Words and Reflections – Hazrat Moulana Mohammad Ilyas – رحمه الله – Part 41 – 50

Moulana Mohammad Ilyas رحمه الله Words and reflections

Part 41-50

41

Hazrat Maulana said to me (Zafar Ahmad Thanvi): ‘Maulanal In our Tableegh, ilm and zikr are of great importance. Practice is not possible without ilm, nor would one know the reality of practice; and without zikr, ilm is a complete darkness (evil), and there can be no noor in it. But our workers are lacking in ilm and zikr I replied: ‘Tableegh itself is an important obligation; and this lessening in zikr is like the example of Hazrat Syed Sahib Barelwi Rahmatullah alaihi who, while preparing for jihad, engaged his companions in horse-riding and archery instead of zikr and related activities. A complaint voiced that that noor was no longer seen as before, to which Hazrat Syed Sahib Rahmatullah alaihi replied: “Yes! This is the noor of jihad instead of the noor of zikr, and is what we need at the moment.”’

Hazrat Maulana رحمه الله again said:

“But, it’s the lack of ilm and zikr that I am worried about and feeling pain. This deficiency is. because that the people of ilm and zikr have not come to this work as yet. If they come in and take this work in their hands, then this deficiency will also be removed. However, very few ulama and people of zikr have come to this work by now.”

COMMENTARY: The jama’ats that go out until now are lacking ulama and spiritually developed people, which was the chief cause of Hazrat Maulana’s worry. Would that the ulama and spiritually developed people had also been moving with these jama’ats, this deficiency would be removed. Alhamdulillah! Ulama and spiritually developed people are present here in the Markaz, but they are in a small number. If they were also to go in every jama’ats; who will then care for the affairs of the Markaz?

42

In a sentence of Maulana Syed Abul Hasan Ali Nadvi’s letter, it was mentioned that Muslims can only be of two types, and there could be no third type: either they are the ones out in the path of Allah, or they are the ones assisting those who are going .out, Hazrat Maulana commented: ‘He has understood very well.’ He then said:

“Assisting those going out also includes encouraging and preparing others to go out. One should encourage people telling them that if their going out promotes a regular delivering of the lectures on the Sahih of Bukhari or the Holy Quran of any aalim, they will get the reward of those lectures even. Let the people know about these kinds of intentions and ways of making the most of rewards.”

43

Once Hazrat Maulana رحمه الله said to me Zafar Ahmad Thanvi):

“Maulana! Our Tableegh, in summary, is that: common practising Muslims should learn deen from their learned people, and teach it to the lesser-informed people. However, they should consider those lesser-informed people to be their benefactors, because the more we spread and propagate the Kalimah, the more Our own Kalimah will get completed and enlightened. Likewise, the more we prepare others for offering salaat, the more our Own salaat will get improved.”

(This is a big formula in Tableegh that the preacher should consider his inner development and his own reformation to be the basic and principle aim; he shouldn’t consider himself the guide to others- because the guide is none other than Allah.)

44

Once Hazrat Maulana رحمه اللهsaid:

“It is reported in the Hadees that: ‘One who does not show mercy, will not be shown mercy. Have mercy upon those on earth; the One in the skies will have mercy upon you.’ It is sad that people have restricted this mercy only to those fasting from necessity. They take pity on those who are hungry or thirsty, and for those having no garment, but have no feelings of mercy for Muslims that they are deprived of deen (i.e., deen is not present in them). In other words, the deficiency of material things is considered a loss, but the deficiency in deen is not considered so. Why then should the One in the skies take pity on us when we feel no grief at the ruined religious condition of Muslims?”

Hazrat Maulana continued:

“This feeling of mercy is the foundation of our Tableegh; therefore, this work should be carried out necessarily with kindness and the feelings of mercy. If a person goes out for Tableegh because the unfortunate religious state of his Muslim brothers pains him, he will definitely perform his duty with kindness and mercy. However, if instead he has some other inclination, he will be a victim of superiority-complex and self-elation, and any benefit from his work is beyond hope. Moreover, the person who performs Tableegh keeping this Hadeeth in view will have sincerity as well as a watch over his own failings. While his eyes may catch sight of the failings of others, their Islamic merits will also be in his sight. Such a person will not favour his self, but will blame it. The formula of this Tableegh is that one should not favour his self, but should always keep the lesson of blaming his self in view.”

45

Once Hazrat Maulana said to me (Zafar Ahmad Thanvi) رحمه الله :

“Maulana! The matter of Allah’s commands calls for a careful examination and research; and we should always be doing this research. For example, before doing a work, it should be considered that being busy with a work needs two things: first, paying attention to the work going to be done, and secondly, neglecting other works in that time. Now, we should make sure whether there exists any work more important than the work we are busy with- and this thing cannot be recognised without a close examination of the matter.”

