Biographies of Saints from Tazkiratul Awliya

Discussion in 'Siyar an-Nubala' started by hafeezanwar, Jul 27, 2007.

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  1. hafeezanwar

    hafeezanwar Guest

    Abu Hazem Al-makki

    7. Abu Hazem al-Makki

    He was leader of sincere, pious and god fearing persons. He followed mashiq (learned persons) and lived a simple life. He was among famous sufies of his time due to his worship and observation. He lived for a long period so he met many learned persons. Among them is one Abu Osman Makki who was his great admirer. His life and achievements are available in many books but for our guidance we are mentioning some short details of his life which are as follows.
    He met many companions of the prophet like Ans Bin Malik and Abu Hurara.
    His sayings are very famous and solution for any problem to solve the same. Hisham Abdul Malik once asked him “ Which action will deliverance us ? He replied him.
    “ For the money we get and for this money we should see that it is coming from halal ( right) source and it should be spent for the halal purpose only.” Hisham asked him “ How we can do this ?” He replied “ One who will desire of heaven and fear of hell and want the pleasure of Allah then one should take care of it otherwise he will not be successful in the other world after the death.” Hezam Makki’s sayings are as follows.
    “ Avoid the world because I have heard that the worshipper who likes the world and for this reason on the day of judgment the angels will announce that this person is one who liked the thing which Allah does not like it. He further continued that there is nothing in the world which will not finish because in the world no such thing made by Allah which will not met its end. In this World even some useless things attract the man so he neglects the big things of the heaven.”
    He told “ All things depend upon two things.
    First thing that is made for us and other thing which is not made for us . So for the first thing whatever we will try to avoid it to get but it will reach us. For the other thing for which whatever we will try for it to get but it will not reach by us .”
    He told if he will not pray then he will face many difficulties due to non acceptance of prayers.” He told “ Oh : person you are product of this time so you prefer saying than actions and this is the time for the proud of knowledge and there is no importance of leaving action. So you are bad people in the best time.” One person asked him “ What is your condition ?” . He replied “ My condition is to gain the favor of Allah and to keep away from the mankind . So one who gain favor of Allah will be not see the mankind .”
    One day he was passing near the butcher’s shop and he saw the fine meat in the shop so the butcher asked him to take the fine meat. He replied him “ He does not have money with him. “ The butcher told him “ To take on the credit.” He told him “ First I will to try to convince my mind for the credit then I will take it.” The butcher told him “ Due to his thinking his body become thin and bones are visible on his body.” He told him “ Inspite of this condition he is enough for the insects in the grave.”
    One pious person who was on his journey for the hajj came to his house in
    Baghdad and at that time he was sleeping . When he woke up and told that person “ The prophet came into his dream and conveyed his message that he should not over look his duties towards her mother which is better than performing the hajj.” So he requested that pious man to return back to his place and take care of his duties for the pleasure of his mother . So that man cancelled his trip to Makkah and went back to his place.

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    Episode NO. 7 from Tadhkirat Al-Auliya (Muslim Saints & Mystics ) by Shaikh Farid Al-din Attar.
    ==========================
    Translated from Urdu to English by
    Muhammed A. Hafeez, B.Com.
    Email: hafeezanwar@yahoo.com
    H.No. 16-11-16/1/21,
    Saleemnagar colony,
    Al-Madina cottage,
    Hyderabad-36,
    I n d i a.
    ======================================
    REFERENCE BOOKS
    1. Tadhkirat Al-Auliya ( Muslim Saints and Mystics) by Sheikh Farid-Al-din Attar, Urdu translation published by Majedi Book Depot, Kanpur, India, in the year 1383 A.H.
    2. Tadhkirat Al-Auliya ( Muslim Saints and Mystics) by Sheikh Farid-Al-din Attar, Urdu translation published by Anwar Book Depot, Delhi
    India.

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  2. hafeezanwar

    hafeezanwar Guest

    Muhammed Ibn Wase

    5. Muhammed Ibn Wase
    He was a leader of ascetics and worshippers and he was learned man who acted as per the learning. So in this way he was a perfect pious personality of his time . He was always a content person . May Allah bless him and there was no person like him during his time.
    He served many followers of the holy prophet’s companions . He met many pious personalities of his time. He has a great share in the tariqat ( mystic knowledge ) and Islamic law. He used to eat dry bread with mixing in the water. He told “ One who is content on this then he will not require any thing from the mankind. ” In the hymens he used to say “ Oh : Allah you used to keep me hungry and naked like your friends. But I do not know the reason that how I have got such a great position similar to your friends.” When he will be much hungry then he used to visit house of Hasan of Basra and eat what ever available there and Hasan of Basra will always welcome him at his house. He told “ A man is successful one who wake up hungry and sleep hungry but he should not forget the remembrance Allah in that condition. ”
    One person requested him to advice him and he told him “ I will advice you to become the king of this world and other world after death. So you should become ascetic in the world and do not greed and temptation with others and think that all creations are given every thing from Allah and then he will be free from the needs and resigned from all others . In this way he will become the king of the two worlds.” One day he told Malik Bin Dinar “ It is difficult to control the tongue than to look upon the world and dinars and never say any bad thing to others.” One day he went to Qataiba bin Muslim and he was wearing a woolen dress so he asked him why he was wearing such a dress but he did not reply in this matter. Upon asking by second time by Qataiba bin Muslim then he told him “ He want to explain about ascetic condition but could not explain the same because in which it will be praise for himself or there will be complain against Allah.’’
    One day he was saw his son in happy condition and so he told him “ Do you know that who are you ? And I have bought your mother in 200 dirhams and your father is worst in the whole mankind. So why you are so much proudy ? ’’ When person have asked him do you know Allah? And he replied after silence of some time “ One who know Allah then he should get lost himself permanently in the condition of surprise.’’
    “ Allah will give respect to that person who will not look other than Allah. But no body has authority on Allah. True person will not be called true unless he has no balance in between fear and hope.” As per the saying of the holy prophet “ In every thing the condition of middle is better. ” ============================================
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Episode NO. 5 from Tadhkirat Al-Auliya (Muslim Saints & Mystics ) by Shaikh Farid Al-din Attar.
    ==========================
    Translated from Urdu to English by
    Muhammed A. Hafeez, B.Com.
    Email: hafeezanwar@yahoo.com
    H.No. 16-11-16/1/21,
    Saleemnagar colony,
    Al-Madina cottage,
    Hyderabad-36,
    I n d i a.
    ======================================
    REFERENCE BOOKS
    1. Tadhkirat Al-Auliya ( Muslim Saints and Mystics) by Sheikh Farid-Al-din Attar, Urdu translation published by Majedi Book Depot, Kanpur, India, in the year 1383 A.H.
    2. Tadhkirat Al-Auliya ( Muslim Saints and Mystics) by Sheikh Farid-Al-din Attar, Urdu translation published by Anwar Book Depot, Delhi
    India.

    =============================
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 13, 2007
  3. hafeezanwar

    hafeezanwar Guest

    Imam Jafer Sadiq

    1. IMAM Ja’far al-Sadiq


    His name was Ja’far al-Sadiq and his patronymic name was Abu Mohammed. If we start writing about his qualities and miracles then it is not possible to cover all of them in this small chapter. His inheritability is from Ali Bin Abi Talib (RA) and he is the real heir of the Prophet. Ja’far al-Sadiq’s greatness is such that we can call him the king of Muslim ummat (nation). He was the follower of truth and ascertainment and also the true follower of the pious persons. He was great among all the saints and successors of the Prophet. He was descendant of Ali Bin Abi Talib (RA) and the Prophet’s family. Due to his greatness, we all praise him. As already mentioned above that to write the details about the works and achievements of Prophet, their companions and members of the Prophet’s family is not easy and will need many volumes to describe. After seeking the blessings for writing this book, we are mentioning here the stories of pious persons who were passed away after the family members of the Prophet. Here we are writing about Ja’far al-Sadiq.


    Ja’far al-Sadiq was ranked after the companions of the Prophet. He was member of Prophet’s family, hence many of his teachings about mystic knowledge and also his other narrations are available. We are mentioning here some of his sayings about good felicity. Those who follow his religion, in other words are following the religion of twelve Imams (religious leaders), as he was the successor of the twelve Imams. So it is one that is equal to twelve and also twelve that is equal to one. If we mention about his works and achievements then it will be equivalent to mention the works and achievements of twelve Imams. If we mention about his character, he was master in every kind of knowledge and wisdom. He was the leader of learned people and they all had full confidence in him. He was not only a great leader of mystic persons but he was also the follower of literary persons and lovers of Allah. He has written many books and in these books he has explained the controlling powers of Allah in the best possible manner. He has also narrated the sayings of Imam Baquer.

    The author explains as follows:


    “I am surprised to know that a group of persons due to their poor knowledge thought that Sunnat Jamat (followers of the Prophet) has enmity with the family members of Prophet. But the fact is that the members of Sunnat Jamat are the followers of the Prophet’s family members.” So we must remember that every one who has faith in the Prophet, should also love and have faith in the Prophet’s family members. When Imam Al-Shafe’i was imprisoned on the charge of enmity with the Prophet’s family members, he uttered some couplets at that time. The meaning of one of the couplet is as follows:


    “I am friend of the holy Prophet Muhammed (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and his family members so if this is enmity then all human beings and jins should be witness to this enmity.”

