More Tales of Sufi Wisdom

wonderfull:)

what is the above silly prattling all about? sorry writer, but it seems like fables to me, and that too not very coherent or moralistic ones.

5. why help a dog just in Medina? If a person really likes his beliefs, eg. the sufi liking the prophet Muhammed`s doings so much, isn`t it incumbent upon him/her to follow it to the letter. I`m sure the prophet wouldn`t have helped out a dog JUST in Medina. Oh, you`re an Austrian? Sorry, can`t help you.

That`s just silly.

4. what was the point to that? that the man could read minds? Lightning happens you know, you forgot to mention that it just might have been a stormy day..

3. That one is good. We ought to be thankful for everything, however small. I`ll bookmark that one for my grandkids.

2. Osteoporosis?

1. OK, so the prophet says HE will visit Jami, not the other way around. So that means he`ll still need to get out of his grave won`t it?

What I want to know is WHO makes up these things?

Re: # 37

I have finnaly got a response....

From Dr Colin Baker and here it is....


Sorry for the delay in answering your enquiry, but it is partly due to
the fact that your source ``Muhammad Rasulullah,`` by M. Hamidullah`` gave
only a partially correct reference.

I have located the manuscript you are interested in. The shelf mark is
IO ISLAMIC 2807 and the section you want is on pages 81 verso - 104
verso (inclusive). It is entitled ``Qissat Shakruti Firmad`` which,
according to the catalogue (Loth 1044), is ``A fabulous account of the
first settlement of the Muhammadans in Malabar, under King Shakruti
(Cranganore), a contemporary of Muhammad, who was converted to Islam by
the miracle of the division of the the moon.``

Should you wish to order a microfilm or paper copy see
http://www.bl.uk/services/copy/reproduction.html for prices and method
of ordering and payment.

For further enquiries on photography you should contact
reproductions-customer-service@bl.uk, quoting in all correspondence the
shelfmark IO ISLAMIC 2807, pages 81 verso- 104 verso and your full
postal address.

Sincerely

Colin Baker


Dr Colin F Baker
Head of Near and Middle Eastern Collections
The British Library
Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections
96 Euston Road
London NW1 2DB

T +44 (0)20 7412 7645
F +44 (0)20 7412 7858
colin.baker@bl.uk
www.bl.uk

Re: # 37

So far no one from
www.bl.uk

and

http://www.bl.uk/collections/arabic.html



has answered my query regarding the Authenicity of the article...


I would request , that some one other then me , also put up a request for its authentiation with them. As it mght be that they have ignored my email



But it has been reported on so many sites with such consistency....which is overwhelming....
I am sure ... at least One site would have it validated before posting....
anyway.... regarding Cheraman Perumal

Yes there is overwhelming evidence that such a King did exist. and He did went to Mecca to meet the prophet...and then converted to Islam.



some of the sources are

http://www.indiatraveltimes.com/travelogue/mosque.html

http://www.tripunithura.com/history/crf.aspx

http://www.lakshadweeptourism.com/html/l0201pg1.htm

http://www.kerala.com/religious.htm


..... and many many more... I have deliberately choosen NON-Muslim sources.


I have the picture of that mosque... But I don`t know how to post it in this forum..

A lesson in communal harmony
Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service

While communal differences sometimes trigger clashes, a 90-year-old Sikh baba who has been managing a dargah on the banks of Sutlej River at Gagar Dhagara village of Noormahal sub-division for the last more than 57 years, stands as a role model of communal harmony.

Not just the baba, even his great-grandchildren have been looking after the dargah of Pir Shah Ali Fatma whom they call ``Khuda ka Sher``. The baba not only makes daily prashad and organises its distribution, but also lights up the jot every evening. He even holds prayers for daily visitors and addresses large congregations every Thursday.

An incident that took place during the time of Partition made Mr Bachan Singh, now popularly known as ``babaji``, develop deep faith in the holy shrine. His wife had developed some nervous problem and her limbs had almost stopped functioning while they had just come to India after Partition. She even complained of losing sensation in her arms and legs. Baba took her to a few doctors but it proved futile.

On the advice of some relatives, the distraught couple visited the dargah. Both prayed there and took shelter in the then-desolate shrine. The dargah, which was looked after by some followers of the pir in the then Muslim-dominated village, had become deserted after Partition.

The couple started serving there when a miracle took place. Baba`s wife got rid of the illness and she became healthy. Since the baba had pledged that he would keep serving the place for life if his wife got cured, he kept his word and decided to live there forever. The couple started cultivating a piece of land acquired by them in the village to earn their living.

The baba claims that his is not a lone case, as hundreds of people from all parts of the country visit the dargah to get their wishes fulfilled. The majority of them include issueless couples, who come to pray for a child. The baba said that people from far off lands, including those now settled in the US or Canada, also came to pay obeisance at the dargah.

He said that people gathered in the hall every Thursday and offered whatever little they wished for the preparation of prashad, langar and maintenance of the shrine.

Thanks, Aquaris.

Re: # 37

I sure will ..I have email some one mentioned on their sites about it......and as soon as I get a response I will post the link....

re: Aquaris # 36

Please do post if you are able to verify the reference. I will very much appreciate that. Thanks.

Re: # 31

About the miracle of `` Shaq-ul-Qamar ``

Here is what I got from a website...

with reference to a readers article...
http://www.understanding-islam.com/related/text.asp?type=rarticle&raid=170

WITNESS OF MOON SPLITTING (A MIRACLE OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH ))

CHAKRAWATI FARMAS KING OF MALABAR, INDIA

The incident relating to King Chakrawati Farmas is documented in an old manuscript in the India Office Library, London, which has reference number: Arabic, 2807, 152-173. It was quoted in the book ``Muhammad Rasulullah,`` by M. Hamidullah:



....Now I have a serious problem.... the reference .....this one has is to a document/article in the India Office Library with even the article and page Numbers....
sound authentic enough.......

But I could not find any such reference at the India Office Libraries web site....
http://www.bl.uk/collections/arabic.html

....... This has left me perplexed.....Why did the author gave a wrong reference....or am I doing something not right to find it.....!!

.... I just wanted to validate the source.... can anyone give me a direct link to this...article...... `` Arabic, 2807, 152-173 `` of the India Office Library so that I can verify it....

#34 by Naqshbandi on May 24, 2005 7:14am PT
All that is irrelevant when understood in the context of Mohammad (Sal-Allaho-Alay-hay-Wasal-lam) (May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) as the original initiator of the sufi tariqa...............

Re: # 33
That is a well-known Wahabi site which takes famous sufi works by Rumi etc., selects a quote totally out of context, interprets it literally -since Wahabis don`t know about spirituality they think it doesn`t exist!--and then go to `refute` this by quoting (usually) a Qur`anic ayat or hadith sharif again out of context since usually what they claim sufis believe is nothing to do with what the hadith is saying anyway.

A simpler argument is this: name a well known Muslim classical scholar who has NOT been a Sufi as well. Even Ibn Taymiyyah, the `Imam` of the rejecters and the patron saint of Wahabis-whose works they always quote--was in fact initiated into the Qadiri Sufi Tariqa of Shaykh Abdal Qadir al Jilani radhi Allahu anhu!!

The problem with those who claim to possess and follow the correct tariqah is that they all take great pains to show others that their interpretation of the Quran and Sunnah is the `right` one. I think all this is irrelevant in today`s world where the followers of sufism of different orders need not bend backwards to show them to be more pious than the others. All this may have been politically relevant when the sufis had to resist the political Islam for their very survival, but no more in today`s world. So unlike Naqshabandi who would immediately get into a theological debate with others there is no need to even respond to those who attack and misinterpret sufism as a defiance of Sunnah and Quran!!

http://www.allaahuakbar.net/sufism/in_defiance_of_qur`an_and_sunnah.htm
IN DEFIANCE OF THE QUR`AN AND SUNNAH

The following are excerpts and quotations from well-known Sufi works presented along with corresponding beliefs from outside the fold of Islam. Relevant texts from the Qur`ân and the Sunnah are also quoted for the sake of comparison, so that Muslims may judge for themselves whether Sufi beliefs are Islamic or not. Each quotation is footnoted with the reference from which it is taken.

The Sufis claim: ``The ways unto God are as numerous as the number of creatures in the world``. Ibn Mas`ood, may Allah be pleased with him, said: ``The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s) made a straight line on the ground with his hand, then he said, `This is the straight way of Allah.` Then he made (short) line on each side of the straight line; then he said, `These (short) lines, each one has a Shaytaan inviting people to it.` Then he recited the verse: meaning, `And this is My path straight. So follow it, and do not follow (other) ways, lest they lead you away from My path.`

Allah the Exalted says: ``His footstool encompasses the heavens and the earth. ``The Prophet (s.a.w.s) said: ``The seven heavens by the side of the kursi (footstool) are naught but as a ring thrown down in a desert land, and such is the Kursi with respect to the Arsh (the Divine Throne).

