on the cot, kept at the farm. Hammu’s state of bliss and pleasure could be described best by the following verse from Sri Guru Granth Sahib:
The Lord, the Guru, the Enticer, has enticed my mind. I am stunned and amazed, gazing upon my Guru; I have entered the realm of wonder and bliss. ||1||Pause|| (Page 836)
When the sons of Hammu came to the farm, they saw their father wearing a beautiful new LUNGI. LUNGI from such a costly cloth had never been seen before nor had anyone worn it. One of the sons asked his father, “You don’t have any money. From where have you brought this costly LUNGI?”
Hammu replied confidently, “You have not bought it for me. Why are you concerned then?” All of them were stunned to hear the reply. Hammu added, “It has been given to me by my ‘PIR’ (a Muslim saint). My ‘PIR’ loves me. You don’t love or respect me.”
The son was curious and asked him, “You have been given this beautiful LUNGI by your ‘PIR’?”
Hammu replied, “Yes! My ‘PIR’ Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj of Nirmal Kutiya Johalan has given me this LUNGI. He has showered his love on me. His blessing naturally has to be beautiful.”
The sons were astonished and discussed amongst themselves about the respect and honor given to their father by Sant Baba ji. They felt that if their father could command respect from Sant Baba ji, then surely there must be something great about him. They decided to serve and look after their father in a better way from then onwards. They felt that in this manner they would also gain the material benefits and Holy blessings.
One action of a divine saint is capable of changing the minds of people even when he does not directly come in contact with them. This is the way divinity is expressed by Holy saints and people start following the righteous path.
The sons of Hammu started respecting their father. Good food was served to him at the proper time. He was given good clothes to wear. Within no time the sons became prosperous. Whatever vegetables they grew in their fields the produce was very high. In the entire area their crop was always rated the best in quantity as well as quality.
Hammu became healthy with the love and respect restored by his own family. He started visiting the place of his ‘PIR’ at Nirmal Kutiya Johalan daily. Whenever fresh vegetables were reaped for being sold in the Mandi, the first basket was brought as offering to Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj, who was thanked for his kindness.
Hammu openly informed the followers of Sant Baba ji about his blessings. He attributed the change of the mind of his sons to Sant Baba ji’s presenting him with a LUNGI. This great saint had been kind enough to protect his honor.