    Who is a Sunni? In its real meaning Sunni is one who accepts the greatness of the Prophet’s family members. It is not compulsory the rule of faith to know about the Prophet’s family members and his companions but it is good for everybody to know about them as you know about all other happenings in this world. The importance of companions of the Prophet is very great because due to their sacrifices and great efforts as well as due to their deep Islamic knowledge which they have learned from the Prophet and which has helped the Muslims to spread the religion of Islam throughout the world. They set great examples of their sacrifices and efforts, which will guide the Muslims till the day of judgement. If we follow them then we can achieve real Islamic goal in our lives. So for you it is good to know about the king of this world and the world after the death, Prophet Muhammed (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and his companions and their followers, the Prophet’s family members who made distinguished services and sacrifices for the Islam and the Muslims. With the help of their teachings we can become a true Muslim. So for this reason one should respect and love the followers of the holy Prophet and his family members.


    When some persons asked Abu Hanifa who is superior among the followers of holy Prophet. He said, “Among the old Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA) and Omar Farouq (RA), among the young men Osman Bin Affan (RA) and Ali Bin Abi Talib (RA), among the women Ayesha (RA) and among the girls Fatima (RA).”
    One night the caliph Mansur of Baghdad ordered his minister to bring Ja’far al-Sadiq before him and he ordered to kill him. The minister told him, “Why did he want to kill such a noble and great person who is living alone in the house and is always busy in the worship of Allah, who left the worldly life and pleasure, so it is against expedience.” Mansur became angry when he heard the reply from his minister and told him that his duty is to obey the orders of his master. The minister tried his best to finalise this matter but he was not successful to convince him, helplessly he went to call him. The caliph ordered his slaves to kill Ja’far al-Sadiq when he enters the palace and at the time when Mansur takes down his crown from his head. But when Ja’far al-Sadiq entered the palace Mansur stood before him, ran to receive him and gave him a most suitable place to sit. He sat before Ja’far al-Sadiq with sincerity and with great respect. The slaves were surprised when they saw the actions of Mansur. The caliph asked Ja’far al-Sadiq if he requires any thing from him. Then Ja’far al-Sadiq told him that he should not be called there again so that he can continue the worship of Allah. Mansur said good bye to him with great respect and at the same time Mansur’s body started shivering and he became unconscious. He was in that condition for three days. Some people said that because he was in the unconcious condition his three prayers were lapsed. When he became all right then the minister asked him, “What was the matter that you became unconcious?” Mansur told him, “When Ja’far al-Sadiq entered the palace I saw a big python with him. His two lips were open, one was on the upper side and the other was below the throne. The python told me, ‘If you do any harm to Ja’far al-Sadiq I would swallow you along with your throne.’ When I heard this I was afraid of python and I did not know what I was telling to Ja’far al-Sadiq, so I excused him and became unconscious.”

    Once when Dawood Tai came to see him, he asked him, “Oh! Son of the Prophet, pray for me as my heart became black.” Then Ja’far al-Sadiq told him, “Oh! Abu Suleiman, you are also a pious person of the time so no need of my prayers.” Then Dawood Tai told him, “Oh! Son of the Prophet, Allah gave you such a greatness and it is obligatory for you to give advice to all the Muslims.” He told, “Oh! Abu Suleiman, I am afraid that on the day of judgement my grandfather will stop me and will ask me that why I have not fulfilled my duties properly. Allah will not see the inheritance but He will see the good deeds.” Then Dawood Tai started weeping and said, “Oh! Allah, his inheritance is from the holy Prophet, his habits are superior, his grandfather is the holy Prophet and his mother is batool (great woman) but he is still worried then, Who is Dawood? and Why he is so proud of his deeds?”


    One day Ja’far al-Sadiq told his slaves to make a promise that on the day of judgement whoever will be successful, he should recommend others. They said, “Oh! Son of the Prophet, you do not need our recommendations because your grandfather will recommend all the creatures?” He answered them that he is ashamed of his deeds so he is afraid to see the face of his grandfather.


    Once Sufyan Thauri went to see Ja’far al-Sadiq when he discontinued going out of the house and stayed alone in his house. He told him, “Oh! Son of the Prophet, people are not getting your grace as you are living in the loneliness and not coming out of the house.” Then he answered him, “I think this is the best for me”. He recited these two couplets and the meaning of which is as follows:


    “The faithfulness is not seen as the traveller on the journey will not be seen again and people are busy with their own thinking and necessities. People express love for each other but their hearts are full of poison.”

    When the persons saw him wearing a wealthy dress, they told him, “Oh! Son of the Prophet, it is not suitable for the Prophet’s family member to wear such a dress.” Then he hold his hand and put it inside of the dress to show him the inside dress which was made of jute. The dress of jute scratched his hand. He told him, “The inside dress is for the Allah and other one is for the mankind.” Ja’far al-Sadiq asked Abu Hanifa, “Who is wise?” He replied, “One who makes difference between good and bad.” Then he told him, “The animals can do these things as they recognize who beats them and who loves them.” Abu Hanifa asked him to explain again this matter, “Who is wise?” Ja’far al-Sadiq answered him, “One who could make difference between two good things and two bad things and can choose one good thing which is more good out of the two goods things and one bad thing which is less bad out of the two bad things.”


    When the persons told him, “You have all the qualities of a pious person, you have kindness and coolness like the family members of the Prophet but you have more proud.” Then he replied, “I am not proudy but my Lord is great, so when I discontinued meeting people, proudness and greatness has overpowered me. One can feel proud upon Allah’s greatness but one should not be proudy for his own greatness.”


    Somebody lost his bag of dinars (money), he caught Ja’far al-Sadiq and told him, “You have stolen my dinars.” That man could not recognize him. Ja’far al-Sadiq asked him, “How many dinars have you lost?” The man replied, “One thousand dinars.” He took that man to his house and gave him one thousand dinars. Later that man found his own bag of money some where else. He explained him the whole event, made apology to him and requested him to take the money which he has brought back for him. That man also told him that it was his mistake. One man told him, “He would never take back anything which he gives to anybody.” That man asked, “Who is this person?” People told him, “He is Ja’far al-Sadiq.” Then the man felt very sorry for his mistake and went away.


    One day he was going on the road and was saying ‘Allah, Allah’. One poor pious person was also following him saying ‘Allah, Allah’. When he said, “Oh! Allah, I do not have trousers and dress with me”. At the same moment one clean pair of dress appeared there and he wore the same. The poor pious person asked him, “Oh! Great man, I was also reciting ‘Allah, Allah’ behind you, so please give me your old dress.” He liked his idea and gave him his old dress.


    A man came to Ja’far al-Sadiq and asked him that he wanted to see Allah. He told that man, “Have you not heard what Allah said to Prophet Moses (صلى الله عليه وسلم) that you cannot see Him.” The man said, “Yes.” But these are ummat (followers) of Prophet Muhammed (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and among the followers of the Prophet one person said, “His heart has seen Allah but other person is crying that he will not worship Allah until he could see Allah.” He asked the persons to tie him with ropes and throw him in the river Tigris. When he was thrown in the water, he went deep into water but the water brought him to the surface level. He called, “Oh! Son of the Prophet, help me, help me.” He told the water, “Oh! Water, take him and hide him.” Water took him deep inside. So that man went inside the water many times and came on the water surface many times but he was only crying for the help of Ja’far al-Sadiq. When he was tired and again went inside the water, he lost hope of the help from the mankind and at that time water brought him to the upper level of surface as he called, “Oh! Allah! Help me, help me.” He told the persons to take him out of the water and he was taken out of the water. He rested there for some time and then he became normal. He asked him, “Have you seen Allah?” He replied, “When I was calling others then there was a veil but when I called Allah for his help with eagerness then I saw Allah in the window which opened in my heart. If there is no eagerness and passion then Allah will not be there.” Allah says, “Is somebody there who will reply the needy person’s call?” Ja’far al-Sadiq told him, “When he was calling others for his help then he was not correct, so he was adviced to take care of the window opened in his own heart.”


    Ja’far al-Sadiq told, “One who says, ‘Allah is on the things or Allah is from things’, so for this saying he will become an unbeliever.” He further told, “One who commits sin with fear and seeks Allah’s repentance, he will become closer to Allah. The one who worships in the beginning for himself and in the last for the show and proud, for this he will be kept away from Allah. One who is proud for his worship, he will become a sinner. Sincere is one who will repent for his sins.”

    When persons asked Ja’far al-Sadiq, “Who is better, a sincere pious person or a wealthy person?” He said, “Pious person is better than the other one because wealthy person always looks for the bags of money but pious person is always with Allah.” He further continued, “The worship is not right without repentance because Allah preferred repentance than worship. As Allah said, ‘Repentance seekers are worshippers.’ ” Refer to Qur’anic teaching in which it is clear that repentance is superior to the worship. The real remembrance of Allah is that in which one should forget everything because Allah is found for such things.

