With electricity charges shooting through the roof, particularly during the sizzling summer months, most families are on the lookout for ways to save money. In this context, a Pakistani video has gone viral for providing an unusual “solution.” The video features a Maulana on a talk show answering a question from a woman regarding escalating electricity bills.
Bijli ka bill bahut zyada aata hai, koi aisa wazifa batayein ki bijli ka bill kam ho jaye?” she asks.
(The electricity bill is going extremely high, can you tell us a prayer or remedy to cut it down?)
The Maulana confidently proffers a spiritual remedy, stating, “Agar aap chahate hain ki aapke ghar ka bijli ka bill kam se kam aaye, to ek wazifa hai.”. Aapne ungli se shahadat pe likh dena hai, ‘zam zam’. Aapne liye hain, ‘zam zam’. Ye metre pe likh dena hai, mahine mein do baar karein, har pandra din baad. Aaj kar lein aur pandra din baad phir kar lein. Inshallah, main guarantee se kehta hoon aapke bijli ka bill kam aayega.” (If you want your electricity bill to be reduced, there’s a spiritual method. Using your index finger, write the words “zam zam” on your electricity meter. Do this twice a month—once today, and then again after 15 days. God willing, I guarantee your bill will decrease.)
Take a look:
The clip, posted with the caption “Faced with soaring electricity bills? This Pakistani Maulana has a divine solution,” has tickled many web users. It has garnered more than 140,000 views and ignited a flood of witty reactions.
A user joked, “I used it, and now the government pays me to consume electricity.” Another joked, “I was expecting him not to advise people to call a Jin to assist with the bills.” Another said, “Zam zam karne gaya tha, zam se current lag gaya.” (I had gone to write Zam Zam, but got a shock from the current.)
Another, in sarcasm, said, “True. I attempted it. The electricity bill did not come down, but they believed I was promoting jam, and Kissan gave me 100 Rs as baksheesh.” One user wrote, “Likh diya maulana sahab…lekin ab bijli ka bill double aa raha hai.” (I did write it, but now the bill has doubled.)
The Maulana’s guidance mentions Zamzam water, which is holy water from a well in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It has spiritual value for Muslims and is thought to have miraculous healing properties.