Chicken and Chips in Madinah Tul Munawara

Maghrib Salah in the Majestic Mosque

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

In the name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Most Kind

Chicken and Chips in Madinah Tul Munawara

After a day of shopping in the blessed City of Light - Madinah Tul Munawara, she found the perfect spot to pray Maghrib Salah (sunset prayer). The blue and pink hues in the sky gave her a deep sense of peace and tranquility - a feeling that echoed in the hearts of every worshipper in the blessed precinct. Greeting her fellow sisters after the prayer, she head out in search of her feast!

This was a solo mission! Walking around the streets of Madinah Tul Munawara - a little lost but determined to find her feast. And there it was! Joyously she exclaimed, “at last - chicken and chips!” Entering the shop, placing her order, “chicken and chips meal deal please.” Waiting impatiently - hunger struck.

Meal in hand, she left the takeaway with her chicken and chips and now in search of a quiet place to eat her feast. Walking back in a hurry, she headed back to the blessed precinct of the Majestic Mosque, where she felt her peace and tranquillity. Perfect - a bin to sit behind and finally eat her feast!

As she opened the box, the aroma of freshly fried chicken and chips filled the air. As she breathed in the aroma of her feast and reached for a chip, an old lady looked deep into her eyes - full of hunger and despair!

Suddenly, feeling remorseful for her greed, the hunger she had began to fade. In realisation, she said to the old woman, “would you like some food?” The old woman’s eyes lit up with joy and said,”I haven’t had anything to eat all day as I’ve not been feeling very well.” The old woman eagerly took the chips and a piece of chicken and praised Allah ﷻ in gratitude. She smiled and said, “thank you, I feel much better now.”

Feeling overwhelmed with emotions in the City of Light, she began to offer the food to other women surrounding the old woman. Some took a chip, others shared the chicken and miraculously, there was still enough food for everyone to eat. What remained was four or five chips and a piece of chicken - this was her feast for the night! Feeling completely full, she thanked the women in joining her for the night meal.

Time to get back to the hotel - she said her goodbyes to the women, and swiftly head forth.

As she walked back to rest for the night, with her rucksack on her back, the moon shining bright - she stopped and pondered, gazing at the Blessed Green Dome and thanked her Beloved Master Muhammad ﷺ for the feast with her unknown companions and for the lessons learnt.

The Moral of the Story

Hunger may strike and greed overtakes the body yet offering food to our companions (known or unknown) is like giving a gift of love. Food is an opening to conversations and new friendships and eating together from one bowl is indeed a sunnah of our Beloved Master Muhammad ﷺ.

Greed may overtake us in all aspects of life. Realisation is in knowing that everything we possess belongs to Allah ﷻ!

"If you are only good to those who are good to you, then what good are you?"

- Shaykh Ahmad Dabbagh.

Yours truly,

The Servant