    He explained one verse of the Holy Qur’an in which Allah says, “He bestow His mercy on any one whom He likes.” So all sources are kept away as Allah’s blessing is given without any source. Ja’far al-Sadiq said, “The faithful is one who stands against nafs-i-ammara (inordinate appetites) and the pious is one who stands in the worship of Allah.” He said, “One who fights against nafs-i-ammara for the sake of himself then he will become the man of miracles.” He also said, “One who fights with nafs-i-ammara for the sake of Allah then he finds Allah.” He said, “Ilham (revelation) is a sign of Allah’s blessing for His accepted persons but when this matter is proved that it is nothing by logic then this is the work of unbelievers.” He said, “Allah is more hidden in the man than the movements of the black ants on the black mountains during the night. The love of Allah is neither good nor bad, the secret which I came to know when I became mad. It is good for a man if he has wise enemy.”


    Ja’far al-Sadiq told to remain away from the friendship of the following five persons:


    1. Liar who will always deceive you.
    2. Foolish who always wish for your good but the result will be bad which he does not know.
    3. The miser who will spoil your time.
    4. Coward who will leave you when you are in danger.
    5. Sinful who will sell you for the sake of a morsel and also for his greed he will put you in the trouble for his gain which is even less than a morsel.


    Ja’far al-Sadiq said, “Allah’s heaven and hell are in this world. When there are no worries it is heaven and when there are worries it is hell. It is heaven when we should approach Allah for all our works. It is hell when we surrender all our works to nafs-i-ammara.” If there will be effect of enemies on Allah’s men then there will be effect on Asiya from the Pharaoh and if there will be effect on Allah’s men on the enemies of Allah then there will be benefit for the Lut’s wife and Noah’s wife.


    His sayings are too many but we have mentioned above only some of them.
    ======================

    FIRST EPISODE from Tazkeratul Aoulia by Sheikh Farid-ud-Din Attar (Book of Muslim Saints and Mystics)

    Translated from Urdu to English by
    Muhammed A. Hafeez, B.COM.
    Email: hafeezanwar@yahoo.com
    Hyderabad-36, (India).
    ===========================


    Reference Books

    1. Tazkeratul Aoulia by Sheikh Farid-ud-Din Attar (Book of Muslim Saints and Mystics), Urdu translation published by Majedi Book Depot, Kanpur in the year 1383 A.H., India.

    2. Tazkeratul Aoulia by Sheikh Farid-ud-Din Attar (Book of Muslim Saints and Mystics), Urdu translation published by Anwar Book Depot, Delhi, India.
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  4. hafeezanwar

    hafeezanwar Guest

    Tipu Sultan

    Kindly note in my E books one additional episode Tipu Sultan from Nasim Hijazi’s Urdu novel ‘Aur Talwar Toot Gai’ is added .
    I request the readers to go through it for which I shall be highly obliged to all for their kind reading of the episode TIPU SULTAN from the following link .



    ==========================================

    Translated from Urdu to English by
    Muhammed A. Hafeez, B.COM.
    H.NO. 16-11-16/1/21,
    SALEEMNAGAR COLONY,
    AL-MADINA COTTAGE,
    FIRST FLOOR , Hyderabad-36,
    (India)
    EMAIL : hafeezanwar@yahoo.com





    Tipu Sultan

    This chapter only describes the death scene of Tipu Sultan, the tiger of Mysore. It does not cover his other great successes and war victories which he fought bravely against the British kingdom. The red flag on his tomb, over his grave in Srirangapatnam reminds every one that the tiger’s life of one minute is better than the jackal’s life of 1000 years. The future generations will remember this great martyr, who is still living in the hearts of the people and will remain in their heart always, as the martyr never die and remain alive always. It is said that there is a divine help and food available for them. Due to such greatness and martyrdom, daily great number of people are visiting his grand tomb to shed their tears and to pay respect and tribute to this great warrior of the world history.


