Testing of Belief by Malang

Image taken from Flickr

This is account of my encounter with a malang. The Malangs usually wear a long gown, are self-proclaimed mystics and wander like Sadhus from place to place in Muslim society. Most of them are thought to be charlatans by the common man, but some are believed by him to be real dervishes.  God knows better.

Once in Multan, I was lying on seat in my car, which was parked in open place in a market, that a young malang in long green robe came by and knocked at window with his bony knuckles. The sudden sound startled me up, and I coarsely asked him to leave (As I don't support encouraging young and fit-by-physique beggars, and rather advise them to work hard to earn an honourable livelihood). He smiled and amicably said in a soft silky sound: "Don't use to get angry! Don't use to get angry! you may get sick!"

I felt admiration for this well-manners and candid advice, and offered him a ten rupees note as alms. He grasped that note into his fist, tightly clenched it and then started shaking fist like doing some magic. And then he opened it up, there was no note, but soil, which he started sprinkling before me, of which some coming upon my clothes. He said "This is the ten  rupees note, now converted into soil, means nothing to me. What I really want is your belief!".

Image taken from Flickr

Astonished at this unexpected act by him, I needed some time to summon up my reasoning to sort out whether this act was some trick, or a real act by spiritual power (karamat).

He then went on saying: "Who is your Sufi guide (Murshid)...!" I replied, "Abu Said Ibn Abil Kheir" (I had no specific Sufi guide, but I had read Abu Said's some Sufi poetry only and got a liking for it!).

Malang: "Now I may hit you on your back in name of your Sufi guide."
I: "O.K."
Malang: "I shall not hit you... I was just testing you!"

Malang: "Now I may ask you to give me your shirt."
I: "Maybe not!"
Malang: "I shall not take it... I was just testing you!"

Malang: "Now I may ask you to give me a hundred rupees note."
I refused. I disagreed with the claim of equating a note to soil, as it amounted to desecrating the people's true efforts in earning it. I started thinking that he might be a charlatan. God knows better.

Malang said,  "I wouldn't take it... I was just testing!".
I: "Please pray for my belief to get stronger!"

Then he moved away.