The sufis say: ``When you unite with the Beloved (God), then there is neither command nor prohibition in matters of religion. Sufis habitually reject the doctrine of ``the fear of God, the wrath of the Day of Judgment, the fury of the Hell-Fire and the promise of Jannah.`` Faith based on coercion, they say, is slavery, and God has created man with mind, free will and love. Therefore, the mainspring of Sufism is love not fear and obedience to the religious laws.

Allah the Supreme describes His Prophets, saying: meaning, ``They used to vie with one another in good deeds, and they called on Us in hope (for rewards) and in fear (of punishment).`` Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (s.a.w.s) said: ``When one of you finishes reciting the last tashah-hud (in prayer, and just before making tasleem), let him seek Allah`s protection from four things: from the torment of Hell-Fire, from the torture of the grave, from the afflictions of life and death, and from the affliction of the pseudo-Christ (ad-Dajjal).``

Abu Hurairah also said: ``The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s) said to a man, `What do you say, (ask Allah for) in your prayer?` The man said, `I recite tashah-hud, then I ask Allah for Jannah and seek protection of Him from the Fire; by Allah, I do not know you dendeneh (making du`a in a low and faint voice) nor the dendaneh of Mu`aadth.` The Prophet (s.a.w.s) replied, `We make dendeneh about these two things.```

Allah the Exalted describes His believers thus: meaning, ``Verily those who fear their Lord with reverence, and those who believe in the signs of the Lord, and those who ascribe no partners to their Lord, and those who give what they give while their hearts are full of fear, because to their Lord they will return.``

Aa`ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, inquired about the verse, ``Those who give what they give...`` saying, ``O Messenger of Allah! Is it those who steal and commit fornication are fearful?`` He said, ``Nay, daughter of (Abu Bakr) As-Siddiq, rather, those who fast and pray who are afraid (that their acts of worship may not be accepted by Allah).

Allah the Exalted says: meaning, ``Say (to men, O Muhammad!), `If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive your sins.`` Thus the love of Allah necessitates following the commands of the Messenger of Allah with hope for reward and fear of punishment in the Hereafter.

Jalal-uddin al-Rumi (d. 1273), an infamous Sufi philosopher, in his book Masnawi, confirms his belief in the theory of evolution. The following lines are recognized as the central theme of Rumi`s work:
``I died as mineral and became a plant,
I died as a plant and rose to an animal,
I died as an animal and I was a man.

What became the darwinian theory states that the origin of species is derived by descent, with variation from parent forms. In other words, man, according to the theory of Darwin and contrary to what Allah confirms in the Qur`an, was not created as a separate species.

Allah the Exalted says: meaning, ``Verily, We created man from an extract of clay. Then We placed him as a drop of sperm in a safe depository.``

Absoulotly stunning!you enlightend some of great incident happened ever...........

and aquaris ......... you are right that HAZRAT MUHAMMAD SAW splited the moon into 2 parts and then changed it like it was.
and this is also true that was seen in india aswell........and that is the sign of doom day.........

and some more mu`jizats of the Beloved of the Universe sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam!

http://www.geocities.com/islamicmiracles/mujizas_of_muhammad_pbuh.htm

Re: # 27
Asfand, although a lot of your article is true there is a massive error in its centre: the idea that Huzoor Paak sal allahu alayhi wa sallam did not perform any miracles. Rather, if you read the traditional, classical Sira and hadith books written by Muslims from the earliest times you will see that Our Beloved Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam had countless miracles -and miracles greater than those given to any other Nabi or Rasul!

Here are just a few Miracles of the Prophet

A tiny portion of the Miracles of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him
by


Dr. G.F. Haddad

A number of miracles were bestowed upon and performed by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to establish the proof of his prophethood. The greatest miracle bestowed upon him was the revelation of the Qur`an. The Qur`an is miraculous in a number of aspects: Its linguistic perfection and inimitability, its validation by recent historical, archaeological, and scientific discoveries, its prophecies and so on. Unlike the miracles of other prophets before him, the miracle of the Qur`an is eternal. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) also provided us with a number of true prophecies.

Below are accounts of the some of the other miracles of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) . Before reading these, it helps to know something about the Science of Traditions (Arabic: Ahadith), an exacting and comprehensive system developed by early Muslim scholars to verify the chain of transmission of these accounts, as well as investigating the trustworthiness and capability of every narrator at every level of the chain. This thorough authentication process ensures that these accounts are real, validated narrations of the sayings, actions, and tacit approvals of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

The Traditions mentioned below are all from Sahih al-Bukhari, the most authentic collection of ahadith.


Splitting of the Moon


Food Multiplication


Water Multiplication


Supplication for Rain


Lights to guide Companions


Crying of the stem of the Date-palm Tree


Glorification of Allah by the Prophet`s meals


The explusion of a liar`s corpse by the Earth


The Speech of the Wolf


The Prophet`s Night Journey to Jerusalem and Ascent to the Heavens
Finally, in an additional webpage, we will discuss the miracles relating to the person and relics of the Blessed Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
Splitting of the Moon

``The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has been cleft asunder`` [Qur`an 54:1]

Volume 6, Book 60, Number 388:

Narrated Abdullah:

The moon was cleft asunder while we were in the company of the Prophet, and it became two parts. The Prophet said, Witness, witness (this miracle).``
Food Multiplication

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 780:

Narrated Jabir:

My father had died in debt. So I came to the Prophet and said, ``My father (died) leaving unpaid debts, and I have nothing except the yield of his date palms; and their yield for many years will not cover his debts. So please come with me, so that the creditors may not misbehave with me.`` The Prophet went round one of the heaps of dates and invoked (Allah), and then did the same with another heap and sat on it and said, ``Measure (for them).`` He paid them their rights and what remained was as much as had been paid to them.
Water Multiplication

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 779:

Narrated `Abdullah:

We used to consider miracles as Allah`s Blessings, but you people consider them to be a warning. Once we were with Allah`s Apostle on a journey, and we ran short of water. He said, ``Bring the water remaining with you.`` The people brought a utensil containing a little water. He placed his hand in it and said, ``Come to the blessed water, and the Blessing is from Allah.`` I saw the water flowing from among the fingers of Allah`s Apostle , and no doubt, we heard the meal glorifying Allah, when it was being eaten (by him).

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 777:

Narrated Al-Bara:

We were one-thousand-and-four-hundred persons on the day of Al-Hudaibiya (Treaty), and (at) Al-Hudaibiya (there) was a well. We drew out its water not leaving even a single drop. The Prophet sat at the edge of the well and asked for some water with which he rinsed his mouth and then he threw it out into the well. We stayed for a short while and then drew water from the well and quenched our thirst, and even our riding animals drank water to their satisfaction.

Volume 1, Book 7, Number 340:

Narrated `Imran:

Once we were traveling with the Prophet and we carried on traveling till the last part of the night and then we (halted at a place) and slept (deeply). There is nothing sweeter than sleep for a traveler in the last part of the night. So it was only the heat of the sun that made us to wake up and the first to wake up was so and so, then so and so and then so and so (the narrator `Auf said that Abu Raja` had told him their names but he had forgotten them) and the fourth person to wake up was `Umar bin Al-Khattab. And whenever the Prophet used to sleep, nobody would wake him up till he himself used to get up as we did not know what was happening (being revealed) to him in his sleep. So, `Umar got up and saw the condition of the people, and he was a strict man, so he said, ``Allahu Akbar`` and raised his voice with Takbir, and kept on saying it loudly till the Prophet got up because of it. When he got up, the people informed him about what had happened to them. He said, ``There is no harm (or it will not be harmful). Depart!`` So they departed from that place, and after covering some distance the Prophet stopped and asked for some water to perform the ablution. So he performed the ablution and the call for the prayer was pronounced and he led the people in prayer. After he finished from the prayer, he saw a man sitting aloof who had not prayed with the people. He asked, ``O so and so! What has prevented you from praying with us?`` He replied, ``I am junub and there is no water. `` The Prophet said, ``Perform tayammum with (clean) earth and that is sufficient for you.``

