Molana-l-min`aam started today’s
w`aaz addressing Mumineen as, ‘Mumineen ni jama`at’, and also ‘Muslimeen ni
jama`at’. This is because he that is a Mumin is also a Muslim and thus the word
‘Muslim’ is appropriate to a Mumin. Mohammed Rasulallah (s.a.) said, "I am
the first of Muslimeen", and from one stem all other numbers. After that whether
there are two, three, four or a hundred thousand they all have their connection with 1. If
there is no 1, there is nothing.
By accepting the kalimatul-shahadat the
individual’s life and property are considered inviolable, however, Rasulallah gives
no guarantee that their Islam is accepted by Allah. As far as the authorities of Islam on
earth are concerned he/she is a Muslim but the accountability of their Islam to Allah
remains. He/she that declares the kalimat-al-shahadat with purity of intent –
conviction, on the other hand has entered Paradise.
When Rasulallah’s esteemed sahabi
– Molana Abuzar (a.s; also ‘Abeezer or ‘Abazar’), happened upon a
gathering of some of Rasulallah’s other companions he joined them. To his utter shock
and dismay he discovered that their discussion was about how they saw Rasulallah to be
consolidating leadership of the community in his own family. Ali- Syed ul Wasiyeen, Fatema
– Syedato nisa-il-aalameen, Hassan and Husain Imams of Haq. This group, which
included senior figures, was clearly determined to make sure that this leadership would
not translate into actual rule of the Muslim peoples.
When they realized that Abeezer was
sitting amongst them they became anxious that he should not go and report their
conversations to Rasulallah. They made him give severe oaths of secrecy and as he left he
found himself in a dilemma. Such people, upon whom Rasulallah had bestowed so much grace
and here they were talking in this manner! Yet he had given an oath, how could he inform
Mohammed? At this point he remembered his misaq oath that if he were to come to know of
subversive talk such as this then he must inform Rasulallah immediately. That oath
superceded the oath he had just given and so he went directly to Mohammed to inform him.
When the group was brought before him, however, they swore that Abuzar’s story was a
fabrication, they would not even think such things. Rasulallah told Abeezer in no
uncertain terms that if it were found that he had lied against these senior men he would
rip out his tongue. The aayat that was revealed to him at this time, though, confirmed
Abeezer’s honesty as well as the hidden dishonesty of that group of men. At this
point Rasulallah declared that, "The sky covered no man and the earth carried no man,
more truthful than Abeezer."
The ramifications of Abeezer’s
action at this time came about later, particularly in the era of the third khalifa, when
his allegiance and constant recounting of the excellence of Ali made him very unpopular
with the authorities. It got to such a point that he was sent into exile where he died
alone just as Rasulallah had foretold many years before. Abeezer’s ikhlaas, however,
meant that his bonds-man, Joon (a.s.), was to go to Karbala and fight and die with Husain
just as Abeezer had wished that he himself might have lived to do. With each foe that he
struck down, Joon declared that the reward for that kill was to his master – Abeezer
(a.s.).
When Muawiya died the Muslims at large
came to Syria to give their oaths of allegiance to his son Yazid. In Syria itself Qays bin
Ghalib-al-Asadi, a Shi`a of Imam Husain (a.s.) felt greatly distressed by this. He
gathered the people of his house and like-minded compatriots and said to them that whilst
all these people are going to felicitate Yazid, leaving Husain should we not go to the
shezada of Rasulallah – Husain ibn Ali?
Thus, they left Syria and came to Medina
and the house of Husain. They knocked on the door and a maid answered. They asked her to
arz to Husain that they had come and would he give them raza to meet him and for the
sharaf of deedar? Mola Husain himself came out to them and was very pleased to see them.
He asked what it was that had brought them here to Medina when it is neither the time for
Haj nor Umra? Why was it that they had come from so far away? The affection in his
question brought tears to their eyes and they answered that everyone is going to give
their allegiance to Yazid, where could we go?
"In our love for you we left
our homeland to come to your presence."
Husain listened and then asked
"Wallah! (upon oath of Allah) you’ve come all this way simply out of love for
me?"
Qays said, "Yes! Wallah! We’ve
come to Medina only for this reason – for this barakat."
Husain instantly declared glad tidings
for them, that their path (to Paradise) was clear. He then took their leave to go inside
for a while and then return. Molana then said, "Look at the karam of the grandson of
Rasulallah, seeing the mohabbat and tafaadi of his devotees he did wuzu and offered two
rak`ats namaaz and du`a on their behalf."
During this w’aaz Molana spoke of
the manner in which Mumineen were arriving from everywhere. With the words "Labbayk!
Ya Da`ii-allah," they have answered his call and are grateful for that call.
"Come and collect the income of
barakat, shops should be closed, this trade – what is a shop? Allah is the provider,
by the barakat of Husain Allah will give provide well for you. If you close it for these
ten days Allah will give you the reward of the whole year - and barakat."
In these days it is clear for all to see
that year in and year out Mumineen leave their work and trade to be with Aqamola in
Ashara. Or, if staying in their hometowns unable to go with Molana they close their
businesses or take leave from jobs in order to attend their local majalis. It is a time
when there are no second thoughts or distractions or worries. Very much in the mould of
those mukhliseen Shi`a who came to see Husain in Medina Mumineen today need only the
mohabbat in their hearts to leave everything and attend the w`aaz of Imam Husain.
Molana has, effectively, enabled us to
transcend the limitations of physical life in this way and given us a taste of
deliverance. May Allah t`aala keep him in good health and fitness until the day of
Qayamat.
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