    Tipu Sultan reached the door of Fort of Srirangapatnam with his bodyguards and troops on 4th May 1799 for the fourth Mysore war. Due to his appearance there was a great encouragement for his soldiers who were fighting inside of the north gate and outside of fort walls. They attacked with great force on the army of the enemy. The Sultan got down from his horse and joined the first line of the military group. Immediately he was in the middle of many Mysorean military groups, safe and protected. The soldiers were fighting without care of their lives. By this time the British army had occupied their positions at the fort walls. The firing from the upper side was causing difficulties to the soldiers of Sultan who were fighting on the ground. The officers who were treacherous were absent from duty on that front, but this was not a problem for the soldiers of Sultan because the leader of their respect and freedom was with them. They forgot that the enemy had finished his journey of weeks and months in the shortest possible time and they had entered Srirangapatnam due to misdeeds of treacherous. So, it was not war but it was a treachery against the brave pillar of India, who stood against the colonial powers in India when all the local rulers had supported them. The soldiers of Sultan forgot that there was a rain of bullets on them and they also knew well that their great leader, who showed them the great way in their lives for freedom and respect, was at the door of the death. Sultan was wounded severally. The wounded soldiers of Sultan were feeling happy with their wounds on their chests. They were watching the brave face of the death. The blood of the Sultan was falling on the soil of Srirangapatnam. When the second bullet hit the Sultan there was weakness on the face of the tiger of Mysore, but he was still fighting bravely and many of his soldiers were also fighting with him without caring for their lives. Inside the trench there were large number of dead bodies of the enemy. Thousands of British, who were wounded severally, were dying. The firing from two sides on the walls of fort was very severe. Regarding the Mysorean soldiers, number of death crossed thousands. When the condition of Sultan became very serious due to wounds, then his bodyguards told the Sultan, “His Highness; now there is no other way except to surrender ourselves to the enemy?”
    The Sultan replied, “No, for me the tiger’s life of one-minute is better than the jackal’s life of 1000 years.”
    After some time, the Sultan and his officers rode on their horses and the Mysorean soldiers followed them. But when they reached the northern gate of the Fort they saw that some of the positions were in the control of the British enemy. A large number of soldiers, children, old persons and women were trying hard to go out of the Fort, but the British were pushing them inside the Fort with their guns and were forcing them to go to the backside of the Fort. When they saw the Mysorean army coming towards the gate, they started firing them. The firing was also started from the walls of Fort and a bullet hit the Sultan’s horse. It died on the spot. The Sultan fell on the ground and his turban also fell on the ground near him. But the Sultan was very brave, he tried and with great difficulty he was making himself stand when suddenly a bullet hit his chest. He fell on the ground again. A British soldier tried to open the belt of his sword but the Sultan was still alive and he did not allow the soldier to take out the sword. It was an insult to the Sultan. He fought bravely and hit the soldier with his sword with his full force, but the soldier opposed with his gun. The Sultan’s sword hit the gun and it broke into two pieces. That soldier then raised his gun up, pointed it towards his head and made the fire. The sun of Mysore, who had shown the beautiful stages of freedom to the people of Mysore, had set. After three hours of sun set the British army captured the city of Srirangapatnam and its Fort. The army of Hyderabad then entered the city under the command of Mir Alam. Inside the city, there were dead bodies of about 12 thousands soldiers of Mysorean army, but the success of the British and the Nizam’s army was incomplete, because they could not find the dead body of the great Tipu Sultan. They searched each and every corner and place of the palace. With the help of treacherous they searched the houses of the faithful soldiers and friends of the Sultan. The young prince was frightened. The wounded and helpless persons were asked about the Sultan. The soldiers of Sultan who were on the different fronts were also asked about the body of Sultan but they could not reply in this matter. The soldiers who had seen their Sultan falling from the horse on the ground could not reply them correctly even though they were offered money and wealth. Some of the Sultan’s soldiers thought that Sultan was alive and was under the pile of dead bodies. They waited for the proper time to take out the Sultan from it. Others thought that he was dead but they did not pointed his dead body so the enemy could not find his dead body. There were rumours that the Sultan was dead and his faithful followers had taken away his dead body. Some believed that Sultan had not died but he was wounded and disappeared and will come back again.He had left Srirangapatnam after the first attack between British and Hyderabad army troops and had reached prince Fateh Haider. He will make his head quarter at saraya or chital durg and will continue his attacks from there. These news not only created confusion among the army troops of British and Hyderabad but also to the treacherous who had sold the freedom of Mysore for the promises of land and wealth from their foreign lords. They were very much worried about their future when they had seen the fate of Mir Sadiq and Moin-ud-Din.
    In the midnight, Mir Qamar-ud-Din, Pornia, and Badar-Uz-zaman were sitting in front of the palace of Sultan and were talking with English army officers. Some soldiers were around them and were holding torches in their hands. At that time Mir Nadeem came over and cried, “Now I got the correct information about Tipu Sultan that his dead body is there in front of north gate of the Fort under the pile of other dead bodies. So please follow me upto there.” All of them followed him and they reached that place where there were many dead bodies. On the order of British officers, all dead bodies were checked one by one. When they were doing so, one English soldier touched the hand of a corpse when his hand hit with some hard metal and the turban from corpse head had fallen down. The black long hair covered the face were open. The English soldier explained the details to his officer. When they brought the torches closer, they found a women’s corpse who was wearing golden bracelets in her hands. They found another women’s corpse, which was badly injured with many bullets. Pornia took torch from the soldier, carefully watched that woman and recognised her. The English officers asked him, “Are you able to recognise her?” Pornia said, “Yes, she is an orphan Hindu girl and her father was died in the last war. The Sultan had adopted her as his daughter.” “And who is another woman?”, asked English Officers. “I do not know about her. May be she belongs to the royal family.”, replied Pornia. After some time all the corpses were checked. When they saw the body of Sultan Tipu they were silent. Sultan’s dress was full of bloodstains but his face was full of grandeur and grace. In his hand was handle of his broken sword and his dress was same like his other army officers but his turban was different from others. Sultan’s turban fell down from his corpse. Badar-uz-Zaman had taken that turban. One English officer asked him, “Is this Tipu Sultan?” Mir Qamar-ud-Din replied in low voice, “Yes, congratulations for the victory.” One English soldier cried, “He is alive.” So some persons pointed their guns towards the body of Tipu Sultan. One English officer came forward, checked the pulse of Sultan, put his hand on the chest of Sultan and said, “He is dead.” Badar-uz-Zaman looked at the Sultan’s turban, touched it to his eyes with great respect and said, “We are his murders and not all of you. We had murdered him and our coming generations will put flowers of respect on his grave.” The English officer told Qamar-ud-Din that they are grateful to him and asked him to do arrangement to send the corpse in palki to the palace. He informed General Harris. After some time there were slogans of victory from all the corners of the Fort and with great joy and happiness the English soldiers moved to the houses of Mysorean people for plundering and looting. The other groups of British army, who were searching the Sultan, also followed them in looting and plundering the people’s properties and killing the innocent men and women. That night turned into a black night for the inhabitants of the Mysore city. There were cries from thousand of daughters of this nation but there was no reply for it. Due to the misdeeds of Mir Sadiq and others, all such things happened. The mother who had nourished with her milk to Mir Sadiq, the treacherous, was also ashamed. No house of Srirangapatnam was safe and secure from the brutality of the English army. The treacherous, who had helped Mir Sadiq, Pornia, Qamar-ud-Din and Moin-ud-Din were then thinking that they had not only sold away the freedom of Mysore but also they had sold the respect and value of their daughters and women. The soldiers of Sultan killed Mir Sadiq and Mir Moin-ud-Din before they received their reward of treachery from their foreign lords. Their souls must be watching the misdeeds of British army doing wrong in their houses for whom they had made the way of entry to the city of Srirangapatnam. Their daughters and women were in distress condition due to the misdeeds of the drunkard soldiers. Those women cried and appealed as follows.
    I am wife of Mir Sadiq. I am his sister. I am his daughter. This is the house of Mir Moin-ud-Din and he was friend of Lord Welsly. General Harris knew him very well and you can see his corpse in the other room. The people had killed him because he was a friend of the British army, so you should not do harm to the families of the faithful persons to East India Company and to the daughters and women of the nation. I am son of Mir Moin-ud-Din and these are my sisters and this is my wife, please take me to General Harris. But there was no reply from the soldiers except their laugh and cruel misdeeds. The soldiers of Sultan’s army, who were disappointed with the result of war, started protecting their houses against the cruel deeds of the British soldiers who were drunk and were very busy in the evil deeds of looting and plundering. There was stream of Blood in the streets and bazaars of the city.
    On the next day, at about four O’clock, the Sultan’s funeral procession started and was followed by prince, officers and four companies of the British army. The faithful wounded soldiers of the Sultan and other persons were ahead and were holding the sultan on their shoulders. There was lot of fear and terror in the city due to looting and plundering which took place in last night. Streets and bazaars were vacant. When the funeral procession left the Fort all men, women and children from all the communities joined it with heavy heart. On the way the number of people increased and their fear and terror decreased gradually. They were considering themselves as the most unfortunate people and were thinking that the Sultan’s corpse is their guard. The men of Srirangapatnam wept loudly and women untied their braids in the grief of the Sultan’s death. When the funeral procession left the Fort, the wind was very slow at that time and there was too much humidity in the atmosphere. The people were watching a dangerous storm on the horizon. After some time a black storm covered the entire sky. When the procession reached Lal Bagh and the qazi finished the funeral prayer, the corpse was placed respectfully in the grave. At that time there was severe thundering in the sky. People were very afraid of it. The British army was ordered for the gun salute but the sound of the guns was not heard clearly because of the thundering of clouds. It seemed that the sky was making ‘arrangement’ to welcome the soul of great Tipu Sultan.
    The darkness in the atmosphere and the thundering of lightening increased and due to this the houses and doors started shaking in the city. General Meadows, Major Beatson and Ellen had descried this black storm in their diaries in which they had written that lightening had fallen on some parts of city of Srirangapatnam as well on the British army camp of Bombay in which two soldiers were dead and a large number of soldiers were severally wounded. The treacherous, who were in the procession under the custody of the British soldiers, were very afraid of this. Immediately after the funeral started the heavy rain and the streets and bazaars of Srirangapatnam were full of water. After some time some officers and soldiers of the Mysorean army noticed the flood in the river Kaveri. An old army officer wept loudly and said, “I have not seen such a flood in the river Kaveri in the first week of May ever in my life. Oh! Treacherous of Mysore, you should have waited for one more day as the God was willing to help us but you have missed that chance. On that day if you had not opened the doors of Srirangapatnam then we could have defeated the enemy without wasting our single bullet.” He then said, “Oh! My friends, for this day the Sultan was waiting. How unfortunate we are that the clouds which would have witnessed our success, they are washing the tears of our defeated soldiers.”

    ************************
    Reference from:
    Nasim Hijazi’s Urdu novel ‘Aur Talwar Toot Gai’.
    Translated by:
    Muhammed A. Hafeez, B.COM.
    Email: hafeezanwar@yahoo.com
    Hyderabad-36, (India).