Then the Prophet proceeded on and the people complained to him of thirst. Thereupon he got down and called a person (the narrator `Auf added that Abu Raja` had named him but he had forgotten) and `Ali, and ordered them to go and bring water. So they went in search of water and met a woman who was sitting on her camel between two bags of water. They asked, ``Where can we find water?`` She replied, ``I was there (at the place of water) this hour yesterday and my people are behind me.`` They requested her to accompany them. She asked, ``Where?`` They said, ``To Allah`s Apostle .`` She said, ``Do you mean the man who is called the Sabi`, (with a new religion)?`` They replied, ``Yes, the same person. So come along.`` They brought her to the Prophet and narrated the whole story. He said, ``Help her to dismount.`` The Prophet asked for a pot, then he opened the mouths of the bags and poured some water into the pot. Then he closed the big openings of the bags and opened the small ones and the people were called upon to drink and water their animals. So they all watered their animals and they (too) all quenched their thirst and also gave water to others and last of all the Prophet gave a pot full of water to the person who was junub and told him to pour it over his body. The woman was standing and watching all that which they were doing with her water. By Allah, when her water bags were returned the looked like as if they were more full (of water) than they had been before (Miracle of Allah`s Apostle) Then the Prophet ordered us to collect something for her; so dates, flour and sawiq were collected which amounted to a good meal that was put in a piece of cloth. She was helped to ride on her camel and that cloth full of food-stuff was also placed in front of her and then the Prophet said to her, ``We have not taken your water but Allah has given water to us.`` She returned home late. Her relatives asked her: ``O so and so what has delayed you?`` She said, ``A strange thing! Two men met me and took me to the man who is called the Sabi` and he did such and such a thing. By Allah, he is either the greatest magician between this and this (gesturing with her index and middle fingers raising them towards the sky indicating the heaven and the earth) or he is Allah`s true Apostle.``

Afterwards the Muslims used to attack the pagans around her abode but never touched her village. One day she said to her people, ``I think that these people leave you purposely. Have you got any inclination to Islam?`` They obeyed her and all of them embraced Islam.

Abu `Abdultah said: The word saba`a means ``The one who has deserted his old religion and embraced a new religion.`` Abul `Ailya said, ``The Sabis are a sect of people of the Scripture who recite the Book of Psalms.``
Supplication for Rain

Volume 8, Book 73, Number 115:

Narrated Anas:

A man came to the Prophet on a Friday while he (the Prophet) was delivering a sermon at Medina, and said, ``There is lack of rain, so please invoke your Lord to bless us with the rain.`` The Prophet looked at the sky when no cloud could be detected. Then he invoked Allah for rain. Clouds started gathering together and it rained till the Medina valleys started flowing with water. It continued raining till the next Friday. Then that man (or some other man) stood up while the Prophet was delivering the Friday sermon, and said, ``We are drowned; Please invoke your Lord to withhold it (rain) from us`` The Prophet smiled and said twice or thrice, ``O Allah! Please let it rain round about us and not upon us.`` The clouds started dispersing over Medina to the right and to the left, and it rained round about Medina and not upon Medina. Allah showed them (the people) the miracle of His Prophet and His response to his invocation.
Lights to guide Companions

Volume 1, Book 8, Number 454:

Narrated Anas bin Malik:

Two of the companions of the Prophet departed from him on a dark night and were led by two lights like lamps (going in front of them from Allah as a miracle) lighting the way in front of them, and when they parted, each of them was accompanied by one of these lights till he reached their (respective) houses.
Crying of the stem of the Date-palm Tree

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 783:

Narrated Ibn Umar:

The Prophet used to deliver his sermons while standing beside a trunk of a datepalm. When he had the pulpit made, he used it instead. The trunk started crying and the Prophet went to it, rubbing his hand over it (to stop its crying).
Glorification of Allah by the Prophet`s meals

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 779:

Narrated `Abdullah:

We used to consider miracles as Allah`s Blessings, but you people consider them to be a warning. Once we were with Allah`s Apostle on a journey, and we ran short of water. He said, ``Bring the water remaining with you.`` The people brought a utensil containing a little water. He placed his hand in it and said, ``Come to the blessed water, and the Blessing is from Allah.`` I saw the water flowing from among the fingers of Allah`s Apostle, and no doubt, we heard the meal glorifying Allah, when it was being eaten (by him).
The expulsion of a liar`s corpse by the Earth

Volume 4, Book 56, Number 814:

Narrated Anas:

There was a Christian who embraced Islam and read Surat-al-Baqara and Al-Imran, and he used to write (the revelations) for the Prophet. Later on he returned to Christianity again and he used to say: ``Muhammad knows nothing but what I have written for him.`` Then Allah caused him to die, and the people buried him, but in the morning they saw that the earth had thrown his body out. They said, ``This is the act of Muhammad and his companions. They dug the grave of our companion and took his body out of it because he had run away from them.`` They again dug the grave deeply for him, but in the morning they again saw that the earth had thrown his body out. They said, ``This is an act of Muhammad and his companions. They dug the grave of our companion and threw his body outside it, for he had run away from them.`` They dug the grave for him as deep as they could, but in the morning they again saw that the earth had thrown his body out. So they believed that what had befallen him was not done by human beings and had to leave him thrown (on the ground).
The Speech of the Wolf

Volume 3, Book 39, Number 517:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet said, ``While a man was riding a cow, it turned towards him and said, `I have not been created for this purpose (i.e. carrying), I have been created for sloughing.l`` The Prophet added, ``I, Abu Bakr and `Umar believe in the story.`` The Prophet went on, ``A wolf caught a sheep, and when the shepherd chased it, the wolf said, `Who will be its guard on the day of wild beasts, when there will be no shepherd for it except me?` ``After narrating it, the Prophet said, ``I, Abu Bakr and `Umar too believe it.`` Abu Salama (a sub-narrator) said, ``Abu Bakr and `Umar were not present then.``

It has been written that a wolf also spoke to one of the companions of the Prophet near Medina as narrated in Fath-al-Bari:Narrated Unais bin `Amr: Ahban bin Aus said, ``I was amongst my sheep. Suddenly a wolf caught a sheep and I shouted at it. The wolf sat on its tail and addressed me, saying, `Who will look after it (i.e. the sheep) when you will be busy and not able to look after it? Do you forbid me the provision which Allah has provided me?` `` Ahban added, ``I clapped my hands and said, `By Allah, I have never seen anything more curious and wonderful than this!` On that the wolf said, `There is something (more curious) and wonderful than this; that is, Allah`s Apostle in those palm trees, inviting people to Allah (i.e. Islam).` ``Unais bin `Amr further said, ``Then Ahban went to Allah`s Apostle and informed him what happened and embraced Islam.)`` palm trees or other trees and share the fruits with me.``
The Prophet`s Night Journey to Jerusalem (Arabic: Israa) and Ascent to the Heavens (Arabic: Miraj)

Volume 5, Book 58, Number 228:

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

Regarding the Statement of Allah``

``And We granted the vision (Ascension to the heavens) which We made you see (as an actual eye witness) was only made as a trial for the people.`` (17.60)

Ibn Abbas added: The sights which Allah`s Apostle was shown on the Night Journey when he was taken to Bait-ul Maqdis (i.e. Jerusalem) were actual sights, (not dreams). And the Cursed Tree (mentioned) in the Quran is the tree of Zaqqum (itself) .

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 462:

Narrated Ibn Abbas:

The Prophet said, ``On the night of my Ascent to the Heaven, I saw Moses who was a tall brown curly-haired man as if he was one of the men of Shan`awa tribe, and I saw Jesus, a man of medium height and moderate complexion inclined to the red and white colors and of lank hair. I also saw Malik, the gate-keeper of the (Hell) Fire and Ad-Dajjal amongst the signs which Allah showed me.`` (The Prophet then recited the Holy Verse): ``So be not you in doubt of meeting him` when you met Moses during the night of Mi`raj over the heavens`` (32.23)

Narrated Anas and Abu Bakra: ``The Prophet said, ``The angels will guard Medina from Ad-Dajjal (who will not be able to enter the city of Medina).``

Volume 5, Book 58, Number 227:

Narrated Abbas bin Malik:

Malik bin Sasaa said that Allah`s Apostle described to them his Night Journey saying, ``While I was lying in Al-Hatim or Al-Hijr, suddenly someone came to me and cut my body open from here to here.`` I asked Al-Jarud who was by my side, ``What does he mean?`` He said, ``It means from his throat to his pubic area,`` or said, ``From the top of the chest.`` The Prophet further said, ``He then took out my heart. Then a gold tray of Belief was brought to me and my heart was washed and was filled (with Belief) and then returned to its original place. Then a white animal which was smaller than a mule and bigger than a donkey was brought to me.`` (On this Al-Jarud asked, ``Was it the Buraq, O Abu Hamza?`` I (i.e. Anas) replied in the affirmative). The Prophet said, ``The animal`s step (was so wide that it) reached the farthest point within the reach of the animal`s sight. I was carried on it, and Gabriel set out with me till we reached the nearest heaven.

