Effects of People

It was my uncle's practice that when he returned from his Tableeghi journeys, he would always undertake a journey for a week or so to Raipur or to Sharanpur. Otherwise, he would make I'tikaaf in his own Masjid for three days. He used to say: "At these Jalsas, I have remained among people of all the types. From all the people there is an effect of turbulence and muddiness on my temperament and upon my heart. And now I do this to wash my heart clean of those effects."

As I was dictating this, Maulana Manzoor Nu'mani Saheb arrived from Deoband. He said that these words just mentioned are found in Hazrat Dehlawy's Malfoozaat and in the very same words. We asked for the Malfoozaat to be brought and found these words: 'Hazrat said: "Even when I have to go to Mewaat, I always try to go in the company of the righteous and pious people of Zikr. But then still, because of the mixing with people the condition of my heart changes so much that as long as I do not cleanse it through the means of I'tikaaf or a few fasts, or go to stay for a few days in the company of the special ones at Raipur or Saharanpur, my heart does not rreturn to its former condition." He sometimes said: "It is necessary for those travelling about for the sake of Deen, that they should cleanse themselves from the necessary after effects of ghusht and moving among men, by sitting in solitude, making Zikr, and meditation."

This theme is extracted from the Hadith where it is said that crowds have an effect upon the hearts of the saintly ones. In Kitabut-Tahaarah of Mishkat, there is a Hadith that Rasulullah صلى الله عليه و سلمwhile once performing Salaah, recited Surah Room. While reciting the Surah, he became confused with the Mutashaabih (similar) verses. At the end of the Salaah, he said: "Some people do nnot perform wudhoo properly (and join in the Salaah) and these people cause confusion in our recitation." (Mishkat, Nisai)

When the effects of one person not performing his wudhoo properly affected the Salaah of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه و سلم, then how much more is it not, that there should be detrimental effects from a crowd, wherein there are all kinds of people, even evil doers, and sinners?

All those Elders and Sheikhs who have to work and mix with the public, whether it be Tableegh or lectures or in Jalsas, and even those who are involved in teaching (as the students are of all kinds), should be very particular about cleansing themselves and to make a special point of purifying their hearts through 'Zikr and Fikr.' we understand that it is not easy for every person to perform I'tikaaf. But during those Jalsas and afterwards, they should spend some time in Muraqaba (meditation), Tasbeeh, Wirds, Salawaat (Durood), and Istighfaar.

Aap Beti, Page 425-426

A Golden Rule

Here Hazrat Shaykh (رحمة الله عليه) explains a golden rule that he and his distinguished elders considered to be of the utmost importance.

There is one principal fact which our elders considered of paramount importance viz., that the rights of others which are due by you should be duly delivered and if there are any of your rights due upon others, they should not be demanded. My father [Maulana Yahya (رحمة الله عليه)] was a great protagonist of this and acted accordingly. He never used to consider what others were doing. He always used to worry about, "What should I do? What is my duty?"

The same principal will be found many times in the Malfoozaat of my late uncle Maulana Ilyas (رحمة الله عليه) as well as in the lectures of Maulana Yusuf (رحمة الله عليه). It is in fact derived from the hadith:

ليس الواصل بالمكافي ولاكن الواصل الذي إذا قطعت وصل

"The builder of good relations is not he who acts reciprocally (Acting in a friendly manner to those that befriend him), but is in fact the one who befriends those who cut themselves off from him" (Mishkat, Bukhary)

Aap Beti, Page 125

"That which had passed never returns": Appreciating our Scholars

...there is one very important fact to which I wish to draw attention.

When the Elders passed away many people desired to see those special qualities which were part of the Sheikh (in those that succeeded them). But it is clear that all those who follow the Elders and in their footsteps will be less gifted than the Sheikh except in some cases, as Allah pleases.

Those people who, because they do not see the qualities of the Elder in his followers, turn away from that Sheikh's line of Tasawwuf, are only doing themselves great harm. I began to see this very clearly since the time of Hazrat Gangohi. During the time of the most prominent Khalifas of Hazrat, I saw many of their contemporaries, who were also attached to Hazrat through Bay'at, saw that now some of the special qualities which Hazrat had were no longer present in the Khalifas. They then declined to return to these Khalifas for spiritual guidance. This caused me a lot of pain and sorrow because the Khalifas were near in relationship (with Allah Ta'ala) and men of 'Nisbat'. If indeed these people had become connected to one of the Khalifas, they would have progressed greatly.