     
  5. hafeezanwar

    hafeezanwar Guest

    Imam Ahmed Ben Hanbal

    20. IMAM Ahmed Bin Hanbal


    His status in the worship and in the fear of Allah is very great. He was wise and very intelligent and his prayers were always accepted by Allah. Some of his enemies filed accusations against him, which were found false and baseless later.
    Once his son was explaining the tradition that Allah kneads Adam’s leaven by His hands and while explaining this he spread out his hands. So Hanbal prohibited him to do so and asked him that while explaining about the hands of Allah, not to spread out his own hands. Hanbal met many leading pious personalities of his time like Zun-noon, Bishr Hafi, Sari Saqti, Ma’ruf Karkhi. Bishr Hafi told, “He was better than me because I tried for right food for myself but he struggled for his entire family.” Sari Saqti told, “At the time of his death, he was free from all the false accusations of Mu’tazala.”
    It was reported that when Mu’tazala of Baghdad became very powerful he then created a big problem for him and asked him to accept that Qur’an is a creature. For not accepting this he was given severe punishments by the caliph’s court.
    When he was taken to the caliph’s court he saw a policeman standing at the gate who told him, “Oh! leader! Do not say Qur’an is a creature, be brave like me. When I did robbery and was caught by them, they flogged me with cane for 1000 times and I was forced to accept the crime. But I was firm and not accepted my crime and was left free from there. I was successful even for my falsehood due to my patience. But you are on the right path so you must be successful in this matter due to patience. Hanbal told him, “He will be remembered for his advice.”
    When he was being whipped 1000 times by the court’s men, all of a sudden his waist belt opened and was about to fall but at the same time two hands appeared there, tied his belt and disappeared suddenly. When the court’s men saw this miracle they freed him immediately. After few days, he died. In spite of hard punishments and hardships he never accepted that Qur’an is a creature. When he was freed from the royal court some persons asked him, “What is your opinion about those enemies who gave you such severe punishments?” He replied, “They think that I am not on the right path. So all the hardships were given to me for the sake of Allah. On the Day of Judgement I will not ask any revenge for those enemies.” It was reported that one young man approached him and told him that his mother’s hand and legs were paralysed. He requested him to do his prayers for his mother’s recovery and health. When he heard the details, he started prayers for her after ablution. When the boy reached back his home, he saw his mother was all right and she herself opened the door for her Son.
    Once he was doing ablution and saw another person was also sitting there for ablution. He was on the height and to pay respect he came down from there. On that person’s death someone asked him how he was? He replied, “Allah has blessed him because in his life he paid respect to Imam Hanbal.”
    He used to say that once he lost the way in the jungle and he asked one Bedouin to show the way. Then he started weeping loudly. Hanbal thought that he was hungry and wanted to give some food to him but he was very angry with him. He told, “Oh! Imam Hanbal! You have no faith in Allah. So you are giving me food like Allah. But actually you are away from the way.” Thereupon Imam Hanbal thought that Allah always keep hidden the pious persons everywhere. The Bedouin realised his thought and told him that the pious persons are those who are blessed by Allah and whatever they say is immediate done. If they order the whole world to become gold then the world will have to change into the gold. After this when he looked there he saw that the entire desert was converted into the gold and there was divine call in which it was heard that, “He is our dear friend but if he wants to ruin the entire world then I can do the same. So you should be grateful for meeting such a great friend of mine. But after this you will not see him again.”
    During his stay in Baghdad, he never ate bread there and he told, “This land was given for trust of Muslim soldiers”. He used to bring flour from Mosil and ate the bread made of that flour.
    His son Saleh was qazi (judge) of Isfahan for a period of one year. He used to observe fasting during the day and was busy in worship during the nights. He never slept more than two hours during the nights. He constructed a room before his house and he used to live in that room for any needy person who should visit the door of the house and should not return back from there without approaching him. He was very pious judge.
    Once Imam Hanbal’s servant prepared some breads by taking some yeast from his son’s kitchen and presented the breads to Imam Hanbal. He asked him why it is so soft, then the servant explained him the details that the yeast was from his son’s kitchen. Imam Hanbal asked the servant that why he took yeast from the kitchen of qazi of Isfahan. So that bread was not good for him to eat. Give these breads to any beggar and tell them that the breads were made from yeast of qazi’s kitchen and flour of Hanbal is included in it. If they need then they could take it. But even after 40 days no beggar collected those breads. There was bad odour in them and for this reason the servant threw the breads in the river Tigris. Imam Hanbal’s fear of Allah was so great that he did not eat even the fish of Tigris from that day. Imam Hanbal used to say, “Do not sit with a person even if he possesses a silver collyrium.”
    Once Imam Hanbal went to Makkah to see Sufyan Thauri to hear traditions (sayings of holy Prophet) from him. He used to visit him daily to hear the traditions. But one day, he was absent in his meeting. Sufyan Thauri sent his servant to his house to know the reason of his being absent. When the servant reached his house, he saw that he was naked as he had given his dress to the washerman. The servant told him to take some money from him and purchase a new dress, but he did not accept his offer. He told him to sell his handwritten book and to bring ten yards of jute so that he can prepare one dress for himself. The servant asked whether he can accept silk but Imam Hanbal did not accept this and asked him to bring the jute only.
    It was reported that one of his disciples came to his house as guest. So he brought a pot of water before him. But it was kept in the same condition till morning. In the morning, he asked him why it was kept in the same condition. The man replied him and asked that what he was supposed to do with the water pot. He told him that it was kept before him for ablution and praying during the night. So why has he not used it?
    One labourer used to work for him. At the time of Maghrib prayer (prayer after sun set) when he was leaving his house, he asked his disciple to give him some more money than what he was getting as his daily wages. The disciple gave more money to the labourer but he refused to take it and accepted only his daily wages amount. So Imam Hanbal told his disciple to follow him and give him again on his way so that he may accept it. He was not greedy for more money but he may accept more amount outside.
    It was reported that one of his old disciples took some soil from the high way and used that on the house wall. That high way belonged to Muslims, so for this mistake he dismissed him from his circle of disciples.
    Once he kept mortgage his basin with the shopkeeper. At the time of release the shopkeeper kept before him two basins and asked him to take any one whichever he liked as he forgot which was his basin. Upon hearing this, Imam Hanbal kept silent and left the place without collecting his basin even though he cleared the dues of the shopkeeper. This was due to his fear of Allah that he did not collect the basin from the shopkeeper as he (shopkeeper) had forgotten that which basin was his.
    Imam Hanbal was anxious to see Abdullah Bin Mubarak and one day he visited his house. Upon his arrival there his son Saleh informed him about his arrival but Imam Hanbal became silent and did not come out of his house to see him. When his son asked him the reason that why he did not meet him as since long he had desire to see him. He replied him, “Because I thought that after meeting him it will be difficult for me to get apart from him due to his politeness, so I decided to meet him at a place from where I may not be separated from him.”
    He tried to explain the Islamic laws for the matters related to mystic knowledge. He used to send the persons to see Bishr Hafi. He always said “I asked Allah for His fear so Allah gave me too much fear and for this reason there was fear for the loss of wisdom.” He told, “Allah told me that I can come near Him due to the reading of Qur’an.” People asked him, “What is sincerity?” and he replied, “To keep away from the difficulties of action is called sincerity.” And “The trust is to keep firm confidence in Allah”. When people asked him, “What is pleasure?” He replied, “To hand over all the affairs to Allah is called pleasure.”
    When the persons asked him that what is the meaning of love, then he told them to ask this to Bishr Hafi. During his life he did not reply this question.
    He was asked “What is asceticism?” Imam Hanbal explained, “For the general person’s asceticism is to keep away from haram (illegal) things and for the pious person’s asceticism is to desire for more and more halal (legal) things. To keep themselves away from all the things, which keeps away a man from Allah. This is asceticism of mystic persons.”
    When he was asked about the ignorant mystic persons who were sitting in the mosques in trust of Allah, he explained them, “They are mistaken because the knowledge caused them to sit in the mosques.” When the persons told him further that were they sitting in the mosques for the sake of getting livelihood for them, he replied, “There is no group in the world which is not seeking for the livelihood.”
    At the time of his death, his son asked him, “How are you?” He replied, “There is no time to reply so pray for me to end my life with faith in Allah because the Satan is telling me that anybody who leaves the world with faith is most sorrowful thing for him. So I am not confident till my last moment of life that I will leave this world with faith in Allah. Oh Allah! bless me,” and by saying this he left this world.
    When his funeral procession started then many birds came over there, fell on it and died. By seeing this 2000 persons of fire worshippers and many other accepted Islamic religion. This happened due to his prayers in favour of nonbelievers. One pious person told that Imam Hanbal prayed for two things during his life, which are as follows:
    “Oh! Allah! Give faith to the nonbelievers.”
    “Oh! Allah! Do not take back faith from the believers.”
    The effect of his second prayer was seen during his lifetime as Allah did not take back faith from believers and effect of first prayer was seen upon his death.
    Muhammad Bin Khuzema explained that has seen him in his dream when he was crippling, so he asked him that where he was going. He replied that he was going to Darus-Salam. Then he asked him further that how Allah blessed him? He told him, “In his lifetime he has faced many hardships and punishments for not saying Qur’an as creature. Due to this reason Allah blessed him and Allah gave him great rewards. Allah asked me to recite the prayer which Sufyan Thauri taught me and I recited that prayer there”. The meaning of the prayer is as follows:
    “Oh! Allah! Every thing is in your control and you are having command of all the things with you, so allow me these things and do not ask what I need.” Then Allah told me, “Oh! Ahmed! This is heaven now enter into it.” Thus he entered into the heaven.
    20th EPISODE from Tazkeratul Aoulia by Sheikh Farid-ud-Din Attar (Book of Muslim Saints and Mystics)

    Translated from Urdu to English by
    Muhammed A. Hafeez, B.COM.
    Email: hafeezanwar@yahoo.com
    Hyderabad-36, (India).
    Reference Books

    1. Tazkeratul Aoulia by Sheikh Farid-ud-Din Attar (Book of Muslim Saints and Mystics), Urdu translation published by Majedi Book Depot, Kanpur in the year 1383 A.H., India.
    1. 2. Tazkeratul Aoulia by Sheikh Farid-ud-Din Attar (Book of Muslim Saints and Mystics), Urdu translation published by Anwar Book Depot, Delhi, India.
     