When he asked for the gate to be opened, it was asked, `Who is it?` Gabriel answered, `Gabriel.` It was asked, `Who is accompanying you?` Gabriel replied, `Muhammad.` It was asked, `Has Muhammad been called?` Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, `He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!` The gate was opened, and when I went over the first heaven, I saw Adam there. Gabriel said (to me). `This is your father, Adam; pay him your greetings.` So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, `You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.` Then Gabriel ascended with me till we reached the second heaven. Gabriel asked for the gate to be opened. It was asked, `Who is it?` Gabriel answered, `Gabriel.` It was asked, `Who is accompanying you?` Gabriel replied, `Muhammad.` It was asked, `Has he been called?` Gabriel answered in the affirmative. Then it was said, `He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!` The gate was opened.

When I went over the second heaven, there I saw Yahya (i.e. John) and `Isa (i.e. Jesus) who were cousins of each other. Gabriel said (to me), `These are John and Jesus; pay them your greetings.` So I greeted them and both of them returned my greetings to me and said, `You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.` Then Gabriel ascended with me to the third heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, `Who is it?` Gabriel replied, `Gabriel.` It was asked, `Who is accompanying you?` Gabriel replied, `Muhammad.` It was asked, `Has he been called?` Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, `He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is!` The gate was opened, and when I went over the third heaven there I saw Joseph. Gabriel said (to me), `This is Joseph; pay him your greetings.` So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, `You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.` Then Gabriel ascended with me to the fourth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, `Who is it?` Gabriel replied, `Gabriel` It was asked, `Who is accompanying you?` Gabriel replied, `Muhammad.` It was asked, `Has he been called?` Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, `He is welcomed, what an excel lent visit his is!`

The gate was opened, and when I went over the fourth heaven, there I saw Idris. Gabriel said (to me), `This is Idris; pay him your greetings.` So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, `You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.` Then Gabriel ascended with me to the fifth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, `Who is it?` Gabriel replied, `Gabriel.` It was asked. `Who is accompanying you?` Gabriel replied, `Muhammad.` It was asked, `Has he been called?` Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is! So when I went over the fifth heaven, there I saw Harun (i.e. Aaron), Gabriel said, (to me). This is Aaron; pay him your greetings.` I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, `You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.` Then Gabriel ascended with me to the sixth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked. `Who is it?` Gabriel replied, `Gabriel.` It was asked, `Who is accompanying you?` Gabriel replied, `Muhammad.` It was asked, `Has he been called?` Gabriel replied in the affirmative. It was said, `He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!`

When I went (over the sixth heaven), there I saw Moses. Gabriel said (to me),` This is Moses; pay him your greeting. So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said, `You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet.` When I left him (i.e. Moses) he wept. Someone asked him, `What makes you weep?` Moses said, `I weep because after me there has been sent (as Prophet) a young man whose followers will enter Paradise in greater numbers than my followers.` Then Gabriel ascended with me to the seventh heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, `Who is it?` Gabriel replied, `Gabriel.` It was asked,` Who is accompanying you?` Gabriel replied, `Muhammad.` It was asked, `Has he been called?` Gabriel replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, `He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!`

So when I went (over the seventh heaven), there I saw Abraham. Gabriel said (to me), `This is your father; pay your greetings to him.` So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said, `You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.` Then I was made to ascend to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (i.e. the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary) Behold! Its fruits were like the jars of Hajr (i.e. a place near Medina) and its leaves were as big as the ears of elephants. Gabriel said, `This is the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary) . Behold ! There ran four rivers, two were hidden and two were visible, I asked, `What are these two kinds of rivers, O Gabriel?` He replied,` As for the hidden rivers, they are two rivers in Paradise and the visible rivers are the Nile and the Euphrates.`

Then Al-Bait-ul-Ma`mur (i.e. the Sacred House) was shown to me and a container full of wine and another full of milk and a third full of honey were brought to me. I took the milk. Gabriel remarked, `This is the Islamic religion which you and your followers are following.` Then the prayers were enjoined on me: They were fifty prayers a day. When I returned, I passed by Moses who asked (me), `What have you been ordered to do?` I replied, `I have been ordered to offer fifty prayers a day.` Moses said, `Your followers cannot bear fifty prayers a day, and by Allah, I have tested people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel (in vain). Go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your followers` burden.` So I went back, and Allah reduced ten prayers for me. Then again I came to Moses, but he repeated the same as he had said before. Then again I went back to Allah and He reduced ten more prayers. When I came back to Moses he said the same, I went back to Allah and He ordered me to observe ten prayers a day. When I came back to Moses, he repeated the same advice, so I went back to Allah and was ordered to observe five prayers a day.

When I came back to Moses, he said, `What have you been ordered?` I replied, `I have been ordered to observe five prayers a day.` He said, `Your followers cannot bear five prayers a day, and no doubt, I have got an experience of the people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel, so go back to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your follower`s burden.` I said, `I have requested so much of my Lord that I feel ashamed, but I am satisfied now and surrender to Allah`s Order.` When I left, I heard a voice saying, `I have passed My Order and have lessened the burden of My Worshippers.``

http://www.mawlid.net/miracles_of_Prophet.htm

This is an ocean which has no shore! A limitless ocean! Subhan Allah--every atom of Huzoor Paak`s very beinh is itself a miracle! I will recommend 2 sirah books -one in English and one in Urdu:

1. English: Muhammad-Messenger of Allah by Qadi `Iyad al Maliki -translated by Aisha Bewley.

2. Urdu: Zia al Nabi by Hazrat Pir Muhammad Karam Shah al Azhari (rahmatullah alayhi)

well Mr.Naqshbandi its good .I had heard names of different SUFIs and QALNADARS but never study such amazing miracles

---

amazing really amazing khuda jisay chahay apnay karishmay ata karay

Re: # 27

Yes its true But I believe He did performed the Miracle of `` Shaq-ul-Qamar``...that is splitting of the moon..and then rejoining it.....
and it is also said....This phenomena was seen in India and they even sent some men to invistigate it.... Maybe Raja Bhoj`s rattan or the poet Rattan ... was one of them...

Mr Asif please enlighnten us on this too...

Salaam Asif,

I am a big time confused with the concepts of Sufiism and the miracles shown by the pious men and women, call them sufi or saints.

When one reads Seerat -e- Rasul Hazrat Muhammad (SAW), one can see the epic of human struggle. Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) preached Islam, fought wars, migrated from Makkah, and eventually established Islam without any miracles. There is never a miracle happened that saved Him from problems. Just read any book on Seerat-un-Nabi and you will see how much problems He had to go through to establish the deen. He dealt with all the problems at human level. This is truly a miracle.

The question that comes to my mind is that if Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) did not show any miracles (even when asked by the kafirs) how come Sufis start to show miracles that would make Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) look like a kid (nauz billah)?

For a commoner like me the impression I gets that these Sufis were some how greater then Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) nauz billah?

Do you mind clearing this for me and other like me?

Asfand Siddiqui
Sacramento California

Re: # 23
Echoboom, just supporting what you said about the divide which was created amongst people,I give example of my own village in doaba.An annual mela,``Chhinj``is held every year in which the whole village participates(sikhs and hindus only as muslims migrated in 47).The main attraction of the festival is the wrestling and is actually to appease a pir who is believed to be protector of ``maal-dangar``.

Second common mela is ibaadat of another peer(most likely Sakhi Sarwar),that is called ``saal`` and is held every alternate year.Interestingly,it starts with qurbani of a sheep.

Googa was a hindu king of Rajasthan,believed to be borne with Shivji`s blessing.In punjab,he is called Googa Jaahar Pir.

There are numerous other examples.
Pirs and gurus and babas were more of cultural gurus rather than religeous gurus.Politicians have tried to pigeon-hole them.

slan.

yes it is :-)

or you can email me at asifjuk@gmail.com

Naqshbandi Sahab I tried to email you.........
........is your account still operational....??

aquaris:22

These are two different personalities. Most likely the one who is reported in the 12the century was either a descendant or a saint-mujavir of the shrine.

This subject, although of just a fleeting interest, is very important because of the ``continuity`` of the tradition. Even if one is to establish the ``facts``, beyond any shadow
of a doubt, it would still be an interesting trivia to most of us. ( & should be)

The very interesting, and sometimes ironical and sad, part of all this is that we, humans, self-congratulate ourselves to be highly-educated but it is the trivia, gossip, and folk-lore
on which we end up constructing our pride & predjudice.

