{"id":171037,"date":"2024-11-12T09:07:52","date_gmt":"2024-11-12T09:07:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/af.dawatmedia24.com\/?p=171037"},"modified":"2025-07-23T18:09:29","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T18:09:29","slug":"if-you-arent-a-saint-you-arent-less-than-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/af.dawatmedia24.com\/?p=171037","title":{"rendered":"If You Aren’t a Saint, You Aren’t Less Than Him"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by: Hafizullah Turab<\/span>
\nTranslated by: Kalimullah Turab<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Due to Bakhtawar’s constant chatter, Hamesha gul would have given up cutting hair for the entire village if he could. But he had no other option, as he wasn’t skilled enough to take up labor in the city. He could only shave heads, and he couldn\u2019t abandon the whole village just because of Bakhtawar. Hamesha gul relied on this work to make a living.<\/p>\n

Who was Bakhtawar? His character wasn\u2019t less than cartoon of children, with no beauty to redeem him. Though looks or beauties aren\u2019t crucial for men, but he had another problem\u2014he was compeletly foolish.<\/p>\n

Every morning, Bakhtawar loaded forest\u2019s woods onto his donkey and walked for six hours. By evening, he would return to the village from the city.<\/p>\n

Villagers also sold wood, but Bakhtawar’s work was strangely unique. He didn\u2019t care either blazing summer or rainy winter: People would often tell him:<\/p>\n

\u201cBakhtawar! We\u2019re poor too and sell wood, but at least we take care of ourselves. You\u2019re treating yourself harshly just to earn forty rupees! Why don\u2019t you ask God for help? You won\u2019t escape from poverty by this routine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Upon hearing such talk, he\u2019d spit his snuff and laugh deeply, replying, \u201cYou all laugh at me, but I would buy a helicopter. One day, you all will be running after me, and I\u2019ll be flying in the air.\u201d<\/p>\n

The villagers would laugh even more and say, \u201cThere he goes with his nonsense again!\u201d<\/p>\n

But Bakhtawar would respond, \u201cIt\u2019s not nonsense! Everything is possible for God. Turning my donkey into a helicopter wouldn\u2019t be difficult for Him.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Bakhtawar would leave, villagers would giggled, \u201cHe\u2019s started talking nonsense again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although Bakhtawar was a simple, decent man, the villagers loved him despite his quirks. Only with Hamesha gul had conflict. Hamesha gul would try to avoid shaving Bakhtawar’s beard, knowing he\u2019d talk endlessly about airplanes, a topic Hamesha found exhausting.<\/p>\n

Bakhtawar wasn\u2019t less than a ghost, as he would return exhausted from the city, he would still go straight to Hamesha gul\u2019s house, ignoring his own fatigue. Hamesha gul didn\u2019t like these visits and would have done something about them if he could, but as a fellow villager, he couldn\u2019t refuse him openly. Bakhtawar would get his beard shaved every two days, filling Hamesha gul\u2019s ears with endless chatter. This only increased Hamesha gul’s irritation.<\/p>\n

One evening, as usual, Bakhtawar sat down, talking about airplanes, while Hamesha gul listened silently. Midway through his shave, Bakhtawar said, \u201cUncle Hamesha gul, pray for my donkey to turn into a helicopter. It\u2019s my big dream to sit in the helicopter and fly! No matter what happens to me after, even if I die.\u201d<\/p>\n

As always, Bakhtawar continued, \u201cAnd when that day comes, you\u2019ll be shaving my beard in my helicopter!\u201d<\/p>\n

Finally, Hamesha gul became impatience. Furiously, he said, \u201cEnough with the helicopter nonsense! Look at yourself\u2014poor as you are, yet you keep talking about helicopters. Rich men cannot buy helicopters, so how will you? Your name changed into \u2018Helicopter!\u2019 in the enitre village, Even the children calling \u00a0you that!\u201d<\/p>\n

Any other person would\u2019ve been offended, but Bakhtawar just laughed heartily, saying, \u201cEverything is possible for God, Uncle Hamesha gul. He can make me fly above the village in a helicopter!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamesha gul grew even more frustrated. He said: \u201cIf you ever sit in a helicopter, come back and cut off my nose! Your stupidity has no limit!\u201d With that, he entered into his house.<\/p>\n

The next day, Bakhtawar loaded his wood and headed to the city. Hamesha gul\u2019s harsh words had only fueled his dream. Silently, he prayed, \u201cGod, make me the owner of a helicopter.\u201d He longed for the day sitting on the helicopter, and thereafter I would tell Hamesha gul, \u201cCome and cut your nose.\u201d<\/p>\n

Time passed, and life took a darker turn when the communists staged a coup on April 27. The event was a disaster, bringing terror and violence as Russian forces entered. Villages were demolished to dust, and Bakhtawar\u2019s village, nestled in the mountains, faced relentless airstrikes. Forced to flee with his villagers, Bakhtawar was profoundly affected by the displacement of immigration.<\/p>\n

In Peshawar, he found a new happy life, though he constantly missed his village. After a short while, he joined the jihad, acting as a guide for refugees and moving them safely through dangerous areas. Seeing Russian helicopters during the war, he wished deeply for one of his own.<\/p>\n

His many years has been passed in jihad and other took advantage from his simplicity. He was sitting till the end, anywhere commanders having operations, while other had already left their places due to haveay firing, but whom whould get up Bakhtawar!? During that time, his friends lost their live and martyred. One day, he was coming with a family as security guard that faced a planned attack of the enemies on the way. he bravely escorted a family safe to pakistan, rescuing them from russian\u2019s violence. The family\u2019s elder, connected to a prominent party member, was grateful and promised to reward him. A few days later, Bakhtawar was called to meet with the party\u2019s military chief and told him:<\/p>\n

