Aap Beti

Autobiography of Sheikhul Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya (rahmatullahi 'alayh)

Friday, April 22, 2011

Death Comes at Its Own Fixed Time

Hazrat Shaykh (نور الله مرقده) describes a near death experience from his younger days. The incident occurred during a tour of Punjab with his father, Maulana Yayha (نور الله مرقده) and Maulana Shah Abdur Raheem Raipuri (نور الله مرقده).

On this journey at Raipur-Gujran, my father performed the nikah of Maulana Ahmeduddin Saheb. Near Raipur-Gujran there is a river which we had to cross by boat. The carts and wagons from this side had to be left there. From Raipur-Gujran, thousands of people on foot and about fifty well decorated horses came along. Seeing these, I felt a great urge to ride on of the horses although I did not really know how to ride a horse. One beautiful horse was brought and I was placed on it. As I sat down, I gave the horse a slap on its hind-quarter and immediately she started to run in the direction of the river. I laid flat on it filled with fear. But immediately twenty or so young men jumped on their horses after me to head us off and bring her to a stop. they grabbed the reins and brought her to a stop. Some of them, in order to cut me off even rode their horses right into the river.

Fortunately Allah had previously determined that I should live, otherwise I would surely have drowned. I later came to know that this horse was a pedigree type. People said to me that that horse had never before had its buttocks slapped.

Anyway, the sight of those young men on horse-back will always be with me. They were real experts. They did not chase my horse, otherwise she would have gone even faster. They raced on both sides of the horse, preventing it from going to the river. Then they came from both sides and closed in on her. they then grabbed the reins and brought her to a halt. I had done practically all that was needed to die, but Allah saved me. Death was not to come to me there. It comes at its own fixed time.

Aap Beti, Page 340

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Friday, April 08, 2011

Letter of Hazrat Shaykh (نور الله مرقده) to Hazrat Thanwy (نور الله مرقده)

Just reading these letters gives a brief example of how the strong attachment and love our Akaabir had for the Sunnah of our Beloved Nabi صلى الله عليه و سلم

To Hazrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwy
Assalamu Alaykum.

I hereby wish to present a little gift. In the Hadith, there is mention of a certain thing called talbeena, which Mullah Ali Qari says is made up of milk, honey and flour and I have added a little saffron for flavour and taste. Once, some time ago, I prepared it and it turned out to be very delicious and I got the feeling that perhaps Hazrat will also like it. Only Allah knows how it has turned out this time, but I have again mixed the same ingredients.

In Bukhari it is reported from Hazrat Aisha Radhiallahu Anha who says: "I have heard Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam say: "Verily talbeena cures the heart of the sick one and takes away his sorrows."" According to Bukhari, she ordered that talbeena be taken and that it is a beneficial medicine. Hafiz Ibn Hajar says in 'Fath', it is reported by Ahmed and Ibn Majah that Aisha Radhiallahu Anha reported: "Make use of talbeena, the beneficial medicine." And Nisai adds: "I swear by Him in whose hands is the life of Muhammad [sallallahu 'alayhi wasallam] that talbeena cleans the stomach in the same way as any of you uses water to wash dust from his face."

According to the Hadith it appears that it is prepared in a thin form, but I thought Hazrat will prefer it in a thick form so as to eat it like firny. For this reason, I have made it a thick mixture. I have also written its contents down for Hakeem Khaleel Ahmed Saheb and asked him about it, so as to ascertain that it will not be harmful to Hazrat's diet.

Zakariyya Kandhalwy.

Maulana Thanwi (نور الله مرقده)'s response
My beloved friend, Assalamu Alaykum.

Who is so fortunate as to recieve such a blessed present. Because of your love, you have not been very clever as was the demand of your love. Your reason should have told you that you should not have informed me what it was. When I expressed liking for it, [only] then should you have told me what it was. Now, I am worried that if I do not use it, it will be tantamount to turning away from the Sunnah. How will one accept it, that after eating it, you find yourself not liking it. Both these things will boil down to bad manners. Now I am putting this aside until such a time that you get me out of this difficulty.

Ashraf Ali.