Bismillahi Rahmaanir Raheem
Hadhrat
Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (Rahmatullahi ‘Alayh) said: “When a person becomes my Mureed, my first worry and concern is not his
Islaah (reformation), rather it is creating my love in his heart. Once that is
achieved, his Islaah becomes very easy; because in love, a person accepts
everything of his beloved and is keen to practise on it.”
In
these times, so much is plastic or not durable and things break very easily. In
a similar vein, Mureeds today are sensitive and are not strong and resilient.
So the true Mashaa’ikh, taking into consideration the nature of the people, of
their Mureedeen, take it easy with their Mureeds. Even if they scold, it
is done in such a way, whereby the Mureed only increases in his Muhabbat for
the Sheikh and does not feel disillusioned and despondent, or runs away.
For
the Sheikh to understand the temperament of people is very important.
Therefore, we find that the Sheikh who is Kaamil is generally not harsh or hard
and will also not scold much, because he understands that if he adopts
harshness, the little benefit that the Mureed is getting, will also be lost.
This
too is in accordance with the Sunnah and is mentioned by Allah Ta’ala, in
regard to Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam):
‘Thus, it is due to mercy from Allah
that you deal with them gently. And had you been rough or hard-hearted, they
would certainly have dispersed from around you…’
[Surah Aal-Imraan 3 : 159]
We
find the gentleness and mercy of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)
apparent in his manner and method of correcting the people. He had the best understanding and
perception of human psychology and was thus, the most successful in Islaah and
Tazkiyyah. And this success is evident when considering that in a short
period of time, a people who were barbaric and uncivilised, engaging in all
kinds of major sins, became the best of people, with the noblest characters and
actions, by virtue of the company and guidance of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu
‘alayhi wasallam).
Take
the famous incident, narrated by Hadhrat Abu Umamah (Radhiyallahu 'anhu) who
mentioned of a young man who came to Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam)
and said: “O Messenger of Allah, give me permission of Zina.”
Whilst
the Sahaba-e-Kiraam (Radhiyallahu
'anhum) turned to him and started rebuking him, Rasulullah
(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) invited the young person to come closer and to
sit down.
And then Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) appealed to his
sense of honour, by asking him if he would like the same for his mother, his
daughter, his sister and other relatives. Each time, the young man replied in
the negative. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) would respond that similarly,
others would not like that for their women folk.
Rasulullah
(Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) then placed his blessed hand on the young man
and prayed for him, "O Allah,
forgive his sins, purify his heart, and protect his chastity." Hazrat
Abu Umamah (Radhiyallahu 'anhu) said
that the young man did not pay heed to any temptation or anything Haraam
thereafter.[1]
We
can gauge from such incidents, the positive results of mercy and compassion in
making Islaah, over harshness and hardness. The way of Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) is perfection, because
it was inspired by Allah Ta’ala. Any other way will not invite the same
results.
…If
the Sheikh adopts harshness and severity in dealing with his Mureeds, the
hearts of the Mureeds will turn away and they will not have any interest in
following through with the Sheikh’s instructions or even keeping his company.
Thus,
the Sheikh has to be wise, discreet and experienced. There are times where he
will reprimand, where he will have to reprimand, but his reprimanding is due to
a genuine concern that the Mureed be successful on this path. This kind of
reprimand then brings about positive results.
Our
Sheikh (Rahmatullahi ‘Alayh) mentioned that his Sheikh would say that the one
who has not been subjected to the process of Islaah and has not withstood the
scolding of the Sheikh, will not have others endure and tolerate his scolding.
...So these are amongst his distinct qualities and by which he is also recognized as a Sheikh-e-Kaamil[2], together with other noble characteristics also.
This
experience, skill and ability to treat the spiritual sicknesses of his Mureeds
correctly, comes from the Sheikh having spent a considerable time in the
company of his own Sheikh, for his own Islaah, undergoing Mujahadah
(Striving) in the path to Allah Ta’ala, learning from his Sheikh, the ways and
methods of Islaah and becoming acquainted with the territory and its dangers.
Being
an Aalim is one thing, and to be a Muslih[3]
is another. A person has to first undergo the process of Islaah and Tazkiyyah
himself to learn the process of Islaah and Tazkiyyah.
May
Allah Ta’ala guide us towards complete Islaah and Tazkiyyah, with ease, and
grant us such guides who are a reflection of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam) and who guide in the best possible ways.
By Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)
[1] Ahmad
[2] Sheikh-e-Kaamil:
Accomplished, experienced and pious Sheikh
[3] Muslih
: One who reforms