\u201cOur party will give you arms. You will be our commander. Go and gather your people!\u201d Bakhtawar was overwhelmed with pride and joy, and when he returned to the village with his story and they didn\u2019t trust him at the begaining, but many joined him due to his oath.<\/p>\n

The boss was astonished to see so many people with Bakhtawar and thought to himself that he truly was a significant leader. He invited his friends to sit in the hall and went alone to the boss\u2019s office. He said to him, \u201cCongratulations, Mr. Commander!\u201d and placed two bundles of money in Bakhtawar’s pocket, saying, \u201cThis is for the special order of the guns.\u201d<\/p>\n

Worriedly, Bakhtawar asked his boss, \u201cWhat am I supposed to do with this?\u201d<\/p>\n

The boss replied, \u201cIt belongs to you. Whatever you wish to do with it is up to you.\u201d Seeing his sincerity, Bakhtawar asked innocently, \u201cPlease give me a helicopter instead of this money\u2014I love helicopters.\u201d<\/p>\n

The boss laughed and said, \u201cBakhtawar! We don\u2019t have any helicopters. But if you become powerful in the future, you\u2019ll be the one giving us helicopters.\u201d The boss shook hands with him, and Bakhtawar left.<\/p>\n

From that moment, his luck seemed to come alive. Opportunities flowed to him, and he found intelligent advisors to guide him. He continued his work successfully, almost unaware of his own progress. After some time, the party gifted him a new car in celebration. His growing wealth attracted many group leaders to him. While others worked hard, he reaped the benefits of his title as \u201ccommander.\u201d Day by day, his reputation increased, and he became a well-known figure in his province.<\/p>\n

At the end, most of the country\u2019s provinces fell under the coup led by the Khalqwano. During the jihad, Bakhtawar’s province also fell. To prevent conflicts among the parties, the government positions were divided among the commanders. Bakhtawar was given ownership of the airport. His party dressed him in military attire, and he became the commander of the airport.<\/p>\n

As he toured the airport, he saw helicopters parked there. Overcome with joy, he cried tears of happiness. He nearly kissed one of the helicopters, but his assistant stopped him. Soon after, he gathered the pilots and said, \u201cTake us somewhere!\u201d<\/p>\n

The pilot, under the supervision of the Mujahideen for several days, had prayed for such a moment. Commander Bakhtawar sat in the helicopter and enjoyed an hour-long flight, marveling at the landscape from the air. His smile stretched so wide that he could barely contain his happiness.<\/p>\n

After the liberation of each province, immigrants quickly returned to their homeland. Hamesha gul, who was in Lahore, also came back to his province. After a few days, however, life became increasingly difficult for him because the prices of food were extremely high. One day, lost in his thoughts, he suddenly saw a familiar shopkeeper and approached him to complain about his financial struggles.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, you will be helping me,\u201d he said. \u201cA man from your village is now an airport commander.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamesha gul asked, \u201cWhat is his name?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBakhtawar Khan.\u201d<\/p>\n

“Listen, there might be another Bakhtawar. There was only one Bakhtawar in our village, and he used to load wood onto donkeys. There can\u2019t be another Bakhtawar.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, that’s him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamesha gul\u2019s mind struggled to accept that Bakhtawar had become such an important person. Reluctantly, he decided to go to the airport. After some time, he reached there and approached the guard at the entrance.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrother! I\u2019m looking for a countryman of ours named Bakhtawar. People say he\u2019s a commander now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The guard became furious and quickly began kicking him. After beating him thoroughly, he shouted, \u201cRude man! He\u2019s the commander of the entire airport, and you just call him Bakhtawar? If you weren\u2019t an old man, I would\u2019ve skinned you with my own hands!\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamesha gul was so badly beaten that he was almost in a state of unconsciousness when Bakhtawar came outside with his bodyguards. Seeing Hamesha gul\u2019s condition, Bakhtawar asked the guard what had happened. The guard explained the entire story. At first, Bakhtawar didn\u2019t recognize him, but once he did, he immediately ordered his men to start his treatment.<\/p>\n

The next day, as Hamesha gul began to feel better, Bakhtawar greeted him warmly and said, \u201cIt\u2019s alright, Uncle Hamesha gul. Don\u2019t be upset, it happens. I\u2019ll take you somewhere after the afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Later in the day, Bakhtawar Khan told Hamesha gul to get into a helicopter. Once they were seated, Bakhtawar ordered the pilot to take off and said, \u201cTake us over our village.\u201d They circled their village several times, and as they did, Bakhtawar turned to Hamesha gul and asked, \u201cSo, when will you trim my beard?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s fine; we can deal with that another day, and I wouldn\u2019t even cut your nose,but let me tell you, if God gives something to someone, it can happen in an instant, day or night. This is my personal helicopter. I take it out every day, and finally, God has granted me success.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hamesha gul\u2019s mouth fell open in amazement. Everything felt like a dream, but it was real. Comparing Bakhtawar\u2019s current status to his former life of simplicity with his donkey, Hamesha gul felt as if he were witnessing a miracle. Overwhelmed, he exclaimed loudly, \u201cBakhtawara! If you\u2019re not a saint, you are not less than him!\u201d<\/p>\n

Heaven or Home? (short story)<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n