How Prayer Transformed My Travel Experience: A Personal Journey
Once, I had to travel from India to Saudi Arabia. My flight was scheduled from Patna to Lucknow around noon, and then from Lucknow to Jeddah. I had booked a Scorpio to get to Patna, and I had a good conversation with the driver, ensuring that I needed the car at my doorstep by 2 AM, as it was a flight and any delay could cause me to miss it. The driver assured me that regardless of the storm or wind, the car would be at my door at 2 AM.
On the night of the journey, I called the driver at 1 AM as a reminder to check on the car’s status. Hearing his response made my heart sink. He said that the car had gone to a wedding and was delayed in returning. When I reminded him of our agreement, he said he didn’t know the car would be late, and now he was in a bind. After a lengthy conversation, I asked him to find another car from his friends. I started contacting the drivers I had numbers for, but no one answered due to the late hour. Time was passing slowly, and an hour later, the same driver called to say he had spoken to someone who would come. I urged him to send the car quickly as time was running out.
Eventually, around 4:30 or 4:45 AM, the car arrived. My family and I were ready and quickly got into the car, urging the driver to leave immediately. Coincidentally, this driver had never dropped anyone off at the airport and was unfamiliar with the route. We had to ask for directions multiple times along the way. As we approached Patna, we got stuck in heavy traffic. The flight was about to take off soon. I told the driver to get out of the car and check the situation to see how long the jam would last. It turned out to be a terrible jam, and it could take a while to clear. This was a critical moment for me, where every minute was precious.
After thinking for ten to fifteen minutes, I suddenly had the idea to leave this car and take another one. I said goodbye to my family and crossed to the other side of the road, which was a two-way street. The entire path was clear, and I didn’t see any cars. As I crossed the road, I noticed a car approaching. The driver was putting something in the back of the car. I rushed towards the car, and just as I reached it, the driver was about to leave. Fortunately, I had the chance to speak to him. I told him I needed to go to the airport, and he immediately said, “Get in, I’m going to the airport.” He pointed to the back and said that the driver of that car was stuck in traffic and had called him.
SubhanAllah, what a coincidence that one person called for a car for his need, and Allah gave me the opportunity to get in. I told the driver that I had faced the same situation and explained that my family was still in the other car. The driver quoted a fare of one thousand rupees, although two to three hundred would have been sufficient, but at that moment, saving time was more important than saving money. I agreed and asked him to take me to the airport as quickly as possible. The taxi driver was very skilled; he drove fast and took a shortcut. By now, the flight was about to take off, perhaps fifteen to twenty minutes away from departure. The driver skillfully navigated through various routes and dropped me off at the airport.
I entered the airport, went straight to the counter, and in just a few words explained that my flight was about to leave and I needed to go to Lucknow. Since I had no luggage, they immediately issued me a boarding pass. I showed the pass and entered; the last bus for passengers was waiting to take them to the plane. It seemed to be waiting just for me, as there were no other passengers in it. As I boarded the bus, it took me directly to the plane. The air hostess guided me to my seat, and within moments, the flight took off. I thanked Allah for His blessings.
Upon reaching Lucknow, I contacted my family and found out they were still stuck in the same traffic jam, under the scorching sun, with children and no nearby shops. My brother and nephew live in Patna, so I called them to send food and drinks for my family.
After arriving in Saudi Arabia, I reflected on how critical this journey was and what the secret behind its success was. I kept thinking that it was the effect of people’s prayers. On the day of travel, I had shared my journey on social media, where friends had prayed for me. Then there were my family’s prayers and my own as a traveler. Certainly, there could be other reasons known only to Allah, but my heart repeatedly reminded me of the power of prayer.
It has been over a year since I stopped using the water from the fridge, but last Friday, after drinking a cold juice offered at a gathering, my health suddenly deteriorated. The weather in Jeddah is also rainy. I have been taking medication, but the blessings of the prayers from my friends have been evident, and I am feeling better. I also plan to travel to Medina, InshaAllah. This reminded me of the previous flight incident, so I thought I would share this experience with you all.
In the end, I am grateful to all the brothers and sisters who prayed for me. May Allah grant you all health and well-being, and may those who are ill receive a swift recovery. Ameen.
✍️ Sheikh Maqbool Ahmad Salafi, Jeddah Dawah Center