Thirst in the Desert, and a Barren Couple

The first is of a person at the very brink of death from thirst — lost in a desert, his water gone, everything gone. Nowhere in Australia is this hardship known; there, life is full of blessing. But in those lands, without water people die: without food a person may survive ten, fifteen, twenty, even forty or fifty days, but without water there is no surviving. At the very brink of death, perhaps seeing a mirage shimmering in the desert heat, throat parched, tongue swollen, everything cracking with thirst — and then, suddenly, real water is found. Every weariness, the sun, everything, is forgotten, and the man runs and throws himself into the water, because he has been given a new lease on life. Rasūlullāh (peace be upon him) says that Allah (swt) feels happier than that man when a servant of His makes tawbah and Allah (swt) accepts it.

The second example: a couple, perhaps both of them unable to have children, married in a match everyone called made in heaven — thousands spent, forty days and forty nights of an Arabian wedding, gifts given, prayers made on their behalf, blessings offered, everyone remarking on how perfect a match they made. A year passes, nothing happens. A second year passes, and a mother-in-law asks: "What's happening, girl? You're supposed to have a baby — what's wrong? This is what marriage is for, children." The neighbours begin to ask too — "what's happening?" — and excuses are made: "we're fine, we're just finishing our studies," or some other nonsense. Years pass, and people begin to talk, and it hurts. Doctor after doctor, specialist after specialist, one IVF programme after another — seven, eight, nine attempts, thousands of dollars spent, and each time nothing. A visit is even made to seek a ruqyah, in case something unseen stands in the way. Nothing works, no programme, scientific or otherwise. Then, one morning, after ten or eleven years of marriage, over breakfast, the wife feels nauseous. Is she unwell? She does not look unwell. The thought of pregnancy has not even occurred to either of them — until, after a few minutes, a look passes between them: "Don't tell me — is it possible? Is it possible? Let's get it checked." The doctor is called, everything is checked, and she is found to be pregnant. Rasūlullāh (peace be upon him) says that Allah (swt) feels happier than that couple at that moment, when a servant comes back to Him and makes tawbah. Such is Allah (swt).