Martyrdom In The Honour Of Rasulullah (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam)
A Hindu organisation in India published several heartbreaking and insulting books to incite and stir up the passionate feelings Muslims have for Islam. Towards the end of 1923, Raajpaal, an active supporter of this organization, again published an abusive book in which the honour of Nabi (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) was openly attacked. This publication caused a huge cry in the entire country. The Muslims held large meetings and gatherings to object and protest against it. A case was opened against Raajpaal who was given a six-month sentence and a thousand rupee fine. Thereafter the high court freed him and also pardoned the fine. This abusive book continued to be published as well.
On the night of the first of April 1929, a youngster by the name of ‘Alamud Deen, together with his brother, attended a meeting in Lahore in a garden near the Delhi Gate. Hadhrat Moulana Sayyid ‘Ataa-Ullaah Shah Bukhaari (Rahimahullah) delivered an emotional and touching talk. Though clause 144 of the Indian constitution had been invoked, thus barring any type of meeting or gathering, the Muslims had still held a very unique gathering. This lover of Nabi (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) delivered such a heart-rending talk on the noble reputation of Nabi (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) that it reduced the entire crowd to tears. People cried aloud uncontrollably. In his address to the Muslims he said, “Today you have gathered here to protect the honour and respect of Nabi (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam). Today, the honour of that very personality who has brought honour to mankind is in danger. The honour of this great personality is being attacked, honour that all creation is justly proud of.”
Hadhrat Mufti Kifaayatullah Saahib (Rahimahullah) and Hadhrat Moulana Ahmad Sa’eed Dehlawi (Rahimahullah) were present in that gathering. Moulana ‘Ataa-Ullaah Bukhaari (Rahimahullah) addressing them said, “Today the mothers of the believers, Hadhrat ‘Aa’ishah (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha) and Hadhrat Khadijah (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha), are calling out at the doors of Mufti Kifaayatullah and Moulana Ahmad Sa’eed, ‘We are your mothers. Do you not know that the disbelievers are abusing us?’ O people, check! Is Hadhrat ‘Aa’ishah (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha) not standing at your door?” These words pierced into the deep recesses of the hearts with such passion and fervour that the gazes of the listeners instantly shifted towards the door. From all directions the echoes of sighs and cries could be heard.
He continued, “The condition of your love is such that in normal circumstances it will fight till the bitter end (when it is regarding some personal issue), but do you not know that today Nabi (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) is uneasy beneath the Green Dome! Today Hadhrat Khadijah (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha) and Hadhrat ‘Aa’ishah (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha) are restless! Do you have any place for the mothers of the believers in your hearts? Today the mother of the believers, Hadhrat ‘Aa’ishah (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha) is seeking her right from you, that very ‘Aa’ishah (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha) whom Nabi (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) used to call “Humayraa’” and who softened the Miswaak for Nabi (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) at the time of his death. Remember, if you give your lives for Hadhrat Khadijah (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha) and Hadhrat ‘Aa’ishah (Radhiyallahu ‘Anha) then this is not something insignificant!”
Hadhrat Moulana ‘Ataa-Ullaah Saheb (Rahimahullah) further said: “As long as there is even one Muslim alive, then those who are attacking the honour of the Prophethood of Nabi (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) cannot be at ease. The police are full of lies, the government is corrupt and the deputy commissioner is helpless. They do not stop the absurd talks of the Hindu newspapers but they stop the lectures of the honourable Ulama. The time has come for this clause 144 to be broken. I am going to show you that with the bottom end of my shoe I will crush this clause.”
It was as if his lecture had set the entire city on fire. In Lahore, meetings were now being held at every corner against this disgusting book, its author and its publisher.
On the sixth of April 1929, at exactly one o’clock, the hero ‘Alamud Deen went to the shop of Raajpaal and asked, “Where is Raajpaal?” Raajpaal himself replied, “It is me. What work do you have?” Our hero immediately took out his knife and attacked him and he continued stabbing him until he despatched him to Jahannam forever. He then said, “This is the work I had with you.”
Our beloved hero was then arrested. On 10 April 1929, the hearing commenced. On 22 May 1929, ‘Alamud Deen was sentenced to death. On 30 May, an appeal was made in the high court. On 15 July, Muhammad ‘Ali Jinnah, acting as the attorney, presented the case in the high court. The high court rejected the appeal.
He was even approached by some attorneys who said that if he just says that he committed the murder mistakenly, the death sentence would be dropped. He blatantly refused and said, “I made absolutely no mistake! I intentionally murdered this enemy of Islam and despatched him to Jahannam. I did this only in honour of Nabi (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam)”
While in jail, the warden used to notice a special type of light (noor) descending on him while he sat with his Tasbeeh (Islamic rosary) in his hand and made dhikr. Once, he was seen crying in his cell, and when he was asked why, he replied, “I see Nabi (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) coming to receive me but the date of my execution has not yet arrived, and I am ashamed to cause such difficulty to Rasulullah (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam).”
On 31 October 1929, as was his daily practice, ‘Alamud Deen performed his Tahajjud Salaah and was engaged in du’a, supplicating in the court of Allah Ta’ala, when he heard some heavy footsteps. He heard the sound of the footsteps stop at his room door and when he looked in that direction, he saw the executioners waiting for him. At that moment the superintendent’s eyes began to flow profusely with tears. ‘Alamud Deen looked towards him and said, “You must stand witness as to what my last desire was and why I terminated my Salaah so quickly? (He had performed his salaah shorter than his normal practice). It is possible that the Magistrate may think that I am causing a delay with the intention of trying to lengthen the last moments of my life.”
