Bismillahir
Rahmaanir Raheem
Advices of Hadhrat Moulana Abdul
Hamid Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)
There are many Mureedeen who aspire and seek Khilafat, whereas
Khilafat is a great responsibility and Amaanah (Trust). Khilafat is also not
the objective and goal of the Mureed.
In fact, to covet and hanker after Khilafat is against the
grain of Ikhlaas. This desire reveals one’s insincerity and one’s desire for
position, name and fame – whereas the sincere Saalik only seeks and wants Allah
Ta’ala.
In the beautiful words of Hadhrat Hajee Imdadullah Makki
(Rahmatullahi ‘alayh):
“Some are asking for something; some are
asking for something else;
O Allah! I beg of You to grant me Yourself!”
There is an incident about a Mureed who was desirous of
getting Khilafat. The Sheikh, discerning that ambition, gave him a cup covered with
a saucer and requested that he delivers it to a certain person. He also
instructed the Mureed not to remove the saucer.
As the Mureed proceeded to the home of that particular person,
there was movement and some sound coming from inside the cup. Out of curiosity,
he lifted the saucer to see what it was. A little mouse jumped out and
disappeared. So the Mureed had to return. He informed the Sheikh as to what had
transpired. Since that task had been for the Mureed’s Islaah, the Sheikh said: “When you cannot take care of one small
Amaanat, how will you take care of the Ummah?!”
Many a time, we cannot even fulfil the rights of our wives,
our children, our parents – but we want Khilafat?!
Khilafat is also not about being in authority, or having power
and influence amongst the people.
Mufti Muhammad Farouq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum) who is the
principal of Jami’ah Mahmoodiya in India, and a senior Khalifa of Hadhrat Mufti Mahmood
Hasan Saheb (Rahmatullahi 'alayh), had related that Mufti Mahmood Hasan Saheb
(Rahmatullahi a'alayh) had mentioned some advice given by Hadhrat
Moulana Muhammad Ilyas (Rahmatullahi 'alayh) who was the founder of the work of
Tabligh.
Hadhrat Mufti Mahmood (Rahmatullahi 'alayh) mentioned that he visited Hadhrat
Moulana Muhammad Ilyas (Rahmatullahi 'alayh) during the latter’s last illness and spent a few
days with him. In that time, Hadhrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyas (Rahmatullahi 'alayh) asked him: "Do you know the meaning of Khilafat
and Ijaazat?"
Out of Adab (etiquette) and humility, Mufti Mahmood Hasan (Rahmatullahi 'Alayh)
replied: "I do not know what it
means."
Hadhrat Moulana Muhammad Ilyas (Rahmatullahi ‘Alayh) then
explained: "The Seeker has entrusted
his entire life to the obedience and service of his Sheikh. He serves, obeys
and follows his Sheikh so much so that everything conforms to the ways and
habits of the Sheikh. The Mureed annihilates himself in his efforts to be like
his Sheikh. In the Suhbat and Khidmat of the Sheikh, he acquires steadfastness
and commitment. When he has annihilated himself and regards himself as
insignificant and small, and when serving his seniors become embedded qualities
in him, then the Sheikh grants permission, saying: "My dear brother, because of the manner in which you have dealt
with me - the Tawaadhu (humility), 'Aajizi (humbleness) and Khidmat (service) -
I grant you Ijaazat that you deal in this same manner with the entire creation
of Allah Ta'ala - as you have done with your Sheikh. Deal with every creation
in this beautiful way. Ijaazat does not mean sitting on the throne of the Sheikh
and ordering everyone around. It is to think that one is in the service of
Allah Ta'ala's creation and to behave accordingly – having good dealings with
all."
So Khilafat is not about holding authority and sway over the
masses; rather it is serving them for the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala. It is also the
practice of our Mashaa’ikh, that where there is misconduct or some breach of
the trust of Khilafat, the Khilafat is cancelled.
Khilafat is given for different reasons. One reason is that
the Mureed has the capacity for his own Islaah and needs to give attention to
his Islaah. If he does nothing, then this Khilafat Nama (certificate) is just a
blank paper.
We should never entertain the thought: “My Khilafat is a certificate of my piety and my piety is confirmed by
my Sheikh.” …Or that it is some certificate of Jannah. We should not
entertain any thought that we are pious and that we are now big people in this
field of Tasawwuf and as such, we deserve respect and honour…
No, we should think that it indicates that we have a lot more
work to do regarding our Islaah and Tazkiyah; that we are still far from our goal.
A person’s Khilafat will have value when the person has this
understanding and together with this, commences Majlis for the same purpose – that is, for Islaah. He will then progress, Insha-Allah.
Ideally, he should establish a programme of Islaah in the area
that he resides. This is best done in the Masjid. If due to circumstance,
it cannot commence in the Masjid, then commence in one’s home.
The Niyyat (intention) must be emphatically for one’s own
Islaah. When the intention is for one’s Islaah, the person will find benefit.
Where a person thinks: “I’m all right. I
need to make the others right.” – then this is the stepping stone to one’s
own spiritual retrogression.
