Words and Reflections – Part 5 – Hazrat Moulana Mohammad Ilyas – رحمه الله

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Hazrat Maulana رحمه الله

One day, a brother led a certain salaat and recited the following du ‘aa (which Hazrat Maulana himself used to utter time after time):

O Allah! Help those who help the deen of Muhammad Sallallahu alayhi wasallam and belittle those who belittle the deen of Muhammad Sallallahu alayhi wasallam.

As Hazrat Maulana heard [the latter part of) this du’aa, he, in a pain-worn voice, repeated aloud the followings words thrice: “0 Allah! Do not make us from them.”

Then he addressed those present:

“Brothers! Think upon this du ‘aa and try to understand its weight. This is that du ‘aa which, in the same breath, is a curse as well- and has been continuously prayed by some particular bondsmen of Allah almost in every age. This is a very weighty du ‘aa: asking help and mercy in favour of those who help deen and make efforts in the cause of Allah; but, to them who do not help deen, it is an extremely severe curse- that Allah may deprive them of His mercy and help. Now, every person should judge his self by applying this du ‘aa, and see whether he is the picture of the good of this du ‘aa or is the target of its curse.”

“A point, which should be considered in this connection, is that offering up one’s own salaat and observing one’s own fasts, though high-ranking worships, yet are not the means of “helping deen”. Only that work is the ‘help of deen about which the Holy Qur’an and the Holy Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wasallam declare to be so,- and the actual and heavenly-accepted method of which is one that the Holy Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wasallam did establish by himself. In this age, only the work of reviving and refreshing this method and this system, and making effort to giving it a new re-start, is the greatest help to deen. May Allah help us all to do so…Amin.”

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In one sitting Hazrat Maulana  رحمه الله said:

“The actual aim of this movement of ours is to teach the Muslims everything with which the Holy Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wasallam came. (That is, to get the Ummat attached to the complete system of thought and practice of Islam.) This is our aim. As for this movement of jama’ats and Tableeghi Gasht these are the initial means of achieving this aim; and the instruction and teaching of Kalimah and salaat are, in other words, the ABC of our complete syllabus. It is also clear that our jama’ats cannot do all the work. What can be done by them is only this that wherever they go, they can only produce a motion and awakening by means of their effort, and attach those people, who are unmindful of religious concerns, to the possessors of deen of their place- and can inspire those people of their place who have the worry for deen (i.e., ulama and reformers) for making efforts to reform the ignorant common people. [That is, connecting the public with the ulama, and ulama with the public.] Only the local workers of a place can do the actual work in that place. People will also get more benefit if they get themselves attached to the possessors of deen of their own place. As regards the method of this work, it should be learnt from those of our people who are practically working in this method of learning and teaching since long, and have, for the most part, understood its discipline.”

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In one sitting Hazrat Maulana said:

“Our workers must remember it firmly that they should not lose their hopes and get sad in case their da ‘wat and tableegh is not welcomed somewhere, and if they are even insulted and abused and people lay blames on them instead. On such occasions, they should call this thing to their minds that this is the special sunnat and heritage of the Prophets, and in particular of the Chief of all the Prophets Sallallahu alayhi wasallam. It is not the luck of everyone to get humiliated in the path of Allah. [Disgrace of the path of Allah is not given to everyone.] And where they are welcomed with honour and respect, their da ‘wat and tableegh is appreciated, and where people listen to their talks and accept their work with enthusiasm, this must be considered only as a favour from Allah; and they should never show disregard to this favour. To serve and to preach these seekers of deen, even if they come from the lowest orders of society, must be considered as giving thanks to this favour of Allah. We are given this lesson in the following verse of the Holy Quran: He [the Prophet] frowned and turned away because the blind man approached him!” [Q 80:01-02]

“Of course in such situations we must feel afraid of the cheating of our own self. We should not consider this popularity and appreciation to be our own achievement. Moreover, in such a situation there is an acute danger of ‘peer adoration’ (worship of religious elders). Therefore, we must remain careful in this respect.”