The superintendent of the jail opened the door and ‘Alamud Deen advanced towards the door, smiling. Placing his right foot out of the room, he told the magistrate, “Come! Let us not delay.” They then hurried him towards the execution room. Whilst passing a prison cell, he raised his hand wishing the inmate farewell. In reply, the inmate raised the slogans in praise of Nabi (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) and his prophethood. The jail authorities and the Magistrate realised that all the prisoners had stayed awake the entire night bidding ‘Alamud Deen farewell. The prison echoed with the repeated recitation of the Kalimah Shahaadah. ‘Alamud Deen stopped for a moment. He looked towards the Magistrate and the police, his lips moved and he then proceeded. At the execution area, besides the authorities, there were armed policemen. Their gazes were fixed on this hero of Islam. Prior to this they had seen many people approach the execution area, but never before had they seen anyone move with such determination. They realised that the “life” which ‘Alamud Deen was about to be blessed with, is something every Muslim was desirous of.
‘Alamud Deen (Rahimahullah) was then made to wear black clothes and his eyes were covered with a strip of black cloth. When the Magistrate asked him what his last desire was, he said, “I wish to kiss the noose and place it around my neck myself. (because this is the medium through which I will reach Nabi Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam)” Thereafter, his feet were tied. On this occasion ‘Alamud Deen, addressing those around him, said, “You be witness that I have killed Raajpaal in the honour of Nabi (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) and be witness that I am giving my life reciting the Kalimah Shahaadah with deep love of my Nabi (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam).” ‘Alamud Deen recited the Kalimah Shahaadah aloud and then kissed the noose. He regarded everything which would be the means of delivering him to the court of the beloved as blessed. ‘Alamud Deen (Rahimahullah) then placed the rope around his neck himself.
The Magistrate lifted his hand and with a mere indication, the plank beneath the feet of ‘Alamud Deen (Rahimahullah) was pulled. Within seconds the soul of ‘Alamud Deen (Rahimahullah) took flight from his earthly body, not allowing the body to even feel a twitch or tremble of pain. It appeared to those who witnessed the execution as though Izraaeel (‘Alayhis Salaam) had taken his life even before his body was hung, to save him the pain and suffering. The doctor confirmed his death and his blessed body was lowered from the execution platform.
Besides the father of ‘Alamud Deen (Rahimahullah), hundreds of Muslims were sitting and waiting for the authorities to hand over his dead body. The senior authorities decided that the body of ‘Alamud Deen (Rahimahullah) will not be handed over to the Muslims. They feared that the conditions will only worsen.
Upon the martyrdom of ‘Alamud Deen (Rahimahullah), forceful protests were held against the English Rule in Miyaanwaali. There was a closure of all shops in the market area. The death of the martyr was mourned and anger and grief was expressed. In the Janaazah of ‘Alamud Deen (Rahimahullah), besides the prisoners, a few local resident Muslims took part. The government of the time arrested many individuals of Miyaanwaali. Cases were opened up against them. They were eventually sentenced to six months imprisonment and given fines as punishment. After the martyrdom of ‘Alamud Deen (Rahimahullah), his blessed body was buried in the prisoner’s graveyard in Miyaanwaali. This was done in conformance with the instructions of the governor. He understood ‘Alamud Deen (Rahimahullah) to be one without any friends and helpers, a dead and weak individual of the community.
When this news reached Lahore and other parts of the country, objections were raised from all sides. On 4 November 1929, a delegation of Muslims met with the governor of Punjaab and presented their request. Eventually, the request of the Muslims was accepted with a few conditions attached. On 13 November 1929, a delegation of Muslims came to Miyaanwaali under the leadership of Sayyid Maraatib Ali Shah and Magistrate Mirza Mahdi Hasan. The deputy commissioner of Miyaanwaali, Rajah Mahdi Zamaan, hosted them.
A box was made by one of the builders of Miyaanwaali and the next day, the district authorities together with Noorud-Deen, with utmost respect, removed the body of ‘Alamud Deen (Rahimahullah) from the prisoner’s graveyard and brought it to the bungalow of the deputy commissioner of Miyaanwaali. Noorud Deen showed them that although two weeks have passed, there was no offensive odour coming from the body and, in fact, it was intact and emitting an amazing fragrance. They kept the body in a box in the home of the deputy commissioner of Miyaanwaali. From there the body was taken to the Miyaanwaali station. A special coach transported the body to Lahore.
Finally, the body of ‘Alamud Deen (Rahimahullah) was buried in the graveyard of Miyaani Sahib. The crowds of Muslims that attended the Janaazah were like the waves of the ocean striking against the shore. Hundreds of thousands of people took part in this Janaazah. The Janaazah Salaah had to be performed four times. Moulana Muhammad Shamsud-Deen performed the janaazah the first time, Sayyid Deedaar Ali Shah the second time, Sayyid Ahmad Shah the third time, and Sayyid Ali Shah Sahib the fourth time, and on this occasion he held his blessed beard and he addressed himself crying, “You are a descendent of Nabi (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) and you have thousands of followers, but the son of a person having lower standing in society has surpassed you.”
The funeral procession was five and a half miles long. Moulana Sayyid Deedaar, Ali Shah, and Allaamah Iqbaal placed the body in the grave with their own hands. Allaamah Iqbaal on this occasion kissed the forehead of ‘Alamud Deen (Rahimahullah) and recited a couplet in praise of him having surpassed everybody.
(Adapted from: An Noor Monthly Journal – India)