Calling it a Gurudwara Baba Haji Rattan, is very interesting & should be an eye-opener for those who try to create a rift between Hindu-Muslim-& Sikh populace of India.
Before the arrival of the British/Western Baboons there was never ever a single case of killing among the populace based on religion in India. As you can see in this Sheer-O-Shakar name , it is a proof of love bhai-charaa and of a superior civilisation as compared to that of the western baboon `civilisation` of even these `modern` times. the kind of ``civilisation`` for which our kanjaRR class, front & back, is vying to dilate their loop-holes.

As I suggested that little by little our muslim scholars, as opposed to ``Islamic`` scholars--goraa, kalaa, bhooraa alike-- are now German & French citizens in sizable numbers and are perusing the ``stolen`` manuscipts from their libraries for the benefit of muslims.

The first references to Haji Ratan in Islamic literature date back to twelfth century. Several Hadith collectors travelled from as far as Andalusia and Central Asia to collect the supposed traditions from him. Abu Marwan Andalusi, a Spanish Muslim chronicler, visited Haji Ratan and penned an interesting sketch of him. `When he arrived at the Baba`s monastery, he was taken aback to see an ancient, wrinkled man, his cheeks covered with hair `as white as cotton`. The Baba addressed him in a language he could not understand, claiming, as was later translated for him, that he was present in Medina during the famed Battle of the Trench. At that time, he said, he was just fourteen years old. When the Prophet saw him labouring at the trenches, he blessed him with a long life.`

--from Yoginder Sikind`s book on these lesser known Babas spread all over of India

Re: # 18
Just fo Information

About Bhatinda

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathinda

It is believed that Rao Bhatti established the modern town of Bathinda in the Lakhi jungle area in the 3rd century, and it was captured from him by the Barars.

Bala Rao inhabited this city in 965 AD, naming it Bhatinda after his caste name. The city also remained the capital of Raja Jaipal.

In 1004 CE, Mahmud of Ghazni besieged the local fort, which was located on the route from the northwest into the rich Ganges valley. In 1189, Muhammad Ghori attacked and occupied the fort of Bathinda. Prithvi Raj Chauhan, the illustrious ruler of this region, managed to recover the posssesion of the fort 13 months later, in 1191, after a fierce battle.

Razia Sultan, the first female ruler of India, was imprisoned here in April, 1240. She was released in August of that year through the efforts of Altunia, the local governor. Both Altunia and Razia married but were killed by robbers near Kaithal on October 13.


About Haji or Hazzi Rattan

http://www.onlypunjab.com/ct/bathinda/

there are two such persons are mentioned....

`` Hazi Rattan : The great Hindu poet named Rattan Chand dared to go to Makka for Hazz and was disowned by the society who was blessed with Moksh by 1st Sikh Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. 10th Guru, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji completes the words of 1st Guru. There is Mazzar near the Gurudwara Hazi Rattan.Famous Mela Baba Hazi Rattan Yadgari Sabhyacharak Mela is regular feature in the month of December. ``

and

`` Mazaar of Peer Haji Rattan : Situated between the Civil Hospital and Grain Market. Legend goes that as Ambassador of Raja Bhoj, Baba Haji Rattan visited Mecca and on return to India, he settled in meditation at Bhatinda. The place is hallowed by the visit of Guru nanak Dev and Guru Gobind Singh. ``


...... Please enlighten us.... One is a Poet ( Hazzi Rattan ) who went on his own...and the Other ( Peer Haji Rattan ) who is the ambassador of Raja Bhoj....
Are they two different personalities or the same.....??

A brave female warrior who makes Islamists pi55 in their pants:

++++

Hirsi Ali

SPIEGEL: Aren`t you concerned that tensions would arise in these forced communities?

Hirsi Ali: The other alternative creates even greater tensions. If you allow the ghettos to grow, you`ll have clashes between skinheads and Muslim extremists, for example. The second means of access should also be controlled by political means: A prohibition on all faith-based schools. Schools must be places of civilization, places that impart Western values, the purposes of democracy. We must treat the children as our children and not turn their education over to defenders of foreign dogma who indoctrinate them with anti-liberal doctrines.

SPIEGEL: Ignore the cultures of the immigrants?

Hirsi Ali: Blindly respecting their cultures is the wrong approach. Here`s an example: Many children in Holland`s Arab ghettos are taught the teachings of Ibn Abu-Taymiya, one of the founders of pure Islam who preaches the holy war as a way of life. Instead of studying European philosophers, the children are taught to abide by 11th century teachings!

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,356485-2,00.html

Full interview in my diary.

ZahraJ,

This is just a pathetic attempt by some people of shaytaanii lifestyles to project their own sicknesses to a group of people whom would not even have imagined it; yes i have come across this backward-projection before: all it shows is that some people are so ill, they cannot imagine a spiritual bond of love between 2 males without thinking somehow that they must have been gay (nauzubillah). [nb: i am not saying that gays did not exist in islamic history; i am just saying that it is impossible for a Muslim saint to be gay because these are people at the highest spiritual levels and obedience to shar`iah who even do the smallest superagatory acts and avoid things which are doubtful let alone haram out of their scrupulousness; in shariah homosexuality is an enormity [kabira gunaah]. hence it is inconceivable. a sinner cannot become a wali. then how can someone who is engaged in such acts be a wali?!]

to give an example which`ll make it clear insha Allah: one day Hazrat Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindi -may his secret be sanctified [qadas Allahu sirruhu] - who was the Mujaddid of the Second Islamic Millenium [Mujaddid Alf al Thani; in Urdu, Mujaddid e Alf e Saani]--was coming out of the mosque and he stepped out with his right foot first; now the Sunnah is to step out of a mosque with one`s left foot first [and enter with one`s right foot first] ; his foot was only half way out when he froze in that position and began to weep. He wept so much that he became unconsciouss. His disciples asked, Hazrat what is the matter? He explained that I have broken a sunnat of the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) which is why I am weeping. Someone said, Huzoor you can just go back in and come out with the correct foot first. He replied, ``The point is that people look up to me as a spiritual guide- a pir! If I am breaking sunnats what will my mureeds do?!``

Such is the level of conformity which the Saints have to the Sunnah; they follow it without even thinking--it becomes second nature to them. Then how can they do somethnig which Allah and His Habib have condemned in the strongest language?!

La hawla wa la quwwata...that is why one should read orientalist writers on sufism with a large pinch of salt if at all...

Raw Dust: it is qadas Allahu sirruhu...


echoboom: that was interesting..more please...:-)

hamidm

let it out, there is so much raw material in this article. by the way u let Ozer get away.

For the love of the Nabi,
sarkaare-doa-Alam,
salal-lahO-v`aalehi-vassallam






Gurudwara Haji Rattan, Dist. Bhatinda    

While on his way to Talwandi Sabo Guru Gobind Singh camped here for the night
outside the mausoleum of the Muslim saint Haji Rattan.The tomb keepers tried to dissuade the Guru from sleeping herewith the excuse that the place was haunted. Since the Guru neither believed in tombs or ghosts he spent the night here to show the people that such superstitions were not followed by Sikhs.
(from: allaboutsikhs.com/ gurudwaras/gd-hajirattan.htm)

---

Baba Rattan of Bhatinda

As as young lad he heard from his friends that there is talk of an autar (a manifestation of God in human from--as per hindu belief)) who has `descended` in Arabia.

He, becauae of his disposition towards such matters, one day set out on a journey to meet this new autar. After a long long journey via Iran, he finally managed to not only meet the prophet (pbuh) but was also was his companion in his jihad against jahilyaa.

Since a lot of manuscripts literature in arabic is still in Germany and France and is being brought out in trickles, more & more details of this are surfacing.

Ratan-Naath eventually returned ( after 10 years, if I recollect) to India. His mazaar is in Bhatinda and is called Baba Ratan Naath`s mazaar. An annual Urs/mela is still held in December and devotees of all religions pay their respects to him.

He & Raja Cherumal of Kerala, in this respect, and thus far what are the generally known ones, are perhaps the first indigineous Muslims in India. They sought the route to Islam themselves.

P.S:I`ve written just enough to arouse some interest. I hope for some it would be a new subject. ( if so, please let me know to encourage me to bring more of such info here )

Naqshabndi:

It`s my understanding that amongst the male Sufis and their male disciples, there was a strong bonding of respect and affection and love. I was surprised to come across a book on Gay Sufis at Barnes and Noble. In that book, the writers had given examples of men falling for each other out of respect and love. One of the examples dealt with Mevlana Rumi and Hazat Shams Tabraiz.

I have read about M.R. and H.S.T from my early childhood, but the version I read never ever gave any inkling on any ``gayish`` stuff. Nothing against the gays, but I think they twisted the story to add to their version of spirituality.

Please correct me if I am wrong. Also, let me know if you have some details on that.