46

Once Hazrat Maulana رحمه الله said:

“Before starting salaat, one should sit down and deeply think upon its virtues and returns. Salaat performed without this preparation will be shallow and hollow. Therefore, one should deeply think upon salaat before performing it.”

COMMENTARY: It is for this reason that shari’at has joined offering sunan, nawafil, and iqamat before offering the salaat, – that this fardh worship may become filled with a due thinking of the related virtues and returns. However, we understand neither these causes and effects of the sunan, nawafil, and iqamat, nor do we enjoy their blessings. That’s why our faraaidh remain poor (in quality).

O Allah! I pray you for perfection In wudhu, perfection In salaat, and perfection In winning Your pleasure… Amin.

47

Once Hazrat Maulana said:

“The workers of Tableegh should create an openness in their hearts, which will be created by looking at the spread of Allah’s mercy. The work of spiritual training and development should be done after this.”

48

Once Hazrat Maulana رحمه الله said:

“In the beginning of Islam (when deen was weak and dunya was strong), the Holy Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wasallam himself went from house to house to meet the people empty of the ‘want’ of deen, and used to visit their assemblies for giving da’wat without being called-for; he did not wait for their invitation. To some places, the Sahabah Radiallahu anhum were sent for tableegh. The same weakness (in the ‘want’ of deen] is present today. Therefore, we should visit in person the groups of impious and those who feel no interest in religion and are empty of the ‘want’ of deen, and exalt the Word of Allah among them.”

Then Hazrat Maulana had to round-off his talk due to the dryness of his mouth, but said to me (Zafar Ahmad Thanvi); “Maulana! You have come here very late. I have spoken at length and cannot continue. Think over what I have just said.”

49

Once Hazrat Maulana رحمه الله said:

‘To begin with, I teach zikr thus: reciting (l) Tasbeeh-e-fatimi and (2) Kalimah-e- Tamjeed (3rd kalimah) after each salaat and (3) durood and (4) istighfar one hundred times every morning and evening; (5) reciting the Holy Quran with the correction of tajweed; (6) offering tahajjud salaat regularly among nawaafil, and (7) visiting people of zikr. Without zikr, knowledge is but darkness; whereas zikr without knowledge is door to many evils.”

50

Once Hazrat Maulana رحمه الله said:

“[Inspired] dreams form the 46th part of prophethood. By way of such dreams, some people get such an advancement that even regular spiritual exercises and religious efforts cannot bring that advancement, because they are inspired with correct knowledge in dreams. Then, why progress will not take place? (Through knowledge, acquaintance with Allah gets increased; and when this acquaintance increases, one increases in nearness to Allah.) It is for this reason that we are commanded to pray for increasing in knowledge: Say: 0 My Sustainer, cause me to grow in knowledge,” [Q.20:114]

Hazrat Maulana رحمه الله further said:

“These days, correct knowledge opens on me in dreams; therefore, make an effort that I may avail more sleep. [Hazrat Maulana then said that he could sleep very little due to dryness, and when he consulted ‘a physician and with his advise got his head massaged with oil, his sleep increased.] The method of this Tableegli was opened to me in a dream. The commentary of: You are Indeed the best community that has ever been brought forth for [the good of] mankind: you enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong. and you believe In Allah … (Q.03:110) was inspired to me in a dream as follows: you people (i.e., the Ummat of the Holy Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wasallam), like the Prophets, have been made to appear for mankind. Using the word brought forth here indicates that the work will not be done by restricting to one place but, instead, going from door to door will be needed. Your work is to affirm what is good and to negate what is forbidden. After this, through ‘believe In Allah’, it has been made known that by means of inviting to Good, your own iman will increase. As far as Iman itself is concerned, its report is contained in the verse being discussed.) Thus, do not intend guidance of others but intend for your own benefit.”

“Moreover, the word ‘mankind’ in the verse ‘brought forth for [the good of] mankind’ is used for the non-Arab people, and notfor the people of Arab, because for them the directives: On you does not lie their guardianship. [Q 39:41) and … You are not a warden over them. [Q 88:22 indicates that their guidance has been decided, and the Holy Sallallahu alayhi wasallam needn’t bother himself much about their guidance. Note that the addressees of “You are indeed the best community’ are the people of Arab, whereas ‘for mankind’ speaks of the people other than the Arab; and the verse: … Now if the followers of earlier revelation had attained to [this kind of] faith, It would have been for their own good. [Q. 031:110 (which is the concluding part of the verse quoted above) contains the report of this fact.”

“See that the phrase here is: ‘for their Own good’, and not for your own good’ [that is, the good of both the preacher and the addressee], which hints that the preacher- whether the addressee accepts or rejects- reaps the benefit of the strengthening of his own iman by means of Tableegh itself; and this benefit, on no account, rests in the other’s embracing iman due to the effect of Tableegh: it would be to his benefit who accepts the call”.