Similarly I have seen many in the third generation of Khilafat who did the same thing. I did my utmost to explain to them the wrong of their actions. After the death of my uncle, Hazrat Ilyas رحمة الله عليه , I have heard many people say that this 'Hazrat-ji' was not nearly in the same class as Maulana Ilyas Dehlawy.

To those people I replied: "You have spoken the truth. But in Hazrat Dehlawy we did not see those special qualities which we saw in Hazrat Saharanpuri."...

...Now it is the era of Maulana Inaamul Hasan and very often we hear the complaint that it is not the same as in the time of Maulana Yusuf. Then I tell them: "My friends, after him you will not find even those qualities which are in him. That which had passed never returns."

The Last Conversation of Maulana Ilyaas with Maulana Yusuf Saheb

This is an account given by Maulana Ilyaas' (rahmatullahi 'alayh) son, Maulana Yusuf of the last words spoken to him by his father.

On Wednesday near 4 o'clock (at night), Hazrat (Rahmatullah 'Alayh) was lying in his bed with me sitting on his right side. (May Allah grant us perfect mercy in this world and the Hereafter and may He grant us the ability to follow in Hazrat's footsteps properly.) He called me and I went to sit on his left side facing him.

He said: "Where are the other Hazraat?"
I replied: "They are holding consultations in the room of Moulvy Ihtishaam Saheb."
He asked: "Are you not with them in this consultation?"
I replied: "If you so command, I will go there."
He said: "The consultations are about you and you are not with them. Wait till they call you. Then go there."

He continued: " Let not this affair of yours and mine ever beome a plaything, Whatever you receive from the Ahlullah (People of Allah) is true."

He recited a couplet.

Then Maulana Ilyaas said: "Ulama should read the Qasida-e-Burda and the Shiyamul Habeeb with respect and honour, otherwise without respect and longing, it will be of no use. From reading Shiyamul Habeeb, the reality of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam's position and rank becomes evident. And with the Qasida Burdah, attachment (with Rasulullah Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) is established."

Thereafter he said: "You should continue to invite people towards reciting the Quran in the latter part of the night and contunie to hope that it becomes a part of your make-up (constitution)."

(By Maulana) Yusuf

'Childish Pranks'!

Subhaanallah, even our 'Awliyaah have a sense of humour! 'Hazrat Gangohi' is none other than Hazrat Maulana Rasheed Ahmed Gangohi (rahmatullahi 'alayh), whose piety is beyond the scope of mere words. His daughter, at this time quite old, is mentioned in the story below:

...I also remember another story involving Hazrat Madani. I have already mentioned that during the lifetime of Sahebzadi (the daughter of Hazrat Gangohi), Hazrat Madani, my late uncle and I used to visit Gangoh quite often. Maulana Madani would go there on many occasions and quite a few times I accompanied him. Because my uncle was faw away, in spite of his desire to be there, he could only go there very rarely, but his wish was that when Hazrat Maulana and I went, we should inform him. If Maulana Madani arrived suddenly, then there was nothing that could be done. But when it was written in my diary that such a journey was planned, I informed my uncle before hand.

Once the three of us went to Gangoh. No one knew of our coming. As we arrived, Sahebzadi and Chacha Yakoob were extremely happy to see us, as if Eid had arrived. Moreover all three of us were together! Soon curry was prepared. She had a special gift of cooking something very delicious, very quickly. If there was only us, we ate in the ladies' section of the house and if there were many others with us, we ate in the men's section. This time we ate in the ladies' section. She sent various foods with Chacha Yakoob to place before us and then he went inside to fetch the roti. Hazrat Madani said, "While he is gone to bring the rote, let us finish the curry." We did just that. That was in the time of my youth.

When he brought the roties, the curry plates were already cleaned out. He went inside and told his mother, "Amma-ji, they have eaten the curry without the roties."

Then he went back inside and brought more curry. When he came with the curry, the roties were finished. This time, Sahebzadi herself came into the door and said, "They call you three Hazrats, but it seems to me as if you're childhood days have not yet passed."

Maulana Madani said, "Haji Yakoob is playing the fool with us. When he brings roti there is no curry, and when he brings curry, there is no roti. Is he feeding us or playing the fool with us?"

I said, "Whether they call us Hazrat or anything else, we will still remain your children and under you."

Then she said, "These childish pranks have really made me very happy."

With Maulana Madani, such incidents happened quite often from time to time.