Many Muslims came to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan to pay their homage to Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. They had seen the light of ‘PIR’ (a Muslim saint) in him. They had complete faith in Sant Baba ji. Sant Baba ji also loved and blessed them with his benevolence.
Nambardar Umardin of village Chohak Kalan was also a devotee of Sant Baba ji. He knew that Sant Baba ji was impartial and he felt comfortable in his company. Umardin was a landlord and was the owner of quite a good amount of agricultural land. Being rich, he was a known and respected person in the area.
Only the Almighty knows what is best for any individual. Umardin had everything but was not happy, as he did not have a child. Umardin, better known as ‘IDU’ married many times, but even after seven marriages he was childless. He was however confident that some Holy man would turn his ill luck into fortune one day.The thought of remaining childless was taking a toll on his health. He was extremely distressed but such was the social pressure that he could not even reveal his misery. He was afraid of sharing as he felt that he might be considered a fainthearted person.
He however, kept on praying in his mind. He prayed to his ALLAH to be merciful and find a way to bless him with a child who could become a successor to his enormous wealth. He prayed to God to keep his dignity intact.
The Almighty God is on the look out for purity of heart and mind before he answers the prayers of his faithful. One-day Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj came to village Chohak 141 Kalan, while on a walk from his Kutiya. On seeing him the villagers started collecting around him. The Muslims dominated this village. They were happy to see their ‘PIR’ in the village. Sant Baba ji kept on walking slowly. People bowed before him. Sant Baba ji stopped in front of a house and asked, “Whose house is this?”
In reply the villagers named the house owner. Whenever a house came, Sant Baba ji raised the same question. When he came in front of the house of Idu, he repeated his question.
Idu in the meantime had received the information about the presence of Sant Baba ji in the village. He came running out of his house and saw Sant Baba ji standing there. He bowed before his ‘PIR’ and requested, “Pir ji! Please bless my house with your Holy feet.”
Sant Baba ji signaled him to go ahead. Idu brought Sant Baba ji into his house. He made him sit comfortably.
Today was a great day for him. He was very happy to see his PIR sitting before him, in his house. This was indeed a miracle. He did not believe that his PIR loved him so much. He could not stop himself from expressing his gratefulness and said, “Pir ji! Today my Pir has come to my house. He has made me very happy. I have everything with me. There is no shortage of any material comforts. I am a rich man but I am childless. Please bless me with a son.” Saying these words, his eyes filled with tears.
Sant Baba ji diverted his attention and said, “Your courtyard is very beautiful.”
Idu said, “It is all because of your blessings.”
Sant Baba ji said, “Idu! I have passed many houses in the village. Someone or the other owns a house, but I have not been able to see the house of God. Which is the house of ALLAH? Are you people separated from the Name of ALLAH?”
Idu understood the purpose of the visit of Sant Baba ji to the village. He immediately replied, “Earlier there was no place of worship, but now it will be constructed. You have conveyed about the factor missing in our lives. I promise the place for worship will be constructed.”
Idu erected a Masjid with the help of other villagers. The foundation stone of the Masjid was laid by Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj. The villagers came to the Masjid with full faith and offered Namaz.
Bhai Gurdas mentions in his 17th Pauri of 27th Vaar the following verse:
Meditation without the Guru is all false devotion. Without the Guru all learning is empty words Worship of other than the Guru’s feet is false satisfaction Obeying other than the Guru’s command is faulty practice Company other than the saintly ones is unavailing effort. Those devotees truly avail their chances that only for the Saints have love.
The life in the village changed with the presence of the house of worship. The eldest Begum of Idu was blessed with a son. Idu celebrated this occasion with fanfare. But first he had to thank his ‘PIR’.
Laddus of pure ghee were prepared. A musical band was arranged. The band played and Idu carrying the Laddus followed the band with his other relatives and friends. He reached Nirmal Kutiya Johalan, bowed before his ‘PIR’ and sat close to him. He informed Sant Baba ji, “Pir ji! You have blessed me with all happiness. I am completely under your debt. I now have a successor to take care of my assets after me and to continue my lineage.”
Sant Baba ji smiled and said, “Idu! Allah’s house is full of good fortunes. You made His house, and He filled your house with happiness. You should always remember Allah and thank Him for His blessings.”
Idu knew that Allah had sent this FAKIR to his house. It was only after the Holy feet had blessed his house that he was graced. It was with his guidance that a place of worship was constructed in the village.
It so happened that the other six Begums of Idu were also each blessed with a son.
Whenever a son was born, Idu came to Sant Baba ji with pure ghee Laddus and with band playing in front of him all the way to the Kutiya of Sant Baba ji.
He was really ecstatic and danced on the way with his friends and relatives. Idu’s joy and pleasure was reflected in his actions.
Whenever someone on the way asked him, “Nambardar ji! You seem to be very happy. What is the occasion? Where are you going with the band?”
Whenever someone on the way asked him, “Nambardar ji! You seem to be very happy. What is the occasion? Where are you going with the band?”
Idu replied, “I am going to pay homage to my Pir. I am going to the abode of a spiritual person.”
He was asked, “But why the band?”
Idu said, “I am offering a small respect to my Pir, who has given me his divine blessings. I do not know how else I can thank him. But one thing is clear and everyone should know that the Lord of this Nambardar lives in Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. He is blessing every one of us. Recite the Name of the Allah and fill your laps with happiness.”
Idu shared his happiness and openly revealed the blessings he had received from Sant Baba Basant Singh ji Maharaj.
In 1947 at the time of partition of India and Pakistan, the area
around the village of Chohak Kalan had a lot of Muslim population.
Many Muslims were killed in some villages. The village of
Chohak Kalan and surrounding villages were taken over by the
Army for protecting the masses. There was no looting and no
one got killed in these villages.
The Muslims lived in fear but with the Army patrolling they felt a
little secured. They waited for the situation to improve so that
they could carry on with their normal life. They served the soldiers
with food and grain. They could not even dream that they
would have to leave their villages and would be asked to go to
Pakistan.
At last the day came when they had to leave the village. They
were asked to sit in the Army trucks.
The commander of the Army asked them, “Who is your
Nambardar?”
Idu came forward and stood before the commander with his
hands folded in respect. The commander said to him, “You have
spent your life here on this land. You will have to leave this place
now. I don’t think you will come back. If you have any last wish,
I promise I will try my best to fulfill it.”
Idu had just one request. He said, “Our Pir lives nearby. Please
take us there for our last homage.”
Idu explained the way to Nirmal Kutiya Johalan. All the villagers
with the Commander came to the Kutiya.
When the Commander saw Sant Baba ji, he was astonished. He
could not believe that the PIR of the Muslims could be a Sikh.
Nambardar and others fell on the feet of Sant Baba ji. Idu cried
openly.
Sant Baba ji said, “Idu Nambardar ji! The orders of the Allah
should be accepted cheerfully. His orders are never wrong and
are always good for us. Do not therefore forget the Allah and
recite His Name. All kinds of happiness are available from reciting
His Name.”
Idu said in a choked voice, “Pir ji! You have looked after us
here. You had blessed our village. Please continue showering
your munificence. Our living in this world had been a respectable
one because of your grace. We request you to please make our
death honorable too.”
The Army Commander was astonished to see the respect these
Muslims had for Sant Baba ji. He could not stop himself and
came forward and touched the Holy feet of Sant Baba ji. He
promised Sant Baba ji that he would not let anything happen to
the trucks of these Muslims.
Sant Baba ji was happy for the assurance. He then instructed the
sevadar to distribute Parshad to all. After the distribution of
Parshad, Sant Baba ji took leave from Idu and his group.