Zahra

Naqsh:

These are beautiful tales of love and devotion. Truly, faith is ishq!

........... i think i saw a soofi today - he was wearing three layers of winter clothing and pushing a shopping cart piled high with all his worldly belongings........

got a question for you:
what is the operative phrase for ``may his secret be sanctified`` in arabic?

thanks.

Naqshbandi:
i always found the Tareeqat fascinating. Time and choices took me in the direction 180 degree off. guess too far off. But thats besides the point.

There is something intriguing the way whole learning process is rooted/routed through what you guys i think call `Qulb`, Heart instead of you know.. The madness and zeal of a mureed, the focus and commitment to his Purpose or Murshid (??) amaze the heck out of an outsider like me.

hope you are doing well. read any mulhid literary writers, lately? :-)

Aquarius sorry I forgot to write the link to the article about Ibn Arabi and the Validity of all Religions. Here it is!

http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/nuh/amat.htm

The relevant passage for those interested:
``In fact, one looks in vain in the works of Ibn al-`Arabi for the belief of the validity of currently existing non-Islamic religions, for this is kufr, as Imam Nawawi and the other Imams mentioned above unanimously concur.

aqaurius--Shaykh al Akbar as echoboom so rightly says is extremely difficult; it is made more so by orientalist misunderstandings (or deliberate misreadings) of his thought; he was an orthodox Muslim but his spiritual writings are not for the awaam [masses] nor for the khassa [elite] but for the Elite of the Elite as he himself says! That is why even amongst Sunni Sufis only the most advanced students who are themselves spiritually advanced can read him! What he writes of is experiental and not to be understood by mere reading...but suffice it to say, as Shaykh Nuh has shown >here that Ibn Arabi (may his secret be sanctified!) was NOT a perrenialist.

As for that quote, it is Islamic belief that all Messengers brought the same message of tawheed. We believe in all of the Messengers. That is nothing new. But since the appearance of Huzoor Paak alayhisalatuwasalam the previous messages have been abrogated; yes, awliya can and do get spiritual faiz from other Nabis too (who all get it from Our Nabi) but this is on a spiritual plane. Wallahu alam.

The book Quest for the Red Sulphur is a good biography for the most part.

echoboom: jazak Allahu khayran for the kind words. Yes, difference of opinion is a mercy in this Ummah..:-). Thanks too for the link of Hazrat Shaykh Abdul Aleem Siddiqui sahib rahmatullah alayhi and Bernard Shaw (This eminent Mawlana and wali was, btw, the father of the late Mawlana Ahmad Shah Noorani rahmatullah alayhi of JUP and MMA President).

aquaris:9

Ibn-e-Arabi is a very difficult area of scholarship. As much as inter-net can give us access to such esoteric knowledge (and that too in a third-grade language) it has been suggested by some on a higher-plane of understanding (not `scholars`--a bad word) that there is a step-by-step approach to pursue this syllabi.

Allama Iqbal`s father`s house had regular readings of Ibn-Arabi & a lot of madressa luminaries including Maulvi Meer Hassan ( Allama`s madressa`s mentor) were part of the gathering.

You might start with `` In quest of red-sulphur`` ; an introduction to the life of Ibne-Arabi; it is simple but despite that quite `dry` and `pithy`--and for the last 10 years or so I am still slogging along. I do not think I have the ``it`` for it... `` Allah agar taufeeque naa dey, insaan kay buss kaa kaam naheen).

That site is a great site and as you perhaps know now, Ibn-eArabi & Mullah Sidra rea the greates neme in contemporary ``western`` philosophical thought. Mullah Sidra lived 400 years in Iran--and his manuscripts are being pored over by the Philosophy Associations.

---

Naqshbandi Sahib:


Please keep on writing on such subjects. There are, and perhaps rightly should be, differences as to the historical & political understanding of muslims, but one thing which is very rewarding and encouraging is that we are all part of a big Ummah. The merlot-munaafique enemy is very haraamzaada & ghulaamzaada & hence it is extremely important for muslims of all sects to never bring family differences to these closet-kaffirs.

I am thankful to you that you continue to write here on these madressa subjects. It is always very refreshing to see an in-their-face, flaunting , proud, upstanding muslim. Please continue & bring more on board. As for the loop-holies, the ones who are scurrying to flaunt their loop-holes to justify their merlot-munaafiquat & hooker-haraamkaris please never ever acknowledge or address them...just like in real life. The kameens were never encouraged in shareef mohallaas. These kanjaRRs are not fit company. Just say your stuff & let them do their small `t`-testicle exhibition & Mairaa-ThhUns (``my udders``)...

---

I hope you & other muslims would enjoy & appreciate this...Munnafiques : Shoo Shoo!



A Shavian and a Theologian

An Illuminating Conversation
between George Bernard Shaw 
and His Eminence Mohammad
Abdul Aleem Siddiqui, al Qaderi

His Eminence Maulana Mohammed Abdul Aleem Siddiqui, al-Qaderi, the eminent Muslim divine, who was on a visit to Mombassa, [Kenya, Africa] interviewed George Bernard Shaw, the world-renowned Irish savant, who was passing through on his way to South Africa on a holiday. The Union Castle Liner, Linlithgow, by which he was travelling, stopped for three days at the Island, and George Bernard Shaw was a guest of the Resident Magistrate of Mombassa, a distant relative whom he had never met before. When His Eminence arrived at the bungalow of the Magistrate, on Wednesday morning, the 17th of April 1935, George Bernard Shaw at once came out to receive him.

George Bernard Shaw, a well-built, medium statured erect and imposing figure, a gentleman of noble mien, was smiling . . . not the smile of the sceptic that flickers round the corners of the lips, but one of real welcome suffused his face, and there was nothing Shavian [an admirer or devotee of G.B. Shaw or his theories ... in this case ``conceited``] about him, if the phonetic pun be permissible, for even his chin was not shaved, and a long flowing beard, on the contrary, imparted a serene dignity to his falsely represented Freudian features. Full of vim and vigour, if it were not for the grey colour of his hair, beard and eyebrows, he could scarcely be credited with the four score years, which strange to say, he carried with almost youthful buoyancy.

As [to] His Eminence, a venerable figure in his dignified Arabic robes, comparatively very young, for he was only forty-three, although his grey hair due to chronic catarrh and unceasing intense mental strain made him look much older, stepped out of the car, there was a hearty exchange of greetings, after which His Eminence expressed his great pleasure at meeting him. The Grand Old Man immediately rejoined that having heard about his missionary exploits and his novel way of preaching Islam, he himself was eager to know him, and it was indeed a very happy coincidence that they had met there that day.

The conversation which followed was very interesting, though devoid of Shavian shafts and sarcasm, perhaps because the usual roles of interviews with George Bernard Shaw were reversed in this case: for it was George Bernard Shaw who asked the question of the interviewer, and listened attentively to the prompt lucid and informative replies of His Eminence. As an indirect account the lively discussion might rob it of its personal touch, it is preferable that the stalwarts are made to speak for themselves.


GEORGE BERNARD SHAW: I regret, I was not able, on account of a previous engagement, to attend your lecture last night, although I was very keen on doing so. You spoke on Philosophy of Peace, but as a Muslim, it would have been more appropriate if you had delivered a lecture on the Philosophy of War, for Islam doubtless, was spread at the point of the sword.

HIS EMINENCE: This is a common misunderstanding regarding Islam. I was dealing with this problem only last night, and I am really surprised that this myth which has been thoroughly exploded by now should receive any notice from a scholar of your calibre. However, I may briefly tell you now that the literal meaning of every word ``Islam`` is peace. An authentic record of the teachings of Islam in their pristine purity has been preserved intact in the Qur`an and the Traditions. They go to establish beyond the shadow of a doubt, that Islam permits the use of the sword only when wantonly attacked and compelled to defend itself. Besides, there is an explicit injunction in the Holy Qur`an that: ``There is no coercion in religion,`` thus clearly forbidding the use of force or compulsion in matters of religion. As a matter of fact, I entertain the same conviction regarding the teachings of genuine Christianity, for our sense of reasoning tells us that if they be revelations and their source of emanation be consequently Divine they cannot but emphatically veto any manner of violence in respect of belief and enjoin its inculcation by means of arguments and rational discourses. As far as Islam is concerned the Qur`an distinctly says: ``So that he who perisheth thereafter may perish after demonstrative evidence, and that he who liveth may live by the same evidence.`` The method that Islam teaches for its propagation, and to which its acceptance by all reasonable men and its spread to all corners of the world in the past and the present is due, consists of the Quranic dictum: ``Invite people to the way of your Lord with wisdom and mild exhortation, and dispute with them in the most conciliating manner.``

History bears testimony to the fact that Christ was declared consubstantial [of the same substance] with the father by the Council of Nice, convened by Constantine in Bithynia in the year 325 A.C., and to enforce the belief in the Divinity of Christ, there followed a most horrid and inhuman slaughter of thousands of innocent people who refused to accept the dogma, not only in Europe, but in the sacred city of Jerusalem as well; but in spite of it all, I can never hold the real Christianity responsible for it. Of course, those representatives of the Church who wanted to impress the hearts of the people with their power and greatness and perpetuate their priestly authority, ensuring the people`s submission to their will, can be rightly saddled with all the blame.