If the correct intention is made, then the person will
progress by leaps and bounds.
Once, Qari Zaheer Saheb of the Tabligh Jamaat made my Tashkeel
to join their Jamaat to Zimbabwe. I asked: “What
Niyyat must I make?”
Qari Saheb replied: “Solely and only for your own Islaah. Not
with any thought of being the principal of a Darul Uloom or an Aalim or to make
the Islaah of others.”
The Majlis is also not for the purpose to impress with subtle
points and deep aspects of Tasawwuf. This does not work. Speak to the people in
their language and on their level. Do not talk beyond their understanding and
do not talk beyond your own understanding and Ma’rifat.
Some discuss levels of Tasawwuf which they have not experienced themselves and they present these as their own Haal and condition. In doing this, the person tries to show that he is of a high calibre and thus able to explain such points. This is the nafs which is stealing from our efforts.
...Like how the Ambiyaa (Alaihimus Salaam) were sent to the
people for their guidance, so the 'Ulama and Mashaa`ikh have a duty to guide and
correct their people as well. Islaah is on all fronts: Aqeedah, Ibaadaat,
Mu’amalaat, Mu’asharaat, Akhlaaq, etc.
Moulana Abdullah Phoolpuri (Daamat Barakaatuhum) had mentioned
that the objective of the 'Aalim is the concern and Fikr of his people and the effort
to guide them on Siratul Mustaqeem – by closely following the mission of
Nubuwwah – which is to teach the Qur’aan Sharief and Sunnah and to undertake
the work of Tazkiyah.
After 23 years fulfilling this mission of Nubuwwah, Rasulullah
(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) took approximately 124 000 of his
companions for the Hajjatul Wadaa’ – companions, who had become shining stars in
his Suhbat and under his guidance. The Barakah of that effort continues until
today and will continue until Qiyamah.
The Khalifa should cling to his Sheikh. Even if the Khalifah
is an Aalim, stay under the guidance of the Sheikh. Stay under the guidance of
the 'Ulama. Do not become independent. The Khalifa should not be neglectful of
his own Islaah nor become content with himself and satisfied with his work.
This is very dangerous.
As an example: A ball is thrown up. With how much of force it
was thrown and with its weight, so much does it go up. When the ball reaches
its final height it does not stay there for even a moment, it starts falling
down.
As long as a Sheikh has got concern for his Islaah, he
will progress in this path. When he feels he is not in need of Islaah and he is
satisfied that he has reached his height, then like the ball, he begins to come
down with speed – even faster than a ball descending.
Our Sheikh, Hadhrat Moulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Rahmatullahi
‘alayh) would say:
‘He, who is not concerned about his own Islaah,
where
will he be a guide?
He,
himself, will not be righteous.’
جو اپنے آپ کو مستقل بالذات سمجھتا ہے
وہ مستقل بد ذات ہوتا ہے
‘He
who regards himself as independent (and not in need of guidance or a Sheikh),
will
fall into evil.’
As a Sheikh, the person should avoid rivalry and jealousy,
pride and arrogance.
It is a common observation that people in the same line of
work – whether doctors, businessmen, lawyers or others, sometimes feel
threatened when a person of the same profession or business commences work in the same locality.
Another incident has been related of a Sheikh who was running his Khanqah
in a certain locality. Another Sheikh also moved to the area and established
his Khanqah nearby. The first Sheikh sent a tumbler full of water and the second
Sheikh returned it with a rose petal on top of the water.
The Mureeds did not understand the reason behind this and
enquired from the Sheikh. The Sheikh explained: “My message by sending the tumbler of water was that this work is
already being done here. However, the Sheikh’s message, by placing the petal, was
that there should be no problem with him doing the same; rather the more, the
better.”
As a Muslim, be big hearted. Be happy that others are also
doing this work of Dien and that more people will Insha-Allah benefit and
connect with Allah Ta’ala and Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam).
Jealousy results in destruction of one’s own good deeds, so we
need to be very much on guard. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: "Beware of jealousy, for verily it
destroys good deeds the way fire destroys wood."[1]
Pride is that path that led to the downfall and rejection of
shaytaan.
Sometimes, people engaged in the work of Tabligh and Khanqah
feel the other to be a threat or insignificant. This should not be so. Both are
to complement each other in the service of Dien and both are integral parts of
serving Dien.
It is a misconception that the Khanqah is for the individual
and the Tabligh Jamaat is for everyone. This is a misnomer. The work of Dien
which is carried out by the Khanqah is also for everyone, reaching out to
everyone. One of our Akaabir had explained: “Is water more important or is air more important?
Both are necessary. Similarly in Dien, different works are carried out and
each one is necessary.”
There are many who are fit to get Ijaazat and Khilafat but the
Sheikh does not grant it – with good reason. As said, this is not the objective
of Tasawwuf and a Saalik should not consider this Ijaazat and Khilafat as a
criteria of acceptance or success.
May Allah Ta’ala grant us all a sense of responsibility in
this field of Tasawwuf, grant us Ikhlaas in all efforts and forgiveness on all
shortcomings, and acceptance despite not deserving.
[1]
Abu Dawood
