Surat is, and has been for many years, the capital of D`awat.
Both Syedna Taher Saifuddin Aqa and Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin Mola were born here and
seven Du`aat Mutlaqen before them are buried here.
When Molana-l-min`aam (t.u.s.) speaks of Surat he invariably
adds the words, “Surat to hamaro watan che.” (Surat is my place of origin)
which, in itself, speaks volumes for the exalted status of this city and the land upon
which it is founded. The significance of this city within the realm of D`awat-ul-Haq and
its grandeur are amply reflected in the magnificence of Al-Masjid-al-Mo`azzam and in its
breezes one can scent the fragrances of the knowledge of Aale Mohammed treasured in
Al-Jameatus Saifiyah.
An Ashara in this city has to be something special and all
those who have attended Ashara here in the past would certainly attest to this. Indeed,
today’s w`aaz began with a zikr heard often yet this time with a new expansion of
meaning. We have been reminded time and again that for every group of things there is one
entity that is their king; for majalis (congregations), the sovereign of them all is that
of the Shi`ah. (By ‘Shi`ah’ we refer to that of Mumineen).
Allah has assigned certain angels the task of roaming the
earth with the express intention of finding those majalis in which the zikr of Aale
Mohammed is taking place. When they find such a majlis they call to the other angels,
“Here! Here! (is the zikr of aale Mohammed)”, and the angels will gather and sit
within that majlis. Then when they return to the heavens they will make a record of this
majlis in which remembrance of Aale Mohammed took place and the names of all those who
were participant in it.
Aqamola then expanded on the meaning of ‘sovereign
majlis’ by speaking of the most supreme of all majalis; that being the one
convened by Imam Husain (a.s.) in Karbala on the eve of `Aashura. This majlis of as-haab
and ahle bayt took place for the sake of the deliverance and salvation of every Mumin,
Muminah and child until the Day of Qayamat.
Those who were gathered in that majlis had been without food
and water for three days and with the enemy ready to attack, Husain asked for one
evening’s grace; before the battle. It was khamees, a Thursday, just as today
was, and in that evening Husain prepared his army for the forthcoming battle. He quenched
their thirst and hunger with the sustenance of knowledge from the hereafter and organised
them for the fight. He did this so completely that the words of the Qur’an apply to
this night when it is written in surat-al-Quraysh.Feeding them (away) from hunger and
giving them relief from any fear.
Today’s w`aaz and all the forthcoming w`aaz of Ashara
are all majalis in the remembrance of that particular majlis. The flow of bounties and
blessings that took place in that congregation continue to reach us from the seat of
Imam-ul-zamaan upon which sits his Da`ii. And from there Molana tells us that on that
night the as-haab and ahle bayt gave us one lesson which represents the very pinnacle of
teaching. Imam Husain told them to go away into the night taking his women and children
with them because the enemy was after his blood alone. To this they replied in passionate
and lucid displays of mohabbat and fidaa`ii, that where would they go away from Husain?
What face would they show the people? What answer would they
give on the day of Qayamat if Rasulallah were to ask them why they left his son alone in
Karbala?
One by one each sahabi rose to give his arz of allegiance
until death. Amongst them one said that he would fight until his death and then, if Allah
were to bring him back to life he would fight till the death again and so on continually
for a thousand such lives. And as all this was said Husain sat in tranquility, joyful at
the words of such devoted companions and perhaps even more joyful in the knowledge that he
would very soon lead them into aakherat.
Similarly, Imam Husain’s Da`ii Aqa Burhanuddin Mola told
us today of his own deep and profound love for us, his own particular pleasure and joy in
having us for his Mumineen. What can we ever offer in return, except in taking that lesson
from the shohadaa-e-Karbala and imbibing ourselves in matam and buka and tasbih of Ya
Husain throughout these days and throughout these lives.
In this respect Aqamola urged us with the following;
‘Today I ask something of you, act in accordance with
this wish. Today you have come to partake of the barakat of an extraordinary majlis, in
order to maximise this barakat, especially with me today - and always, remember the
starving and parched Husain! Do not forget Husain, remember Husain and shed many tears and
do substantial matam!’
May Allah t`aala preserve our Mola and Aqa in health and
happiness to present the barakaat of that supreme majlis of laylat-ul-`Aashura and the
barakaat of the du`a of Imam Husain on the day of `Aashura to Mumineen until the day of
Qayamat.