Similarly, the sanguinary wars, known as Crusades, were the outcome of the Machiavellian machinations of such interested ecclesiastical groups of men, who realizing that the uncompromising preaching of the Oneness of God by Islam was a great obstacle in their path and their self-fabricated Divine authority was at stake, launched an unscrupulous campaign against Islam and Muslims.

They instigated the credulous mediaeval Europe to wage the so-called ``holy wars`` against Islam and Muslims, by circulating blood-curdling tales of imaginary atrocities by Muslims on Christians, describing the Muslims as infidels and inveterate enemies of their religion, property and persons. Obviously, therefore, these Church dignitaries alone can be held liable to account for those cruel, protracted, futile wars, and not the original teachings of Christianity or Islam and the Muslims.

Further, if we grant as a supposition, that some Muslim rulers and tribes, actuated by the lust of conquest, became aggressors, long after the advent of Islam, and let slip the dogs of war for self-aggrandizement, we can, in fairness, condemn those individuals for the reprehensible acts, and surely not Islam.

In this connection, I happen to have made certain remarks recently, in one of my speeches at Durban, and, as they are very pertinent, I would like to repeat them to you.


``If certain nations, immersed in paganism and superstition and ignorant of the real teachings of religion, wage wars in its name, the crime is theirs, and no blame can be ascribed to religion. Were not millions of human beings killed during the Great War in the name of peace, justice and the laudable object of safeguarding the rights of weaker nations? Should we then condemn these humane and noble qualities because some statesman abused these terms and sanctioned the inhuman slaughter for the attainment of their own selfish ends?``


GEORGE BERNARD SHAW: There is no doubt that the Roman Church fanatics were, to a great extent, responsible for the sad events, and the pure teachings of Christianity have no concern with their occurrence. It may also be admitted, that a great many misunderstandings prevail regarding Islam, and that it is being widely misrepresented, but do the Muslim masses agree with your interpretation, and do they believe that Islam was not, and should not be, spread by force?

HIS EMINENCE: Every Muslim is bound to endorse it, for whatever I say is precisely what the Qur`an says, and my own views or conceptions have nothing to do with it. Many books have been written on this subject, and Syed Amir Ali, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Allama Shibli and other learned Doctors of Islamic Theology have exhaustively dealt with all aspects of this problem in their books.

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW: I know that there is a considerable amount of concord between Islam and Christianity!

HIS EMINENCE: The concordance is not merely nominal or superficial, for the Qur`an expressly predicates that when the ultimate source or origin of an inspired or revealed and Divine religion is the Being of God, unanimity in such revelations is indispensable. Islam has been conceived as a new religion, but according to the Qur`an itself, the religion preached by it is the same that was promulgated by all the true Prophets and, from Abraham right up to Jesus, God deputed them, one and all, for the dissemination of much the same teachings.

It was only because their original teachings were tempered with and corrupted, and their authenticity became dubious, that the Almighty God sent the last Prophet, and the last Book, to re-state, confirm and complete His Original Message. The Holy Qur`an has made this quite clear by saying that: ``We ordained for you the religion with which We commanded Noah, and which We have revealed unto thee (0 Muhammad!), and with which We commanded Abraham and Moses and Jesus, saying Observe this religion and be not divided therein.``

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW: The translations of the Qur`an, which I have read, certainly go to substantiate your statements. I very much prefer the translation made by one who has adopted a different variation of the arrangement of the verses to that which is generally followed by other translators. I had it always with me during my tour of Morocco and Algeria, and my occasional references to its contents proved to be a perennial source of diversion and curious amusement to the Muslims of those lands. It is one of the editions of ``Every Man`s Library``, and I have commended its wider publicity to some of the publishers.

HIS EMINENCE: The translation you allude to is that of Mr. Rodwell?

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW: Yes.

HIS EMINENCE: There is no doubt that Mr. Rodwell has expended a great deal of energy and industry in translating the chapters of the Qur`an in their chronological order, but as his knowledge of the Arabic literature and Islamic history was not sufficiently wide and profound, a considerable number of translated passages are so misleading and contain such flagrant mistakes, (which I by no means attribute to a deliberate intent on his part, but as I have already said, they may be the result of his limited knowledge in the said spheres) that they are likely to create wrong impressions about Islam.

As far as the translations of the Qur`an are concerned, I would recommend you to read ``The Meaning of the Glorious Koran`` by Mr. Marmaduke Pickthall, and I am sure that its perusal will enable you to appreciate considerably more the exquisite beauty, the sublime transcendence and the appealing and impressive style of the Qur`an`s perspective. However, I do not imply that it is a perfect version of the original, for you yourself can aptly judge, being an admittedly splendid writer, that in spite of the translator being the ablest and the best, he can never transmit the force and brilliance of your original writings into his translations.

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW: It is quite true that the spirit of the original cannot be transplanted into its translation in another language, and the same is the case with the translation of the Bible, but they have now achieved a very high standard, and the process of raising it still higher is being continued.

HIS EMINENCE: Although the translations of the Bible may attain the highest stage of perfection from the standpoint of language, one cannot say, under any circumstances, that they contain the original message of Christianity, or are the genuine versions of the teachings of Jesus Christ, for the original message, as you know, in its unalloyed purity, as delivered by Jesus, is no more extant. The result of the numerous sections of the Bible, and the absence of the original manuscript, is confusion worse confounded, and a seeker after truth cannot quench his thirst at its hydroid font, whilst the Qur`an, in contrast, has been preserved in such a manner that there has not been the slightest change, not even to the extent of a letter or a dot. Hence, if we want to know the real teachings of Christianity, we must look for them in the Qur`an.

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW: Has there been really no alteration in the Qur`an, and is it absolutely preserved in its original form? Did Prophet Muhammad know how to write, and is his writing in existence?

HIS EMINENCE: There is a complete and authentic record of each and every chapter, nay, even of every verse, or I might say, of every word of the Qur`an. The Prophet, immediately following the revelation of a verse or verses to him, used to send for the special scribes appointed for the purpose and dictate the same to them. When transcribed, he would ask them to recite what they had written, and, after listening to and verifying it, would explain to them its meaning.

The manuscripts in the handwriting of one of the most honoured and trusted among the scribes, by the name of Zaid bin Sabit, are preserved intact in the archives of Constantinople and Medina, and all the editions of the Qur`an in the world are their exact copies, not differing among themselves even in point of a comma or a dash.

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW: What! are there punctuation marks in the Qur`an?

HIS EMINENCE: The punctuation marks, in the English language merely comprise commas, colons, semi-colons, full-points [periods], etc., but the principles of Quranic elocution comprehend numerous signs of a different kind. For instance, a stop is compulsory in certain places, whilst it is optional in others; some endings are to be fully pronounced, whilst others are quiescent, etc. The correct accent, pronunciation, accurate halts, etc., are so intricate and difficult of acquisition that the Quranic elocution has been evolved into a distinct art, and copious volumes have been written on its theory and practice.

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW: All this is rather astonishing and new to me. I was also surprised to learn that you delivered a speech on ``Islam and Science`` at Nairobi. What I find difficult to understand is how you can possibly present the picture of Heaven and Hell, which is portrayed in the Qur`an, in a manner convincing to persons conversant with science, whose minds are inured to accept nothing without visible or palpable proof.

I hold the Prophet of Arabia in great esteem and I can quite understand that it would have been impossible to restrain and wean that illiterate and perverse race, sunk in the miasma of utter moral depravity, from committing the most heinous of crimes, and imbue its people with enthusiasm to strive after righteousness and assimilate high morals and virtues, without projecting such a terrible and intensely awe inspiring spectacle of Hell and an equally captivating and enticing image of a land flowing with milk and honey to represent Heaven before their vision. I also very much admire the forcible and striking diction of the Qur`an. What elegant grace and beauty characterizes that passage which depicts the dreadful scene of the doomsday field, and, when dealing with infanticide, dramatically leaves off at the question: ``For what crime were thou slain?`` to the innocent child that was buried alive or put to death. In my opinion, it is the most effective way of the people. But I am afraid I am digressing, for I would very much like to know how the problem of Heaven and Hell can possibly be elucidated in the light of science.

