Reflections

2nd Waaz – 3rd Moharramul Haraam, 1425 H – Dubai

As is the usual convention for Ashara waaz the second waaz was based around the zikr of Nuh (AS) (Noah).

Nuh Nabi (AS) is the second of the seven ‘notoqaa’ – the primary prophets from Adam (AS) to Rasulallah (SA) followed by the seventh.

The 21st Imam Al-Tayyib (AS) went into satr and, whilst we believe that the Imam is present today on the face of the earth we do not believe that it will be Imam Tayyib (AS) himself who will emerge at the time of zuhuur. It will be Imam Tayyib’s (AS) direct descendant – Imam Tayyibul Asre wal Awaan (AS) (Imam of the day and age).

Rasulallah (SA) stated that “My Ahle Bayt are like the safinah (Ark) of Nuh; he that boards it will survive and he that stays away will perish.”

In a sublime perspective on this hadith Molana (TUS) said that it was Nuh’s (AS) honour that Rasulallah (SA) should compare his Ahle Bayt to Nuh’s safinah.

Nuh (AS) spent night and day in calling them to the Dawat of Haq (truth). But the people did not respond, putting their fingers in their ears – preferring to listen to their established walking talking idols.

It is a simple equation that one cannot listen to one when listening to another and in this media filled day and age it is worth reflecting on how far we might be allowing conflicting messages to distract us from the message of our Dai.

Nuh (AS) was promised Allah’s assistance in his Dawat and told his followers of this promise. He was told to sow date palm seeds and when they came to fruition he would receive assistance but on two occasions there was no assistance forthcoming. Many people turned their backs on Nuh (AS) but he continued to keep faith and after the third time came Allah’s order to board the safinah. Then came the storms in which only those that had remained with Nuh (AS) survived.

This was in spite of the fact that the safinah was faced by mountainous waves. But the truth about such huge waves is that although they appear massive when they rise up they then disappear as if they never were when the storm abates and the seas are calm again.

It is often said that ‘history repeats itself’ and in the realm of Dawat it is a precise statement. The Imams and Duaat are divided into saatras - groups of seven – and each second Imam or Dai in each saatra corresponds to Nuh (AS).

Thus Imam Husain (AS) corresponds to Nuh (AS). Just as Nuh (AS) sought forgiveness for his people so Imam Husain (AS) requested a night’s delay before Aashura in order to pray for Mumineen in that night.

Imam Ahmed al_Mastuur (AS) is the second Imam of the second saatra. He is the author of the 53 volumes of Al-Ikhwaan al-Safaa, the encyclopedia like publication that covers four categories of knowledge namely: Riyaadiyaat (exact sciences), Tabi’eeyaat Jismaaniyaat (natural and physical sciences), Nafsaaniyyaat Aqliyyaat (psychological and intellectual sciences) and Naamoosiyyaat Ilaahiyyaat (religious and theological sciences).

Intriguingly, 53 refers to the sum of the letters of the Imam’s name – Ahmed – yet this was a time when the Imam remained out of public recognition. Indeed the caliph of the time – Mamoun – set about on an elaborate scheme to draw the Imam into the open in order to kill him. He began declaring that the actions of the first caliphs were wrong and that he wished to set it right by handing over power to the rightful Imam. He convinced one of the Imam’s Dais that he was sincere – to the extent that the Dai insisted to the Imam that he was really going to hand over power. Finally the Imam told the dai to go and declare himself to be the Imam and that, if Mamoun did indeed hand over power then the Dai knew more than he but if he were executed then know that the Imam knew better. The Dai did not heed the warning and went and declared himself to be the Imam and instantly Mamoun instructed his executioner to behead the dai. He also told him to listen for the dai’s final words and was told that the dai said, “Truly my lord spoke the truth,” at which point he realized that his bid to find the Imam had failed.

Amongst Duaat the first of the second Dais of the saatras is Syedna Ibrahim (RA) followed by Syedna Ali bin Husain (RA). In Syedna Ali’s (RA) era his fort was decontaminated from dogs. Molana (RA) stated that they should not enter into the mohalla or into the homes and this was also rendered in verse by Syedna (RA) when he said,

“Truly Aruus (name of fort) is without doubt, worthy to be kept free of dogs.”

Syedna Abdullah Fakhruddin (RA) is the second of his saatra (the 16th Dai) and he is followed by Syedna Mohammed Ezzuddin (RA) the 23rd Dai. In Syedna Mohammed Ezzuddin’s (RA) era the seat of Dawat transferred to Hind because of the arrogance that had entered into the people of Yemen. They were not prepared to pray behind a man who was fourth or fifth in order in spite of Molana’s repeated farmaan and only grudgingly, eventually, accepted.

The next second Dai in the fifth saatra is Syedna Ali Shamsuddin (RA), the 30th Dai and the last of the Duaat of Yemen (the intervening Duaat were in Hind). He is also the 18th and last in the line of Duaat from Aale Waleed.

As the day’s waaz mubarak came to its conclusion Aqamola (TUS) recounted the shahadat of Molana Abbas (AS). As he was attacked and his arms severed he reminded himself that Sakina would be crying - he was indeed holding Sakina’s mashki.

Molana said, “If someone were to tell you that Zainab is standing over Husain (AS)’s body in matam, would you not do matam?”

“I, Mamluke Aale Mohammed, Husain’s Dai, Husain’s serf, am telling you that Zainab is standing over the blessed body of Husain in matam!”

May Allah preserve our beloved Aqa Moula in ever increasing izzat and karaamat until qiyamat.

Ameen