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    hafeezanwar Guest

    Imam Al-shafai

    19. IMAM Al-Shafe’i

    He was master in both Islamic law and in the mystic knowledge (tariqat). He acquired the divine secrets. He was very intelligent and his sagacity is famous. In the Islamic law he was very famous. The world knows his qualities and conducts very well. In this chapter there is no coverage of his worship and miracles as they are so many that it requires many volumes to describe all of them.
    At the age of 13 years he used to say in the harem (grand mosque of Makkah) that what ever question any body can ask him that he can reply. At the age of 15 years he started giving fatwa (legal opinions). Ahmed Bin Hanbal was leader of the world and memorised 300,000 sayings of the Prophet. He became his disciple and was always in his service without covering his head with headdress. So for this reason some group of persons objected him that being a great learned man it is not good for him to sit before one young man of 25 years old and to leave the company of teachers and learned mystic persons. Hanbal replied, “Al-Shafe’i knows the meaning of what ever knowledge we have and that which we possess with us. He knows meaning and explanation better than me and due to his service I came to know the meaning of Prophet’s sayings. If he was not born now then we would have left alone before the door of knowledge and the door of fiqh (Islamic law) would have been shut forever. Due to his studies he came to know the real meaning of Prophet’s sayings and Qur’anic verses in the best possible manner and he understood the same in the right direction as per the requirement of these two knowledges. He was a great benefactor of Islam during that period. We know only the sayings of the Prophet but he is a sun of knowledge for the world and was serving the humanity. Hanbal told, “The door of fiqh was closed at that time but Allah opened the door through him. He also described that he does not know any other person who did such a great favour to the Islamic religion.”
    No one is equal to him in the following four knowledges:
    Islamic law,
    Rhetoric,
    Philologist,
    Dictionary.
    Hanbal narrated the saying of the holy Prophet, which is as follows:
    “In the beginning of every century one person will be born and learned persons will get knowledge of religion from him.”
    The beginning of the century started with Al-Shafe’i.
    Sufyan Thauri told, “During the time of Al-Shafe’i there was no wise person other than him.” As per the saying of Bilal Khuwas when he asked Kizer’s (a name of Prophet immortalised by the fountain of life) opinion about Al-Shafe’i, he replied that he is among Outb (a category of saints comprising only four at any time in the world).
    In the beginning he never attended any marriage function or party and he used to keep himself away from the mankind. He always used to be in grief and weeping condition. So since beginning (from his youth period) he was in the condition of old pious persons. He was always in the company of Alim Rae and from him he got innermost favour and gradually his status increased. He left behind other learned persons of his time.
    Abdullah Ansari told, “Even though he is not his follower but he is ahead among all others and due to his great status he is among his admirers.”
    Al-Shafe’i says, “He saw the Prophet in his dream and Prophet asked him who are you boy? He replied him that he is a person of his ummat (followers). Then the Prophet called him near, put his saliva in his mouth and told him to go. He told Allah will grant his mercy and blessing on him.” In the same night, in the dream Ali Bin Abi Talib (RA) took out his ring from his finger and put that ring in his finger. Due to this the knowledge of Ali Bin Abi Talib (RA) transferred to him.
    At the age of six years he joined the school. His mother was a very respectable woman from the most respected tribe of Banu Hashim. So the persons used to keep their things with her. Once two persons came and kept with her one box of clothes. They asked her to keep the same with her. Later one person came and took that box. After some days another person came to see his mother and claimed for the box. So his mother replied him that other person has already collected the box from her. That person replied her that when two persons kept the box with her then why she gave the box to one person in his absence. We told you to give the box when we two come together. His mother felt very sorry for her mistake. But at the same time Al-Shafe’i entered the house, enquired the details and told that person that your box is in the house. He asked that person that why he came alone there and why he did not brought his friend with him. So he asked him to go and bring his friend. When that person heard his reply he was surprised. The qazi’s (judge) clerk was also with him and he was also surprised to hear his argument. Both of them left his house.
    When Al-Shafe’i became disciple of Imam Malik, he was 70 years old at that time. He used to stand at the door of his house with the intention of reading Imam’s letters of fatwas (legal opinions).If he find the letter not needed any correction then he would ask the person to go, otherwise he used to send back the person to Imam Malik for the corrections. Imam Malik was reconsidering his objections and corrected the defects if any. He was happy with the action of Imam Al-Shafe’i.
    Once there were some differences between caliph Harun al-Rashid and his dear wife Zubaida. So she told him a hellish man. Harun al-Rashid replied her that if he is a hellish man then he will divorce her. He left her but due to his too much love for her he was worried to solve this matter and so he called all the learned persons of Baghdad in his court and asked them, “Is he a hellish man?” But no person answered this question and all of them told the caliph, “Allah knows only this matter.” Imam Al-Shafe’ i, even though he was very young at that time but he was also among the learned persons who were present in the royal court of Harun al-Rashid. He told Harun that if he permits him then he would reply his question. When all other learned persons heard his reply they were surprised. They thought that he might be a mad person because when all other learned persons were unable to solve the matter then what he will do? After the permission of caliph, Imam Al-Shafe’i asked the caliph whether he is in need of him or he is in need of caliph? The caliph told him that he needs him. So Imam Al-Shafe’i asked him to come down from the throne because the status of learned person is superior to kings. The caliph came down from the throne and asked him to sit on the throne. He sat on the throne and asked the caliph to reply his question first to enable him to solve his problem. “Have you got any chance for doing any sin? Even though you had power of doing it but due to the fear of Allah you escaped from it?”
    The caliph replied swearingly, “Yes, I got many chances but I was always away from such sins.” Imam Al-Shafe’i told him, “You are not a hellish man.” When the ulemas (learned persons) asked him to give any proof for it, he told them that Allah says in the Holy Qur’an:
    “After determination of sin, any person who avoids it due to fear of Allah then his dwelling will be in the heaven.”
    All the learned men praised his wise decision and commented that if he is so clever in the young age, then just imagine his status in the youth period.
    It was reported that he never put any illegal morsel in his mouth during his life time. Once he camped before the army camp and for this mistake he prayed for 40 nights.
    He always respected the children of sadat (descendents of holy Prophet through his daughter Fatima). Once in the classroom he stood more than ten times to pay the respect to the boys of sadats who were playing there.
    Once a wealthy person sent some money to be distributed among the pious persons in Makkah. From that money some amount was presented to him, so he asked them, “Who is the owner of this money and for whom this money was sent for distribution?” They replied him that it was for distribution among the pious persons and mendicants. He replied them that he is not a pious and mendicant person so he is not eligible for the amount.
    It was reported that once he came from Sana to Makkah. At that time he had 10,000 dinars with him. Persons told him to buy a farm house or to buy sheep from that amount. But he camped outside Makkah and put the money on the ground. He distributed one handful of money to all the persons who came over there and by the time of noon prayer he had no money with him.
    The Qaiser of Rome used to send some amount annually to Harun al-Rashid, but one year he sent some monks and put one condition that Islamic ulemas to have debate with monks. If they defeat the monks then he will continue to pay the annual amount to Harun al-Rashid otherwise he will stop the payment. After the arrival of monks, Harun al-Rashid called all the learned persons and asked Imam Al-Shafe’i to start the debate. Imam Al-Shafe’i put his prayer mat on the water and asked the monks to come on the water to have discussion with him there. The monks saw this and were surprised. They immediately accepted Islam on the spot. When this news reached to Qaiser of Rome, he told, “It was good that the person was in Baghdad. If that person would have been in Rome then all the Romans would have accepted the religion of Islam.”
    It was reported that he was living in Makkah since the beginning of his youth period. He wore the dress of mystic person for a long time. Once he was studying the books in the moonlight near the harem, so the persons told him to go inside the harem and read the books in the light of harem. But he replied them; “These lights are especially for the harem so it is not good for me to use it for reading.”
    He was not hafiz Qur’an (Koran-conner) so some people complained the caliph that Imam Al-Shafe’i is not Koran-conner. To check this matter, the caliph asked him to recite the Qur’an during Tarawih prayers (special night prayers) in the month of Ramadan. So during the day he used to memorise one part of the Qur’an daily and used to recite in the Tarawih prayer in the night. In this way he memorised the whole Qur’an in one month period.
    During his time there was one beautiful woman. He wanted to see her. For this purpose he married her for mahr (dower) of 100 dinars. After the marriage with her and after seeing her face he paid her dower amount and divorced her.
    According to the principles of Imam Hanbal, if a person has intentionally missed the prayer then he becomes an unbeliever. But as per principles of Imam Al-Shafe’i such persons will not become an unbeliever instead there is severe punishment for such persons.
    When Imam Al-Shafe’i asked Imam Hanbal that if the person who has missed the prayer intentionally and has become an unbeliever, can such person will become Muslim again? Can he continue prayers? But Imam Al-Shafe’i told him, “The prayer of nonbeliever is not accepted.” Imam Hanbal was silent after hearing his reply. Many such things are secrets of fiqh and there are many questions and answers on Islamic law. But there is no need of mentioning them in this book. The persons who are interested in this matter should refer books of fiqh.
    Once he said, “Many learned persons are interested in interpretation. He considers them as they do not know anything.” He also said, “He is slave of such persons who taught him good manners.”
    It was reported that he told, “One who teaches knowledge to a foolish person spoils the rights of knowledge. One should teach knowledge to such person who is capable of it.” He told, “If they sell the world for a piece of bread without knowing its worth then they are not the right ones.”
    One person requested him to advise, so he told him, “Do not try to accumulate wealth like others do but try to compete them in spiritual and moral aspects. Try to be a great worshipper of Allah. They will not get any benefit from their wealth whereas you will be benefited more because of Allah’s blessings. Their wealth will remain here in the world, they will not carry this to their grave. On the contrary, the reward of worship to Allah will help you to remain pious. We all will die one day. Let us worship Allah to have a pious soul.”
    Once he left his place to find out his lost time (past time) and visited many ruined places, mosques, bazaars and schools but he could not find it. In his search he went to a monastery and found one group of mystic persons who were sitting there. One person told him that the past time would never come back again so take care of present time. Imam Al-Shafe’i turned towards his servant and told him, “I got my lost time so you also listen it carefully what they are telling.”
    Sheikh Abu Saeed reported that what Imam Al-Shafe’i told, “I do not have complete knowledge of the world and my knowledge is not equal to the knowledge of mystic persons, and mystic person’s knowledge is not equal to their teacher’s one advice in which he told them that the present time is like a cutting sword.”
    At the time of his last breath he wrote his testament and also told orally to the persons standing near him to tell one person (name suggested) to bath him. After long time that person came from Egypt after his death. The persons gave his testament to him and also explained him the details. In the testament it was written that he was in debt of 70,000 dinars so that person paid the debt amount to the relevant person and explained that the word bath in the testament refers to pay the debt amount on his behalf. Such a wise person he was.
    Rabiya reported that before his death he saw a dream in which Adam (A.S.) died and persons were taking out his funeral when he wake up. He went to meet one person for explanation of his dream. That person told him that one great learned person will die soon and the knowledge is from Adam (A.S.). Allah says in Qur’an:
    “We have taught Adam (A.S.) the names of all things.”
    After his death Rafi Bin Suleiman saw him in his dream and asked him how Allah treated him? He replied him, “He was given a golden chair and pearls which were showered upon him. Allah gave him 700,000 dinars and granted His grace. He died in the year 204 A.H. at the age of 54 years.
    19th EPISODE from Tazkeratul Aoulia by Sheikh Farid-ud-Din Attar (Book of Muslim Saints and Mystics)

    Translated from Urdu to English by
    Muhammed A. Hafeez, B.COM.
    Email: hafeezanwar@yahoo.com
    Hyderabad-36, (India).
    Reference Books

    1. Tazkeratul Aoulia by Sheikh Farid-ud-Din Attar (Book of Muslim Saints and Mystics), Urdu translation published by Majedi Book Depot, Kanpur in the year 1383 A.H., India.

