One day, Moula Sahib encountered a Muslim fakir (pakkiri), whose words and spiritual presence deeply moved him. Inspired, he abandoned his old life and followed the fakir on a long journey to Mecca.

This pilgrimage transformed him completely. When he returned, he had embraced Islam not just outwardly in appearance, but inwardly in thought and devotion.

The Promise

He worked at the Bombay seaport. There, he formed a deep friendship with a coworker named Chitya.

One day, he made a solemn request:
“If I die here, do not bury me in this land. Place my body in a wooden box, seal it, and set it afloat in the sea. Allah will guide me to where I belong.”Chitya never forgot this promise.

The Journey Across the Seas

Years later, the man passed away. True to his word, Chitya arranged for a wooden coffin, sealed it carefully, and released it into the Arabian Sea.

The box drifted across the Arabian Sea, through the Indian Ocean, and into the Bay of Bengal. No one knew how long it had traveled. Some said months; others believed divine will guided it swiftly.

Eventually, it reached the shores of Pondicherry.

The Floating Mystery

For days, local fishermen noticed a strange box floating in the sea. Each time they approached it, it seemed to move away.

Curious, they sought the help of a Muslim man from the town. When he approached, the box stayed still. Together, they brought it ashore and opened it.

Inside, they found a body—perfectly preserved, as if the man had just passed away.

The First Burial

The Muslim community buried the body near the coastal settlement. Time passed, and the story faded into memory.

The Shared Dream

Years later, three respected men—a Qazi, an Imam, and a Mutawalli—had the same dream on the same night, at the same hour.

In the dream, the man asked to be moved and buried between two mosques.

Amazed by the shared vision, they approached the French Governor, François Martin, and requested permission to exhume the body.

The Revelation

With the Governor’s presence, the grave was opened. Beneath layers of sand lay a white cloth. When they uncovered the body, it appeared untouched—fresh, unchanged by time.

Even the Governor’s officials were astonished. Some doubted, but upon seeing the face, they fell silent. The Governor acknowledged it as a sign of divine grace.

The Final Honor

The Governor ordered a ceremonial procession with full honors. The body was carried with respect across the town before being reburied at the sacred site chosen in the dream.

The Saint Remembered

From then on, the man became known as a saint—Maula Sahib, honored with titles :

Al-Arif Rabbani, Sahib Dafnaneen meaning One who knows God, a divine knower, one who performed Hajj. The one buried twice.