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Hadhrat Maulana Maseehullah Khan Saheb Rahmatullahi Alaihi mentions Hadhratwala Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi Rahmatullahi Alaihi, related an incident: Mauláná Abdul-Haqq Khairábádí رحمة الله عليه sent an ‘álim with some questions pertaining to logic, with the instructions: “Go to Mauláná Ismá’íl Sáhib and have him solve them.”Now, Shah Ismá’il Shahid, was pre-occupied with the concept of jihad. In order to wage jihad, several forms of training are necessary. One does not know what situations one may come across during jihád at the practical level. So, Shah Ismá’íl Shahíd, used to walk barefoot on the stone-laid courtyard of the Jámi’ah Masjid in Delhi in the heat of summer.
The reason was to be prepared for the vicissitudes to be found on the battlefield. What if one had no shoes, how would one fare? He also trained himself to be a good swimmer: he used to go to swim in the River Jamná, which flows through the one end of Delhi.
After Asr he used to swim from one bank to the other and back.
Our Akaabireen Of Deoband
It is important to be acquainted with the histories of our akábir. What type of people were they? Those who have passed on before us were such that they were people without match!
Mauláná Ismá’íl Shahid was also a háfizul-Qur’an. His practice was that, when he started his swim in the River Jamná, he would start reciting the Qur’an Sharif. Reciting all the way while swimming from the one bank to the other and then back in the direction of Delhi, he used to khatam of the Qur’an Sharif! He would then proceed to the Jami’ah Masjid to perform his Maghrib namaz with jama’at. This was his practice with regard to swimming.So, at the time that he went into the River Jamná for his normal swim, the ‘álim sent by Mauláná Abdul-Haqq Khairábádí, arrived with the questions, He addressed Mauláná Ismá’íl Shahid: “I have been sent by Mauláná Abdul-Haqq Khairábádí Sáhib. He has some questions on logic for you to solve.” Mauláná Ismá’íl Shahid, said: “You can carry on asking the questions and I will give my replies. You write them down as I speak.” The ‘álim did as instructed and put forward the questions, while Mauláná Ismail Shahidi, gave his replies on the turn. So, while swimming along the bank of the river, Maulana Ismail Shahid gave his replies to all the questions.
This was the person whom Maulana Abdul-Haqq Khairábádí thought had no inkling of the science of logic! Can you gauge his calibre? Do you see the calibre of our akabir, of the lineage and nisbat of Shah Waliyulláh ?
The ‘ulema akabir of Deoband have their academic lineage from Sháh Waliyullah رحمةاللهعليه. The publishing and propagation, especially of fiqah and Hadith Sharif, have come down from Sháh Waliyulláh رحمة الله عليه
Let us now continue with the previous qissah: The Jalsah in Kámpur was taking place. Mauláná Lutfulláh Sahib had also been invited but had not arrived as yet. The turn of Hadhrat Mauláná Mahmúdul-Hasan Sáhib came to deliver his lecture. During the course of his lecture, there was a slight commotion. Mauláná Lutfulláh Sáhib had arrived. People turned around to look to see who had come. He was well known and a whisper went about: “Mauláná Lutfulláh Sáhib has arrived! Mauláná Lutfulláh Sahib has arrived!”
Noting the slight commotion Hadhrat Mauláná Mahmudul-Hasan Sahib also looked up. When his gaze fell on Mauláná Lutfulláh Sahib, he abruptly ended his talk. Having rounded up his sentence in a few words, he finished off.Are you listening?Some of his students from the dárul-‘ulúm who had gone with him to the Jalsah, as happens that a sheikh will take some of his murids to accompany him, felt very disappointed at this. It was not the habit of Hadhrat Mauláná Mahmúdul-Hasan Sáhib to deliver lectures. However, on this occasion he made an exception and his talk was full of amazing proofs, arguments and counter-arguments.
The students felt very heartsore. They were aware that Mauláná Lutfulláh Sáhib Aligarhí did not have a high opinion of the ‘ulemá of Deoband. He had no real respect for them in his heart. So, the students were very disappointed and also very puzzled, as this was an occasion to demonstrate the capabilities of the ‘ulemá of Deoband.
When Hadhrat Mauláná Mahmudul-Hasan Sáhib came to meet them, greetings took place and, after the scheduled proceedings of the Jalsah were attended to, they then retired to the places allocated to them. Some of the students asked Hadhrat Mauláná Mahmudul-Hasan Sáhíb: “Hadhrat, what did you do? This was the ideal opportunity to have continued your lecture. Mauláná Lutfulláh Sahib would have come to realise that the ‘ulemá of Deoband were not devoid of providing proofs, arguments and counter arguments in the science of logic. He would have heard your lecture with his own ears but, Hadhrat, you kept quiet.” Hadhratwálá, went on to say that Hadhrat Mauláná Mahmudul-Hasan Sahib said: “Very true. This very thought that you are expressing, came to me as well. “Are you all listening? He continued: “And I thought to myself: ‘If I were now to continue with my lecture it would be to show off my greatness, a manifestation of pride and conceit. It will not be for the pleasure of Alláh or for the Díní benefit of the listeners. It would be for myself and not for the pleasure of Alláh – ridhá-e-Iláhí
So, I kept quiet.”Is my voice reaching you? Do you see the qualities of our akábir? In other words, there is no room for waswasah. No room is left for such a thought, when it comes to mind and then to keep it in one’s mind. Do you understand? Takabbur, riyá and ‘ujub: these are controlled in such a manner that not even a single waswasah is allowed to intrude. Do you see the reality of tawádh’a? Do you see the extinction of takabbur? Have you pondered over it?Light and darkness are our topics. Tawádh’a is light and takabbur is darkness. Tawádh’a-haqiqi and takabbur-haqiqi and tawádh’a-súri and takabbur-súrí, are not permissible to be utilised by everybody. This is for certain individuals who have become like these individuals. Which type of individuals? These are those who have haqiqi nisbat ma-Alláh. So, who are these who have haqiqí nisbat ma-Alláh? These are those who have attained a nafs that is mutma’innah. Again: Who are these? These are those with nafs-mutma’innah. In the Qur’an Sharíf the nafs is mentioned as one but can exist as three states.
For Friends, Volume 2