HIS EMINENCE: You are a master of the art of writing, and your enchanting and novel literary productions with your magical pen revolutionize the mentality of the readers. I am sure you will agree with me on this point, that material language cannot possibly act as an apt vehicle for the accurate conveyance of the significance and reality of spiritual problems and phenomena without the help of metaphors and similes, and these at best can serve to frame analogies. One must therefore, bear this fact in mind and make due allowance for the mode of expression in describing Hell and Heaven in the Qur`an. Simultaneously, however, with such illustrations that confine their appeal to physical senses, God Almighty stipulates in the clearest terms not to be too inquisitive regarding the true nature of the blessings of Heaven: ``So no one knows what is in store for them of that which will refresh the eyes.`` And, according to the Traditions, we should, under no circumstances, think of them in any way comparable to the objects of this world: ``The reality of their constitution has been neither witnessed by any human eyes, nor have the ears listened to words capable of expressing it; it is, indeed beyond the pale of human imagination, and even a perfunctory surrogate of it cannot be visualized.`` How can it be asserted in the face of this pronounced explanation that the blessings of Heaven resemble in any way, whatsoever, the things that please us or contribute to our happiness in this world. The truth of the matter, on the contrary, is that just as a consequence of compliance with natural or physical laws, material progress and comfort, commensurate with the degree of comprehension and execution, follow as a matter of course, so in proportion to allegiance or adherence to moral and spiritual laws and their translation into practice, one attains the utmost possible spiritual bliss and beatitude, and likewise their violation entails spiritual torture and tribulation. Now if, according to the law of progress, everything is heading for advancement, there must naturally be a zenith of it, and beyond that there must be no point of further progress. Comfort or happiness and grief or suffering are two states which a person experiences in this life; hence there must be an extreme point of both these states. This very extreme point of pleasure or bliss is called Heaven, and the extreme point of pain or sorrow, Hell. Just as there are material media that are either conducive to happiness or instrumental in inflicting suffering in this world, so must there be some kind of media to procreate that state of bliss or generate pain and suffering in the other world. A metaphorical word-picture of the former has been sketched to portray Heaven, and the tremendously appalling and dreadful portrait of torments has been drawn to symbolize Hell. Now this other world which we can call spiritual or celestial is neither like this material world, nor is it purely spiritual, having no connection, whatsoever, with matter, and where there are only souls utterly free from matter. The human being, body and soul together, is responsible or accountable for his activities. Hence the soul in partnership with the quintessence of this very physical organism will meet with the kind of happiness or grief suitable to the conditions obtaining in that world. Now it only remains to define matter, but as you know, this is not possible even at the present stage of scientific progress. For, what matter really is, is a conundrum that has not been solved in spite of the attempts made by the best human brains. Far from succeeding in analysing it chemically, the greatest scientists have not been able even to picture its reality. The culminating point of scientific research up to date is the establishment of the Theory of Protons and Electrons, according to which the wave radiation of these are the basis of the universe, and every physical body in its solid form is the result of those very radiations. This is what the magazine `The World of Wonder` says about matter: ``Matter seems very solid, but men of science tell us that if all the spaces in the atoms that make up our bodies were done away with, and the nucleus and electrons of the atoms were concentrated into a mass, the whole matter of a grown man`s body would be so small that it could not be seen with the naked eye.`` Hence, if it is possible for a scientist to accept without positive proof that an average electron flies round its nucleus several thousand million million times every second, and base the formation of solid physical organisms on their wave radiations, there should be no difficulty for him to imagine the soul and body in a form suitable to the conditions of the kind of happiness or grief to be met with in the great Beyond. A very hazy picture of those states can be said to reflect itself in those weird experiences of ours which we call dreams.

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW: This is really a very beautiful, eloquent and gratifying explanation, but will the present day Muslims be prepared to accept it?

HIS EMINENCE: This description is by no means a concoction of my brain, but, as I have already said, it is propounded by the Qur`an. I cannot claim any credit, even for the manner of description, because my great predecessors, Imams Fakhruddin Razi, Ghazzali, and Mohiuddin-ibn-Arabi, when addressing enlightened philosophers like you, expressed themselves in similar terms. If I may say it in the original style, I have only gathered a few crumbs from their tables of magnificent feasts. All the teachings of Islam are rational; there are no mysteries and dogmas. They only require to be explained in a proper light to transfuse their correct sense. It is difficult to understand the literature of any art with which we are not conversant. Hence, in order to grasp and assimilate the problematical points related to any art, we must first acquire knowledge and cultivate intimate acquaintance with that particular art. If we then seek their solution in the light of this knowledge, we shall easily understand them.

(At this stage Mr. Shaw`s hostess came in, and Mr. Shaw introduced His Eminence to her. Addressing Mr. Shaw, she said that it was almost time for him to leave for the docks. Mr. Shaw said he must certainly make a move then and, turning to His Eminence, said:)

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW: Your conversation is so very interesting and informative, that I would like to have the privilege of enjoying your company for years, but unfortunately, I have to leave now.

HIS EMINENCE: I also ardently desire to have the benefit of exchanging views with such a cultured and learned scholar as yourself, particularly when I find that an inadequate acquaintance with the teachings of Islam from inauthentic and perhaps tainted sources has evoked such a positive and optimistic statement from you regarding Islam, that: ``The future religion of the educated, cultured and enlightened people will be Islam.`` I would like to speak to you about the profound philosophy and psychological truths the Qur`an expounds, so that a gifted and erudite savant of your parts and genius, perfectly familiar with the tastes and mental tendencies of the civilized world, can present them to it in an effective and desirable manner.

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW: I am really very sorry that I could secure such a short time for speaking to a learned sage like yourself.

HIS EMINENCE: I am, however, grateful even for this opportunity and avail myself of the occasion to present to you the printed copies of two of my Lectures on ``Religious and Scientific Progress of the World``, and ``Spiritual Culture in Islam``, which I recently delivered at Durban. I also give you this booklet on ``Islam`` by my friend, Mr. Elias Burney, M.A., a Professor of Economics at the Osmania University, Hyderabad, Deccan, [India] who has made a classified collection of the Quranic verses under various heads with explanatory notes. You will, please, read them and communicate to me on any point from these or any other book connected with Islam, and I shall try my level best to elucidate them and meet your criticisms, if any, in the light of Quranic teachings.

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW: There is no doubt that your way of presenting the Islamic teachings is very fascinating, but does the orthodox section of Muslims agree with you?

HIS EMINENCE: To be candid, I myself am strictly orthodox and identify myself with that section which refuses to countenance the slightest alteration in the teachings of Islam. The words of the Tradition of our Prophet that ``He who interprets the Qur`an according to his own opinion should be prepared to accommodate himself in hell`` are indelibly impressed on my mind. Let alone the fundamental principles, I am one of those who try to act in conformity with the precepts of the least significance. For instance, my companion, Mr. Ali Mohammed Jaffer, who is deputizing for the President of the local Muslim Association, had taken a photographer with him as he proposed to have a picture of our meeting, but I refused point blank to accede to his request and sent back the photographer. Pictures have led to idol worship, and a photograph that might be taken today as a mere memento, might at some future date become an object of adoration to some over-zealous admirers who might be carried away by misconceived fervour. Islam, has, therefore, disallowed this practice, and I submit to its veto, and never give permission to take my picture. But if anyone takes it without my consent, well, the responsibility is his. I have said all this so that you may be able to gauge the extent to which I must be orthodox where the main principles of Islam are concerned, when I am so punctilious regarding such a point of detail which in the opinion of some modern Muslims is permissible.

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW: I have been very pleased to make your acquaintance, and it will be the most precious of all memories of this trip of mine.

(Bidding farewell to each other, His Eminence wishing George Bernard Shaw a bon voyage, they parted and George Bernard Shaw was seen standing on the veranda waving his hand till the car went out of sight.)

3rd May 1935.

The writer of this work is well known to me, and the reader can be sure the learned writer has caught the true atmosphere. His Eminence Mohammed Abdul Aleem Siddiqui, is also well known to me and I can well imagine the scene, when Shaw from being the scoffer came gradually to be infected with the dynamic energy and sincerity of purpose of the famous Muslim divine. The only thing I wish to complain about is the shortness of the interview. But I suppose one cannot expect anything that is really good in very large doses in this world.

M.T. Akbar,K.C.,B.A.,L.L.B.
Senior Puisne Justice,
Supreme Court-Colombo
Article Courtesy of the Tanganyika Herald, Mombasa, Kenya, Africa
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