    2. Tazkeratul Aoulia by Sheikh Farid-ud-Din Attar (Book of Muslim Saints and Mystics), Urdu translation published by Anwar Book Depot, Delhi, India.
     
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    Owaise Of Qarni

    2. Owaise of Qarni

    In the famous book of poetry , “MASNAVI”, by Jalaleddin Rumi, the following is said by prophet Muhammad about Oveys Gharni:

    The prophet Muhammad says that the breeze brings o’men
    The divine perfume from Yemen.
    The scent of ramin comes from Oveys
    The fragrance of god from Oveys.
    Oveys’ heavenly perfume from god,
    Overjoyed the heart of the prophet of god.
    Forsaking his mortal being willingly
    That earthly (Oveys) become heavenly

    About Sohail Yemeni, the prophet says that he is superior to his followers due to his kindness and favor. When there is praise by the prophet then what else can I describe about him. Sometimes the prophet used to turn his face towards Yemen and said, “I feel the breeze of love from the Yemen.”
    The prophet told on the day of judgment that Allah will create 70,000 angels same as Owaise of Qarni (clone) and when Owaise of Qarni will come there in between them and will proceed to the heaven, no one will recognize him except Allah, because in the world he used to worship away from the mankind and so he will be kept away from the mankind on the day of judgment.

    It is mentioned that the friends of Allah will be kept hidden by him, so no one will be able to see them. On the day of judgment the prophet will come out of his palace and will say, “ Where is Owaise, so that I can see him.” Soon there will be a call in which it will be heard that do not worry in this matter, you will not see him here as you did not see him in the world.
    The prophet told that there was a person in my followers and his recommendation was accepted which was equal to the hairs of the sheep of Rabiya and Mizer tribes of Arabia.

    There were two tribes in Arabia who had many sheep at that time. The companions asked the prophet, “Who that person is?” he said, “He is one among the slaves of Allah.” then they told the prophet that they were also slaves of Allah, but what was his name. The prophet told them, “His name is Owaise and he is from Qarni.” they asked him, “Where he is ?” He replied, “He is in Qarni.” then companions asked the prophet, “Have you seen him?” he replied that even though he did not see him physically but he was seen by the eyes of certainty.

    The companions asked that how such a lover did not come to see you. He said, “It may be due to two reasons, first due to his conditions and second is to respect my Shariat (Islamic law), because his mother is old and blind. He looks after camels and gets some money for the food and clothes for his mother. Then the companions asked could they see him. The prophet answered that Abu Bakr (ra) will not see him but Ali Ibn Taleb (ra) and Omer Farouq (ra) will see him. On Owaise Qarni’s body there are hairs and on his chest and on his palm there are small white marks, which are not of leprosy. The prophet said to Omer Farouq (ra) and Ali Ibn Taleb (ra), “ When you will meet him, convey my salam and ask him to pray for the Muslims.” the prophet told he is superior among the Allah’s men who are hidden. Then the companions asked that where could they find him ? The prophet replied, “ In Yemen there is a camel look after Owaise and you have to follow his foot steps.”
    When the time of prophet’s death was nearer, the companions asked that to whom they should give his dress. He said, “ To Owaise of Qarni.” After the death of prophet Omer Farouq (ra) and Ali Ibn Taleb (ra) went to Koofa (Baghdad) and at the time of delivering sermon Omer Farouq (ra) requested the people of Najd to stand and asked them, “Is there any person from Qarni.” they said, “ Yes.” then Omer Farouq (ra) asked them did they know about Owaise of Qarni? They replied, “ No, but there is a mad person who lives away from the people.” Omer Farouq (ra) asked where he lives. They replied, “He lives in Arna valley and looks after the camels, eats dry bread in the night, neither come to the village nor talk to the people.” he does not eat what we eat and he does not know sorrow and happiness. When people laugh he weeps and when people weep he laughs. Omer Farouq (ra) and Ali Ibn Taleb (ra) went to that valley and found that Owaise of Qarni was praying at that time. Allah has ordered his angels to look after his camels. When there was a sound he finished his prayer and said salam to Omer Farouq (ra). Omer Farouq (ra) asked him, “ What his name is ?” he replied, “A slave of Allah.” then Omer Farouq (ra) said, “We all are slaves of Allah but I am asking your proper name.” he replied, “Owaise.” Omer Farouq (ra) told him to show his left hand. He showed his hand and Omer Farouq (ra) saw the white mark on his hand, which was already described by the prophet. He kissed his hand and said, “The prophet has conveyed his Salam and has sent his dress for you and asked you to pray for the Muslims.” then Owaise of Qarni told them, “You are superior so you pray, as you are very close to the prophet.” Omer Farouq (ra) replied, “I will pray but you also pray according to the advice of the prophet. Owaise of Qarni requested Omer Farouq (ra) to please check some other person and that he is not the real one. Omer Farouq (ra) said that they have found all marks on him, which were explained by the prophet. Then Owaise of Qarni said, “Give me the dress so that I can pray.”Omer Farouq (ra) gave him the dress. Owaise of Qarni told him to stay there and he went away and poured the dust on his face and asked Allah, “ Oh Allah, I will not wear the dress until you accept my recommendation for all Muslims and for this the prophet has sent his dress and Omer Farouq (ra) and Ali Ibn Taleb (ra) have done their work, now your work is left.” then there was call in which it was heard, “I have forgiven some people due to your recommendation.” Owaise of Qarni replied, “I will not wear the dress until you forgive all Muslims.” then the call was heard again in which it was told, “I have forgiven many people.” When he was talking to Allah, at the same moment Omer Farouq (ra) and Ali Ibn Taleb (ra) came over there. When Owaise saw them there he asked them that why they have come over there because he was talking to Allah and that he will not wear the dress until he (Allah) accepts my recommendation for all the Muslims. Omer Farouq (ra) saw that Owaise of Qarni was wearing a rag dress, in which there was wealth of 18,000 worlds. Omer Farouq (ra) was very sad to see himself and his caliphate, so he said, “Anybody is there who can purchase his caliphate for a piece of bread.” Owaise said that foolish will purchase so throw it and anybody who likes it, will take it, so there is no need of selling and buying it.

    Then Owaise of Qarni wore the dress and said that Allah has forgiven the Muslims on his recommendation and due to this dress to equal number of the sheep of Rabiya and Mizer tribes. Ali Ibn Taleb (ra) was silent. Omer Farouq (ra) asked him, “Oh Owaise, why have you not met the prophet?” Owaise asked, “Have you seen the forehead of the prophet. If you have seen then tell me whether his eyebrows were close or scattered.” but he could not reply this. Owaise of Qarni told, “ Are you a friend of the prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم)?” he said, “yes.” if you were firm in the friendship then why you have not broken your teeth when the prophet’s teeth were broken in the battle of mount of Ohud in Madina and this is the rule of friendship. He showed his teeth and said that he had broken all his teeth in prophet’s love without even seeing him. When I broke a tooth, I was not sure of it as it might be the same tooth of the prophet or not and then I have broken all my teeth. Omer Farouq (ra) and Ali Ibn Taleb (ra) wept and said that your value of respect was great. He did not see the prophet but his respect for the prophet was admirable. We have to learn respect from him. Omer Farouq (ra) asked him to pray for him.

