The Du’as Of Parents

Allah Ta’ala instructed Hadhrat Nabi Sulaimaan Alayhis salaam to go to the seashore to
observe a wonderful scene. Nabi Sulaimaan Alayhis salaam set off to the sea with a group of
companions which included some jinn.

On arrival at the seashore, he could not see anything extraordinary. After ruminating for a while, he commanded Ifreet (a powerful jinn) to dive into the ocean to investigate. Ifreet dived into the ocean and descended as far as he could. After a considerable time had passed, he emerged and reported that there was nothing extraordinary.

Nabi Sulaimaan Alayhis salaam commanded another jinn to dive deeper into the ocean and
investigate. The second jinn obeyed, and after some time surfaced without having observed
anything peculiar or extraordinary.

Then Nabi Sulaimaan Alayhis salaam ordered his Wazeer (Minister), Aasif Bin Barkhiya to dive into the ocean. The Qur’aan Majeed describes Aasif Bin Barkhiya as a man who had the Knowledge of the Kitaab. Aasif Bin Barkhiyah descended into the ocean and soon reached the very bottom where even the jinn did not reach. To his surprise he saw a beautiful white domed building which had four entrances. Each door was of a different type of precious stone, and all four doors were wide open. Despite the building being at the bottom of the ocean, not a drop of water entered.

After Aasif reported this wonderful discovery, Nabi Sulaiman commanded Ifreet to bring the building to the surface. Ifreet then descended to a depth which was thrice as deep as he had reached when he first dived into the ocean. From the floor of the ocean he brought the beautiful building to the surface and placed it on the shore.

Nabi Sulaimaan Alayhis salaam, marvelling at this wonder entered the building. He was astonished to find an extremely handsome young man dressed in exquisite white robes performing Salaat.

Making Salaam, Hadhrat Sulaimaan Alayhis salaam asked: “What has delivered you into this ocean?”
Young man: “O Nabi of Allah! My father was paralysed and my mother blind. I served them for 70 years. Just before my mother passed away, she supplicated to Allah Ta’ala: “O Allah! Grant my son long life and engross him in your ibaadat.” When it was time for my father’s demise, he supplicated: “O Allah! Let him serve you in such a place where Shaitaan cannot reach.”

After I buried my father, I passed by this shore and to my surprise I saw this domed building. Its beauty exercised a magnetic effect on me. I entered to view it. When I was inside an Angel arrived and delivered the building together with me to the bottom of this ocean.”

Hadhrat Sulaimaan: “In which age did you come here?”
Young man: “It was the age of Hadhrat Ibraaheem Khalilullah Alayhis salaam.”
Hadhrat Sulaimaan Alayhis salaam) calculated and determined that 2000 years had lapsed since then. Despite the passing of thousands of years, the man was so young. Every hair was intensely black. Not a single hair was white.

Hadhrat Sulaimaan Alayhis salaam asked: “What do you eat in this ocean? The Youngman said: “O Nabi of Allah! A green bird brings to me in its beak something yellowish the size of a man’s head. I eat it. It contains the tastes of all the bounties in the world. It eliminates heat, cold, lethargy, sickness, fear, hunger, thirst, etc.
Hadhrat Sulaimaan: “Do you wish to accompany us?”
Young man: “No! “Deliver me to my original abode.”

And, so was the domed building with the young Aabid (worshipper) returned to the depths of the ocean. Hadhrat Sulaimaan Alayhis salaam commented: “Reflect! How wonderfully has the Dua of parents been accepted. May Allah have mercy on you. Observe the rights of parents. O Allah! Grant us the Taufeeq to serve our parents.”

(Source: Hayaatan Tayyibah)