"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."

Shukoor, Shukoor Shukoor...!

When Allah's Servant becomes ungrateful, Shaytaan's job is done. We often undermine the importance of gratitude in Islam, thus play directly into the hands of our enemy. Know well, that no matter how bad a situation we are faced with, our lives are never void of Allah's blessings. This is a point which Sheikhul Hadeeth (rahmatullahi 'alayh) and those around him not only knew very well, but acted on sincerely. Sheikhul Hadeeth's (rahmatullahi 'alayh) etiquette in dealing with death is indeed an example to be followed.

The other daughter, Shakira died on Monday 14th of Rajab 1369 Hijri (1st May 1950). She also suffered from chronic fever after much sorrow. But Allah gave her such ability to suffer with patience that not once did she ever tell any sister of her sorrow and heartsore. At all times did she praise and thank Allah. She was worth her name - Shakira .

During the misfortune that befell her and led to her demise, she started to teach children to recite the Quran and remained busy with it throughout the day . Even while she was sick, she used to lie down and teach the children with great care.

It was a mere coincedence that Maulana Yusuf [her husband, and son of Maulana Ilyas] came to Saharanpur and I went with him to the house. She requested that Surah Yaseen be recited. Maulana Yusuf recited. When he reached the verse:

"peace, a word from the Merciful Lord....."

it seemed as if ecstatic emotion overtook Maulana Yusuf . He repeated the verse three times and as he recited it the third time, my daughter's soul left her body.

I did not not give much importance to the death of this daughter of mine. She was still very young, and she was not really known very well. But I was greatly suprised when within two weeks over two hundred postcards reached me. Although the words were different, the theme and topic was one :

"We have come to know of the death of your daughter from so and so . My heart is very restless to be there with you. But because of knowing your wishes on such occasions, instead of spending so much on trainfare to come there for two days, we have managed to recite so much tilawat. We write this letter to inform you of our having made sadqa and eesaale sawaab on her behalf."

How great is Allah's favour! I was so pleased with the actions of these consolers that the great sorrow at the loss of my child was greatly lessened.