    Owaise of Qarni told him that there should be no desires and wishes when one has faith in Allah. In every prayer I used to pray for all men and women of Muslim world for Allah’s mercy and forgiveness. If you die with faith then you will find result of my pray in your grave otherwise my pray will be spoiled. Omer Farouq (ra) asked him to give some advice. He said, “Oh Omer, do you know Allah?” Omer (ra) said, “Yes, I know.” He told Omer (ra) that except Allah he does not know anybody and it is better for you also. Again Omer (ra) asked for more pieces of advice. He said, “Oh Omer, does Allah know you.” He said, “Yes.” then it is better that Allah knows you more than others. Then Omer (ra) told him to please wait for some time, so that he can bring something for him. Owaise of Qarni took out two dinars from his pocket and said, “This is my earning from camel grazing. If you guarantee that these two dinars are enough for my entire life then I will accept the other things from you, otherwise I do not need anything.” then Owaise of Qarni gave thanks to them for coming over there to see him after facing many difficulties and asked them to leave the place. The Day of Judgment is near, where we can meet there and from there we will not separate at all. Now I am busy for the preparation for the life after death. When Omer Farouq (ra) and Ali Ibn Taleb (ra) left that place the people of that place started respecting Owaise of Qarni.
    He left that place and reached Koofa. After that nobody has seen him, but Huban’s son Harm when he heard about the greatness of recommendation of Owaise of Qarni he was anxious to see him. He went to Koofa to see him, searched him and by chance he found him on the river Farat where he was doing ablution and washing his clothes. He said, “I recognized you due to your greatness and what I have heard about you.” He paid salam to him; he replied it and he looked at me carefully. I wanted to shake his hand but he did not give his hand. I said, “Oh Owaise, Allah has blessed you, granted his mercy and has forgiven you.” I wept in his friendship and on his weak condition, Owaise of Qarni also wept. Owaise said, “Oh Harm, the son of Huban, god bless you. What thing you have brought here and who showed you my address.” Harm replied him, “How do you know my name and my father’s name, as I have not seen you before.” Owaise said, “Allah told me, who knows everything. My soul recognized your soul, as soul of Muslim knows each other.” I asked him to narrate any saying of the prophet. He told that he did not met the prophet and has heard his qualities from others and do not want to become scholar of prophet’s tradition, as he has many pending things to do. Then he asked him to recite any verse from the Quran. He recited. “A‘oodhu billahi minash shaitan rajeem” and he started weeping. He said that Allah says in the Quran, “Wama khalaqtul jinna wal insa illa li-ya‘budoon.” he recited and he cried in loud noise so I thought that he had gone mad. He again asked me what had brought him there. I told him that I wanted your friendship and to become successful. He replied that one who knows Allah does not need the love and affection of others and gets comfort from others. I asked him to advise me. He told me that when you sleep, think that your death is under your pillow. When wake up, do not have many hopes and do not consider any sin smaller, but think it is big one. If you think any sin smaller then you think Allah small and will become a sinner.

    I asked him, “What do you say about my stay?” he told me to go to Syria. Then I asked how I would find my livelihood there? Owaise of Qarni said, “It is very sad that their hearts are full of doubts and suspicions and they do not accept the pieces of advice.”
    I asked him some more pieces of advice for me. He told, “Oh son of Huban, your father died. Adam (as), Eve (as), Noah (as), Abraham (as), Moses (as), David (as) also died. Abu bakr (ra) died who was the first caliph, my brother Omer (ra) also died.” then he said, “Oh Omer, god bless you.” Omer (ra) is still living. He says, Allah has informed him that Omer (ra) has passed away. He told me that, I and you are in between dead. He recite blessing and started praying.
    He advised me to follow the holy book and the right path and do not forget about death at any moment. When you reach your people then advise them and also advise mankind. Always follow the steps of the prophet, otherwise you will be out of the religion and be eligible for the hell. He then advised some prayers and asked me to go. He said, “Oh son of Huban, you will not see me and I will not see you again, but remember me in your prayers, because I to remember you in my prayers. You go on that way and I will follow this way.” I had desire to follow him for some time but he did not allow me. He wept and I also wept. I was watching him from the backside but after some time he disappeared.

    After that there was no news about him. The son of Huban said that Owaise of Qarni first told him about the four caliphs of the prophet.
    Rabiya narrates that he went to see Owaise of Qarni and he saw him while he was performing the morning prayer. After the prayer he was busy in the glorification of Allah until the time of noon prayer. He was busy with his work until the time of next prayer and in this way he was very busy until next morning prayer. For three days he did not eat or drink anything or even slept. On fourth night he slept for some time and then wake up and started hymns, in which he said, “ Oh Allah, keep me away from full sleep and full food in the stomach and it is enough for me and I have come back to you.” it is said that he never slept in the nights. He used to say that the night was for doing prostration, bowing and for standing before God. He used to keep every night alive. When people asked him, “How do they pray?” he told, “I want it will be dawn before I did not say ‘Subhan Allah’ in the prostration. As I want to do worship same as angels do in the sky.”

    When people asked him, “What is khudo (attention) in the prayers?” He told, “If there is wound of spear on your body but you did not notice it.” The people asked him, “How are you?” how he will be, when he wake up in the morning and the death will allow him to be alive or not upto night? When people asked him about his work, he replied, “Oh, the journey is long but no preparations at all?”
    Owaise of Qarni said that if you worship of Allah and if the same is equal to the worship of all creations of Allah in the sky and earth but Allah will not accept the same unless you have faith in him. The people asked him further, how we have to keep faith in Allah. He said at the time of worship do not think for other things, which Allah have reserved for you. He said, “Whoever like the following three things, for him hell will be near to nerve of his neck.”
    1. Good food
    2. Good dress
    3. Sitting with wealthy people
    People told Owaise of Qarni that there is one man who is sitting in the grave since 30 years and wearing shroud around his neck and weeping. He said, “Take me to that person so that I can see him.” The people took him to that person and he saw that man who has become thin by weeping. He told him, “Oh man, the shroud and the grave has kept you away from the Allah, and these two things are disturbing on your way.” Due to his divine appearance that person was able to see these things on him and his condition was revealed to him. He died in the grave. So think on it that if grave and shroud are seen then other things can also be seen.

    It is reported that Owaise has not eaten anything or drank even water for three days. On the fourth day he got a dinar on the way. He did not took that dinar and he thought that it belonged to some other person and he went ahead to eat grass. Then he saw a sheep and in her mouth there was hot bread and the sheep kept that bread before him. But he thought that it belonged to some other person. The sheep told him, “I am the slave of Allah like you.” then he took that bread and that sheep was disappeared.

    His praise and qualities are too many and great. In the beginning Shaikh Abul Qasim Gorgani was the follower of Owaise of Qarni. Owaise of Qarni says that one who knows Allah from Allah, and then he knows everything. He said, “Safety is in loneliness. The person who is single and alone and who do not think about others in his heart is safe and secured, because it is not good to think about others in loneliness. Satan (devil) will run away when two persons meet each other.” So he did not go there because he knew that no need to misguide them, as those persons are busy with each other and have forgotten Allah. Owaise of Qarni suggested keeping control on the heart so that other person (devil) may not enter into it.
    Owaise of Qarni’s sayings
    1. When I asked for high respect, I got it in the service.
    2. When I asked for leadership and status, I got it in the people’s advice.
    3. When I asked for kindness and service, I got it in the truth and right path.
    4. When I asked for proud and greatness, I got it in poverty and misery.
    5. When I asked for link, I got it in goodness and in the fear of god.
    6. When I asked for fame, I got it in the worship.
    7. When I asked for carelessness, I got it in the trust of God.
    It is reported that the neighbors of Owaise of Qarni told him that they thought him a mad man. They collected some money and constructed a house for him. He used to live in that house. There was nothing in the house to eat at the time of breakfast. He tried to earn money by collecting seeds of dates and by selling them. From that money he managed his food. If he collected dates, he used to sell them and that money was spent for the charity. His dress was old and not in the good condition. He made his dress from the horse skin which he used to clean himself. He used to leave the house at the time of morning prayer and to enter the house after night prayer. Wherever he went, the children threw stones on him. He requested the children to throw small stones on him to avoid bleeding from his body and not to spoil his ablution. He was not worried about his legs but he was worried about his prayers.
    In his last days he met Ali Ibn Taleb (ra) and participated in the war of Seffin and died there.

    There is a group of people who consider themselves as Owaisia. For them there is no need of teacher and they do not have any source with them like Owaise of Qarni, but they are on the right path of religion due to the grace of god.
    Owaise of Qarni has not seen the prophet but the prophet did his internal training and this is fact. His position is very high and it is difficult for anybody to attain such a high position. Such greatness is due to the kindness and mercy of God. Whom God likes, will be given such a great position.
    His grave is in a small village of Yemen, which is far away from capital Sana.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    SECOND Episode from Tadhkirat Al-Auliya (Muslim Saints & Mystics ) by Shaikh Farid Al-din Attar.
    ==========================
    Translated from Urdu to English by
    Muhammed A. Hafeez, B.Com.
    Email: hafeezanwar@yahoo.com
    H.No. 16-11-16/1/21,
    Saleemnagar colony,
    Al-Madina cottage,
    Hyderabad-36,
    I n d i a.
    ======================================
    REFERENCE BOOKS
    1. Tadhkirat Al-Auliya ( Muslim Saints and Mystics) by Sheikh Farid-Al-din Attar, Urdu translation published by Majedi Book Depot, Kanpur, India, in the year 1383 A.H.
    2. Tadhkirat Al-Auliya ( Muslim Saints and Mystics) by Sheikh Farid-Al-din Attar, Urdu translation published by Anwar Book Depot, Delhi
    India.
    3. Masnavi , Jalal Al-din Rumi
    =============================[/LEFT]
     

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